The fourth annual Home and Garden Culinary Expo is here and
local businesses are getting ready to showcase their best products
and services.
GILROY –Â The fourth annual Home and Garden Culinary Expo is here and local businesses are getting ready to showcase their best products and services.
The event will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gavilan College Student Center. More than 100 vendors will exhibit their products as they offer the public “how to” advice for their home and gardens.
Vendors can apply with the Garden Expo committee to have a 10-by-10-foot booth featured in the show, but the show chooses only one vendor from each category of products to be showcased, with the exception of nurseries.
“Our Expo is unique and different from other shows this way, and it adds a larger variety of vendors for people to choose from,” said Susan Bassi, a promoter for this year’s show. “People will get to check out different companies and products from all over the United States.”
This is the only expo that caters to homeowners in the South Santa Clara County area, which means there are many local vendors. Bedolla Tile in Gilroy will join the show for the first time, featuring stone from Morocco, Italy and Brazil, while All About Backyards in San Jose will display built-in barbecues and patio furniture.
Outside appliances are hot commodities right now, Bassi said. That’s why she chose University Electric Home Appliance Center in San Jose to showcase their cook-top ranges, barbecues and a one-of-a-kind dish drawer.
“Two individual drawers make washing dishes energy-efficient while conserving water,” said Jim Heintz, one of the owners of University Electric.
Abbot Power in Gilroy will showcase other unique electrical products, such as the only battery-operated robotic lawnmower at the show, said owner Dave Abbot.
“You just set up a wire perimeter, sit back in a lawn chair and watch as the mower goes on its own,” Abbot said.
For garden lovers, Grass Farm-Garden Accents off U.S. 101 in Gilroy will feature garden art, fountains and pottery imported from China.
“This is our first year in the garden show,” said Debra Tibbs, manager of Grass Farm-Garden Accents. “We are very excited about the exposure we will be getting from this show.”
“Exposure” is an accurate word to use because more than 5,000 people attended last year’s show and with 20 new vendor’s Bassi estimates a rise in attendance this year.
In addition to vendors ,there will be eight professional guest speakers who will offer their expertise on everything from pond maintenance and interior decorating to landscape design.
The public can get first-hand advice from the vendors and purchase products on the spot.
“There is something for everyone at the show and South County residents will be amazed to see the great products our vendors have to offer,” Bassi said.
Admission to the expo is $7 at the door. For more information, go to www.svexpo.com.
