Once again, I can write that a metric of life returning to the norm after lots of adventures in India and beyond* is the annual fall Food & Beverage Show (see two posts 23 Sept 2023). With high hopes of attending two of the three days, the voice of reason told me that one day was enough. And what a interesting day it was as always. Here are some thoughts and observations.

*A slow internet and recalcitrant antique laptop stopped my posts in August. They will resume shortly.

It’s interesting to see what vendors return. Last year, I was attracted by the cute truck promoting the BonBeeHoney ladies. Take a look at their website (https://honeybunchies.com/), this is a women-owned family-run company. Shark Tank proclaimed their product, “…really, really, really, really good.” Read about about additional inclusive businesses below

Another returnee was family-run Cahokia Rice (https://www.cahokiarice.com/pages/about-us) from Illinois. Other companies on hand were another family-owned company Southern Brown Rice from Northeast Arkansas (southernbrownrice.com) and Riceland Rice. I thought most rices were pretty much the same, but Cahokia promotes itself as naturally higher in protein with a lower glycemic index than other rice strains. You can read about it here: https://www.cahokiarice.com/blogs/news/diabetic-friendly-rice. Who knew?

Products from Senegal were also represented again in the show sponsored by the Dakar Chamber of Commerce.

Something seems to draw me to minority and immigrant-run businesses when I’m at the show. The first display I saw was Silver Spoon Desserts, a Chicago company founded by a single mother (https://www.silverspoondesserts.com/about-us). Actually, I’d already had one of their micro-mini bundt cakes on my American Airlines flight home last week!

The tiny alfajores/alfamores from KPM Desserts in nearby Davie, Florida, (https://www.kpmdesserts.com/) attracted me next. So light and fluffy, about the best of this Argentinean sweet I’ve had. Just the right amount of dulce de leche.

I’m always curious to see what’s new from Indian ountry. Several vendors from across the country were represented. Ioway Bee Farm (IowayBeeFarm.com) is operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. Their reservation lands are full of native medicinal plants and wildflowers, the source of their honey.

The founder of Just Peachy Pueblo Biscochitos (www.justpeachypueblobiscochitos.com/) took her grandmother’s recipes to create what were probably the most beautiful cookies. They bring together all of the traditional flavors of the American Southwest.

Linda Cooley of the Mad River Brewing Company in Northern California, one of the first tribally owned breweries, explained their product, another woman-owned venture. Each of the labels represent support to different social causes from women’s issues to protection of the natural landscapes.

Other vendors that caught my eye were three created by immigrants. Badia Spices is another family-owned company. It was founded over 50 years ago by a Cuban refugee who came to the US when he was 13 years old. I was out local spice company’s product in the kitchen of a restaurant Constant Companion and I enjoyed in Cartagena a few months ago! In the past few years, they have expanded their offerings (sold in over 87 countries) to fill the needs of adventurous cooks, including me.

Then there was cheese, Mexican cheese. V&V Supremo Foods from Chicago were founded by immigrants from Michoacán to Chicago over 60 years ago (https://www.vvsupremo.com/about-us/). They started producing queso fresco for immigrants living in the area and then branched out with other varieties. It remains a family-owned business.

Queso Campesino of Denver is another company created by a Mexican immigrant (http://www.quesocampesino.com/about-us.aspx) along with Colorado Ranchers Inc. also had a bright presence.

What did I learn this year, and actually every year from my visit to this rich food and beverage show? The vitality of family-owned businesses. The strength of community-based business. The resilience of women-owned businesses. The prevalence of immigrant-owned businesses. We live in a world of monopolies and big business. Let’s make an effort to give our support to ones like these. And speaking of monopolies – I’m not sure why SpongeBob was in attendance!