What is Food Biz Week?
A free opportunity for food and farm businesses at all levels of food production and food retail in the Pacific Northwest to learn from industry experts and fellow experienced colleagues through a curated week of virtual panels, presentations, and networking activities. The event will be all virtual and free so food and farm entrepreneurs are invited to attend from anywhere in the region.
This year, Business Impact NW has partnered with the Seattle Good Business Network and Sustainable Connections to host Food Biz Week.
When you register for Food Biz Week you are given access to Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday's events, please indicate which one or all of the sessions you would like to attend.
On Tuesday, February 23rd of Food Biz Week, our partners Sustainable Connections and the Seattle Good Business Network are hosting the Farm-To-Table Trade Meeting - a half-day virtual event that invites folks working in the food and farm community to connect, create and strengthen market partnerships, and learn from each other about programs and solutions to support the needs of your business and organization in 2021. This is a paid event run by our event partners Sustainable Connections and the Seattle Good Business Network.
Learn more about the Farm-To-Table Trade Meeting and register here.
Food Biz Week is made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship from Farmstand Local Foods.
Farmstand Local Foods helps wholesale buyers connect with dozens of farmers and food producers in their regional food system. Farmstand Local Foods makes sourcing local make sense by updating the fresh sheet to a live inventory from dozens of farms, sending one truck and one invoice. They work with #localforreal suppliers that implement regenerative and equity focused practices in Central and Southern Puget Sound. Learn more about Farmstand Local here!
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 1 - Land Access (Washington Farmland Trust, Viva Farms)
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 2 - Sales Channels (New Day Cooperative, Pacific Coast Harvest)
Expand your network, get advice, ask your questions, and get to know this morning’s speakers during a dynamic breakout networking session with this morning’s panelist speakers and other small business owners. Make valuable connections with business leaders and fellow small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. All breakout sessions are facilitated and moderated by Business Impact NW staff.
TUESDAY - FARM-TO-TABLE TRADE MEETING
WEDNESDAY - Packaged Food/Value Add Businesses
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 1 - Sales Channels (Pot Pie Factory, Patty Pan Collective)
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 2 - Packaging/Labeling (RECIPE 33, Timber City Ginger Beer)
Expand your network, get advice, ask your questions, and get to know this morning’s speakers during a dynamic breakout networking session with this morning’s panelist speakers and other small business owners. Make valuable connections with business leaders and fellow small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. All breakout sessions are facilitated and moderated by Business Impact NW staff.
THURSDAY - FINANCING FOR FOOD AND FARM
11:00AM - 11:50AM: Traditional Financing for Food and Farm
Erika Lindholm - Craft 3 // Roland Chaiton - Business Impact NW // Darcy Maldonado - USDA Farm Service Agency
A panel of lenders to help you explore various pathways and options for lending in launching or growing your food or farm business.
1:00PM - 1:50PM : Breakout Networking Session 1 - Farm Financing (Black Farmers Collective, Farm Service Agency)
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 2 - Food Financing (Craft3, Business Impact NW, OlyKraut)
Expand your network, get advice, ask your questions, and get to know this morning’s speakers during a dynamic breakout networking session with this morning’s panelist speakers and other small business owners. Make valuable connections with business leaders and fellow small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. All breakout sessions are facilitated and moderated by Business Impact NW staff.
FRIDAY - FOODSERVICE BUSINESSES
11:00AM - 11:50AM: Successful Pivots during COVID and Beyond
Eric Tanaka - Tom Douglas Seattle Kitchen // Efrem Fesaha - Boon Boona Coffee // Rodney Hines - Métier Brewing Company
A deeper dive into successful pivots in food service from business owners who have launched, grown, and/or pivoted during the pandemic.
1:00PM - 1:50PM : Breakout Networking Session 1 - Foodservice (Tom Douglas Restaurants)
1:00PM - 1:50PM: Breakout Networking Session 2 - Foodservice (Boon Boona Coffee, Naija Buka)
Expand your network, get advice, ask your questions, and get to know this morning’s speakers during a dynamic breakout networking session with this morning’s panelist speakers and other small business owners. Make valuable connections with business leaders and fellow small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. All breakout sessions are facilitated and moderated by Business Impact NW staff.
