Just got back from Natural Products Expo East here in Boston. What a feast...for the mind, the eyes and the mouth! This is innovation at its best and we wanted to share some of our favorite products from the day.
Best Packaging - We are past the toddler stage but can still remember the spills from cups and even juice boxes. First Juice has the answer. It is an organic fruit and veggie juice beverage blended with purified water. Not only does it encourage long-term healthy habits, the juice comes in a spill-proof, re-usable sippy top bottle. Good thinking!
Best Cause Related Product - We loved the look and philosophy behind Give Spring Water. Ten cents goes to local charities with each bottle you buy. They are color-coded so you can select the type of cause you want to support. For instance, Give Love is green and benefits the environment. Blue is Give Life and benefits children in need. Founder Ben Lewis says this is a movement to bridge the for-profit and non-profit worlds, responsibly and sustainably. Get on board!
Best Twist on Yogurt - From the largest dairy free ice cream brand, All Natural So Delicious now offers yogurt made with coconut milk. They say it is the world's first (that they know of) coconut milk yogurt. And all six flavors, including raspberry, passionate mango and vanilla, are dairy and soy free. We learned in our food science days that vanilla is the hardest flavor to work with so that's the flavor we tried. One word: Yum!
Best Snack - A frequent stop when we visit Times Square is the Popcorn, Indiana store so we were thrilled to see the company at the show with new flavors and, best of all, a Whole Grains Stamp on their package. Popcorn, Indiana's Original Kettle Corn and new Sea Salt Popcorn are both certified as a whole grain snack. If you eat just one serving of the Sea Salt Popcorn, you will have consumed nearly half of your entire daily USDA recommended allowance of whole grain. All for 130 calories.
Best Indulgent Product -- The JaMocha Beans (dark chocolate covered, locally-roasted organic espresso beans) gave us a needed afternoon jolt and we really liked that they come from Cape Cod ("By the Sagamore Bridge, near the Christmas Tree Shop"). Another delicious choice is the Bog Beans®, chocolate covered cranberries. Both are brought to you by Cape Cod Specialty Foods.
One thing is for sure - innovation and inspiration are alive and well in Boston this week. See any interesting products? Tell us.