Saucy, spicy and sassy foods were just some of the offerings at the 2016 Food and Beverage Retention and Expansion (FABREO) Expo held June 15 at TRAC in Pasco.

The event was sponsored by the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) to showcase products and foods available in the Mid-Columbia.

“The aim was to bring in a variety of food exporters, especially those from China and Asia, which are one of the greatest business opportunities for this area in American agricultural history,” Gary White, director of business retention and expansion for TRIDEC, said.

During the two-day FABREO Expo, White estimates 300-400 people attended the seminars and visited exhibits.

“Those attending the seminars enjoyed the opportunity to network with people from various parts of the West Coast. There was a good mix of different businesses and lots of educational opportunities. They especially liked the caliber of the speakers,” White said. On the second day, more than 70 vendors showcased their wines, ciders, sauces, distilled spirits, spices, candies, pickled asparagus, mustards, cheeses and other specialty foods.

Only in its second year, FABREO isn’t the largest food expo on the West Coast, but Brett James, director of sales for Henningsen Cold Storage, said “his company makes better contacts at these smaller events.”

Henningsen Cold Storage, headquartered in Hillsboro, Ore., has 10 facilities including one in Richland.

James said he also attended last year’s FABREO Expo and hopes the event keeps growing.

Henningsen deals primarily with agricultural producers, mainly dairies on the west side of Washington, and farmers and food producers on the east side of the Cascades.

“We help keep the food stuff pipeline flowing,” James said.

Leaders of Foster’s Pickled Products of Pasco are committed to showcasing their asparagus and green bean pickles at FABREO.

“We’re here to support the community,” Ryan Brovent, operations manager for Foster’s Pickled Products/Columbia Valley Farms, said. “Our roots are here.”

Both Kathy Shiels, co-owner of DuBrul Vineyard in Sunnyside, and Eric Leber, of AprèsVin in Prosser, agreed it was well worth their time to attend the expo.

“I appreciated the opportunity to network; it was a good opportunity to see what others are doing,” Shiels said.

Mickey Hatfield, owner of Mama Too’s, a company producing unique spices and seasonings, said the FABREO Expo has been an excellent forum for launching first his company, and in the past two years, new flavorings.

“I always get good feedback. This is an awesome event for launching new seasonings,” Hatfield said.