Exhibitor Food Sales & Sampling

Deadline: February 23, 2024
Event SEP #:  2024-00062


 

If you have any questions, please call the Community Services division at 913-895-6270.

  • All Temporary Food Vendor applications must be received two weeks before the event.
    • Applications received after that date will not be accepted.
    • There will be no exceptions to their two-week application deadline.
  • Exhibitors required to have a temporary food service permit may require an inspection before the show opens.
  • Securing of all necessary licenses, permits, etc. is the responsibility of the exhibitor.
  • Food and beverage samples must not be greater than 2 oz. and must be manufactured, processed, or distributed by the exhibiting firm and must be related to participation in the event.

Temporary Food Service at OPCC >>

Exhibitor Food Guidelines at OPCC >>

Guidelines regarding who should apply for a permit and who is not required to:

  • Exhibitors who are planning on bringing pre-packaged 2 oz. food samples do not need a temporary food service permit. And food vendors, operating in Overland Park, who purchase pre-packaged, non-hazardous foods from an approved source (i.e. grocery stores or direct from the manufacturer) to distribute to the general public, are not required to obtain a Temporary Food License and also wouldn't be required to have a valid local/state health license. This is because the food is coming from an approved source and because it is already pre-packaged. The vendor never comes in contact with the food product itself. 
  • Exhibitors sampling non-hazardous/pre-portioned food (not individually packaged) will be required to complete a temporary food service application but will not be inspected. The vendor is still required to have an accessible handwashing station and adhere to safe food practices.
  • Licensed food vendors offering pre-packaged/hazardous food will be required to complete a temporary food service application but will not be inspected.
  • Food vendors, operating in Overland Park, who have home businesses in which they cook/bake/prepare foods out of the house to distribute to the general public, are required to work out of a second kitchen in the home which is a licensed kitchen (meaning the owner has a local/state health license to operate).  Cooking from the main kitchen of the house in which everyday activities go on is not allowed.  Licensed home kitchens must meet certain requirements before they are considered an approved source and safe enough to distribute prepared foods from it to the general public.  They must have washable floors, walls and ceilings.  Either a 3-vat dish sink or a commercial grade dish machine must be installed.  Hand wash sink(s) are also needed. 
  • The term “Licensed” refers to a commercial wholesaler/manufacturer, restaurant operator and mobile unit operator. These types of entities are routinely inspected by a licensing agency such as City, County or State.
  • If a Vendor is “Not Licensed”, they are subject to a limited menu of hazardous foods they are allowed to prepare. Items such as hamburger, sausages, hot dogs, cooked vegetables, dips made with sour cream, smoothies made with ice-cream are allowed. Unlicensed vendors ARE NOT allowed to prepare Fish, Poultry, Steak, Cut Melons, Cut Tomatoes and a variety of other dishes. This is why it is important for the Unlicensed vendors to provide more detailed menus with all their ingredients listed thoroughly.

How to Apply for Temporary Food Vendor Permit:

  • 1. Exhibitor must first register on ePLACE. (www.opkansas.org/eplace)
  • 2. Once registered, you will need to Log In to ePLACE to Apply for a “Temporary Food Vendor Permit”
    • a. https://energov.opkansas.org/CSS/SelfService#/home
    • b. Click the Apply menu and the Permits tab to see all available permits.
    • c. You will be applying for “Event: Temporary Food Vendor Permit”
    • d. Description: Name of your business.
    • e. Add Location: Your Business Location
    • f. Add Attachment: This is a required step to upload your current license/commissary
    • g. Event ID: You will need the SEP number from the Show Promotor to complete application
    • h. Follow prompts to complete application.
  • 3. Your application will be sent to the health inspector for approval. Once approved, you will receive an email with an invoice for the $10 permit fee.
    • a. To submit payment, log back into ePLACE.
    • b. If the fee is not already in your shopping cart, choose the View menu and select ‘My Invoices’.
    • c. Choose unpaid and Add to Cart.
    • d. Once the payment is submitted, you will receive a receipt in the email provided.

Each exhibitor is responsible for applying for their ‘Temporary Food Vendor Permit’ via the ePLACE website no later than 2 weeks before the event date.