Thanks for a great
FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow
March 19, 2026
Congratulations to the 2026 Award Winners!
|
2026 Local Food Champion Lakewinds Food Co-op |
2026 Innovative Local Sourcing Award Hidden Stream Farm |
2026 Inspiring Social Benefit Award Behind the Breadbox |
 |
 |
 |
|
Lakewinds Food Co-op has attended the Tradeshow every year since 2014! In 2019 a representative spoke to makers about working with buyer on a panel, and they have a long history of supporting farms and food businesses including through their Organic Field Fund grant program for farmers and a round-up program for nonprofits. |
Hidden Stream Farm is a 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. | Behind the Breadbox believes that food is a right, not a privilege; they intentionally over-bake to donate to Twin Cities Food Justice. Because packaging has an impact on the environment, they partner with a non-profit that collects used plastic bags to become composite decking. They encourage customers to bring plastic bags for recycling, year-round, and have collected over 300 lbs so far, making them a plastic-negative company. |
2026 Exhibitor Directory
2026 SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
Thank you to our FEAST! 2025-26 Sponsors
|
7 - 9:30 am |
Check-in/booth setup, continental breakfast |
|
10 am - 2 pm |
Buyers' Expo |
|
12 pm |
Lunch available while Expo continues |
|
2 - 2:30 pm |
FEAST! Network awards and remarks + dessert buffet |
|
2:45 - 4:00 pm |
FEAST! Founders Forum Session 1: Distribution Decisions + Brand Presentation: What’s Helping You (or Hurting You) Right Now
The session is facilitated by Kate LaBrosse, who brings 17 years of hands-on CPG experience across buying, brokering, and brand building. That perspective allows her to translate between founders and the retailers, distributors, and partners they’re trying to influence—helping founders understand not just what to do, but why it matters. We’ll anchor the conversation around two common pressure points for emerging food and beverage brands:
The session will also include an open “challenge of the moment” discussion where founders can bring real questions, get feedback, and learn from peers. Come for credible, industry-specific perspective. Leave with clarity and next steps.
Session 2: Getting Pricing Right
Working with retailers and buyers can present new challenges when it comes to pricing your products. But how do you know when the price is right? Join the Food Finance Institute’s Food Brand Expert-in-Residence, Peter Robertson, to learn how to structure your pricing so that it aligns with your business’ larger financial position. While touring Europe as a stage carpenter for dance companies, Peter Robertson fell in love—with the food of Italy. He began studying the traditional fresh pasta that was a staple of the Italian food he loved and ultimately, began making authentic fresh pasta on his own. Robertson moved to Madison, Wisconsin and opened RP’s Pasta Company in 1995. In 2008 he developed the best fresh gluten-free pasta for a friend that was diagnosed with celiac disease and grew the business from $1 million to $5 million in 5 years. The fresh gluten-free pasta was so successful that it was rebranded Taste Republic Gluten Free and led to the sale of the company to become Tribe 9 Foods. From there he pushed the sales north of $15 million. RP’s fresh traditional pasta and Taste Republic Gluten Free fresh pasta is distributed to hundreds of restaurants and grocery stores throughout the United States. Today Peter continues to make fresh pasta at home and consults with emerging food brands, and he’s still in love. |
|
4:00 - ?? |
Post-Tradeshow Hangout at Cannon River Winery, 421 Mill St W, Cannon Falls, MN 55009 Kick back with good food, good wine and good convos |
This interactive Founders Forum is designed for real-time learning and real-world application. 
To get involved or inquire about the FEAST! Tradeshow, contact [email protected]
See details from the Spring 2025 FEAST! Tradeshow
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Room discount available ($129): mention FEAST and reserve by March 11th
31913 64th Ave, Cannon Falls, MN 55009, (507) 263-477
REGISTERED BUYERS
|
Almsted's Enterprises Benson Public Schools Brown's Ice Cream Cannon Falls Area Schools - ISD #252 CannonBelles Coffee and Ice Cream Chisago Lakes School District Coborn's Grocery Stores Co-op Partners Warehouse Crow Wing Co-op Ferndale Market Forager Brewery Fortune Fish Co. Great Ciao! Hastings Schools Hy-Vee IFD Food service Indian Island Winery Iowa Valley RC&D Island Market Jerry's Foods Just Food Co-op Knowlans/Festival Foods Kowalski's Lakewinds Food Co-op Lunds & Byerlys Mackenthun's Fine Foods Mankato School District Mastel's Health Foods McAuliffe Elementary Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Rootstock |
Mpls Public Schools Culinary Wellness Services Mississippi Market Co-ops MN Dept of Ed MN Historical Society Morris Area Schools Neighborly Gifts North Market Northfield Montessori Pedal Pushers Cafe People's Food Co-op Prior Lake Savage Schools Radish Farm Stop Red's Hometown Market Rochester Public Schools RonMar Foods Rosemount/Apple Valley/Eagan Schools Roseville Area Schools Royal Foods Saint Croix Vineyards Seward Co-op St. Peter Food Co-op Strawberries Galore & More LLC Sutton Ridge Farm Taher Tao Organic Cafe TC Farm Three Rivers Park District UNFI Viroqua Food Co-op Wayzata Public Schools Whole Earth Co-op |
Tradeshow Testimonials
“When you are busy being a maker and starting a small local food business, it is hard to find the time to travel all over to meet with buyers, and buyers are very busy people as well! FEAST creates a venue where both makers and buyers can be the most efficient with their time.“
—Melissa Driscoll, founder of Seven Songs Organic Farm Garlic Scape Pesto
“The show was an amazing experience... I was able to connect with several producers I hadn’t previously been aware of. And because of those meetings, Kowalski’s has on-boarded seven new local lines so far.”
—Britt Lindemann, Kowalski's Grocery/Dairy/Frozen Director
"I loved having the physical space and time to talk with each vendor. It was so nice to experience everyone's excitement about the products they offer."
—Erica Olson, Wayzata Schools Nutrition Coordinator
FEAST! Local Foods Network Tradeshow Planning Committee:
Renewing the Countryside: Matt Barthelemy, Elena Byrne, Jan Joannides, Brett Olson, Marlene Petersen
Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Jennifer Alexander, Erika Camplin, Rachel Wandrei
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation: Peggy Paul, Benya Kraus
Naturally Minnesota: Kate LaBrosse, Allison Hohn
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute: Jason Robinson, Michael Sparby
GreenSeam: Sam Ziegler
Cannon Falls Subcommittee:
Laura Qualey, Community and Economic Development Associates
Deeann Lufkin, CannonBelles
John Peterson, Ferndale Market