@burgergangburgergang @motheroceanmarketavl

Chef Chris (he/him), AKA “Burger Boi” is an experienced and entertaining chef with deep roots in Asheville. Known for his work as chef/partner of The Malvern, Hot Dog Curator at The Barksdale and co-founder of the Montford Pull Up. An Asheville native, he is a product of the AB Tech Culinary Program and a former instructor at Green Opportunities. Winner of food competitions: Asheville Wing War, Asheville Battle of the Burger, Smiling Hara’s Tempeh Taco Challenge, Stu Helm’s Punk Rock Hot Dog Competition and the FRS WHACKED! Mystery Basket

@hopicecreamnc

Ashley (she/her) has been dedicated to dessert her whole life but found her creative outlet in ice cream in 2003 while attending UNC Asheville. Now after almost 20 years in the ice cream business, she continues to create new and inventive flavor combinations for the Hop’s four retail locations and has begun a new journey partnering with a long time friend to start a local bubble tea business, Pop Bubble Tea. Both of these ventures strive to bring people together and lift up the community through collaboration, fundraising, and creating a fun, inviting

@grind.avl

Coffee is our unifier to start, grow, and support businesses, owners, and networks to build black wall street. We pride ourselves on providing organic, high-quality coffee products. We work with local dairy suppliers and bakeries to source the freshest, highest quality offerings.

@holemanfinchavl @toneperez

Antonio Perez (he/him) brings over a decade of culinary experience and a passion for supporting local farmers and communities to the kitchen of Linton and Gina Hopkins’ Holeman and Finch. As chef de cuisine, Perez works hand in hand with Hopkins to bring the James Beard Award-winning chef’s from-scratch, whole-animal and vegetable philosophy to life, forging deep connections with the farmers and artisans of Western North Carolina whose bounty is at the heart of the Holeman and Finch menu.

@cooking_withcomedy

Clarence AKA The Flavor King (he/him). We all need food to survive and laughter will allow us to live a healthier and longer life. With a culinary background of A-B Tech College Asheville, I created Cooking With Comedy for my community and its youth to get a different outlook on life. Being recognized nationally and competing on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, I have made a name for myself and opened up doors of opportunity with my food truck venture “Soul on the Road”.
 

@kentekitchenmarket

In 2014 Kente Kitchen was born bringing West African flavors to Asheville's Goombay Festival. Young (she/her) has a passion for the food that was taught to her by her late fiancés' mother, sisters, aunties and his Liberian community. She wanted to continue this love affair and passion for West African food and his memory by expanding her business to also include catering, community efforts to teach and feed kids healthy meals and now in 2022 Kente Kitchen has transformed into Kente Kitchen Market, an E-Commerce grocery store of West African food products.

@peacegardener @hood_huggers

From a childhood rooted in farming and farm life, to her current work cultivating healthy youth and healthy community using urban agriculture, Safi (she/her) weaves gardening and growing into everything she does. Rooted in the belief that our connection to the land - to our planet - is what brings us together and brings us home to ourselves, she (and the team at Hood Huggers) are building a culture of sustainability that’s inclusive and just - using the arts, environment, and social enterprise.

World-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, photographer, speaker and beer judge, traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art, and “the world’s best beverage."

@devilsfootbrew

Farm-To-Can Craft Soda. We pride ourselves on working with Organic Roots & Fruits to create a healthier, more flavorful non-alcoholic experience for everyone in our communities.

@newbelgium_avl

We were born on a bike. The rest is history. For almost 30 years we have crafted beers while proving that business can be a force for good.

@noble_cider

Founded in the new 'Craft Brew Mecca' of Asheville and North Carolina's apple country, Noble brings together a rich local history of agriculture with this region’s exciting craft beverage industry. We make a variety of things...mead, spritzers, wine, and cider of course!

@ketelonebotanical

Vodka distilled with real botanicals and infused with natural fruit essences. Like you, we care about what’s in the bottle, so we use real ingredients – with no sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no artificial flavors. 

@urbanorchardciderco

We are dedicated to producing the highest quality craft ciders that we feel good about drinking ourselves. Forget the days of overly sweet ciders, full of artificial sweeteners, aromas, colors, and flavors.  We let fresh-pressed apple juice do the talking for us.

Innovation Brewing— where we are dedicated to changing the way you think about beer. Experimentation with a variety of fun and fresh ingredients will always be available to stimulate the palate and the senses when you stop by Innovation Brewing for a pint.

@hillmanbeer

Hillman Beer is a small, family-owned business located in Asheville, NC. With an emphasis on quality beer and a focus on classics and comfort, we hope that our beer and pub atmosphere keep you coming back to Hillman Beer.

@pernodricardusa

Conviviality is about how we do business – bringing our passion to work every day and living by our values of openness, simplicity, collaboration and entrepreneurship. We are constantly innovating to ensure our customers have the right spirit to match every moment of conviviality.

@drinksarilla

When you choose Sarilla, you are also making positive change in the world! A fun, healthy and nonalcoholic beverage that is naturally energizing with a base of camellia sinensis tea leaves. We use a whole leaf brewing technology so not only are you getting a great-tasting beverage, but you are also benefiting from the antioxidants, amino acids, omegas and slow-release polyphenol naturally occurring in tea. 

@shantielixirs

Working together, the Shanti Elixirs’ team is dedicated to spreading well-being, peace and good vibes through every sip of Jun – created and bottled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.