In my Inbox. You have to be in the food industry to attend the show. Several DCFüd writers are covering the show.

-JAY
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D.C.-VA-MD Well Represented with 80 Exhibitors

Washington, D.C. (July 5, 2011) – Welcoming the 57th Summer Fancy Food Show with enthusiasm, 80 specialty food makers from across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region will present their cookies, spice mixes, artisanal cheeses, meats and other innovative products at this major international culinary trade event.

The Summer Fancy Food Show is the largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages in North America. It will take place July 10 – 12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The show moved to Washington from its long-time home at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City due to ongoing construction. It will be held again in Washington in 2012.

The exhibit halls will be filled with 180,000 products from 2,400 exhibitors from across the U.S. and 80 countries and regions. More than 18,000 buyers are expected to attend, all looking for new products, ideas, and trends in specialty foods to present to consumers in the year to come.

The D.C. metro area’s inventive offerings will include Chesapeake Blue Crab Salsa from Randallstown, Md., Chocolate Coconut Curry Gelato from D.C., Tequila Lime Chocolates from Charlottesville, Va., and pasture-raised Berkshire Pork Bacon from Surry, Va.

Among the region’s exhibitors are:

* Dolci Gelati, Washington, D.C. – Gelato/Sorbet
* Route 11 Potato Chips, Mount Jackson, Va. – Potato Chips
* Fisher’s Popcorn, Ocean City, Md. – Popcorn
* Gifford’s Wholesale Ice Cream, Silver Spring, Md. – Ice Cream
* Dr. Lucy’s Cookies, Norfolk, Va. – Gluten-Free Cookies
* Hubbard Peanut Company, Inc., Sedley, Va. – Peanuts
* Gunther’s Gourmet, Richmond, Va. – Salsas and Marinades
* Monastery Bakery at Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, Va. – Baked Goods
* Blue Crab Bay Co., Melfa, Va. – Hors d’oeurves & Appetizers
* Abuelita Mexican Foods, Manassas, Va. – Tortillas/Chips
* Silence Tea, Gaithersburg, Md. – Teas
* French Cheese Club, College Park, Md. – Cheeses
* Pasta Valente, Charlottesville, Va. – Dried Pastas
* Mayorga Coffee, Rockville, Md. – Coffee
* Divine Chocolate, Washington, D.C. – Chocolate Bars
* Red Rocker Candy, Troy, Va. – Handmade Toffees and Brittles
* S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Surry, Va. – Farm-Raised Meats
* Mama Vida, Randallstown, Md. – Chutneys
* Montebello Kitchens, Gordonsville, Va. – Baking Mixes
* Chincoteague Seafood, Parsonsburg, Md. – Seafood/Soups

Additionally, D.C. metropolitan area companies made a strong showing as Silver Finalists in the 2011 sofi™ Awards for the outstanding specialty foods and beverages of the year. The awards, presented by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT), owner of the Summer Fancy Food Show, are the top honor in the $70-billion specialty food industry. The Gold Winners will be announced at the show on July 11 at a red-carpet ceremony hosted by Celebrity Chef Cat Cora.

Regional sofi Silver Finalists are:

* La Pasta, Inc., Silver Spring, Md. – Marinara Sauce
* Todd’s Dirt Seasonings, Severna Park, Md.– Crabby Dirt
* Blue Bay Crab Co., Melfa, VA. – Sandbaggers™ Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Peanuts
* Bone Doctors’ BBQ, Charlottesville, Va. – Bone Doctors’ BBQ Gift Pack
* Route 11 Potato Chips, Mount Jackson, Va. – Dill Pickle Potato Chips

“Metropolitan Washington and the Middle Atlantic region are strong markets for specialty foods,” says NASFT President Ann Daw. “Its vibrant food scene is adding a special dimension to our show, with great regional exhibitors at the show itself, and wonderful dining options for attendees to enjoy.”

Fancy Food Show Exhibitor News: www.specialtyfood.com/exhibitornews

sofi Awards Finalists: http://foodspring.com/sofiawards

Press Registration
The Summer Fancy Food Show is for members of the specialty food trade only. It is closed to the general public. Press registration is at www.fancyfoodshows.com/attend.

About the NASFT
The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster trade, commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,700 members in the U.S. and abroad. The NASFT’s website for consumers, www.foodspring.com provides an insider’s look at specialty foods and the companies, entrepreneurs and artisans behind them. For information on the NASFT, go to www.specialtyfood.com. For information on the NASFT’s Fancy Food Shows, go to www.fancyfoodshows.com.