Roanoke Region Buyer/Grower Expo at the VABF Conference

Are you a buyer or grower in the Roanoke region—serving or sourcing from Roanoke City, Salem City, or the counties of Roanoke, Franklin, Floyd, Montgomery, Craig, Botetourt, or Bedford? Interested in expanding your business relationships and strengthening the local food economy?

Join the Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF), the Rodale Institute, and the Roanoke Foodshed Network (RFN) for a regional Buyer/Grower Expo as part of the 2026 VABF Conference on January 10th, 2026 (event schedule below). This event connects farmers, food producers, distributors, restaurants, institutions, and retailers who are passionate about sourcing and supplying local, sustainable food.

Learn from buyers who procure locally and growers who sell to wholesale markets. Meet face-to-face with regional buyers and growers, build new market relationships, and discover resources to support your business growth. Whether you’re a farmer looking to expand sales or a buyer seeking reliable local suppliers, this event provides a space to make meaningful connections that strengthen our regional food network.

Event Schedule:
1. Buyer/Grower Panel Discussion, The Organic Option–Practical Paths to Market Expansion
The Hotel Roanoke, 110 Shenandoah Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24016
4:00-5:30 PM
This panel brings together growers and buyers across different production approaches to have an honest, practical conversation about where small farms can expand their markets. We’ll explore opportunities in direct-to-consumer sales, restaurants, retail, wholesale, and institutional purchasing, with a focus on building stable pricing, reliable volume, and long-term buyer relationships. For farms that are certified organic, in transition, or considering the option, we’ll offer a clear look at how organic certification can factor into market access and pricing, what changes on the farm, what support exists, and where certification can open doors. The emphasis is on informed choice. Farmers who are transitioning will gain valuable next steps. Farmers who are certified will learn strategies to deepen market capacity. Farmers who are curious will walk away with a grounded understanding of whether organic market participation aligns with their goals and bottom line. Buyers will share real data and purchasing insight, what they need, what works, and how to build strong, value-aligned partnerships across all scales.

2. Buyer/Grower Social
Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
6:00–8:00 PM
Farmers, food producers, aggregators, distributors, restaurants, caterers, institutions, and retailers are invited to enjoy a networking social. Connect with regional buyers and sellers while enjoying food and beverages.

3. Gallery Walk
Taubman Museum of Art, 110 Salem Ave SE, Roanoke, VA 24011
8:00-9:00 PM
After the social, attendees are invited to explore the museum’s exhibits during a self-paced gallery walk.

Details
Date: January 10, 2026

Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Location:
The Hotel Roanoke,
110 Shenandoah Ave NW
Roanoke, VA 24016

Cost: FREE

Find Out More and Register

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Thank you to Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF) and the Roanoke Foodshed Network (RFN) for co-organizing this event. This work is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).