Press Release
CHICAGO — The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture will present its most ambitious “A Taste of the States: Chicago” pavilion to date at the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show, delivering a high-impact showcase of American agriculture, culinary innovation and global trade connection.
Spanning a record 17,900 square feet, the pavilion will feature participation from 21 states, including first-time representation from Idaho and Ohio, and a full roster of exhibitors and cooperators, including Food Export Midwest and Northeast, Intertribal Agriculture Council and the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association. The pavilion, located in the North Hall at the end of aisles 7700–8200, is designed to bring U.S. producers and international buyers together in a setting that supports discovery, connection and business development.
Produced by NASDA in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the pavilion supports small- and mid-sized U.S. food and beverage companies in connecting with international buyers and accessing new markets worldwide.
Ahead of the show, interest in this year’s pavilion has been building through coordinated outreach with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service posts worldwide, along with targeted exhibitor programming focused on export education and strategic international buyer and exhibitor matchmaking. The pavilion will showcase a diverse range of U.S. products, including beverages, specialty foods, premium packaged goods and artisanal ingredients. Attendees will have opportunities to connect directly with producers, explore regional offerings and experience food and beverage products firsthand.
“This is where American agriculture meets the world,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “‘A Taste of the States: Chicago’ creates real market access and meaningful opportunity for U.S. producers by connecting them directly with international buyers and decision-makers. It highlights the quality, innovation and global competitiveness of American agriculture while driving tangible export results.”
Pavilion Programming Highlights
Programming throughout the show will feature chef-led culinary experiences, direct engagement with international buyers and a strong focus on leadership across the food and agriculture sectors.
Additionally, NASDA will host the panel “Farm to Table: Women Powering the Future of Food” in recognition of the International Year of the Woman Farmer on Saturday, May 16 from noon to 12:45 p.m. at The Culinary Experience, booth 12448, in the Lakeside Center.
The session will bring together leaders across agriculture, retail and culinary to discuss how women are shaping resilient, market-driven food systems from production through consumption. Panelists include Amanda Beal, president of NASDA and commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; Meghan Diaz, Sprouts Farmers Market senior director of produce – strategic sourcing and innovation; Chef Tania Harris, a James Beard Award semifinalist and South Carolina Department of Agriculture Chef Ambassador alum; and Aida Mollenkamp, chef and founder of Salt & Wind Travel and California Grown creator. The discussion will be moderated by Megan Weeks, senior director of international trade programs at NASDA.
The conversation will explore shared challenges and emerging opportunities related to market access, visibility and collaboration, while highlighting solutions to strengthen supply chains, expand market opportunity and elevate women farmers and chefs across the U.S. and globally.
Chef Harris will also lead live culinary demonstrations on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, featuring products from women-owned companies exhibiting within the pavilion. Demonstrations will take place daily in booth 7981.
View the full 2026 “A Taste of the States: Chicago” chef demo schedule, including featured chefs, dates and times.
Attendees can also explore the “A Taste of the States: Chicago” online exhibitor directory, which includes search functions for exhibitors, state pavilions, product categories and export opportunities by country. The directory is available at https://chicago.nasda-tradeshows.org/.
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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA and its trade programs and trade policy, visit www.nasda.org.
“A Taste of the States: Chicago” connects U.S. food and beverage suppliers with buyers and partners from around the world. The pavilion helps meet rising international demand for high-quality U.S. agricultural products by showcasing innovative companies from across the country. NASDA collaborates closely with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service and its global network to recruit qualified international buyers representing sectors such as foodservice, distribution, retail and manufacturing. The pavilion serves as a key element of NASDA’s broader strategy to increase U.S. agricultural exports, diversify market opportunities and strengthen rural economies through international trade. To learn more, visit www.nasda.org/federal-partnerships/international-trade-programs/tradeshows/chicago/.
