FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace

Learn more about the 2022 Tradeshow from the post-event press release and event photos.

Join us for the

2023 FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Thursday, March 17, 2022

The Grand O2 Event Center [view venue]

32057 64th Ave
Cannon Falls, Minnesota

The FEAST! tradeshow day includes a Buyers' Expo, Lunch and Awards Presentation, and Makers' Forum panel discussions.

New for 2022, this Spring Tradeshow event will focus on business growth and relationships with buyers—there is no public component to the event, and no online marketplace. As shown below, registration is limited to vendors, buyers, and a small number of available spaces for aspiring entrepreneurs who would like to attend to learn with the "Attendee" registration.

The lunch features a keynote address from Paul Willis of Niman Ranch, (pictured, right) co-founder of Niman Ranch, a network of small, independent, U.S. family farmers raising livestock humanely and sustainably. Paul will share insights about how he scaled up his business responsibly and maintained strong dedication to his founding principles. Today, Niman Ranch products are available at thousands of grocers nationwide and on the menu of some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants and values-driven fast casual chains.

As Paul says, they are the “to” in Farm to Fork. “I’m glad to have been able to offer an economically viable way for farms to adopt humane standards that are good for the animals, good for the farm, and good for the consumer.” as well as the presentation of the FEAST! awards for innovative local sourcing and inspiring social benefit, along with a new Local Food Champion award recognizing retailers who work to promote local foods.

Catered lunch will be provided by The Local Plate MN.

The afternoon schedule offers sessions addressing creative financing (2pm), e-commerce practices (3pm), and an entrepreneur panel dedicated to discussing strategies for sharing your story (4pm). There will also be opportunities to step out for a 30-min driving tour of the many local foods businesses in and around Cannon Falls, culminating with a mini tour of the new CannonBelles cheesemaking facility.

Finally, join us afterwards across the way at the GrandStay Hotel for a networking reception, hosted by the Cannon Falls host subcommittee.

VENDOR REGISTRATION

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION

SUPPORT SERVICES REGISTRATION

BUYER REGISTRATION

Cost: $200

(50% discount for vendors who registered for/attended Fall 2021 FEAST! Festival)

Booth: 8' table, chairs, and
2 staff registrations

Cost: $50

Includes expo,
networking lunch,
Makers' Forum, Cannon Falls tours,
and Reception

Cost: $75

Includes space at a lit table, listing on event program, introduction during the welcome, plus attendee registration.

Cost: Free

First 40 buyers in the door receive a
swag bag with vendor items

2022 SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

Speakers & Sessions Detail

8 - 9:30 am		Check-in/booth setup, continental breakfast
10 am - 12 pm		Buyers' Expo
12 - 2 pm		Lunch, Keynote, and Awards
2 - 2:45 pm		Makers' Forum Session 1: Creative Financing
3 - 3:45 pm		Makers' Forum Session 2: E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Best Practices + optional Cannon Falls tour
4 - 4:45 pm		Makers' Forum Session 3: Finding your megaphone: Tools to get your story out + optional Cannon Falls tour
5 pm - 7 pm		Reception sponsored by the Cannon Falls Subcommittee—details below

Hotel Accommodations
GrandStay Hotel, 32027 Alexander Ct, Cannon Falls, MN 55009, (507) 757-1100
Mention FEAST when making the reservation for a 10% Discount

Caravan Motel, 31913 64th Ave, Cannon Falls, MN 55009, (507) 263-4777
FEAST! Room Rate $75.00. Mention FEAST when making the reservation.