Food Trends 101 - How Food Trends Impact Product Innovation

Kara Nielsen - Trendologist & Sweets Professor

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - 2:00 PM PST

Kara is an expert in food and beverage trends and the consumer values that drive trend growth and adoption. For nearly twenty years, she has translated trends for strategic brand growth and product development for food manufacturers, foodservice operators and other firms. Kara will be joining us for Live Q&A during the interview premiere.

Watch the Premiere on YouTube >>>

Numi Tea's Reem Hassani
Chief Branding Officer and Co-Founder
Food Packaging that resonates. From nutrition to aesthetics, allergens and claims, UPC and design. The package is the path to your consumer's mind, heart, and taste buds.

At Numi, Reem oversees brand identity, including all packaging design, brand voice, and experience. An artist by trade (including a Diploma d’Arte from Lorenzo de Medici Art Institute in Florence, Italy and an M.F.A. in Arts & Consciousness Studies from JFK University), Reem’s original artwork has been a source of inspiration for Numi’s brand vision and packaging. In 2019, she was honored as one of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Business.

Watch the Premier on YouTube

🔥 Ready to turn your forestry skills into a business?

🧩 Join us for Forestry Entrepreneurship: Building & Scaling your Business—a second workshop from FireUp + Sierra Commons, led by FireUp Coach Robert X Trent M.Ed

👩‍🚒 This workshop is for crew leads, operators, and anyone ready to level-up their impact in fire and forestry work.

What you’ll get in 90 minutes:
🌲 Deep dive into successful business models in fire & forestry work
🌲 Real talk on what it takes to start & sustain a local business
🌲 Advice on next steps and a roadmap for starting your business

Sign-up for this Class

Food Entrepreneur Accelerator Graduation Celebration

Come celebrate the success of our Food Entrepreneur Accelerator graduates with good food, drinks, and great company!

🎉 Foodie Graduation Celebration! 🎓🍓 Join us for an evening of flavor, creativity, and community as we celebrate the graduates of the Sierra Commons Food Entrepreneur Accelerator!

Our graduating food entrepreneurs will showcase samples of their delicious creations—from coffee to artisanal bagels to savory bites. Bring your curious palate—and if you’re inspired, bring a favorite dish or drink to share with fellow local food lovers!

Let’s celebrate Nevada County’s next generation of food entrepreneurs and the vibrant local food culture they’re cultivating. RSVP Today >>>

Food Speaker Series

Ed Troxell
Getting your Business Online and Sales Ready

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LIVESTREAM: Resilience Through Rural Entrepreneurship

A Gathering for Change-Makers and Cross-Pollinators is a working summit where entrepreneurs, community leaders, government agencies, and nonprofits come together to shape the future of rural resilience. Participants will roll up their sleeves in dynamic talks, focused sector discussions, and hands-on collaborative exercises to tackle challenges, share solutions, and design actionable strategies.

Register for this Free Event

Food Speaker Series

Tim Yamauchi
Creative Cost Controls - Bookkeeping for a small food business

Watch on YouTube