Pre-game Natural Products Expo East at fun, convivial Harvest Festival in Philly

This year's Natural Products Expo East, in Philadelphia from Sept 20-23, features keynote presentations, product discovery, insightful education sessions and more. The show floor showcases brand excellence at every turn—from new products incorporating upcycled ingredients to functional beverages, plant-based meats and cutting-edge supplements, etc. But the four-day spectacle of natural and organic products industry innovation also includes unique experiences such as the Harvest Festival.

The tabletop event, which takes place from 2-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, on level 300 Ballroom A/B—the day before the main trade show floor opens—offers a festival-style atmosphere that invites all industry stakeholders to connect with exhibitors in a casual and intimate setting. For many, the Harvest Festival serves as one of the highlights of Natural Products Expo East.

Interested in regenerative agriculture? Harvest Festival exhibitors include a range of exhibitors, including the Regenerative Organic Alliance—one of the main organizations that grants third-party certified seals broadcasting regenerative bona fides. Visit the Sol Simple table for Regenerative Organic Certified mango, banana, pineapple, coconut, passion fruit and cassava products. This Certified B Corporation is developing regenerative value chains for premium tropical products and offering technical assistance to smallholder farmers. Another ROC brand attending Harvest Festival is Navitas Organics, which will be championing its line of nutrient-dense superfoods.

Interested in a compelling new functional beverage? One good option is Shrubbly, which crafts its RTD functional beverages full of fruit, herbs, spices and apple cider vinegar from the Shrubbly farm in Vermont. Buzzy brand Olipop is exhibiting too, with its colorful line of sodas that lean into natural prebiotics including chicory root and flavonoid-rich botanicals such as calendula flower.

Looking for a new bar? Swing by the FROPRO table at Harvest Festival. The brand makes protein-rich bars using organic nut butter and organic, plant-based protein. Organic wine? Bonterra’s table will thrill. Hunting for an Asian-style chili crisp? Mr. Bing will be there, with its mild and spicy versions. Regenerative, organic baby food? A smart first stop would be the White Leaf Provisions table.

The Harvest Festival is always quite a joyful affair, featuring a broad array of cutting-edge brands behind their tables and loads of natural and organic products industry stakeholders walking the aisles, chatting up the brand reps and savoring the fun, pre-game vibe. If you are in Philly on Wednesday, there’s no better way to kick off this year’s Natural Products Expo East than by spending time wandering through Harvest Festival.