It's not hard to come by a food-enthusiast in New York. After all, some of the country's best restaurants can be found in Manhattan or one of the city's other four boroughs.

That's what makes New York City a great location for the 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show!

The massive trade show, scheduled for June 30 - July 2, 2013, will feature more than 150,000 specialty foods and beverages from 2,000+ exhibitors from countries all over the world. According to the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, attendees will also have access to more than 15 educational seminars, tours and tastings. Wow!

While the show is not open to the general public, businesses within the specialty food industry are welcome.

To get a closer look at the Fancy Food Show, watch the promo video below:

If you ask me, it's not surprising that a food and beverage trade show continues to break records each year. After all, who can say no to free food?

According to the Trade Show News Network (TSNN), Food Week Korea attracted more than 92,000 visitors during its five-day run this November. The event was divided into 10 different categories, including a cafe and bakery, premium agricultural products and an export zone. In total, the exhibit hall offered approximately 36,000 square meters of space.

Not only were Korea's best food businesses put on display, but representatives from Argentina, Ukraine, Turkey and Finland also showcased their custom food products. Doesn't that sound delicious?

In total, 712 companies exhibited their foods and beverages. I bet nobody went home hungry!

If you are in the bar or restaurant business be sure to clear your schedule on June 26th and 27th. The hugely popular Bar and Restaurant Show returns for its 13th time! The show chooses to open again in NYC, and specifically the Javits Center for a reason.

As mentioned on the shows website, "there are more establishments that serve and sell spirits beer and wine, within 2 hours of the Jacob Javits Convention Center, than any other place on earth!" Wow.

The Bar and Restaurant Show features hundreds of interactive exhibits which deal with every facet of the industry. From classic, well-known vendors to new, innovative approaches to the industry, this is the show to be at. Features include conventional products as well as addressing lighting and sound, promotional ideas, and security improvement.

Attendees can also look forward to educational programs for professionals addressing issues of growing a business and staying relevant and noticeable in the digital age. There are also cooking and pairing presentations, as well as world class mixologist raising awareness of the newest cocktail trends.

As an additional bonus to this great event, feel free to enjoy the custom food product samples from popular companies and those who are growing their business in the area of spirits, beer and wine. There are plenty of samples and activities to take part in, so pace yourself and enjoy!

On November 5, Trade Show News Network named the Winter Fancy Food Show as the fastest-growing association trade show, reflecting consistent increases in attendance.  That's according to a press release distributed yesterday.

The Winter Fancy Food Show, which is scheduled for January 15 - 17 in San Francisco, California, is sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT), and shares the top spot with the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo. According to NASFT President Ann Daw, "This award is a true honor for our exhibitors, who consistently present new and innovative specialty foods and beverages to key buyers from around the world who use our show to start each year with great ideas and products.”

The show was picked from a group of 20 trade shows across a variety of industries.  The implication, therefore, is that the specialty food industry and custom food products are still being supported, even in a period of rough economic times.

Attendance at the Winter Fancy Food Show is expected to reach an all-time high this year.  According to the press release, "the show is expected to attract more than 17,000 buyers from across the U.S. and around the world. With exhibitors from 35 countries and regions and 80,000 products, the show is the largest marketplace devoted exclusively to specialty foods and beverages on the West Coast."

The good news is that there's still time to register; visit http://www.fancyfoodshows.com now for more details!

Yesterday marked the first day of the 29th International Fair of Havana (FIHAV), an international trade show in Cuba. The fair will be held through November 5, and its goal is to improve the nation's economic ties with foreign countries.

According to People's Daily, FIHAV is the most important yearly trade show in Cuba.  Rodrigo Malmierca, minister of foreign trade and investment for Cuba, told People's Daily that the end goal of the fair is to "promote the economic relations between Cuba and the world." So far, it seems that the fair is seeing positive results. 

Prensa Latina reports that "More than 120 Spanish companies" are participating in the fair, representing important sectors like industrial supplies, furniture, and custom food products. Additionally, ambassadors for 57 countries are attending the tradeshow, totaling over 13,500 square meters of space.

Even representatives from the United States, a country which has long-standing trade restrictions with Cuba, are gathering for the trade show. According to the Southwest Farm Press, rice industry experts have traveled to Cuba "in hopes of developing new trade strategies and gathering support for overturning the U.S. embargo, which would re-open the Cuba market to U.S. rice."

While it seems like just yesterday I was encouraging you all to celebrate fall, it's now almost time to begin to think about winter!  There are dozens of winter conferences, trade shows, and expos to look forward to.  Whether you're looking to exhibit a winter-weather product or shop around at a holiday show, you're sure to find a wintertime event perfect for you.

Are you crazy about winter sports? If so, you won't want to miss out on the St. Paul Ice Fishing & Winter Sports Show.  The annual show, which is approaching its nineteenth year running, boasts that this year's event will "host more exhibits than ever before."  Attendees will get the chance to shop through over 170 exhibits of ice-fishing and winter sports products and services.  Look out for fishing-themed giveaways like custom bobbers and more!  The event will take place December 2 - December 4 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

For those of you who prefer to feast during the colder months, the Winter Fancy Food Show might be more up your alley.  However, you'll have to wait -- this event does not take place until 2012.  The trade show, which will be held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California January 15 - January 17, 2012, promises to be worth waiting for.  Over 17,000 attendees join together each year to learn about and sample more than 80,000 custom food products from around the world.  Those who attend will also get the chance to network with almost 20,000 influential individuals in the specialty food industry; stock up on appropriate trade show giveaways now to make a name for yourself!

In some people's minds, the word 'winter' is synonymous with 'holiday season.'  And no holiday is complete without a warm and fuzzy teddy bear!  At the Toronto Christmas Holiday Teddy Bear Show and Sale in Toronto, Ontario, attendees will enjoy a holiday-themed showroom.  Exhibitors will display collectible teddy bears, and attendees will have a chance to purchase a special bear, vote for best exhibitor, and win promotional stuffed animal raffle prizes.  Check it all out on Sunday, November 20! 

There's clearly no one way to enjoy the cold months of December, January and February.  Some people are into extreme winter sports while others just want to cuddle with their favorite teddy bear.  No matter what you're into, there's a trade show for you!  Know of any other stand-out winter trade shows?  Leave a comment!