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01/19/2022 11:01 PMThe Connecticut Food Product Showcase will take place Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Elm City Market, 777 Chapel Street, New Haven. The event will be focus on samples that people can take home with them, rather than sampling them at the market.
Shoppers who spend $40 or more at Elm City Market during the event will receive a rotisserie chicken, a ciabatta loaf from Chabaso Bakery (a sister organization of CT Food Launchpad), and also a choice of a sampler product from one of the emerging Connecticut food brands that are part of the CT Food Launchpad network (while supplies last). Organizers also will have an informational table set up so that shoppers can learn more about these emerging brands, along with sampler bundles of the local products.
The local vendors currently signed up for the event include:
On Shito!: Oh Shito! is the brainchild of co-founder, Kwame Asare. On a trip to Ghana in 2019, he was inspired by the essence and rich culture of his birthplace. The warm greetings of Ghanaians, along with the familiar tastes of bold cuisines reignited buried memories of childhood. One constant staple of his favorite waakye dish was shito—a common sauce condiment in Ghana. Upon returning to the U.S., he shared the highlights of his trip, and informed his siblings of an idea that would bring a Ghanaian classic to the American hot sauce and condiment market.
KDCrop Farms: Established in 2007 in the Connecticut town of Chaplin, KDCrop Farms is a woman-owned business run by Kelly, her husband Derrick, and their two sons. Together they grow and sell fruit, vegetables and eggs to the communities of Connecticut and beyond. Look out for their jams, pickles, relish and more.
Fire Ox Foods: Fire Ox Foods creates food that is better for people and the planet by helping people eat more vegetable by making them approachable, delicious, and satisfying by drawing inspiration from cuisines people love.
Sanctuary Kitchen: Sanctuary Kitchen, a program of CitySeed in partnership with a network of community volunteers, was formed in 2017 to promote and celebrate the culinary traditions, cultures, and stories of refugees and immigrants resettled in Connecticut. In addition to its historical leadership as an immigration hub, New Haven receives up to 500 resettled refugees annually. With this diversity comes opportunities for cultural exchange, enriching the community at large and building ties across demographic divides.
Durty Jerk: In 2001, the founder of Durty Jerk moved to a yard where the landlord was Jamaican. He developed a deep appreciation for the Caribbean culture. Over the years, he developed an obsession for Jamaican jerk chicken, a pimento-wood-smoked chicken rubbed in jerk sauce (a spicy dry-rub or pepper marinade consisting of three main ingredients: scotch bonnets, allspice, and scallions). This craving would lead him all around the world in search of the best jerk.
Queen Bee: Queen Bee is a wellness supplement line with a focus on immune support products. The main line is an immune support shot infused with honeybee byproducts. The ingredients are royal jelly, raw honey, ginger, cayenne pepper, turmeric, and lemon juice. All its ingredients are sourced sustainably and are fresh from honeybee hives and high-quality vendors.
Rachel’s Cookies and Treats: Rachel’s Cookies and Treats was founded in 2009 in central Connecticut. Since that time the crew has mixed, scooped, baked, sampled, and sold millions of goodies to cookie lovers all over the United States. What started as a way to make a few extra bucks baking out of the back of a pizza parlor has grown into a passion for baking.