Food Trends | Kosherfest 2019
Published November 28, 2019
Note: The last Kosherfest was held in fall of 2022; the long-standing show was yet another victim of the Covid 19 pandemic.
You may remember that Covid was widespread in the ultra-Orthodox communities of Brooklyn, Monsey (NY), and Lakewood, NJ because they did not follow recommended protocols and they live and gather in crowded conditions. Later, they did not vaccinate in large numbers. That community comprised a large contingent at Kosherfest, although they were not the only attendees by far. The show was cancelled in 2020, but held the following year. Apparently, quite a few vendors set up at the show, but buyers' attendance was poor - I believe because a lot of folks were concerned about being in close quarters with so many unvaccinated people. The following year buyers returned, but too many vendors did not. So last year, in 2023, The show organizers were unable to attract enough vendors OR buyers to make the show viable.
The whole thing is unfortunate, because Kosherfest was an important meeting of buyers and sellers of kosher products.
The following is my report about the 2019 show, which was my last.
Published November 28, 2019
Note: The last Kosherfest was held in fall of 2022; the long-standing show was yet another victim of the Covid 19 pandemic.
You may remember that Covid was widespread in the ultra-Orthodox communities of Brooklyn, Monsey (NY), and Lakewood, NJ because they did not follow recommended protocols and they live and gather in crowded conditions. Later, they did not vaccinate in large numbers. That community comprised a large contingent at Kosherfest, although they were not the only attendees by far. The show was cancelled in 2020, but held the following year. Apparently, quite a few vendors set up at the show, but buyers' attendance was poor - I believe because a lot of folks were concerned about being in close quarters with so many unvaccinated people. The following year buyers returned, but too many vendors did not. So last year, in 2023, The show organizers were unable to attract enough vendors OR buyers to make the show viable.
The whole thing is unfortunate, because Kosherfest was an important meeting of buyers and sellers of kosher products.
The following is my report about the 2019 show, which was my last.
Another Kosherfest has come and gone. Produced by Diversified Communications, Kosherfest is the industry trade show for the kosher food industry. I think this was my 20th show and to be perfectly honest, it was a disappointment. Several key players did not attend, including one of my favorite producers of kosher sausage and cold cuts, Jack’s Gourmet. There was a much larger presence of business to business vendors, such as credit card processors, packaging and label makers, and point-of-sale software, but dramatically fewer actual food vendors.
There were also a lot of booths sampling wine and spirits, but there were not enough food samples to provide my tummy with a cushion to absorb any. I left hungry and thirsty.
But it wasn’t all bad. I know that as a local food columnist and owner of a very small business, I am not as valuable a visitor as a buyer from a major grocery chain. Still, I think it says something positive about a company if the owner is willing to spend a few minutes talking with me, even though I am not about to place an order for multiple pallets of product.
There were also a lot of booths sampling wine and spirits, but there were not enough food samples to provide my tummy with a cushion to absorb any. I left hungry and thirsty.
But it wasn’t all bad. I know that as a local food columnist and owner of a very small business, I am not as valuable a visitor as a buyer from a major grocery chain. Still, I think it says something positive about a company if the owner is willing to spend a few minutes talking with me, even though I am not about to place an order for multiple pallets of product.
Take Yonathan Gershon, creator and owner of Neptune Spices. I first met Yoni 15 years ago, when he had only a small table in someone else’s booth. When Yoni’s family emigrated to Israel from India, he realized that the young Israelis, who travel to India after military service, bring home a taste for Indian flavors. Yoni developed a small collection of spice mixes and crunchy snacks, which he brought to Kosherfest, hoping to find a US distributor. The original name of the product was Yoni’s Spices; the label featured a drawing of Yoni himself. He found a distributor, rebranded to Neptune Spices, and now produces dozens of delicious products including not only dry spices, but also marinades and sauces. This year he occupied a big, double booth at the show. As always, he greeted me with a big hug and eagerly showed me his new products. This is the kind of success story I love – a good guy with a great product builds a successful business and remains a good guy.
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I met another good guy this year, Brent Delman, The Cheese Guy. He worked in food distribution for many years. When he became kosher, he quickly noticed a lack of good kosher cheese. He studied cheesemaking, then searched out small, artisanal and family owned farms who were making excellent cheese. He invested in Vermont, New York, and Ohio, installing his own kosher equipment on their premises and providing kosher enzymes. He essentially created a kosher cheese production facility within the existing facilities. Once the cheeses are made, he brings them to his own place in upstate New York for aging. He is producing some amazing cheeses, OU certified, of a quality matching any other cheeses I’ve tasted.
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Elly Miller, Emes Charcuterie, started making kosher charcuterie in his own kitchen. It’s a classic story. When he served it to friends, they asked him to make more and before he knew it, he was in business. He recognized a popular trend and adapted it to be kosher, he says, without sacrificing quality and flavor. Unfortunately, his booth was too crowded to get close and his sample dishes were always empty. It was his first show; I’m sure he was overwhelmed.
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The folks at Get Pikl’ed produce a mouth-puckering pickle juice that has dubious health claims, but is a great cocktail mixer and marinade. My Dad z”l used to drink pickle juice out of the jar and claimed it was good for you, so he would love these guys.
Buzz Pop Cocktails developed a patented process to freeze alcohol which lets them make refreshing boozy push pops. The pops are frozen solid and slide up out of their containers on a stick without melting – what a great treat to serve – to the adults – at a summer barbeque. |