A One Stop Shop for Any Foodie Eager to Try it All.

Many know New York as the capital of the world, but what many do not know is that New York is home to the food capital of the world. Year after year, people from around the globe arrive by the thousands to take part of what is la crème de la crop event for any individual that has anything to do in the food industry.

The one and only “New York Fancy Food Show”, is hosted in New York City at the Jacob Javits Center on 10^thavenue. The event is host to over 2,400 exhibitors that proudly represent over 50 countries and regions from around the globe and has some tens of thousands of visitors during the three-day event.

Some of the countries represented Korea, France, Morocco and Spain

Some of the countries represented Korea, France, Morocco and Spain

Say “Cheese”.

Long gone are the days when the American cheese was the center of attraction at the supermarket or at home for many meals and snacks.

Today people have a more sophisticated pallet, and have developed a finer taste in cheese for their sandwiches, salads, pasta or just as to snack on. At the show there were various cheeses from Greece, Holland, France, Mexico, etc. and of course domestic cheese from various US states such as California, Wisconsin, Vermont, New York, etc…

The variety is incredible from an assortment of Feta, Gouda, Fromage, Jarlsberg, and many more. Some with added flavors such as jalapeños, truffle, wine, etc. Regardless of your preference, there is something available for everyone. If you could imagine just about any cheese can think of, you are definitely sure to see it and try it at the show.

Cheese from Greece, Cyprus and California Cheese sign

Cheese from Greece, Cyprus and California Cheese sign

Wall display of cheese imported from Switzerland

Wall display of cheese imported from Switzerland

Table display of various cheese from around the world.

Table display of various cheese from around the world.

Taking Home the Gold.

There is a tradition at the Fancy Food Show and that is the “Sofi Awards”.

This is the most coveted award in the specialty food industry. With it, comes credibility, prestige, notoriety, and whole lot of PR. Products that receive a “Sofi”, be it gold, silver or bronze automatically become the “It” product for the season, they are featured in just about every other trade publication, news outlet, blog, etc. and the notoriety becomes inevitable.

Which, for any manufacturer looking to bring their product to market or a distributor launching a new product, will provide them with enough prestige to easily do so.

There are well over thirty different categories from packaging, to innovation, cheese, meats, beverage, etc. each one will have a gold, silver or bronze.

Their awards have over thousands of entries and all excellent products, from people that have truly worked hard to develop and bring to market a product that they have invested not only hours and hours of work, but also many resources. I can only imagine how challenging it must be for the judges to determine the 100+ winners.

Trois Petits Cochons, multi-year Sofi award winner

Trois Petits Cochons, multi-year Sofi award winner

Panettone from Pasticceria Filippi, 2019 Silver Sofi award winner

Panettone from Pasticceria Filippi, 2019 Silver Sofi award winner

Food is not always greed

Many times do we see in the news outlets and the documentaries, the discussion on the large food corporations and how it is all about greed and making that extra nickel from every food item that comes out to the market.

Well, here to show that not all food corporations are like this, I wanted to showcase “Coombs Family Farms”. This is a family owned and operated business that sells Vermont maple syrup.

What started as one-man farm business is now onto their seventh generation running the family farm business, and work closely with some 3,000 small farmers locally in Vermont to supply maple to them.

I had the pleasure to speak with the Gagne Family who are maple farmers and learn firsthand of the commitment from Coombs Family Farms with the community of maple farmers in the area.

How refreshing this exchange was.

Next page: More food industry small businesses at the NY  trade show