Tractor Supply to Hold Nationwide Farmers Market
On Saturday, Oct. 1, Tractor Supply, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, will host a nationwide Farmers Market to showcase the talent and products of local farmers, growers, craft makers, artisans and other producers within the community. The community is invited to shop and explore homemade and homegrown goods from local vendors and enjoy fun, family-friendly activities.
The free event will be hosted outside of all 2,000+ Tractor Supply stores nationwide, featuring vendors who sell a variety of goods such as fresh fruit and vegetables, arts and crafts, accessories, specialty food and drink and more.
Many of the vendors look forward to this event and return year after year. This is the third year Andrea Nixon from Best Friends Farms will be at the Tractor Supply store in Pahrump, Nev., selling fresh vegetables, plants and local hemp products. She also likes to offer advice to her neighbors looking to start a garden.
“I really love this event because I get to meet lots of great people,” Nixon said. “I enjoy being able to help them with growing tips because gardening in the desert is tough.”
For Jennifer Ewald, the Tractor Supply Farmers Market gives her an opportunity to share the good works of The Farmette donkey rescue in Pipersville, Pa. This year, The Farmette will be selling homemade wreaths, jewelry and other items featuring donkeys to raise money and awareness for the non-profit rescue.
“I enjoy seeing all of the other vendors and talking with all those who come out from the community,” said Ewald.
“The Tractor Supply Farmers Market event provides a platform for growing family farms and makers and gives the community an opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity,” said Kimberley Gardiner, chief marketing officer of Tractor Supply. “We take pride in the communities that we serve and look forward to giving our customers the space to enjoy the hard work of their neighbors with their friends, families and neighbors.”
The Farmers Market event at Tractor Supply will offer a wide range of vendors whose specialty ranges from plants and herbs to soaps and candles. Go online to learn more about Tractor Supply’s Farmers Market and Tractor Supply Company.
Although registration for vendors is closed, customers can reach out to their local store for additional information regarding vendors and activities.
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Plant Based World Expo Engages Food Industry
The third Plant Based World Expo North America returned to the Javits Center in New York on Sept. 8-9. Attendees at the 100 percent plant-based B2B industry event enjoyed innovative new plant-based products, speakers and networking opportunities. There were 3,722 attendees, up roughly 20 percent from 2021, and 232 exhibitors.
“The response to this year’s Plant Based World Expo has been tremendous,” said Chris Nemchek, general manager. “One of our goals this year was to improve the audience quality and increase the number of retail and foodservice buyers at the show, and we are thrilled to report that we increased the number of buyers by 20%.”
Trends on display included:
● Mushroom-based meats, snacks and jerky from Fable, Popadelics and Eat the Change.
● Plant-based meats and seafoods from companies such as Atlas Monroe, Hoya, Unlimeat, The Blue Butcher, Mind Blown Seafood and Finless Foods.
● Functional foods and beverages from Broma, True North, Remedy and Purposefuel.
● Snacks galore from Rule Breaker Snacks, Lupii, Mozaics and Fat Badger.
● Global culinary creativity and chef-crafted products.
● Convenient and accessible frozen and prepared entrees from companies such as Strong Roots and Wicked Foods.
● Elevated plant-based cheeses from Good Plant Foods, Bedda Cheese, Selfish Cow Plant Based Cheese, Plant Perks, Nuts for Cheese, Wildbrine and Miyoko’s Creamery.
“The success of this year’s Plant Based World Expo demonstrates the continued excitement around the plant-based foods industry,” said Rachel Dreskin, CEO of PBFA and The Institute. “Thanks to the strength of our partnership with the PBW team, we were able to put on a fantastic show featuring impactful conference sessions and so many meaningful opportunities for our members to connect with industry leaders and buyers. We look forward to continued growth and the expansion of our joint mission to showcase the power of plant-based.”
The show’s exhibitors were enthusiastic about their experiences at the show, citing great connections and the chance to showcase their products to a highly qualified audience as reasons why they plan to return next year.
“This was Mind Blown’s first year exhibiting at the show and it was incredible start to finish,” said Monica Talbert, co-founder of Mind Blown Plant Based Seafood Company. “The energy and excitement from attendees and other exhibitors was truly electric and so many quality connections really makes PBW a show not to miss!”
Whether they were sampling delicious plant-based frozen desserts and mouth-watering plant-based entrees or learning from expert speakers, celebrity chefs, and industry leaders, attendees agreed that this was the best PBW yet.
“The show has been incredible. We’ve made a lot of good contacts with all the right people to get our product into the right places. We’re looking forward to next year,” said Marc Elkman, co-founder, Mighty Yum.
“This was our first time coming to the show and we have made many amazing connections here–it gives me goosebumps–and we’re excited about following up and our future,” said Camille Holder-Brown, co-founder, Kale Cafe.
Read more about plant-based food in the October issue of Gourmet News. Subscribe today so you don’t miss it!
Alaska Airlines Cooks Up Vegan, Plant-Based Options
Alaska Airlines’ Soy Meets World vegan salad includes roasted broccoli, fresh cucumber slices, scallions, pickled carrots, fried tofu and brown rice served over a bed of crisp romaine and baby lettuce greens, topped with roasted cashews, fried onions and paired with a Tamari Chili-Lime dressing.
This summer, Alaska Airlines guests can veg out on board with more gluten friendly, plant-based and vegan meal options available in all cabins. The new vegan option, “Soy Meets World,” is a vegan salad developed in partnership Evergreens, a West Coast-based company that makes gourmet, freshly chopped salads.
“We’re thrilled to offer our guests more healthy and nutritious choices when they fly with us,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products. “We built our menu thoughtfully to offer more plant-based, vegan and gluten-free options, which include a range of fresh, bright flavors inspired by the West Coast and ingredients that are authentically healthy by nature such as roasted broccoli, crisp romaine and baby lettuce greens, quinoa, fresh fruit and more.”
Alaska Airlines offers three meal options in First Class, including its Signature Fruit & Cheese on flights as short as 550 miles.
It also offers ample food options in Premium Class and Main Cabin, which include up to four fresh options on flights over 1,100 miles and up to five snack items on flights over 223 miles, such as the Mediterranean Tapas Pack (vegan and gluten-free).
Now through October, guests can enjoy fresh summer flavors that include berries, summer squash, corn, citrus and tomatoes. To see all of our food and beverage offerings, visit alaskaair.com.
Travelers can enjoy fresh ingredients inspired by the West Coast, from snacks to freshly prepared meals, by pre-ordering favorites ahead of a flight using the reservation on the airline’s app or alaskaair.com.
Meal orders can be made starting 14 days before the flight, and up to 20 hours before departure.
Snacks and Picnic packs do not require pre-order and are available on board most flights over two hours. Mileage Plan members can store a method of payment in their Mileage Plan account for touch-free inflight purchases, including food and beverages.
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