For Exhibitors: What’s to dig about exhibiting at this year’s conference?

We’re getting back to our roots! We’re excited to be able to bring a cultural perspective to our conference this year.
The theme is: Growing Roots for Healthy Communities and it’s all about celebrating the diversity of farming and traditional cooking methods that make eating local fun, educational and enriching.

The conference provides consumers with two days of networking and educational opportunities. Seasonal cooking demonstrations, gardening, and information about the nutritional value of local food are presented by local experts.

Introducing the New Farm to Table Café!

We’re working hard on planning the 11th annual conference and continuing to improve the experience for attendees and exhibitors.  As more and more people have become educated on all of the benefits of eating and drinking locally sourced, whole foods over the last decade – shopping, cooking, eating and drinking local is fast becoming a multi-generational, multi-million dollar, family affair.

This year we’ve decided to invest in your success and in attendee’s hungry stomachs by opening our first ever Farm to Table Café!  For 2 full days, you’ll have the chance to feed the hungry and thirsty masses in a setting that appeals to your customer’s appetite – for food & fun!  It’s a huge selling opportunity for you – and a priceless opportunity for your customers to connect with you on the most primal level – their stomachs!

It’s a family affair.  A very hip and cool family affair.

Our audience is primarily women – the decision makers and heads of households.  Women continue to be hungry for fresh ideas about how to incorporate real, fresh food into meals for both themselves and their families.  They understand the benefits and know the value of paying a little bit more up front for nutritional local food to ensure the health and well-being of their families on a long-term basis.

“Craft brewers reported a 13% increase in volume in 2015, the eighth consecutive year of double-digit growth as American beer drinkers continued to be lured by fuller-flavored ales.”, according to Fortune.com.

Guys are starting to get it too.  Not that it’s all about the beer – but let’s face it – the buzz of local breweries and craft distilleries is in large part all about supporting the local economy while enjoying a really great drink!

Beer alone has never been cooler or more diverse.  “Craft brewers reported a 13% increase in volume in 2015, the eighth consecutive year of double-digit growth as American beer drinkers continued to be lured by fuller-flavored ales.”, according to Fortune.com.

And what’s not to love about going into your favorite neighborhood bar and ordering a drink that you know is made with locally grown ingredients?

farm-to-table-conference-2017-website

The whole family is in!

Guys – and girls – are more willing than ever to spend a little bit more for premium beers made in smaller batches with the taste and flare you can only get from being home-grown, and other alcoholic drinks prepared from the freshest ingredients continue to be all the rage.

Kids are in on the action, too, thanks in part to programs like Little Locavores and Wellness for Schools which empower students and teachers alike to make healthy lifestyle choices, but also because more and more kids are growing up in families who value the planet, who believe in living a natural, sustainable lifestyle, who not only want but insist on buying and eating local.

Exhibit at the Conference within the Farm to Table Cafe

“Visiting Vendors” is the #1 reason attendees give for coming to the Farm to Table Pittsburgh local food conference.  Our attendees love coming to talk to the farmers, chefs, CSA’s and wellness professionals to become educated about the value of eating, breathing, and living the local life.

Attendees are hungry for fresh ideas about how to incorporate real, fresh food into their prepared foods – in real life.  They celebrate what comes from the earth and the bounty of goodness and health that local farming and real food provides.  Our attendees are also adventurous foodies – they’re eager to try new menu items and want to know more about how to integrate specialty diet and allergy free items easily into their daily meal planning.

Let’s face it; they’re hungry – for ideas, for information – for food, and they’re thirsty – for fun, for engagement, for your locally produced alcoholic beverages!!!

Sell prepared meals and alcoholic beverages at the conference this year.

With such a wealth of delicious, adventurous, real food options and know-how at this show, why not offer for sale locally produced alcoholic beverages and food?

Our post-show surveys show that attendees biggest complaint at these conferences is “lack of prepared food.”  We have heard the voices and frankly couldn’t agree more.  With such a wealth of delicious, adventurous, real food options and know-how at this show, why not offer for sale locally produced alcoholic beverages and food?

The answer to part of this has always been some outdated legislation which didn’t allow for sales of locally produced alcoholic beverages in educational exposition settings – until this past November when Governor Tom Wolf signed PA Act 39 which allows for these types of sales in Farm to Table like settings – thank heavens and isn’t it about time?!?

Participate in 2 additional Food & Drink Tastings

You also have the very cool chance to showcase your products in our 2 live tasting events – Friday Night Local Food Tasting and Farm to Flask on Saturday!  These tastings are always very well attended so we recommend coming prepared to share and network with 100’s of attendees who are just waiting to be obsessed with you and your local offerings!

We can’t wait to see you there.

Our approximate 10,000 attendees are hungry.  They’re hungry to learn, they’re hungry to network, they’re hungry to meet you face-to-face.

If you grow, produce, sell, distribute or support local food and sustainable agriculture, and want to really showcase your expertise and passion as an exhibitor this year, register now to reserve your space and also upgrade your booth to Farm to Table Café for this first ever chance to sell your awesome food and drinks directly to your customers!

Continue the party by participating in the Friday Night Local Food Tasting and Farm to Flask on Saturday!

More than ever this year we are committed to Keep It Real, Keep it Local!

Register Online

 

Exhibitor Focus: Farm to Table Pittsburgh Local Food Conference