After a four-year hiatus, The Big Feed returned Saturday at Champaign’s Niemann Harvest Market, bringing together over 40 vendors for a community tasting event.
Shoppers sampled products from local businesses throughout the entire store, while discovering new brands and connections. From fresh tulips near the store’s flower stand to hand-squeezed juices by the produce, the store was filled with conversation.
Jamie Hodges, coffee bar manager at Harvest Market, helped organize the event. She has worked at Harvest Market for seven years, making this her third event. Hodges said event planning started months in advance to prepare floor plans, permits and marketing.
Hodges said their mission with The Big Feed is to provide customers with food transparency in the form of good food. She said their ultimate goal is simple yet impactful.
“The Big Feed helps people think more about the products they are buying and know the money is going directly back into the community and supporting a family,” Hodges said.
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Harvest Market continuously tries to give back to its community, and The Big Feed is an opportunity for customer engagement. The market was packed with families, couples and friends as the vendors handed out their samples.
Reed Pottschmidt, a vendor with Rare Brew, was present Saturday and spoke to customers about their company’s unique drink that combines sparkling teas with mocktails. Based in Indianapolis, Rare Brew’s drinks are free of artificial ingredients, preservatives and sweeteners. They are also gluten-free and vegan.
“For us, it is about the quality,” Pottschmidt said. “We are health-conscious because sugar really is used too much. They can still have a good drink that’s more unique.”
Rare Brew is working to expand its distribution to other states, including Illinois. They are in their third year of operation, with hopes to expand to a larger audience. This company is just one example of the caring community that The Big Feed fosters.
A stand with lots of shoppers was Farm2Flour. The company sells USDA-certified organic wheat with no toxins or harmful chemicals. The family-owned business strives to provide safe flour, and they shared samples in the form of bite-sized cinnamon rolls.
Another vendor, called A + Berry, handed out samples of their aronia berry juice. The small purple fruit, often called chokeberries for its tart taste, sparked conversation for curious shoppers. With no added sugar or artificial ingredients, the company emphasizes its commitment to clean ingredients, aligning with The Big Feed’s mission of food transparency and local business support.
The heart of the market is the loyal customers who show up for their local businesses. One shopper, Madison Ciaccio, is a frequent customer at Harvest Market.
For her, the store is more than just a place to buy groceries.
“Harvest Market is like our home,” Ciaccio said. “We always joke that it doesn’t feel like a grocery store. It’s so much more than a grocery store.”
Events like The Big Feed are what turn Harvest Market from a grocery store to a celebration of local businesses.
