Clover Gets a Little Fancy at the Winter Fancy Food Show
Hi, All. Marcus back again. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are getting into the swing of 2012. Wow, 2012! Hard to believe another new year has arrived already. January is a special time for folks in the food industry because we have the privilege to attend one of the finest epicurean expos in the world: the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.
The Winter Fancy Food Show is the largest specialty food event on the West Coast and 2012 marks its 37th year. Over 1,200 specialty food companies from all over the world gather for sampling, networking, and enjoying the unique culture of the food industry.
I often reflect on how fortunate I feel to work in an industry that revolves around one of my favorite past times: eating. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tapas, appetizers, cheese courses and desserts; Italian, American, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and everything in between. I love it all and feel very blessed this is the business I get to participate in each day. It’s not only the eating aspect of food that I love, but the way it functions to bring families and communities together.
Those who work within the food industry understand what a special place it is. We are creating, distributing and ultimately feeding and nurturing the people of our communities, our families and our world. That being said, it can be a tough gig day in and day out so an event like the Winter Fancy Food Show allows us some time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Besides the fun of meeting others in the industry, including food celebrities like Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa and Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes, we are invited to sample thousands of innovative, delicious new treats (myself and the Clover team often joke that we leave the show a few pounds heavier than when we entered it!).
The Winter Fancy Food Show also serves to remind us of why we joined this business in the first place. This is an industry that promotes creativity, sound values, teamwork and environmental stewardship. From the international pavilion to the local California area, we have the good fortune of trying some of the best food around. This year we will be showcasing our new Clover Organic Strawberry Kefir. Wish us (and our waistlines) luck!
