NEVADA CITY, Calif. — What happens when more than 40 of the Sierra Foothills’ food makers, farmers, chefs and culinary innovators come together under one roof? On Saturday, September 26, food lovers can find out at FoodX, a new local food expo at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City. Attendees can sample and shop local food and drink, meet the people behind the brands, and enjoy food trucks, chef & maker talks, and live music.
Produced by Sierra Commons as part of the inaugural Sierra Foothills Food Festival weekend, FoodX invites attendees to enjoy an afternoon of tasting and shopping local food and drink, meeting the people behind the brands, and discovering what’s emerging from the region’s food scene. Food trucks, chef and maker talks, demonstrations, live music, and a VIP lounge round out the experience.
“FoodX is about experiencing the magnitude of creativity and innovation that’s happening in our local food community,” said Robert Trent, Executive Director of Sierra Commons. “There’s a culinary renaissance unfolding in the foothills right now, and we want to help people meet the artisans, taste what they’re creating, and leave excited about what’s happening here.”
From the Hive to the Kitchen
The FoodX lineup reflects the diversity of the Sierra Foothills food community, with stories and experiences spanning farming, cooking, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and food innovation.
Second-generation beekeeper Spencer Wingfield of Wingfield Honey Co. will share a window into the world of the honeybee and the relationship between healthy hives, healthy soil, and the food we eat. Local food pioneer Leo Chapman will join Richard Marks for a conversation rooted in decades of farming and food-system history in Nevada County. Chapman’s work helped establish the Living Lands Agrarian Network, which eventually joined with Live Healthy Nevada County to form Sierra Harvest in 2013, and he has served as an inspiration and mentor to generations of local farmers.
Attendees can learn from local culinary talent including Jennifer Vanatta, head chef at Petra Modern Mediterranean, and Alexeis Filipello of Rasa Kitchen, who blends gourmet culinary arts with Ayurvedic nutrition. A former Oakland restaurateur, Filipello draws on classical herbology and fresh ingredients to create vibrant, flavor-forward recipes. Other sessions will feature Nate Evans of Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co., Carmen Lang of HOLA! Tortilla, Kira Greene of Quercus Collective, and more.
And then, of course, there’s the tasting.
Taste It. Obsess Over It. Take It Home.
FoodX is designed to be more than a place to sample local food. Attendees can meet the people behind the products, hear their stories, discover new favorites, and purchase products to take home—all while supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses contributing to a stronger regional economy.
“For nearly two decades, Sierra Commons has helped entrepreneurs turn ideas into businesses and build the skills, relationships and resources they need to grow,” said Eli Bacon, Sierra Commons Board Member and Executive Director of Sierra Harvest. “FoodX gives the broader community a chance to experience the results of that entrepreneurial energy firsthand.”
Attendees can discover, taste, and shop from emerging and established makers including Utopia Foods, which creates farm-to-jar products using organic California ingredients and reusable glass packaging, along with Terraviva Health, Luminous Fare, Rare Herb Farm & Provisions, Discovery Foods, Scrump Candy Company, Outer Heaven Espresso, Hype Iced Tea and dozens of other regional food and beverage businesses.
Proceeds from FoodX support Sierra Commons’ work to empower entrepreneurs and build a stronger, more resilient regional economy.
FoodX will also feature food trucks and live music throughout the afternoon, with performances by Beautiful Dudes, Beach Noise and The Brett Shady Band. VIP ticket holders receive early entry beginning at 11:30 a.m. and access to the Nevada City Winery VIP Lounge.
Event Details
FoodX — Sierra Foothills’ Premier Local Food Expo
Saturday, September 26, 2026
12:00–6:30 p.m.
VIP Entry: 11:30 a.m.
Miners Foundry, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City
Early-bird general admission tickets are $45. VIP tickets are $125. Tickets and additional information are available at sierracommons.org/foodx.