CAHNRS showcases Cougar Gold, honey, wine, and more at local food festival

The mid-summer heat didn't deter a consistent stream of foodies from stopping by the Cougar-themed tents at this year's Crave! Northwest festival.

Held July 16-18 in downtown Spokane's Riverfront Park, the event featured a new theme each evening, highlighting chefs, artisans, growers, winemakers, and other members of the region's culinary scene.

Event sponsor Washington State University showcased a variety of products from its College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), including samples of Cougar Gold cheese from the WSU Creamery; honey from the Department of Entomology's WSU Honey Bees + Pollinators Program; beef sticks provided by the Department of Animal Sciences and processed by the WSU Meats Lab; student-made Blended Learning wines from the Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E); and Cosmic Crisp® apples.

"Events like this offer a fun environment in which to engage with the public while proudly introducing them to the wide variety of delicious products created by our college," said Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS. "This festival is also a great way to shine a spotlight on the impactful research and hands-on student learning happening every day in CAHNRS."

This was WSU's fourth year participating in Crave! Northwest.

Miguel Inzunza, director of student recruitment and retention for the college's Student Success and Academic Programs, said the event offers a valuable opportunity to bring CAHNRS into the community.

"As a land-grant college, it's important that we remain visible, engaged, and connected to the people we serve," he said. "Showcasing products like apples, honey, meats, wines, cheese, and ice cream helps people see the innovation, research, and dedication behind Washington agriculture. Just as importantly, these events create opportunities to build relationships with alumni, industry leaders, community members, and potential donors who share our passion for the future of agriculture, food systems, and student success."

See more photos from the event.