With origins in post-war 1950s America, the Fancy Food Shows have grown and evolved for decades alongside food culture and enthusiasts across the U.S.
One of the reasons SFA's events have such staying power is that they are shaped by the values of our members, our industry, and our Association leadership. These values help guide how we innovate and expand the Shows (hello, Winter FancyFaire*!) to better serve all participants.
Community, Inclusion, and Belonging
Specialty food is, by definition, a celebration of diversity. Our members’ stories start in cities and on farms, inland suburbs and coastal communities; they come from single-parent households and nuclear families and immigrant grandparents. Their stories inspire and inform the diverse products they make, expressed in flavors, textures, and colors that speak to their unique experiences, cultures, and traditions.
It is only natural that SFA embraces community, inclusion, and belonging as guiding principles.
SFA is committed to not just maintaining, but expanding, the opportunities available to makers of all backgrounds at our trade shows. We provide exhibitors with ways to celebrate and broadcast their company as minority-owned in their company profiles and their physical booths, to both showcase pride in their background and attract buyers and investors looking to work with them.
Diverse makers can be found in every aisle, pavilion, and corner of SFA trade shows!
Sustainability
As a not-for-profit and the leading trade association for the specialty food industry, SFA has a responsibility to lead by example when it comes to sustainability. We are committed to identifying, understanding, and mitigating the environmental impacts of our Shows and events, and to prioritizing social sustainability and inclusion in our programs.
We work closely with our host cities, venues, and local organizations to implement sustainable practices and policies around our events. Both the Javits Center, home to the Summer Fancy Food Show, and the San Diego Convention Center, home to Winter FancyFaire* 2026, emphasize sustainability, including in how they source and deploy energy during large-scale events like ours.
Minimizing Food Waste
SFA has operated a Exhibitor Food Donation program alongside the Fancy Food Shows for decades, salvaging millions of pounds of surplus food and redirecting it to individuals and families living in our host cities.
At the end of each Show, we also work to donate items including furniture, household products, and construction materials to local non-profit organizations.
Additional Sustainability Efforts
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Our online show portal reduces printed show materials, saving trees, water, and waste.
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Badges used at the show are free from traditional plastic holders and are recycled after the event.
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50% overhead lighting during move-in and set-up period.
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Overhead lighting and floor power are not turned on until one hour prior to the event opening.
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Half lighting is reinstated after the closing hour of the show.
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Floor power is turned off 30 minutes after the closing hour of each show day.
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Heating and cooling are conserved during move-in and move-out periods.
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Escalators are on only during show days and are turned off 30 minutes after the event closes.
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Water coolers are designated around the show floor to encourage the use of reusable water bottles.
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High-speed automatic roll up doors are used between loading docks and expo halls to modulate temperature fluctuations in the building.
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Carpet options can be re-purposed and recycled; soy-based padding made from recycled materials is used.
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Pipe and drape materials are multi-use, then recycled by a partner company.
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Modern, reusable, and 100% recyclable rental building structures are offered.
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All single-use rigid graphics are printed on high-quality recyclable substrates; aisle signs on 100% recyclable, high quality paper with only non-VOC inks.
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Reduce carbon footprint and travel costs by using local union labor.
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Use energy-efficient (Energy Star) electronic equipment when available and enforce a power-down policy—all AV equipment is turned off overnight when possible.
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To improve waste diversion, the following sort streams are collected separately where possible:
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Cardboard
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Mixed recycling (such as bottles, cans and paper)
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Paper and publications
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C&D (construction and demolition) debris
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Food waste
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Trash
Sort streams are identified differently during move-in and move-out periods and event days. When exhibitors set up their exhibits, large dumpsters are offered across the exhibition hall spaces so that exhibitors can help sort landfill from recyclables. Recycling streams include paper and cardboard, construction and demolition debris and bottles and cans.
When the show is open, waste receptacles available on the show floor include mixed recycling (such as bottles and cans) and landfill. Food composting and grease bins are available in clean up stations located throughout the show floor.
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Bring Your Own Bottle
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Bring a reusable water bottle and fill up at drinking fountains instead of using disposable water bottles
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Look for recycling stations throughout the show floor to divert recyclables from the landfill.
Keep it Digital
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Download the Mobile App and look for QR codes in the booths for information instead of grabbing paper handouts.
It’s All About Location
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Stay close to the convention center to minimize transportation to and from the show floor, and share cabs/rideshares, walk, or use public transit when possible.
Go Green at the Hotel
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Many hotels offer an option to opt-out of daily linen & towel replacement. Save resources by declining daily linen refresh. Turn off the lights and TV in your room before you head to the show each day.
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