Editors’ pick of the top 5 educational sessions at Expo West

The Next 30 Years of Naturals Thursday, March 11, 12:30 to 2 p.m.
The host of Get Fresh with Sara Snow on the Discovery Channel and green living expert Sara Snow will cover how retailing, manufacturing, education and business will affect the natural products industry in the future. With so many new trends in 2010 and a litany of new legislation popping up, it’s important for retailers to stay current and look to the future.
Organic Personal Care Friday, March 12, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
In November 2009, the National Organic Standards Board recommended that the National Organic Program include and clarify personal care products. Retailers would be wise to attend this session so you can properly answer customers’ questions and stock safe products. Panelists include Jaclyn Bowen, general manager for organic certifiers Quality Assurance International; Tom Hutcheson, regulatory and policy manager for the Organic Trade Association; and Seleyn Deyarus, development director for the Organic Center.
The Fuss About Food Safety Saturday, March 13, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Learn from two legal experts, a food traceability professional and an expert on organics about food safety legislation coming down the pike from Capitol Hill. This session is crucial for retailers facing food safety issues, compliance dilemmas and questions about current legislation.
Helping Your Customers With Healthy Aging Saturday, March 13, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Along with NFM’s March webcast and magazine column on marketing to baby boomers, this session will help you capitalize on this growing demographic. Trend trackers Elizabeth Sloan, president of Sloan Trends, and Steven French, managing partner at the Natural Marketing Institute, will show you how to cater to your aging customers.

Retailer Tool Box Saturday, March 13, 3 to 6 p.m.
Does your store have the seven traits of a perfect natural foods store? Five industry experts will cover everything a retailer should know, from using technology efficiently and creating promotions to educating customers and improving store design. If you go to one educational session this year, this should be it.