Organic foodie events showcase new products and help consumers learn about seasonal combinations. Organic sales in the U.S. total over $47 billion a year, which now accounts for more than five percent of food sales in total. With a growing interest in using and consuming organic produce, how can you run your own foodie event? What makes a successful foodie event? And why is it important for you community?

Hashtag your event 

As with ‘growing’ anything you have to know your product and your audience. Then you have to gel these two understandings together. How you speak about an event is important to your audience. If you are going to provide high quality, local produce in specific combinations aimed at educated foodies- portraying that is key. Creating a buzz about your event is important as it maximizes your exposure and helps with your organizing. One event, at Treehaus cafe and food market in Manhattan, went viral after visitors started using the hashtag #LiveOrganic and others posted highlights of the event on social media. Be organized with your event management, be proactive by engaging influencers and be authentic. Once started, the organic produce will speak for itself.

Grow your community organically

Foodie events are the best way to discover new products and build a community. Every year, approximately 90,000 people attend the Eat Real Festival in Oakland, CA which brings people together to taste and experience ‘real’ food. It’s mission is to ‘increase public respect’ for good food. Holding a foodie event brings together local produce, investment in time and resources under the umbrella of being passionately interested in food. Growing a foodie community is more than just growing a community that is interested in local sustainable produce that fills a hunger need. A foodie community can travel vast areas to indulge their passions, they will tweet about your event, post photos and return time and time again because of loyalty and interest.

Combining locally sourced ingredients, having demonstrations that build knowledge and peak interest will enhance the day and make it memorable as well as adding value to the experience.

The fastest growing area of the U.S food industry is organic food sales. The growth rate outstrips the growth rate for the overall food market. Some areas of the United States are considered ‘hot spots’ for organic growing. Holding a foodie event in a hot spot is a successful idea, it will showcase a variety of organic produce as well as promote the local area, with participants returning time and time again.