MDA Supports Local Food Companies at Winter Fancy Food Show

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is helping 19 Minnesota companies showcase their food products January 13-15 at the Winter Fancy Food Show (WFF) in San Francisco. The MDA’s Minnesota Pavilion is the largest pavilion at this business-to-business event (B2B) featuring 1,400 exhibitors from around the world, offering 80,000 specialty foods and beverages.

The MDA’s AGRI New Markets Program assists Minnesota food and beverage brands to expand their market reach and extend their budgets.

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen noted, “Minnesota is a hotbed for food entrepreneurship and innovation, from farm to fork, so it’s no surprise that we have the largest grouping at the Fancy Food Show in California.”

Plymouth, Minnesota based cookie-maker, Kakookies, has been to several Minnesota Pavilion events as they seek to scale their business.

“We really appreciate the help with planning and logistics that MDA provides at these events,” said company spokesperson Sue Kakuk. “Gathering Minnesota companies in one location on the show floor allows our companies to network and share resources.”

Participating food companies will showcase their products to thousands of buyers and distributors with a goal of increasing sales. The quality and variety of the food brands participating in the Minnesota Pavilion is what attracts buyers.

The Minnesota Pavilion at WFF includes:

Annie B's & BT McElrath, Atlas Provisions, Big Watt, Crapola, Double Take Salsa, Flackers, Freak Flag Foods, Kakookies, Maddy & Maize, Mama Kicks!, Maude Borup, North Mallow, Punk Rawk Labs, Purely Seed/Vitaminseed, River Hills Harvest Marketers, LLC (MW Elderberry Coop), Seven Sundays, The Amazing Chickpea, Way Better Snacks, and 32degrees.

For more information, visit MDA's Food Business Development website.