FEAST trade show uplifts local foods community

CANNON FALLS, Minn. — "We're really trying to disguise an ag show by making it a food show," is how Renewing the Countryside cofounder Brett Olson described the annual FEAST Trade Show, which took place on March 20.

The trade show is the largest local foods business-to-business trade show in the region, according to Renewing the Countryside, connecting artisan food makers with wholesale buyers from grocery, specialty stores, school foodservice and more.

Emma Dempsey is the sales and marketing manager for Hazel Heart Farms.

It was the first time the company, formerly known as American Hazelnut Company, was at the FEAST Trade show but it regularly takes part in the FEAST show in the fall.

"We've been dipping our toe into wholesale and they tell us who's going to be here, and most of the people that I wanted to talk to have come up and been really interested, so I'm excited," Dempsey said.

Dempsey could be overheard pitching to attendees who represented stores, school districts and other wholesale buyers.

"Hazel Heart Farms is a collective of hazelnut growers in the Midwest, and we're launching our new product today, Midwest Munch," she said.

Noah Fish / Agweek

The new product features hazelnuts as well as other products depending on the assortment of flavor options.

"This one has crunchy corn and chickpeas and pepper millet, sesame seeds," Dempsey said of the spicy flavor. "This sweet and salty one has these little guys in here, also freeze-dried elderberries, and then cranberries, which are another native to the Midwest, and some coconut and sunflower seeds."

At the time she was explaining the Midwest Munch, a buyer was visiting the table. Stephanie Thull, store operations manager for St. Peter Food Coop, was looking for new products to feature in the store.

"Midwest makes the best nuts," Dempsey told her.

Thull said it was her first time attending the event.

"It's been really fun and enlightening," Thull said. " We've worked with local producers for a really long time, and it's nice to see ones that we've worked with for a really long time, and stuff that's brand new like this, which is something different and exciting."

Charles Lovejoy, owner and operator of Lovejoy's, took home FEAST's inspiring social benefit award. Lovejoy's is a brand from longtime Twin Cities bartender Charles Lovejoy that offers three Bloody Mary mix varieties: Original, Thai-Basil and Chimi. Lovejoy described the FEAST trade show as "amazing."

"It's great to be able to connect with the buyers," Lovejoy said. "I personally really love it, just for your, for the community aspect of it. I love meeting the makers, especially this time of year."

"Lovejoy's partners with organizations that tackle homelessness, support at-risk youth, and advocate for causes like community safety and well-being," said Tim Penny president and CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. "Since their inception in 2017, Lovejoy's has been blessed to give over $18,000 in cash and in-kind donations to organizations that uplift our communities."