The California Grown team was thrilled to participate in the first-ever Terra Madre Americas! Over the course of three days, we met countless farmers and producers, sampled delicious foods, sipped some of our favorite Golden State wines, and even shared new recipes with a few new friends.
What is Terra Madre Americas
At its heart, Terra Madre Americas is simply a celebration of food, wine and culture. In an interview earlier this year, president and CEO of Visit California, Mike Testa described it as a giant farmers market with people selling their wares, others doing cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, as well as live music.
Learn more about Terra Madre Americas, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto and the Slow Food Movement!
CA GROWN at Terra Madre
The CA GROWN team was on site to host two recipe demos. So, our experience was a little different than that of a typical attendee. We arrived early on Friday to tour the event space and prepare. Then, our team returned later that afternoon when the event opened to the public. Here’s how we spent our time at Terra Madre Americas:
Recipe Demos
Our CA GROWN blog manager, Meg van der Kruik, demoed two new recipes at Terra Madre Americas. The first, a Jujube and Apple Chutney, introduced the audience to an emerging California crop – jujubes. Jujubes are sold both fresh and dried, and this chutney demonstrated how easily and deliciously unfamiliar foods can be incorporated. We addressed how to use dried jujubes, how to make jujube tea, and the foods and flavors that pair beautifully with this commodity. The second recipe Meg demonstrated was a Creamy Napa Cabbage Slaw. This simple and versatile side dish is easy to make, full of flavor, and pairs beautifully with grilled meats.
Met with growers and producers from California
Between demos, the CA GROWN team had the opportunity to catch up with some of our favorite farms – and meet new growers and producers from all across the state. We enthusiastically sampled our way through the event, tempted by all the California Grown goodness on display! We left with samples of fruits, nuts, chocolates, olive oils – and an even longer list of produce and products we’ll be gifting to friends and family in the near future.
Wine tasting
Terra Madre Americas devoted an entire area of the convention center, the Enoteca, to wines from across the globe. Attendees lounge in comfy seating areas or converge around bar top tables to taste a few of the 80+ wines poured at the event.
We were excited to find that California Wines were well represented, and we selected wines from our friends at Clif Family, New Clairvaux, and Matthiasson.
Things to know before you attend Terra Madre Americas
Admission is free…but some events require reservations or paid tickets
Admission to the Terra Madre Americas Marketplace and Street Fair is free. However, there are several additional events and tastings that require either a reservation or a paid ticket. Events tend to sell out well in advance. So, if you’re interested in tastings, hands-on workshops or panel discussions, be sure to get tickets early. All tickets and reservations guarantee a seat but seating is only available on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s always a good idea to arrive early.
All concerts on the Golden 1 Live Music Stage are free. Artists featured in 2025 included The War on Drugs, Spoon, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Jade Bird, Passion Pit (Solo Acoustic), Jon Wiilde, hotplug, The Golden Cadillacs, Son Café, ZEPHYR, DJ Lady Char, and DJ NESSS.
Wear comfy shoes
Terra Madre Americas is a three-day event. Whether you’re just attending one day or in it for the long haul, you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. There are a few sitting areas where guests can take a load off, but expect to spend the majority of the event on your feet.
Park and walk
Terra Madre Americas is held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento, and a few of the nearby streets are blocked off for this event. So, plan on parking in a nearby parking garage and walking to the event. Prices vary, but expect to pay around $30 for a full day.
Bag checks are mandatory, wristbands are not
Clear bags aren’t required, but bag checks are mandatory. Attendees are not required to wear a wristband for admission. However, if you’re planning on sampling wine or spirits, you’ll need a wristband indicating you are twenty-one years of age or older.
Come hungry (and thirsty)
Farms, farm-to-table restaurants and producers offer up LOTS of delicious samples – and trust us – you’ll want to taste them all! From decadent chocolates laced with CA GROWN pistachios to fresh-pressed cider made with California apples, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to snack and sip.
Bring a bag
Many of the vendors at the Terra Madre Marketplace are selling their products. After tasting them, you’ll definitely want to take a few home. So, be sure to bring a tote bag to store California-grown goodness. We left with nut butters, ciders, dried fruits – pretty much everything we sampled made its way into our bag.
Get all the latest info on Terra Madre Americas 2027
Sacramento will host the next Terra Madre Americas in 2027. Want to stay informed? Sign up for email updates to be the first to know about upcoming events, ticket sales and more – and don’t forget to follow Visit Sacramento and Slow Food Sacramento on social media.
Article and photography by Hilary Rance.