How FABx is helping connect Basin producers and buyers
“It’s not always easy to get a shelf spot,” says Kip Cantrell, garlic grower and co-owner of Thistle Farm in the Creston Valley. “But FABx helped us walk in with a plan and walk away with new partners.”
That’s exactly the kind of connection the Basin Food and Buyers Expo (FABx) was designed to spark. Columbia Basin Trust founded this annual event in 2018. Each year, it has brought together farmers, food processors, buyers, chefs, funders, and community leaders.
For Cantrell and his partner Michele, who also craft seasonings and salts, FABx has opened doors that traditional sales efforts didn’t. “We’ve gone to FABx with specific goals to make deals with specific stores,” he says. “In the process, all kinds of other connections have been made.”
One of those connections is with HomeGrown Market in Nakusp, an independent grocery store co-owned by Mickey Wojnarowski and Brendalee Morgan. The couple is proud to stock their shelves with Basin products like Thistle Farm’s.
When Nakusp hosted FABx in 2023, Mickey and Brendalee helped to make the event a success. “Having FABx here pushed our momentum forward a few years, at least,” says Wojnarowski. “It brought a lot of attention to local producers and made it easier for us to expand what we offer.
Beyond business deals, Wojnarowski points to deeper benefits to host communities. “The school, the food bank, our Grow Arrow Lakes initiative, the Kootenay Food Council and others are collaborating now,” he says. “These kinds of connections can’t happen if people aren’t talking with each other. When everyone gets together in person, magic seems to happen.”
The Trust launched FABx as part of its broader efforts to support local food production and access across the region. From the start, the event has help to foster industry relationships, share practical knowledge and inspire business development. Over the years, other partners and supporters have stepped forward. In 2023, the Trust transitioned from being a full funder to a partial funder. It continues to support the event’s evolution.
“We believe local food should be accessible and enjoyed by everyone,” says Shauna Fidler, FABx co organizer. “So, this year, we’re throwing our doors wide open.”
The 2025 Basin Food Summit and FABx will take place in Nelson from November 6-8. Highlights include a food film festival, a collaboration with Nelson’s Burger Month campaign and meals prepared by student chefs from Selkirk College.
“Our food system is a reflection of who we are as Basin residents,” says Fidler. “FABx is creating a legacy of vibrant, inclusive and resilient food culture—one connection at a time.”
To learn more or get involved in FABx25, visit Basinfood.ca
