Angela Cortez

September 25, 2009

3 Min Read
Fri: What's the best educational experence you've had on the show floor?

What's the best educational experience you've had on the show floor? That is the question of the day for this Friday, Sept. 25 and below are a few answers from Expo East attendees. Include your answers in the comments section below.

"We're not engaging the community the way we should. We know we should, but we don't stop to do it. We need to slow down and be more direct with the consumer. I've recently learned of Red Rover, a company that has gone back to that and seems to be doing it right. They collect food from various farmers and deliver it directly to the consumers." -Kelly Kenney of Devine Foods, Inc. based in Ivoryton, Ct.

"I've been talking to CEOs out here about their businesses, asking, 'What is the key to your success?' and the one thing that I've learned is that they all have a passion for their products. They saw a unique need for their product and they just did it." -Paul Castiglione of Cambridge, Mass., who is considering opening a home-based retail business.

"For me, I've never seen a candle you can put in your ear and harmonize the body - your nose, your throat, everything. I didn't know that could happen. I gotta try it." -Nancy Williams of Organic Sweet Center in New York.

"The experience I've had is that we need to educate the consumer about sweetners. A lot of people don't know this. There are a lot of alternatives, and we need to create a good campaign to educate society." -Sindy Simoes, LCL Natural and Organic Distributors, New York.

"I think the Shaman Chocolate is a great product I've learned about. It's great how the proceeds go to benefit a native tribe. I also really appreciate the effort to put the spotlight on food and hunger in low-income areas in terms of not only making food good, but making it just." -Gail Graham, general manager of the Mississippi Market in St. Paul, MN.


The new product I thought was awesome was home cleaning products from Eco-Me. They have human names for the products, like Bill and Emily, so they’re personalized.
-- Kate Trainer, Whole Foods

I was interested in Enzymatica, and their information about how enzymes have an effect on autism. --Kerry Conway, Ridge Farm Stand, Lancaster, MA

The gluten free products have definitely gotten better and more numerous.
-- Wendy Little, Newport Natural Foods, Newport, VT


I’d say the squeezable pouch with the resealable cap is an innovative food delivery system that naturally preserves the ingredients, and we’re seeing a lot more of it.
-- Katie Sobel, Nest Collective, Emeryville, CA


It’s nice to see smaller, non-corporate booths, and know that they’re still here, still a part of the industry.
-- Marieke Cormier, Roots Natural Foods, Leominster, MA

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