Eat Local First Trade Meeting
Northwest Washington’s premier Food and Farming Business Conference
When: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 | 9:00am-6:00pm | Conference from 9am-4pm; optional after-hours event 4pm-6pm
Where: Holiday Inn and Suites, 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham, WA 98226
Why: Find Local Products. Connect to Buyers. Get Inspired!
Agenda: Click here to see the day’s lineup, which focuses on building a strong local food system through innovation and collaboration
Lunch Menu: Click here to check out the delicious farm-to-conference menu!
Our hotel partner Holiday Inn and Suites is offering a discount to Trade Meeting guests! Use this link for a discounted rate on your stay – Good Neighbor Discount
The Eat Local First Trade Meeting is NW Washington’s premier FOOD & FARM BUSINESS CONFERENCE. We bring together 180+ farmers, fishers, chefs, grocery buyers, food artisans, processors, and distributors for one day filled with valuable networking and connection opportunities, a vibrant expo, inspiring business panels, and the ever-delicious locally sourced lunch.
Tickets
- $60 Early Bird Member Rate / $75 Early Bird General Rate—limited availability
- $75 Member Rate / $90 General Rate—available until 11:59 pm on February 3rd
- $105 Day-of Rate
- $20 Add-on for after-hours event—local drinks, snacks, and music included
- $165—Trade Show Booth – includes table, black linen, and 1 ticket to conference | Additional exhibitor ticket available for $60
Sponsor the Eat Local First Trade Meeting
Align your business with farm-to-table values, and get out in front of the crowd with great exposure, while keeping the event affordable to our community. Learn more about Eat Local First Trade Meeting sponsorship opportunities by contacting JessicaG@sustainableconnections.org.
Be an Exhibitor at the Trade Show!
Showcase your business, organization, or products with a Trade Show booth in the Expo room of the Eat Local First Trade Meeting – limited spots available.
This amazing opportunity has many benefits:
- Attendees report making an average of 4-6 new, promising business connections.
- Wholesale and retail sales, value-added products and food and farming services are all areas of focus.
- We’ll have buyers on hand from institutions, restaurants, grocers and distributors.
- Vendors will be available to conference attendees throughout the day and have the additional opportunity to showcase their products through demonstrations, tastings and displays.
- You get one full admission ticket as part of your vendor registration.
Click here to save your spot! Contact Jessicam@sustainableconnections.org for more details!
Scholarships
We have a limited number of scholarships available for those who would like to attend the Trade Meeting but for whom the ticket price is a barrier. Sustainable Connections believes that communities thrive with the inclusion of all people and want to bring visibility to those who enrich our community. We will prioritize applicants based on these traits:
- People of color
- Indigenous and/or First Nations persons
- People with disabilities
- People who identify as LGBTQ+
- Women
- Veterans
- People who are 55 years old or older
- People who are currently unemployed/underemployed
- People experiencing temporary financial hardship
- Full-time students
*The scholarship application period has closed for the 2025 event*
Eat Local First Trade Meeting Agenda
Building a strong local food system through innovation and collaboration
8:30am–Trade Show Opens—visit resource providers and vendors throughout the day to learn more about their offerings and taste some samples too!
9:00am –Welcome–Day Overview/Logistics
9:15am—Sustainable Connections Round-up— In this quick round-up of Sustainable Connections programs you will learn more about our offerings for food and farming businesses. You’ll hear from: Energy & Green Building, Toward Zero Waste, Cloud Mountain Farm Center and ACE Whatcom, Think Local First and Membership, Food and Farming, and Eat Local First WA.
9:45am—Water Wars (How to Avoid): A story of collaboration between tribal fishing communities and local farmers interested in preserving the Nooksack River. Meet local filmmaker, Aaron Straight, from Soulcraft Allstars as he weaves the tale of folks in our community who are working together for a healthier watershed that will serve fishing and farming communities into the future.
10:15-10:45am Break / Trade Show Open
10:45am— Introducing the Buyers—who’s in the room, what are they seeking?
11:00am–Speed Networking—bring your business cards and your elevator pitch for this riveting session of networking that will help you find the folks you want to connect with during the conference.
12:00pm–Trade Show Open
12:15pm–Mingling Lunch in Trade Show
1:15pm—Wholesale Buyers Panel –-Learn about trends in grocery, how to sell wholesale, marketing strategies, and what buyers are looking for in 2025. We will interview a mixed panel of experts and leave time for your questions too!
2:15–Break / Trade Show Open
2:30pm—Mapping the Customer Journey—In this exercise, you will step into your customers’ shoes. Who are your customers? What attracts them to your business? How do they move from initial interaction to loyal customer and advocate for your business? How can we collaborate to create new opportunities?
4:00pm–Closing/ Survey/ Door prizes—Stay all day and you’ll have a chance to win incredible door prizes including a business photo session with FotoMataio, 4 business advising sessions with consultant Leslee Dixon, and local food treats!
After Hours Event: (Additional Ticket Required)
4:05pm–Local Drinks and Snacks in the restaurant lounge for continued networking!
6:00pm–End
Thank you to our event sponsors!
Thank you to our program sponsors!
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Location
Holiday Inn and Suites4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham, WA, 98226