Frequently Asked Questions

The Mercantile is an industry-only trade show focused on developing wholesale relationships between crafters and merchants. If you’re a merchant, distributor or in the media, we’d love for you attend!

Good Food Guild members are also allowed two passes to check out the show and see if its a good fit.

All crafters who have passed the sustainability vetting to become a Good Food Guild member are eligible to show at the Mercantile.

If you are not already a member, you are welcome to apply after registering for the Mercantile.

The Guild requirements vary by category, but generally include criteria like:
– Made with transparency in the supply chain.
– Free of genetically modified ingredients.
– Made with a balanced objective of local, organic and highest-quality.
– Made in the USA or US territories.

One Show | $1050 Early Bird (regularly $1250)

Two Shows | $2100

All Three Shows | $2900

The Good Food Foundation works to provide equal opportunities to all sustainable crafters. Should the booth fee be beyond your budget, please email us at connect@goodfoodfdn.org.

Each crafter showing at the Mercantile is given a 6 ft table, a neutral linen, a crafter sign, 2 crafter badges and a small trash receptacle. Both cold and dry storage warehousing is also provided for crafters who would like to ship product ahead of time.

For an additional fee, crafters can request electricity, space for a free-standing sign, coolers, wine glasses or a champagne bucket.

You may show and sample your entire product line. It is NOT limited to Good Food Award winning products or Good Food Award categories.

There are no direct sales at the Mercantile. Crafters may sample and take wholesale orders.

The Good Food Mercantile runs from 12pm – 5pm. Crafter load-in begins at 9:30am and load-out finishes by 6pm.

You can find lists for all past attendees, both crafters and retailers, on each cities’ Mercantile page.

View past Portland attendees here.

View past New York attendees here.

View past San Francisco attendees here.

“We thought the Mercantile had a lot of new diversity of crafters we hadn’t seen before. We definitely picked up some new products.” – Emily Friedberg, Co-Owner of Each Peach Market in Washington, D.C.

“There couldn’t have been a better event for showcasing small producers in SF and Brooklyn. We’ve had the chance to catch up with our current retailers and friends on both coasts and talk to many new people all around. We loved everything about the event.” – Amy Deaver, CEO and Jam Maker of Lemon Bird Preserves in Los Angeles, California

“I loved the organization of this event, it was the perfect environment to get to know the makers and explore new partnerships.” – Alison Kunetka, Manager of Food Development at Williams Sonoma

Crafters: If your plans have changed and you can no longer show at the Mercantile, your registration fee can be credited toward a future event. Until two weeks before the Mercantile, a refund may be available upon request.

In the unusual case of an event-wide cancellation, your choice of a refund or a future event credit will be available.

Attendees: Mercantile tickets are refundable until 5 days before the event, after which point your ticket can be transferred to another attendee or to a future event.

Helping the Good Food Foundation and Good Food Merchants Collaborative bring the Mercantile to life are our generous hosts: businesses and organizations committed to leading the way in uniting great food crafters and merchants in virtuous commerce.

Yes! Some venues require a certificate of insurance but all Mercantiles are open to alcohol producers.

All crafters attending a Good Food Mercantile are required to be active members of the Good Food Guild.

This ensures that all attendees meet the same set of sustainability criteria that Good Food Award Winners are held to.

If you are not a member of the Guild, you can learn more here.

We recommend that crafters bring 250-400 samples total depending on the show you are attending.

Specific sample suggestions will be sent in the crafter information kit for each show.

If you have registered for a Good Food Mercantile, you will receive the crafter information kit at least one month in advance of the show.

This kit will include:

  • shipping information & labels
  • hotel block
  • load in/out information
  • all logistics needed for a great show

Crafters who would like to include a free-standing sign as a part of their Mercantile booth, can register via the rental and electricity form for a small fee.

Signs placed on top of or attached to your table DO NOT require registration.

Signage attached to walls or any building fixtures are NOT permitted.

A limited number of spaces are available for food-related businesses such as makers of reusable coffee filters, sustainable pet food or cleaning products.

Crafters of these products are required to join the Good Food Guild.

At this time we do not offer the opportunity to select your booth. However, we are dedicated to providing an equitable experience to all attendees.

Each maker will receive the same size booth, back space and materials.

After visiting Chicago, Washington D.C., Portland and Los Angeles, we’ve decided to make the most well attended of the shows – Portland – the new, permanent location of the spring Mercantile.