Unity Foods Shines at 2025 Northwest Food Show with Focus on Local and Mediterranean Offerings

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Unity Foods, an independent, locally owned distributor serving Western Washington and Oregon, made a standout appearance at the 2025 Northwest Food Show, hosted by the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). Held April 13–14 at the Portland Expo Center, the event brought together thousands of foodservice professionals from across the Pacific Northwest.

Unity Foods welcomed hundreds of buyers to its booth, where the spotlight was on the region’s top local vendors and a curated selection of Mediterranean offerings, reflecting the company’s deep commitment to regional sourcing and culinary diversity.

Unity Foods proudly featured a curated selection of standout vendors reflecting the best of local and Mediterranean-inspired food innovation. Showgoers sampled traditional hummus and tzatziki from Trazza Fine Lebanese Food, crafted with fresh, local ingredients; bold all-beef gyro strips from Kontos Foods, known for their authentic Mediterranean flavor; and the fiery, aromatic harissa from Mustapha’s, a favorite for chefs seeking North African heat.

Sustainable service solutions were on display from Leafline Packaging, offering eco-conscious options for modern food operations. On the ingredient side, Fresh Nature introduced nutrient-dense green garbanzo beans grown right here in the Pacific Northwest, while Auburn Dairy showcased their rich, locally crafted yogurt made with high-quality regional milk. Each partner represented Unity’s deep commitment to regional sourcing, culinary diversity, and quality-first distribution.

“We were proud to showcase our partners—many of whom are small, local producers whose products speak to the vibrant, diverse tastes of our region,” said Thu Thi, Sales Manager at Unity Foods. “Mediterranean cuisine continues to inspire chefs and buyers alike, and it was exciting to see how those flavors resonated alongside our standout Northwest brands.”

“We were thrilled by the response at this year’s show,” said Calvin Walsh, CEO at Unity Foods. “This event gave us a chance to showcase the power of our portfolio while building relationships with some of the most innovative buyers in the industry.”

He adds, “The NW Food Show was a fantastic opportunity to introduce high-quality, top-tier local manufacturers to family-operated restaurants and top chefs in the Pacific Northwest. By fostering these connections, we’re not only enhancing our culinary landscape but also building a strong and resilient local economy.”

Unity Foods’ booth featured tastings, conversations, and connections that emphasized its role as a nimble, responsive partner for restaurants, markets, and hospitality businesses. As an independent distributor, Unity Foods is rooted in the community it serves, with a geographical footprint covering Western Washington and Oregon.

For more information about Unity Foods and its vendor partnerships, visit https://www.unityfoodsnw.com.

About Unity Foods LLC

Founded in 2012, Unity Foods LLC is an independent, locally owned foodservice distributor based in Portland, Oregon. Serving restaurants, food carts, and hospitality businesses across Western Washington and Oregon, we specialize in sourcing and delivering high-quality, locally produced ingredients and Mediterranean-inspired products. Our commitment to personalized service, sustainability, and regional partnerships ensures that our clients receive the freshest products tailored to their unique needs. At Unity Foods, we pride ourselves on being more than a distributor—we’re a dedicated partner in our clients’ culinary success.

Contact:

Bettina Carey

Marketing Director

Unity Foods LLC

Email: askbettina@gmail.com

Phone Number: 206-349-4297

Tomatoes in Winter

Fresh off the Avocado market turmoil of last month (which has since relaxed to near record lows!) – Tomatoes are going to be at “extreme” market pricing until at least Mid-December.  California has finished harvesting for the season leaving Florida the only domestic growing area to service the nation’s demand. Baja and Mexico are both helping supply with Vine ripened crops but also struggling to find tremendous yields with cool weather trends experienced during the growing cycle. Nearly all roma tomatoes currently are imports with reasonable pricing for the season. Grape and cherry tomatoes are in a period of transition between fields with supply improving slightly week over week, however there has been no realization of relief in the market with demand from contracts and holiday adds pressing markets upward. Until winter production gets underway in December, extreme markets are expected to be the scenario for the next several weeks.

 

Avo-whoa!

The avocado market is at a historically high level, and crops are low. Expect avocado prices to rise!

Partially due to the demand for avocado toast, the overall enthusiasm for avocados, and storms hitting Mexico and South America, the demand for avocados are high and the supplies are low.  Anyone that has taken Economics 101 can predict the result; expect prices to rise!

Typically, when the market gets like this avocados would be shipped from Chile, however, the European market is paying top prices for that crop. The next Mexican crop will be pushed back from late September due to rain, harvesting should begin in October and provide relief for the market.