NEWBERG, Ore. — Oregon’s food and wine scene will take center stage next month as the inaugural Crush & Crate Northwest Chehalem Valley Food and Wine Showcase comes to the Chehalem Cultural Center on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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The event, organized by long-time industry professionals Mark Edwards and Mike Hatch, aims to highlight the flavors and artisans that define Oregon’s wine country — from boutique wineries and cideries to small-batch cheese and specialty food producers.
For Edwards, the idea for the event started close to home. A conversation with Kristen Kidney of Good Company Cheese revealed that many small producers don’t have the time or resources to attend trade shows outside the region.
“Kristen said that, as a sole proprietor, the opportunity to visit a trade show was very slim — she’d have to close her shop to travel,” Edwards said. “We suggested bringing a show to her.”
That idea grew into Crush & Crate Northwest — a full-day event connecting local producers, distributors, and consumers. Edwards and fellow co-founder Mike Hatch hope to make it easier for local wineries and beverage makers to connect directly with food producers and distributors, while giving the public a chance to discover and taste products made in their own backyard.
“I wished that someone would bring a trade show out here to Wine Country and expose this whole big section of the market to these products since they’re not necessarily making it to the Portland shows,” said Kidney. “We have this beautiful venue right here in Downtown Newberg in the Chehalem Cultural Center, and I thought it was a missed opportunity to reach a new audience who is hungry for more cheese, literally and figuratively.
Edwards said that was the exact point of the festival, from the vendor’s point of view.
“One of our goals is to give wineries and producers resources for specialty foods and make their busy lives a little less hectic,” Edwards said. “They’re not only great winemakers, but also event planners and buyers. We want to help connect them with the right people.”
The daylong event features personal tasting experiences with top producers, as well as expert-led pairing classes that explore the art of matching cheese with local wine and cider: a cheese and Domaine Lumineux wine experience at 11 a.m., a cheese and Raw Cider experience at 1 p.m., and a cheese and Balsall Creek wine experience at 3 p.m.
“While cheese is and has been my industry, not everyone ‘gets it,’” said Kidney. “If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, ‘So, that’s a real job?’ Yes, it’s a real job, and if you come ot the show, you’ll get a glimpse into why I was seduced into the cheese industry. It’s a tasty profession.”
Edwards said the event is designed to serve both industry professionals and casual attendees. Trade visitors will have the opportunity to network and sample new products, while the general public can explore hundreds of locally made foods and beverages. Each food table will include information on both wholesale and retail purchasing options.
“The goal is to build relationships,” Edwards said. “Trade attendees can discover new products and make connections with three wholesale distributors that serve the area, and the public can meet the makers behind what they’re tasting.”
For Edwards, the most exciting part of the event is simple: connection.
“Food and beverages bring people together,” he said. “The joy will be connecting people with some of the best in specialty foods and beverages. The pairing classes are going to be fun and approachable — everything being served is local and accessible.”
Kidney said she’s excited to connect more not only with potential customers who may visit her cheeseshop but also to provide a one-stop shop to meet the surrounding wineries, which have the potential to provide a stable source of revenue for her business.
“It’s a really big part of my business—supplying local tasting rooms with whatever they need,” she said. “I’ve been to a lot of events like this, always as a consumer and never behind the booth. But they’re always full of good vibes and people having a great time. It’s a really fun energy for the day.”
She recommends visitors come hungry. While there aren’t full plated meals, the samples will leave visitors full as there are over 100 food items to taste alongside beer, wine, cider, and spirits.
The name Crush & Crate Northwest, Edwards added, reflects the heart of the event: a celebration of wine (“crush”) and food (“crate”) that honors the region’s agricultural and culinary roots.
“The Chehalem Valley is developing a reputation for great wines and foods and a place to visit,” he said. “Thousands of people come through to visit our wineries and cideries. As they drive through Newberg and the surrounding towns, we want them to stop for a meal, a piece of cheese, and a beverage. Bringing attention to all of these places is our intent.”
Tickets for the Chehalem Valley Food and Wine Showcase are $24 for industry (business verification required) and $35 for general admission. Cheese pairing ticket add-ons are $25 per class. The festival is on November 8 from 1 – 5 p.m., with early access for businesses from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chehalem Cultural Center. Learn more and buy tickets at www.crushandcratenw.com.
