National Editor Tom Karst There is a proverb that begins, “For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.”

In a similar way, it seems the Midwest Produce Conference & Expo fills a definite need in the industry that may portend larger implications down the road.

 The intimate feel of small booth sizes, an easily traversed expo floor and the chance to engage in sustained one-on-one conversations with Midwest area buyers were major pluses.

 The niche filled by the show for buyers and sellers of produce in the Midwest was mentioned several times in discussions with exhibitors and participants at The Packer’s Chicago show.

 One participant pointed out that there hasn’t been much a produce show in the middle of the country. “There is a lot of produce bought and sold in Chicago,” he said. “I think it makes sense.”

For the want of a conversation, a sales opportunity was lost.

Of course there were other “for want ofs” to be satisfied with the show, and thankfully most can be easily corrected.

For example, some exhibitors were peeved about the lack of tables and chairs during booth set up. That won’t happen again.

And, of course, everyone was interested in seeing more retailers. More independent retailers, more Midwest retailers, more retailers, period.

“If things continue to go where people are looking for alternatives to the high-dollar PMA show, that’s why this show is important,” one exhibitor told me.

 The Packer’s new show will be judged like the Southeast Produce Council show and other regional shows.

If the Midwest Produce Expo gives the nail for the shoe, a shoe for the horse, the horse for the rider, the rider for the message, and the message for the battle to expand produce consumption, it will succeed. Let it no longer be said, “For want of a Midwest produce show. “

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There is pie in the face  for bureaucrats heralding use of food stamps at farmers’ markets.

One Boston-area pie maker has refused to allow her pies to be purchased with food stamp electronic benefit cards at a local farmers market.

The story about the controversy  published by the online Boston Herald pulled in a whopping 700 plus comments.

The gist of the story is that the baker, a vendor at the Braintree Farmers Market, refused to take EBT cards for her baked treats. Why? From the story:

“ “I don’t think American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people’s pie purchases,” said Andrea Taber, proprietor of the Ever So Humble Pie Co. in Walpole, who peddles her wares at the Braintree market on Fridays and now finds herself in the middle of the state’s raging fight over welfare benefits.”