Celebrating Local Food - Statewide.

Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, October 23rd, we’re heading to Sun Valley. From 4 to 6 pm, the Sun Valley Culinary Institute will serve as the backdrop for an easygoing mixer featuring conversation, drinks, and small bites. Appetizers will feature local ingredients and we’ll be pouring local wine, a perfect way to celebrate the producers who make Idaho’s food and beverage community unique. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with others who share a passion for the future of food in our state.

 

These mixers are one of my favorite parts of what we do because they capture the heart of FARE Idaho by bringing people together. Whether you’re a farmer, chef, brewer, distiller, rancher, or simply someone who loves being part of this community, it is a chance to meet new faces, swap ideas, and strengthen the network that keeps our industry strong.

 

We’ve been in Boise, Moscow, Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Caldwell, and now Sun Valley. FARE isn’t just one region; it is all of Idaho. Every time we gather in a new corner of the state, it is a reminder that this work connects us all. I hope you’ll stop in, grab a bite, and be part of it with us.

Tammie Halcomb
Executive Director - FARE Idaho
 

Join Us In Sun Valley for an Evening of Connection

We are excited to invite you to an evening celebrating Idaho’s independent food and beverage community. Please join us for a relaxed open house on Thursday, October 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sun Valley Culinary Institute.

Guests will enjoy local wine and small bites crafted by Idaho producers while connecting with farmers, ranchers, chefs, food crafters, and community partners.

“This gathering is about connection,” says Tammie Halcomb, Executive Director of FARE Idaho. “We’re thrilled to bring people together in Sun Valley to celebrate local food and the independent businesses that make it all possible.”

The Sun Valley Culinary Institute is equally excited to host. “Partnering with FARE Idaho is an honor,” says Karl Uri. “We’re excited to open our doors to the many people who make up Idaho’s food system and to welcome anyone interested in learning more.”

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the people shaping Idaho’s local food economy and to be part of a growing network of producers, businesses, and advocates.
 

Calling All Chefs: Street Eats 2026 Applications Open

Foodfort is now accepting submissions for Street Eats 2026, the lively night-market style event at Zoo Boise that showcases small bites and flavors from across the Treasure Valley. Inspired by night markets around the world, Street Eats brings together local chefs to serve up a curated mix of tastes in a vibrant, community setting.

Chefs will be selected based on the dishes submitted, with an emphasis on variety and creativity. Each dish should be a few bites, with an alternate idea included as part of your application. Along with your dish, share how you stand out in the community and the message you want to convey through your food.

     >> Application deadline: October 20, 2025
     >> Notification: November 10, 2025
     >> Accepted chefs receive two 5-day festival wristbands
     >> Apply here: https://treefort.submittable.com/submit/
 

U.S. Senator Jim Risch announced the selection of McIntyre Farms in Caldwell as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for September 2025. Their contributions will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the U.S. Senate.

"The McIntyre family has been farming in the Treasure Valley for over 100 years and are a testament to the Gem State’s strong agricultural roots,” said Senator Risch. “By prioritizing soil health, McIntyre Farms is taking advantage of Idaho’s resources to provide the community with high-quality meat, dairy, and eggs.”

What makes McIntyre Farms so remarkable is their deep commitment to regenerative agriculture. The farm raises beef, pork, and poultry on open pastures—no antibiotics, no hormones, no shortcuts. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: healthy soil grows healthy animals, which in turn nourish healthy communities. Through cover cropping, rotational grazing, and keeping “no naked soil” year-round, they build biodiversity and resilience right into the land.

McIntyre Farms products—ranging from 100% grass-fed beef to pasture-raised pork, poultry, and eggs—are available directly to families across the Treasure Valley through farm pickup, retail partners, and even home delivery. Customers rave not just about the flavor and quality of the food, but about the welcoming family behind it all.

Each month, Senator Risch highlights an Idaho small business that reflects the state’s values of hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and community dedication. McIntyre Farms is a shining example of those values at work in Idaho agriculture.

>> Learn more about McIntyre Farms at mcintyrefamilyfarms.com
 

Weigh In: IRS Seeks Input on Tipped Occupations

The Treasury and IRS have released proposed regulations for the new “no tax on tips” provision included in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

The guidance identifies nearly 70 occupations where workers customarily receive tips, including bartenders, servers, hair stylists, and tour guides, and it defines what counts as a qualified tip.

Public comments are open until October 23, 2025 and can be submitted at Regulations.gov.
 

BBQ4LIFE fires up more than smoked meats; they craft menus that welcome every eater, from barbecue lovers to vegans and gluten-free diners. 

What began as a humble mobile food unit in early 2013 has grown into one of Boise’s most beloved food destinations. BBQ4LIFE quickly found its home as a full sit-down restaurant, built around a custom-made offset smoker that turns out the kind of traditional barbecue that keeps guests coming back. But BBQ4LIFE isn’t just about ribs and tri tip. The menu has always included plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, making it a place where everyone can pull up a chair.

In 2021, the team expanded with Hit List in Garden City, where burgers and hot sandwiches take center stage. Staying true to their roots, nearly all of the meat work is done in-house—from grinding and forming patties to curing and smoking pastrami, rolling meatballs, and slow smoking pork. It’s a labor of love that shows in every bite.

Across both locations, the mission remains the same: serve high-quality, honest food made with care. Whether you’re craving slow-smoked barbecue or a perfectly stacked burger, BBQ4LIFE and Hit List are proof that good food and good work never go out of style.

Stop by BBQ4LIFE or Hit List and taste the difference for yourself.
You can find them here:
    >> BBQ4LIFE — 930 S Vista Ave, Boise, ID 83705
    >> Hit List — 5163 N Glenwood St, Garden City, ID 83714
 
 

Idaho’s agricultural landowners are getting older - Idaho Department of Labor
As Idaho’s agricultural landowners age, many face critical decisions about succession, with rising land values and development pressures shaping the future of family farms and ranches.

USDA cancels survey tracking how many Americans struggle to get enough food - OPB
The USDA has canceled its long-running annual food insecurity survey, sparking concern among advocates who say the loss of this data will make it harder to track hunger and shape effective policy.
 
 

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