Sampling Product in your Booth

Chef's Choice Award:

Sample your best dish at the expo to entice buyers to your booth and to be eligible for the Chef's Choice Award. This contest is designed to innovate the plate and excite the senses.

Catering Contacts:
There are two catering companies that service this event based on your booth location.   Please reach out with any questions or needs that you have in relation to food sample preparation, ice orders, washing facilities, etc. 

Booths in Serra Ballroom Contact
Monterey Marriott
Michele Pearce
Phone: +1 (831) 647-4058
Michele.pearce@marriott.com

Booths in DeAnza Ballroom & Foyer Contact: 
Portola Hotel and Spa
Terri D'Ayon Joyce
Phone: +1 (831) 649-7889
tdajoyce@portolahotel.com

Sampling Rules:
Exhibitors are encouraged to sample in their booth. Booth personnel serving samples must wear gloves. Masks and sneeze guards are encouraged but not required.

Order Deadline: 
Orders that are placed after July 10 may incur an additional charge.

Heat Producing Devices: 
Exhibitors are ONLY allowed to use electric hot plates for cooking in their booths.  Deep fryers and propane are prohibited on the show floor.  Please review the fire regulations for more information. If you need additional assistance with preparing your samples, please contact your designated catering sales manager.

Quantity of Samples: 
If you will be serving samples in your booth, plan to serve between 100-200 sample size servings during the show.  

Safe Food Handling: 
IFPA has never had a case of foodborne illness linked to distribution of food products on the expo floor.  To maintain this record, we have established requirements for food service by exhibitors.  Please review the Guidelines for Safe Food Handling for best practices in food safety. If you need washing facilities for your produce, please contact your catering sales manager

Alcohol In Your Booth: 
If you want to serve alcohol in your booth, fill out this Request form and submit it to Nancy Pickersgill for approval.  All alcohol must be purchased through and served by the expo catering company.

Product for Your Booth: 
Please pack product that you are using in your booth separately from product that you will ship to the catering company for preparation.  Use the Perishable Shipping Label on each box.  Boskovich is once again providing complimentary refrigerated storage.  All booth display product will be delivered to your booth Friday morning unless otherwise requested.

Shipping Catering Products:
If the catering company is preparing samples for your booth, please send product directly to them. Each venue will provide a catering label for you to use once your arrangements are made.

• DO NOT mix catering product in with your booth shipment. 
• DO NOT ship your booth display product to the catering company.

Recommended Produce Supplier: 
If you need assistance with pre-show storage, handling, or purchasing of product, you may reach out to our recommended produce supplier. It is not mandatory that you use the IFPA recommended supplier River Fresh Farms, but they are available to help facilitate the funneling of product to the expo hall.  For more information, please contact Jessica Rains or Vince Ballesteros from River Fresh Farms at +1 (831) 998-7072.