Cannon Falls, MN – This year’s FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow was the biggest in the FEAST! Network’s 12-year history. The industry-only event, which introduces wholesale buyers to an array of farms and food businesses from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, showcased the achievements of makers as well as retailers.

The FEAST! Local Foods Network presents industry awards at the Tradeshow to highlight food businesses with exemplary practices in two categories: the Innovative Local Sourcing Award (for the use of locally-grown ingredients) and the Inspiring Social Benefit Award (for giving back to their communities).

The Innovative Local Sourcing Award went to Hidden Stream Farm (Elgin, MN), a multi-generation family business that direct-markets their own beef, pork, chicken, and eggs. They also act as a food hub and aggregator, working with over 20 area farmers throughout southeast MN, northeastern IA, and Wisconsin. They offer these growers an outlet for selling their products to a wholesale market that they may not have or would not normally pursue on their own.

Pictured: Jennifer Alexander of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture presenting the Innovative Local Sourcing Award to mother/son duo Lisa and Andy Klein of Hidden Stream Farm at the FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow, March 19, 2026 in Cannon Falls, MN.

Behind the Breadbox (Minneapolis, MN) took home the Inspiring Social Benefit Award for their work, which includes intentionally over-baking to donate to Twin Cities Food Justice, and partnering with a non-profit that collects used plastic bags to become composite decking. They have collected over 300 lbs so far, making them a plastic-negative company.

Pictured:Tim Penny of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation presenting the Inspiring Social Benefit Award to Tom Nechodemu of Behind the Breadbox at the FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow, March 19, 2026 in Cannon Falls, MN.

The FEAST! Network exists to help businesses like these expand their reach. One key purpose is helping retailers, schools, and restaurants become aware of these businesses so they can get them in front of their customers. The FEAST! Local Food Champion Award honors a retail store or individual who excels in supporting locally-farmed and produced foods by continuously bringing in new local foods, offering sampling space to those businesses, and promoting them in their communications. This year's award went to Lakewinds Food Co-op, who has sent their grocery buyers to the FEAST! Tradeshow every year since it began in 2014, and has been a leader in supporting local food and agriculture.

Pictured:Brett Olson of Renewing the Countryside, center, presenting the Local Food Champion Award to Abby and Turk of Lakewinds Food Co-op to his right and left, following the wholesale expo at the FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow, March 19, 2026 in Cannon Falls, MN. At far left and far right, Jason Robinson of AURI and Jennifer Alexander of MDA joined in to thank Lakewinds for their support for local foods.

Collaboration with technical assistance providers is an important component of the event; afternoon sessions for exhibitors featured presentations from Naturally Minnesota’s Kate LaBrosse and Food Finance Institute's Peter Robertson. In addition, Tradeshow exhibitors enjoyed webinars once a month ahead of the event to help them prepare for the buyer conversations.

Looking to connect with more locally-made, locally-grown foods? Mark your calendar for the FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, Minn., where you can bring the whole family to sip, sample and shop hundreds of local food and craft alcohol products.

FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow is a nonprofit event presented by Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Renewing the Countryside, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Compeer Financial, The Market Entry Fund, AURI (Agricultural Utilization Research Institute), Naturally MN, the City of Cannon Falls, and participating members of the FEAST! Local Foods Network. For more, follow @localfeastnetwork on Facebook and @localfeast on Instagram.