The Seattle Good Business Network’s third-annual Good Food Connections conference was a farm-and-sea-to-table food trade event that brought together local farmers, fishers, artisans, chefs, buyers, and community food stakeholders to network, gain market and brand exposure, and stay up to date on industry trends.
The day-long event on Feb. 24 included panel discussions and presentations, food and beverage tasting, and a resource trade show for local businesses to showcase their products.
Seattle Good Business Network is a community economic development nonprofit, uniting business and community around shared values by connecting them to opportunities, resources, and each other. Their Good Food Economy program connects the Puget Sound food community to strengthen and build a resilient, sustainable, and just local food economy.
“Good Food Connections provides a vital gathering space where people can connect in person, strengthen relationships, and be in community in ways we don’t get enough opportunities for – and that is invaluable,” said Good Food Economy Program Director Mariah DeLeo.
Throughout the event, producers, consumers, business owners, and stakeholders across the food supply chain congregated to discuss ways to navigate current challenges and form business partnerships that they might not have otherwise been able to establish. Many attendees reported negotiating purchases, making business deals with suppliers and distributors, and initiating collaborations on projects ranging from hunger relief to catered events.
“These connections are like seeds: each one grows and builds and there’s such an incredible impact that’s bearing fruit today,” said DeLeo.
Panel discussions and presentations were spaces to discuss and find shared solutions for issues and challenges faced by those working across the local food system. This year’s topics covered macroeconomic factors which helped businesses and organizations better connect to the experiences that eaters and consumers are facing. These discussions provided fruitful grounds for developing strategies and tools for conducting business equitably, finding pathways to creating innovative shared infrastructure partnerships, and establishing business connections to implement values-based purchasing.
In a time of expanding economic pressures, funding crises, and rising food insecurity, these collaborations are steps forwards towards actualizing shared visions of nurturing a solidarity economy within our local food system. The partnerships, business deals, and market connections made during the event are essential for strengthening our local food economy by supporting one another to weather the challenges of this current moment.
“It is so important for us to secure our commitment to community,” DeLeo said. “This is about helping people locally, sustainably, with eyes towards racial and social justice. How can we make sure people have equitable access to the local food economy? How do we catalyze our network to organize together?”
In addition to these meaningful conversations and connections, attendees got to taste some incredible food from over 40 local producers, with breakfast and lunch catered by Chef Austin Navarre of Herban Feast Catering.
Looking ahead to next year, Seattle Good Business Network hopes to convene more conversations around collective land use and increasing the representation and participation of seafood stakeholders at the conference.
If you were unable to make it to this year’s event, find the program agenda here where you can find the local producers featured at the event and support them directly. Let’s continue these conversations around building a vibrant local food economy by buying local, shopping at farmers markets, and/or visiting a restaurant during Seattle Restaurant Week March 30 – April 12.
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