Paul A. Stermer, Executive Director, Fair Food Matters
paul@fairfoodmatters.org
The Can-Do Kitchen, a program of Fair Food Matters, will host a food event for both buyers from local and regional food retailers and distributors, and food lovers in general.
The Can-Do Market Expo will take place Thursday, January 20, from 4-7 p.m. at the Girl Scouts Building (601 West Maple Street, Kalamazoo). Designed for would-be food entrepreneurs, grocery buyers and all food lovers, the event offers people a chance to taste the foods made in the Can-Do Kitchen and meet the people who make them.
Scheduled to take part are Mike’s Famous Michigan Bean Dip, Hot Mamas, Karabread, Buzzelli Foods, Adventures of Barb & Tammy, Happy Mouth Vegan Treats, Hap’n Stance Food Company and Naples Gourmet, with products ranging from bean dip to chips and salsa, fresh mozzarella, granola, breads, cookies, donuts, olive tapenade and more.
Musical accompaniment will be provided by singer-songwriter Bill Caskey.
“Our goal is to make sure grocery buyers large and small are familiar with Can-Do Kitchen entrepreneurs,” said Program Manager Lucy Bland. More than 20 businesses regularly use the Can-Do Kitchen, said Bland, and they sell at a number of retailers through West Michigan, including the People’s Food Co-op, Natural Health Center, Tiffany’s, Sawall and D&W. Clients use fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.
The Can-Do Kitchen provides both commercial kitchen space and business incubator services to area food entrepreneurs, who are then able to bring their locally made products to local markets. It is the only such program in the region, and it recently celebrated its first “graduate” (Kurry Guru, maker of vegetarian Indian cuisine).
The Can-Do Kitchen is currently located inside the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo (315 West Michigan Avenue), but will relocate to the new home of the People’s Food Co-op (507 Harrison Street) later this year.
Fair Food Matters
323 North Burdick Street
Kalamazoo MI 49007
(269) 492-1270
www.fairfoodmatters.org
