In Print » December 2011 » Departments » The Last Bite

Thanks to my friends at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, I had the opportunity to attend the Third Annual Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival at Monona Terrace in Madison, Wis. In all, 35 Wisconsin cheesemakers are showed off 150 of their artisan, farmstead and specialty cheeses. The festival, which grows every year, sold out again this year.

For the first time, local retailer Metcalfe's Market set up shop, selling nearly 100 farmstead and specialty cheeses during the festival. The Fourth Annual Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival is slated for Nov. 9-10, 2012, at the Monona Terrace in Madison.

Before leaving Madison, I toured the new location of The Kitchen Gallery, which is featured in this month's Cookware Report. You'll be reading more about their new store in the next issue of The Gourmet Retailer. Stay tuned! Cheesemakers Jeff & Vicky Simpkins from Shepherd's Ridge Creamery near St. Croix Falls, a new farmstead sheep dairy, talking with festival attendees Andrea and Deb Neu from Verona, Wis. photo credit: Jerry Tyler Sartori wheels of cheese (and Master Cheesemaker Mike Matucheski's hands). photo credit: Jerry Tyler

The Gourmet Housewares Show made its New York City debut, collocating with the New York International Gift Fair. As part of the show's education program, I had the honor of moderating a panel discussion about Fair Trade Kitchen. Following in the footsteps of coffee, tea, cocoa and bananas, a small but growing number of housewares items are seeking Fair Trade status. This year, there were more than 40 Fair Trade Federation member companies exhibiting at the show. Gourmet consumers are increasingly interested in sustainable products, from a social and environmental perspective. According to the NASFT's Today's Specialty Food Consumer 2011 report, sustainable practices are increasingly important to specialty food consumers. Eighty percent surveyed said it is important to buy foods purchased under sustainable conditions. Plus, there's a blurring line between sustainable consumers and specialty food consumers. Pictured from left to right: Renee Bowers, executive director of the Fair Trade Federation; Andrea Phillips, founder of Bali Zen; Rhea Alexander, founder of Digs and myself.

Natural Products Expo East made its return to Baltimore. Exhibitors and attendees alike seemed pleased with the show, which is schedule for Sept. 19-22 in Baltimore.

Many exhibitors introduced new products. For more information about new products and trends at the show, check out the Expo East Round-Up on www.gourmetretailer.com