February 8, 2023
Force of Nature Meats Regenerative Beef Hotdog
Consumers don’t have to go to school lunchrooms to find mystery meat; it might be hiding right in their refrigerators. The traditional hot dog is an American classic that often takes short cuts for the sake of price. Force of Nature’s Regenerative Beef Hot Dogs leave nothing (untoward) to the imagination with impressive flavor, an easy-to-understand ingredient list and 100% grass-fed, regeneratively sourced protein. Force of Nature’s animals are raised by ranchers who honor the land and animals, pasturing them in diverse and thriving ecosystems, and feeding them diets they were intended to eat, not grain. Made for late nights, summer cookouts and nostalgic family meals, Force of Nature’s Regenerative Beef Hotdog provides an option that’s easy, delicious and simply sustainable.
Forager Project Honey Alternative Probiotic Cashewmilk Yogurt
Forager Project is providing consumers who love honey with a first-of-its-kind alternative that allows pollinators and our planet to thrive. This 100% Vegan, Certified Organic Cashewmilk Yogurt combines the creamy texture consumers know and love with the flavor of honey—without causing harm to bees. By shedding light on the negative impacts honey production has on the already declining bee population, this ethical alternative to honey—made with fruit juices and organic cane sugar—prioritizes the planet and the health of pollinators without sacrificing flavor or ethics.
Clipper Teas Organic Orange and Turmeric Herbal Tea
What makes a cup of tea sustainable? Well, Clipper Tea has some ideas. As the first tea brand to develop plastic-free, plant-based, biodegradable, unbleached and non-GMO tea bags, it has paved the way for sustainable sipping for over 27 years. If the taste of this sweet and fruity herbal tea doesn’t sway you, its third-party certifications might. Clipper Teas proudly sports certifications from USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fairtrade and B Corp, proving time and time again the brand’s commitment to high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on everything from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and ingredients.
Gather Brands Blueland Dishwasher Starter Set
Traditional pod-based cleaners are wrapped in a plastic film called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
While often marketed as biodegradable, that film is not: Each use washes microplastics from these pods into the world’s oceans, rivers and waterways. Not to worry! The Dishwasher Starter Set from Blueland uses innovative dry-form tablets that are formulated without VOC’s, parabens, ammonia, phthalates or chlorine bleach, making them just as effective with none of the plastic waste. Paired with a sleek reusable tin and refills packaged in compostable packaging, dish washing has never been so easy or eco-friendly. The starter set is Climate Neutral Certified, B Corp Certified and Cradle 2 Cradle certified, further cementing Blueland’s commitment to the environment.
Herbaland Naturals Inc.
Vegan D3 and B12 Supplement packaging need a shake up? Herbaland’s new 100% home-compostable pouches are here. This change has already diverted over 10 tons of plastic from landfills, with impacts multiplying as Herbaland’s offerings continue to grow. Herbaland became a B Corporation in 2022, meeting the highest standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency throughout its supply chain, which is incredibly important in the supplement industry. To sweeten the deal, Herbaland has partnered with the tree planting service Veritree to plant 2.5 million trees by 2025. By purchasing Herbaland products, consumers are caring for themselves and the environment, paving the way for a more sustainable supplement industry.
Kuli Kuli Foods Mood Magic Organic Uplifting Superfood Blend
Nothing lifts your mood quite like knowing that ingredients are climate-smart, traceable and carefully chosen by nutritionists and scientists. Meet Kulu Kuli’s new Mood Magic, a delicious, vibrant and functional superfood powder with ingredients sourced from small farmers on the African continent. Their mission is to turn climate-smart, community-grown superfoods into staple foods, creating a sustainable supply chain that provides nourishment, livelihood and reforestation in communities worldwide. Kuli Kuli focuses on regenerative farming practices and women’s empowerment in local communities. With just four simple ingredients including baobag, cacao, hibiscus and cinnamon, Mood Magic is ready to give you the mood boost you want without sacrificing ethics.
LastObject LastRound Large Reusable Rounds
Makeup wipes and disposable cotton rounds, beware! LastObject believes in making products that last so consumers can buy less. Made with fibers that are too short for the textile industry (30% organic cotton and 70% wood fibers) these rounds are soft, machine washable and divert waste. Just one pack of LastRound replaces 1,750 single-use cotton rounds! The durable case is created to last five years and made with certified recycled ocean-bound plastic collected by Plastic for Change, an organization creating jobs in traditionally underserved communities around the world. Need more to love? After only 34 uses, you’ll break even with the CO2 emissions: LastRound reduces carbon footprint (CO2) by 90%; water consumption by 92%; land use by 99%; and primary energy demand by 90%. Washing your face, removing makeup and more has never been so easy—or green.
Simpli Regenerative Organic Certified Lupini Beans
You might know that beans are good for you, but did you know they can also be good for the planet? Simpli is transforming the flawed food system into one that cares for consumers, the planet and food producers. By cultivating long-term relationships with indigenous growing communities in Peru, Simpli sources the best quality products that benefit end consumers and farmers. Lupini beans are a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to animal protein that have a positive impact on soil health, require less water and are vital to crop rotations in regenerative agriculture ecosystems. Simpli’s vertical supply chain ensures integrity and fair pricing for all stakeholders and provides delicious protein- and fiber-rich legumes in plastic-free packaging.
Konscious Foods Plant-Based California Roll
If you’ve ever craved sushi but haven’t had the time (or energy) to go pick it up, you’re in luck. Konscious Foods’ new frozen California Roll offers fresh maki rolls in a snap, all from the comfort of your own home. With wholesome veggies and plant-based proteins, Konscious Foods’ innovative “ready to thaw and eat” category makes Asian flavors and foods accessible to the mass market while reducing overfishing of the oceans. Diehard sushi fans will quickly be converted, as Konscious Foods’ proprietary methods create textures and flavors that impress even the most discerning palate.
Xinca Foods Loroco and Cheese Pupasas
Pizza, nuggets, pasta meals—frozen food options can get pretty repetitive after a while. Xinca Foods is shaking things up, putting its Salvadorian Loroco and Cheese Pupasas right in the freezer. Enjoy a warm, crisp corn masa tortilla filled with mozzarella cheese and loroco, an edible flower native to Central America. With simple ingredients and a stunning flavor profile, these flavors bring Salvadorian heritage to people’s homes and taste buds. Xinca Foods is a Certified Women's Business Enterprise.
Afia Za’atar Falafel
Fresh falafel from freezer to fresh in minutes? Say that 10 times fast! Starting from a little black book of traditional Mediterranean recipes, husband and wife duo Farrah Moussallati Sibai and Yassin Sibai are making true Mediterranean flavors convenient for consumers by bringing them straight to their freezers. Few Mediterranean foods— let alone convenient ones—are available in most grocery stores in the U.S. Most require mixing, waiting and other time-consuming steps. Created to give consumers more quality time with people they love alongside delicious, authentic Mediterranean food, this Za’atar Falafel is nourishing in more ways than one.
Akua The Kelp Burger
Frozen foods are known to be easy and quick, but often use long lists of mystery ingredients to create flavor. Akua’s Kelp Burger is here to change the game by offering a wholesome, climate-smart burger that’s bursting with superfoods and doesn’t sacrifice on flavor. The main ingredient is regeneratively farmed ocean kelp, a protein-rich powerhouse ingredient that helps reverse climate change in its growing process. With ingredients such as mushrooms, tomatoes, chickpeas, beans and peas, this burger isn’t trying to mimic meat—it’s in a class all its own.
12 Tides Vegan Cheddar Organic Kelp Snacks
Kelp has long been a challenge for many consumers. Layering on the additional challenge of creating a satisfying vegan cheese demonstrates how dedicated 12 Tides is to creating a market for the sustainable food source. The brand's experience in large-scale fishing and aquaculture—and seeing the environmental costs of both—drove that dedication. This product could be an ideal introduction or re-introduction to the sustainable and nutritious qualities of kelp.
Top Seedz 6-Seed Crackers
Delivering nutty flavor without the high amount of water needed to grow nuts, Top Seedz offers a crispy cracker that’s a delicious and satisfying treat even before layering on a topping; and you can enjoy that snack knowing it is USDA Organic, gluten free and vegan. Seeds are packed with nutrients including protein, fiber and a full complement of vitamins and minerals. You could buy the roasted seeds alone, snacking them by the handful, but we liked the 6 Seed Crackers for the mix of sunflower, sesame, flax, pumpkin, chia and hemp seeds.
Popadelics Trippin Truffle Parm Crunchy Mushroom Chips
Few people would ever dream of putting the words “crunchy” and “mushrooms” in one sentence, much less one product name, but the crew at Popadelics (Fun-Gal Snacks) has done just that. The brand, which describes itself as a “mushroom-centric company,” offers its mushroom chips in flavors that include Twisted Thai chili, but New Hope’s reviewers were especially impressed with this Trippin Truffle Parm variety. Mushrooms offer a host of health benefits, but the brand extends the healthy ’shroom aura with contributions to the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research.
Ziba Foods Trail Pairing
Mulberry is unlikely to be considered anyone's favorite berry, but it's the perfect fit for Ziba's Trail Pairing. The flavor is closer to nutty than sweet, but the unique quality it adds to the trail pairing—not trail mix, mind you—is what makes this product so different. Beyond the taste experience, consumers can munch away on or off the trail knowing that Ziba supports Afghan farmers and employs women in the beleaguered country. Maybe you’ve never thought of the mulberry as a berry, but you might be thinking of Ziba’s Trail Pairing when you want a snack that’s fair to workers and deliciously different on the tongue.
Hippeas Nacho Vibes Chickpea Tortilla Chips
As the name suggests, sustainably grown chickpeas are indeed the first ingredient in these wonderfully crisp Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Gluten Free chips. This innovative snack is the result of the company’s efforts to not only use legumes as the first ingredient in its products, but also to produce a crunchtastic chip that has a higher protein, fiber and vegetable content than your run-of-the-mill corn tortilla chip. Not only did judges love the ingredient profile and the (let’s be honest) not-as-healthy chip taste, but they were also all-in for the vegan Nacho Vibes flavor. Win, win.
4th and Heart Salted Ghee Butter Sticks
Many Americans know that ghee is clarified butter popular in Indian cuisines and ethnic cooking. But according to 4th and Heart’s research, many U.S. consumers are confused when they see a shelf-stable butter substitute packaged in a pretty jar. Enter, the first refrigerated ghee stick! By re-engineering ghee into a traditional butter stick, this brand is driving the wide adoption of this high-smoke point, low-lactose, grass-fed butter alternative. With this innovation, we expect that ghee will soon be a common ingredient in U.S. households.
Alexandre Family Farm Certified Regenerative 100% Grassfed Whole Milk Kefir
Alexandre Family Farm founders Stephanie and Blake Alexandre purchased 10,000 acres in Northern California in 1992, and since then, they’ve been raising the standard of dairy. A vertically integrated Regenerative Organic Certified company, Stephanie and Blake raise their A2/A2 crossbred cows on organic alfalfa grown on the same land. This grass-fed kefir exemplifies their dedication to the craft of dairy. Inside you’ll find 400 billion live CFU from 24 probiotic strains, and a naturally varying level of milkfat, which changes by the season. A unique QR code on the bottle links consumers to the milkfat percentage of their bottle.
Cooks Venture Pasture-Raised Heirloom Chicken Breast
Roughly 99% of chickens on store shelves are a single breed designed to grow as quickly as possible. Cooks Venture sought to build a better, more sustainable and healthier way to raise poultry. The company raises a three-way heritage cross chicken that is bred to grow slower, with strong frames and immune systems that are able to digest a diverse feed blend. Cooks Venture also implements a regenerative agriculture system called silvopasture, which is defined as the deliberate integration of trees and shrubs into animal production. Also cool: Cooks Venture takes the “no antibiotics” claim seriously by working with FoodID to test every flock for verification.
Seemore Meats and Veggies Cheesy Breakfast Hash Sausage
Seemore Meats is founded and owned by fourth-generation butcher Cara Nicoletti and, interestingly, she’s on a mission to help people eat less meat. By incorporating fresh vegetables into her Global Animal Partnership sausage blends, she’s created a product that contains about 54% less meat than an average sausage. All of the flavor and deliciousness, with a little more nutrition and fun. Seemore is helping pioneer an accessible food future where meat can be included in the sustainable food movement.
Mustela Stelatopia Intense Eczema Relief
This Stelatopia Intense Eczema Relief from French skincare company Mustela’s Stelatopia line uses a simple, natural formula with no unnecessary ingredients that soothe eczema symptoms while restoring the skin’s moisture barrier. In addition, this new product brings to the collection FDA-approved Colloidal Oatmeal 1%, which treats eczema flare-ups fast. Mustela aims to offer safe products to use from birth and underwent a 15-year research program (Evaluation of Early Infant Life: the Skin) to understand babies’ skin. The research resulted in a new way for safe and ethical testing using a patented revolutionary technology called Stelaskin, a reconstruction of a baby epidermis. Mustela is also committed to rigorous testing, standards and sourcing. As a result, consumers can trust Mustela as a brand innovating with integrity behind each decision.
Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Fluid Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50
Everyone needs daily sun protection, but not all sunscreens are created equally for everyone. Mineral sunscreens notoriously leave a white cast on skin that does not easily blend, and non-mineral solutions can be too harsh on sensitive skin types. Babo Botanical’s Daily Sheer Fluid Tinted Mineral Sunscreen is lightweight and tinted to minimize whitening on most skin tones. Sensitive skin users will also love that this product can eliminate the need for an additional primer when applying makeup. A stellar ingredient list also leaves the skin hydrated and refreshed. Standouts are the upcycled passion fruit seed oil (left over from juice making), sourced from a family-owned farm in Peru, organic raspberry oil, and sweet white lupine for blue light protection.
LastObject LastSwab Beauty Trio Pro
Perfect your eye makeup while maintaining a zero-waste lifestyle with LastObject’s trio of personal care swabs. Made with medical-grade silicon, per their namesake, LastSwabs are smartly designed to rid single-use products from daily routines. Just use, wash, and repeat—each swab can be used up to 1,000 times. We especially love how the handy carrying case is made with Ocean Bound Plastic—plastic waste that has a high likelihood of ending up in waterways.
Spinster Sisters Co. Face Serum Stick
Get on-the-go skin hydration with this Face Serum Stick, made by a well-established leader in sustainability. Spinster Sisters is not only a Certified B Corp, but also the company’s products are made in a “microsoapery” powered entirely by wind and solar energy. This moisturizing stick is a representation of the company’s values: plastic-free packaging, no sulfates, parabens or water, and efficacious inclusions such as hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-brightening vitamin C.
BobaBam Milk Tea Inspired Instant Drink Kit
It is now easy to make delicious Boba lattes at home thanks to BobaBam’s new Milk Tea Inspired Instant Drink Kit. These frozen kits contain everything a Boba lover needs to have a latte in under 60 seconds, including Taiwanese tapioca pearls. They are gluten-free, vegan and nut-free, and the brand recently replaced the classic large plastic straw with paper straws.
Asarasi Sparkling Tree Water Lisbon Lemon Probiotic Seltzer
This refreshing Probiotic Seltzer from Asarasi contains water tapped from maple trees. The company’s founder learned that pure tree-filtered water was a by-product of the maple syrup production process, and decided to create this sparkling, organic beverage from that water. By sourcing this water from living trees, Asarasi has created a uniquely sustainable and renewable packaged water product. The company also has a partnership with the Nature Conservancy to provide over $100,000 to support the Plant a Billion Trees Initiative.
FigBrew Figgee Small Batch Premium Roast
Figgee is a unique caffeine-free coffee alternative made entirely from figs, that brews and tastes like traditional coffee. This organic beverage also is a rich source of fiber thanks to its star ingredient. Figgee delivers a satisfying, steamy cup without the jitters of coffee, and the figs are sourced from a family-owned business with BRC, IFS, USDA Organic, and FDA certifications.
Nguyen Coffee Supply Condensed Milk Cold Brew Coffee
This ready-to-drink beverage is an homage to Vietnam’s iconic cà phê sữa đá, a sweetened iced coffee made with condensed milk. Nguyen Coffee Supply’s mission is to elevate robusta coffee—a coffee variety that is grown in Vietnam. Vietnam has long been relegated to the cheap coffee market, rendering the country invisible in the specialty coffee industry. By investing in robusta coffee (which can be grown with fewer pesticides than its more popular cousin, the arabica bean), Nguyen is elevating the communities that rely on robusta coffee for a livelihood.
Pop and Bottle Vanilla Coffee Super Concentrate
Stepping away from their classic RTD canned and bottled beverages, Pop and Bottle has launched a Coffee Super Concentrate, which packs 16 servings of barista-quality coffee into one bottle. Just one tablespoon of the concentrate can be mixed with water or milk to create the ideal cup of joe. The company uses certified organic, direct trade coffee beans that are sourced from a small, family-owned cooperative in Mexico.
Tea Drops and Copper Cow Coffee Ube Latte Kit
Tea Drops—the minds behind organic, whole-leaf, and bagless teas pressed into a cute shape—teamed up with Copper Cow to create this gorgeous Ube Latte Kit. Each pressed tea drop is made with organic ube powder and raw cane sugar; the condensed milk creamer from Copper Cow contains just milk and sugar. Pour hot water over the tea drop, stir, squeeze in the condensed milk, and enjoy a beautiful, nutty-vanilla, lavender-hued, caffeine-free latte. Each kit contains five servings.
The Spare Food Co. Passionfruit and Yuzu Spare Tonic
Built with a mission of eliminating food waste, The Spare Food Co developed this delicious Passionfruit and Yuzu Tonic using upcycled whey that would have otherwise been thrown away, purchased directly from local yogurt manufacturers. This tonic contains only four ingredients—whey, fruit, spices and honey—and the use of whey provides the added benefit of probiotics. These beverages are also Upcycled Food Association Certified.
Maka Wheatgrass Superfood Hibiscus Passionfruit
Maka has created a zippy energy beverage with the added functional benefit of wheatgrass! Each serving of their new Superfood Hibiscus Passionfruit drink has the equivalent of eight pressed shots of wheatgrass for a fraction of the price. The energy punch comes from yerba mate and guayasa tea and is sweetened with agave. In addition to the multiple functions, Maka is USDA Certified Organic and the company is verified by 1% for the planet.
Big Tree Farms Organic Original Lite Coco Aminos
What’s better than soy sauce? How about Certified Organic and gluten-free soy sauce with 66% less sodium, zero refined sugars, and zero soy, that still delivers on taste? Brewed from neera, the nectar from coconut flowers, this better-for-you option is also better for the planet, demonstrating its commitment to workers and the land with both a Regenerative Organic Certification and Fair for Life certification. In addition, those who seek out products with simple, clean ingredient lists may be happy to know it’s Whole30-approved.
Gotham Greens Green Goddess Dip
The latest in a growing plant-based dip portfolio, Green Goddess offers a crisp, refreshing flavor and a scoopable, spreadable consistency that’s great for all manner of snacking without dairy or excessive oil. But just like anything else, what’s inside (the brand) counts, and Gotham Greens stands out as a Certified B Corp with an innovative approach to sustainable farming—one of North America’s largest networks of climate-controlled, hydroponic greenhouses set up in urban areas. While this prevents organic certification, it offers an example of how urban farming can be done at scale.
GloryBee Alan T’s Sweet Heat Honey
A rare treat on several fronts, this Non-GMO Project Verified honey—a rarity in the category—is infused with spicy chilis and chili oil to give a gentle, but noticeable kick, resulting in a flavor combination that works great on sweet and savory foods alike. In addition, the manufacturer is a certified B Corp that verifies the integrity of their product by DNA testing the trace amounts of pollen in its product. It also donates 1% of sales to SAVE the BEE, which in turn funds research and awareness in support of honeybee health.
Great Eastern Sun HealthSavior Organic Miso Mustard
This fresh take on a classic condiment blends tangy goodness with savory umami for an unexpectedly delightful pairing that can jump-start any number of snacktime or mealtime ideas. The combination of mustard, soy-free chickpea miso, turmeric and spices offers a Certified Organic kick from a company who has been committed to the movement since 1979. In addition, the brand is on track for B Corp status and have partnered with rePurpose Global to become a plastic-neutral company while they continually search for ways to reduce the plastic content of their packaging and use recycled plastics where possible. Great for folks looking to try a new twist on a classic topping.
Sempio Foods Organic Gochujang
The spice blend category is heavy on flavor, but light on organic options, which makes this vegan, non-GMO, and Certified Organic gochujang something to celebrate. The sweet, savory, and spicy umami paste brings traditional Korean flavor into the home kitchen, offering a great choice for livening up lunchtime or dinnertime entrees. And while many Korean-style seasonings are off-limits to gluten-free folks, Sempio’s Organic Gochujang is a welcome exception. An innovative take on a Korean pantry staple.
Spicewell New Pepper Shaker
One of the oldest seasonings in Western cuisine, Spicewell decided it was past time for pepper to get an update. The inclusion of turmeric and 21 plant-based vitamins and minerals adds a functional aspect, upgrading a basic seasoning into a nutrient-dense addition to nearly any dish. The packaging reflects the company’s commitment to being a 100% sustainable brand, with components being either recyclable or compostable and, where possible, made from post-consumer plastic. Flavorful and healthful, BIPOC- and women-owned Spicewell aims “to make the pantry as functional as the medicine cabinet.”
NadaMoo Salted Caramel and Vanilla Frozen Snack Bites
Ice cream market leader and Certified B Corp NadaMoo has an innovation in the sweets category—decadent bite-size treats filled with a creamy non-dairy, USDA Organic coconut-cream base, sweetened with organic cane sugar and fruit pectin and all wrapped in a rich blend of caramel coating. The result is melty, salty morsels that are the perfect sweet treat while on the go. Remarkably, this Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten Free, AVA Certified Vegan dessert comes in eco-friendly packaging made of 30% post-consumer recycled material.
Alec’s Ice Cream Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb
Alec's Ice Cream is made with gut-friendly, 100% A2 dairy. We could just get lost in its new flavor, Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb. This crunchy, ultra-creamy delight balances everything worth loving about peanut butter, chocolate, honeycomb and toffee, all swirled with scrumptious fudge. Using premium organic, verified regeneratively grown ingredients and highest quality, regeneratively farmed A2 dairy, Alec’s Ice Cream is easier to digest and doesn’t result in the discomfort many experience after consuming conventional dairy products. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream that’s good for the gut and the planet.
Sweetkiwi Whipped Greek Frozen Vanilla Yogurt
This unique dessert boasts 24 grams of protein and combines the indulgence of a sweet treat with the added benefit of 5 grams of prebiotic fiber for a guilt-free snack. This vanilla-flavored delicacy is made with Greek yogurt and contains added probiotics for optimal gut health, making it a healthier alternative to regular ice cream. Sweetkiwi is an award-winning, mission-driven, minority and women-owned brand that donates 1% of its profits and time to support organizations working to create easier access to funding for Black female entrepreneurs.
Theo Chocolate Peanut Butter Brittle
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Theo Chocolate’s latest indulgence is a delectable blend of creamy peanut butter and crunchy brittle filled with 70% dark chocolate. Made with USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified cocoa beans, cane sugar and cocoa butter, this delicious treat comes packaged in plant-based materials made from non-GMO sugarcane and using FSC-certified paper from trees in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Theo is a purpose-led company dedicated to sustainable farming practices and providing fair wages for farmers through a partnership with Watalinga cocoa farmers, Esco Kivu and the Eastern Congo Initiative.
Nestlé Health Science Osteo Bi-Flex One Per Day + Healthy Inflammatory Response
Osteo Bi-Flex’s One Per Day + Healthy Inflammatory Response is an innovative new product in the joint health market, featuring branded plant-based ingredients. The product contains Boswellian-extracted Joint Shield™ 5-LOXIN Advanced®, clinically proven to improve joint comfort, and a curcumin-fenugreek complex, CurQfen®, which supports a healthy inflammatory response. Osteo Bi-Flex is already the top brand recommended by pharmacists for joint health, and this new product introduces an innovative and plant-based formula.
Natural Stacks Zen Magnesium Gummies
Natural Stacks new gummies are designed for relaxation. These Zen Magnesium Gummies combine the classic relaxation mineral magnesium with Sensoril® ashwagandha and L-theanine to take the consumer to a true zen state. Daily stress is at an all time high, especially among younger consumers, and this product is adeptly formulated to address this top-of-mind need.
Winged Wellness Love Bites Desire and Stimulation Gummies
Love Bites Gummies, made with Saffr’Activ, a clinically-studied saffron extract that’s been shown to increase arousal and lubrication in women, is an incredible solution for stress reduction and boosting human connection and mood. The product is made with maca, damiana, horny goat weed and niacin. Love Bites are third-party tested and have organic ingredients whenever possible. And last, but certainly not least, a portion of all proceeds support economically-disadvantaged young women who receive tuition support through Winged Woman Scholarships, in partnership with the Girls for a Change organization.
Renewal Mill Just Date Upcycled Chai Oat Muffin Mix
Innovation comes in many forms, and for Renewal Mills, that looks like more than 650,000 pounds of diverted food waste. Upcycling is baked into the company’s mission, as well as into its delicious products such as this just-add-oil-and-water muffin mix that blends upcycled okara flour (a superfood byproduct of tofu production), upcycled oatmilk flour and upcycled date sugar with mouthwatering hand-mixed chai spice. The women-owned company partnered with other women in food and CPG, including Just Date (the brand behind the product’s date sugar) and James Beard Award-winning chef Alice Medrich (the product’s formulator) to develop this fruit-sweetened product, which is also gluten free and vegan. Big bonus: the company’s carbon and plastic neutral certifications.
King Arthur Baking Company Gluten-Free Bread Flour
Few flours have earned the stellar reputation among home bakers as King Arthur’s—and its GF doppelganger is a welcome addition to gluten-free pantries everywhere. Made with gluten-free wheat starch for a familiar flavor and mouthfeel, this product is ideal for loaves (and loaf lovers!) of all kinds—bagels, boules, buns, you name it. Plus, King Arthur’s commitment to do-good business is reflected in its B Corp certification and longstanding reputation for incorporating integrity as a key ingredient. This 100% employee-owned company and NEXTY finalist is a prime example of a legacy brand that’s addressing a market need in an improved way.
Every Body Eat Cheese-less Thins
On a mission to take the deprivation out of “free from” foods, Every Body Eat’s Cheese-less Thins pack in a whole lotta flavor, sans the top 14 allergens and corn. Made with just a few simple non-GMO ingredients, the vegan and gluten-free treats get their snackable “cheesiness” from nutritional yeast instead of dairy. Beyond the product, Every Body Eat furthers its purpose to unite people through delicious food by placing equity at the center of its business model: Providing job opportunities to those who were homeless, incarcerated or victims of gun violence, Every Body Eats helps address the root cause of access obstacles.
Centr Brands Enhanced Sparkling Citrus Water with Nootropics and Adaptogens
Sparkling water that improves cognitive performance, gut health and has a calming effect? We’ll take two! Understanding that there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach to mental health, Centr set out to make a product that allowed people to find moments of calm and clarity amidst everyday chaos. Centr Enhanced’s transparent labelling boasts a clean, zero-calorie and unsweetened way to hydrate with added functional ingredients like GABA, Pantax notoginseng and astralagus membranaceus. With all that goodness wrapped up in a bubbly can, it’s simply never been easier to feel your best.
All Real Nutrition Cashew Cookie Dough Protein Bar
If you’ve ever eaten a protein bar and been left with an odd, chalky taste in your mouth, you’re not alone. All Real Nutrition took consumer feedback and created a super soft and creamy protein bar powered by grass-fed Irish milk protein and clean ingredients. Not only is this bar revolutionarily tasty, but the company is making some serious moves in combatting climate change with plastic-free and home compostable packaging and a partnership with PlasticBank, which ensures that one plastic bottle is prevented from entering the oceans for every bar purchased. Another sustainability asset comes from an unlikely source: Irish dairy production has a 59.4% lower CO2 footprint vs. global average dairy. All Real’s ethos can be seen in every aspect of its business from ingredients to marketing, making your next go-to protein bar an easy choice.
Clean Cause Strawberry Lemon Sparkling Pick-Me-Up with Collagen and Prebiotics
Affectionately known as the “Swiss army knife of caffeine,” CLEAN Cause’s new drink provides collagen, peptides and probiotics all in one colorful can. You’ll get a jitter-free mood boost, collagen support for hair, skin and nails, and gut support from probiotics sourced from chicory root—all while supporting individuals recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. CLEAN cause has given 50% of net profits to support sober living scholarships since its inception and is proud to be part of the solution to drug addiction by facilitating a supportive and long-term recovery process. To boot, this energy drink is USDA Organic and provides 120 mg of clean caffeine per can.
Clevr Blends Sleeptime SuperLatte
If you’re craving a good night’s sleep, you’re in the right place: the Sleeptime SuperLatte by Clevr is touted to taste like a toasted cappuccino and feel like sinking into a cloud. This mix uses clinically studied herbs such as valerian root and L-Theanine, and adaptogens including reishi and ashwagandha, to provide both short and long-term relief for the most common causes of sleep troubles, without any of the side effects caused by other sleep solutions.
Philosopher Foods Gut Nuts Fermented Almonds
Philosopher Foods has changed the game by creating Gut Nuts, a first of its kind snack that turns typically sweet almonds into an incredibly savory, salty and umami treat! Using the ancient technique of lacto-fermentation, the almonds are soaked in a probiotic brine that gives them their invigorating flavor (plus increased bioavailability of nutrients), then dehydrated to give them their signature “zing.” Knowing that the human gut microbiome could use some help, Philosopher Foods was driven to introduce more delicious, fermented products to the market to make them easy to incorporate into any routine. Whether eaten out of the jar, added to a salad or sprinkled onto a pizza, Gut Nuts lend gut-supporting benefits and a simply unforgettable flavor.
Vahdam India Vedic Kadha Herbal Tea Tisane
The Vedic Kadha Herbal Tea Tisane is perfect for the modern consumer, blending time-honored Ayurvedic principles and superfoods like ginger, black pepper, holy basil and clove to provide a delightfully earthy and soothing drinking experience. While the flavor might be the first thing you notice, Vahdam India is also Certified Carbon Neutral and Certified Plastic Neutral and intends to offer fully plastic-free packaging by 2025. The brand has already made great strides by switching to biodegradable tea bags and non-envelope tea packaging. Through partnerships with TEAch Me and BYJU’S, Vahdam India puts 1% of their revenue towards the education of tea grower’s children, free of cost to them.
Oilogic Baby Slumber and Sleep Essential Oil Vapor Chest Rub
Oilogic created a safe, natural, 100% pure essential oil-based, mess-free stick made with organic ingredients to help parents feel at ease. This product is pediatrician and dermatologist tested, cruelty-free and made without synthetic fragrances, sulfates, parabens, petroleum, glute, propylene glycol, phthalates, dyes, DEA, mineral oil or menthol. The brand manufactures all products in the U.S. and domestically sources 90% of all packaging with a goal of reaching 100% by mid-2023. This chest rub is particularly interesting because it is a non-ingestible product for kids, giving parents an alternative medicine solution that also assures them of its safe and clean ingredients.
Blueland Laundry Starter Set
When Blueland started its research into the laundry category, it found that the film in individually wrapped laundry pods is non-biodegradable. The company then created a “naked” laundry tablet made with plant and mineral based ingredients that is tried, tested and proven to lift stains and dirt. The tablets are formulated without VOCs, parabens, ammonia, dye, phthalates or chlorine bleach, and are USDA BioPreferred. The starter-kit comes with a recyclable storage tin to hold tablet refills, and all tablet refills come in compostable packaging. Blueland is woman- and AAPI-owned, Climate Neutral Certified, B Corp Certified and Cradle 2 Cradle Certified.
Geosphere Better for All PHBH Event Cups
The Better for All PHBH Event Cup is biobased and fully compostable and was designed to meet the market need for a non-toxic, reusable and fully compostable cup for large commercial events such as stadium games, concerts, festivals, campus events and large gatherings at home or work. PHBH is fermented in warm water baths that are strained using a Kaneka-patented, solvent-free process and post-use water purification. The fermentation inputs—a blend of seed oils—are RSPO-certified. The brand relies on home-compostable cup sleeves, recycled cardboard cases and water-based inks. Better for All Cups uses no titanium dioxide whitener, no processing additives, no coatings or chemicals and the products have been third-party-tested for heavy metals and ash flourines, and are certified for compostability.
Current Foods Plant-Based Salmon Slices
Current Foods is ready to impress with its Plant-Based Salmon Slices, which show how the power of plants can improve the flavor, mouthfeel and nutritional density of fish alternatives. Current Foods Salmon is made from pea protein, seaweed, bamboo, potato and tomato and plans to be certified organic within the next five years. This food plays well with bagels, toast, adults, children and even pets. The team dared to reimagine what loving the ocean could look like, and the result is delicious.
Big Mountain Foods Fava Feta Style
Unlike other dairy-free cheese alternatives on the market, Big Mountain Foods doesn’t sacrifice taste or texture to offer a high-protein, nutrition-rich, plant-based option. Derived from soy-free tofu, the Fava Feta Style product is packed with 33g of protein per pack, making it a clean-label, allergen-free cheese alternative that is both sustainable and satiating. This cheese alternative’s fava beans are sourced from a Canadian, women-owned farm that upcycles the soy byproduct okara into certified upcycled, non-GMO, vegan, and glyphosate free snack or topping worth celebrating.
Jinka Plant-Based Calamari
The New Hope team could not get enough of this Jinka Plant-Based Calamari. While Jinka began with a sustainable tuna alternative, the brand has successfully expanded to include one of the Marine Conservation Society’s concerns: squid. This calamari alternative could mitigate the species' overfishing problem and is free of gluten, soy, nuts, milk and seafood. It is packaged in a post-consumer recycled (PCR) film that is recyclable and will be replaced with a compostable bag by mid-June. Planet friendly, innovative and delicious!
Spread’Em Kitchen Meadow Herb and Garlic Cheese Alternative
When consumers want big taste and big benefits, they’ll definitely be reaching for Spread’Em Kitchen’s Meadow Herb and Garlic Cashew Cheese. And their gut flora will thank them. This indulgent snack is clean, full of probiotics and still one of the best tasting options to put on a cracker or carrot. The nuts and vegetables are sourced directly from producers wherever possible and the cashews score high in most measures of sustainability, making Spread’Em both people and planet friendly as well as scrumptious.
Nuts for Cheese Un-Brie-Lievable Fermented Cashew Product
Ridiculously spreadable and go-in-for-thirds delicious, Nuts for Cheese’s new Un-Brie-Lievable dairy-free, clean alternative is chef quality without compromising taste or texture. All Nuts For Cheese products are USDA Organic, made from only the highest quality ingredients sourced from ethical supply chains. In addition, this perfect addition to any charcuterie board boasts a living wage for employees, is Rainbow Registered and is a Certified LGBT+ business.
Meati Foods Animal-Free Classic Steaks
Meati is introducing an exciting new generation of animal-free meats made almost entirely from a single, complete-protein whole food, mushroom root (mycelium). This ingredient provides significant amounts of fiber and important micronutrients while its simplicity sets it ahead of many other plant-based proteins. Consumers love steak and beef-based dishes despite the meat industry's polluting of both land and air. This new, animal-free classic steak could fill consumers' cravings and mitigate the environmental issues.
Alec’s Ice Cream Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb
Alec's Ice Cream is made with gut-friendly, 100% A2 dairy. We could just get lost in its new flavor, Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb. This crunchy, ultra-creamy delight balances everything worth loving about peanut butter, chocolate, honeycomb and toffee, all swirled with scrumptious fudge. Using premium organic, verified regeneratively grown ingredients and highest quality, regeneratively farmed A2 dairy, Alec’s Ice Cream is easier to digest and doesn’t result in the discomfort many experience after consuming conventional dairy products. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream that’s good for the gut and the planet.
Groundwork Coffee Regenerative Organic Certified Nicaragua Cooperative Sacaclí
Groundwork Coffee has figured out how to move your bold morning cup from the usual fair-trade supplier to an innovative direct trade vendor. Climate change will reduce suitable land for growing coffee up to 50% by 2050, so both your morning pick-me-up and the livelihood of smallholder farmers around the world are at risk. Groundwork Coffee’s Regenerative Organic Certified coffee builds on the organic movement by promoting holistic agriculture practices that increase soil's organic matter, isolate carbon below and above ground, improve animal welfare, and provide economic stability and fairness for farmers, ranchers and workers. We are thrilled about this Regenerative Organic Certified coffee.
Alter Eco Raspberry Crème Truffle Thins
“Snacking without guilt,” takes on new meaning through these decadent Alter Eco Raspberry Crème Truffle Thins. These delicate, creamy thins—which are USDA Organic and Certified Gluten-Free—are made with simple ingredients such as organic cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, and 60% Ecuadorian cacao mixed three times longer for a smoother flavor. You can practically taste the high-quality, clean ingredients grown in thriving ecosystems by small-scale, fair-trade farmers. This goodness extends into the packaging: Alter Eco uses recyclable or compostable packaging to help eliminate or reduce waste, making this treat equally beneficial for mind, body, and soil.
Barnana Organic Himalayan Pink Salt Plaintain Scoops
Barnana has been an upcycling trailblazer since 2012, when the brand first made organic banana snacks from imperfect bananas that didn’t qualify for export and became food waste. Barnana continued innovating to solve this leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions, launching organic plantain snacks using upcycled plantains from Indigenous farmers in the Amazon in 2018. These new, great-tasting Organic Himalayan Pink Salt Plantain scoops reduce food waste further by using the peel.
New Barn Organics Regenerative Organic Certified Unsweetened Almond Milk
Almonds have historically proven to be unsustainable, but New Barn Organics has created what might be the first ROC-Certified almond milk in the United States. Produced with ROC-Certified almonds grown in California's Central Valley, New Barn Organics sources almonds from a farm run by the Burroughs—a third-generation BIPOC farming family that teaches other California farmers how to grow almonds both profitably and regeneratively, changing the almond farming industry in preparation for climate change.
Painterland Sisters Meadow Berry Organic Icelandic Style Skyr Yogurt
Words cannot express how yummy we found Painterland Sisters’ new Meadow Berry Organic Icelandic Style Skyr Yogurt. The fact that this brand is women-owned, American farmer-owned and sourced from a fourth-generation family farm in Pennsylvania only makes it taste better! Skyr, a traditional Icelandic style of yogurt that has been around since the Norwegian Vikings, remains relevant thanks to its thick, smooth and nutrient-dense qualities. This yogurt is clean, lactose free, filled with probiotics and brimming with 18g protein without fillers or fluff.
HeyDay Canning Co. Coconut Curry Chickpeas
Bringing flavor back from being merely an afterthought, HeyDey Canning is shaking up the canned food aisle with flavorful combinations of premium ingredients. The Malaysian-inspired curry sauce in the Coconut Curry Chickpeas pairs ginger, galangal, lemongrass and spices with coconut milk and Makrut lime. Served with flatbread or roasted veggies, a can of beans now becomes a meal in a matter of minutes—from a plastic-free, fully recyclable container (an aluminum can!). Sourcing its ingredients from regenerative and organic certified suppliers, the company aims to achieve certification within the next five years.
Big Bold Health Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat Super Nutrition Flour
Big Bold Health’s flour brings an ingredient to the CPG industry that we haven’t seen before: an ancient superfood called Himalayan tartary buckwheat—a hardy plant that has more than 100 phytonutrients, including immune-active polyphenols such as quercetin, rutin, hesperidin and luteolin. This grain-free, gluten-free product can be used as a flour alternative in cooking and baking. Our judges were impressed by how intentional the founders were with this rediscovered plant by conducting significant research before the product’s launch. The company has taken an environmentally conscious approach to establishing the agricultural footprint of the plant, which requires no chemicals, fertilizers or irrigation systems to grow. It is self-pollinating and is also an excellent cover crop.
Heilala Apple Pie Vanilla Extract
Heilala is innovating the traditional vanilla industry with its Apple Pie Vanilla Extract and providing something exciting for home cooks looking for vanilla products beyond traditional extract and paste. Founded in 2002 after a cyclone hit Tonga, South Pacific, Heilala established a vanilla farm to provide employment opportunities to the island nation, particularly women. The first vanilla company in the world to achieve Certified B Corporation status, Heilala utilizes a patented process to ensure the entire crop and every part of the vanilla bean is used. The company also is committed to being carbon neutral by 2025.
Good Food for Good Organic Plant-Based Classic Bolognese
Nearly 50 million Google searches last year for “vegan bolognese” returned few clean-label options. Organic food brand Good Food for Good accepted the challenge and created its Organic Plant-Based Classic Bolognese sauce with tomatoes, pumpkin seeds and spices. The classic sauce contains 5 grams of protein per serving, equivalent to meat-based Bolognese, with no cholesterol. It’s Whole30 Approved, vegan, and keto- and paleo-friendly. For every sauce purchased, the BIPOC- and women-owned business donates a meal to feed a person living with food insecurity through its Buy One, Feed One business model, with 1.4 million meals donated so far.
Hu Products No Added Sugar Chocolate Chips
Like it’s chocolate bars, Hu Products’ No Added Sugar Chocolate Chips provide a great baking option for those consumers who are looking to limit sugar, but would prefer to have less real sugar over artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes. The chips are made with organic fair-trade cacao, cocoa butter and vanilla bean. Organic dates provide a natural sweetness. With only 4 grams of total sugar and no refined sugars, artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, the chips are paleo- and keto-friendly, as well as vegan, Non-GMO Certified and gluten free.
Iya Foods Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake Mix
Iya Foods utilizes West African superfoods fonio and cassava in this versatile baking mix, providing an indulgent dessert option that’s gluten free and sustainable. The company innovates through its Share the Love initiatives for its customers, farmers, the planet and children, notably creating an integrated supply chain focused on sustainable farming practices and land stewardship. In December 2022, Iya Foods planted the first 250 of 1,000 planned hectares organic cassava in Nigeria. Iya Foods also donates to food banks in its local Illinois community, where it has its own manufacturing facility, and fully funds an orphanage in Nigeria, providing food, housing and school fees.
Momofuku Goods Soy and Scallion Noodles
Simple and delicious, the Soy and Scallion Noodles from Momofuku Goods wowed our judges’ tastebuds. The packaged noodles combine restaurant-grade ramen noodles with the convenience of a 4-minute cook time. The quick-cook noodles are made using an 18-hour drying process that results in fewer calories and more protein than most instant noodles. The short ingredient list—wheat, salt and water—combined with soy sauce and scallions is unpretentious but sure to satisfy.
Ocean’s Balance Lemon Pepper Seaweed Seasoning
Regenerative kelp is quickly becoming a star ingredient and Ocean’s Balance is doing things right by providing a low-salt alternative using natural salinity from seaweed. Containing no added salt, Lemon Pepper Seaweed Seasoning brings bright flavors of lemon and pepper and only 10 mg of sodium per serving—a great choice for a low-sodium diet. By harvesting locally sourced seaweed grown in Maine, Ocean’s Balance provides fisherwomen an alternative income source where warming ocean waters are threatening natural fisheries.
Amazi Foods Moringa Hibiscus Dried Pineapple
Social enterprises collaborate to empower Ugandan farmers in this thirst-quenching dried pineapple snack with superfoods. Amazi Foods is building markets for pineapple and hibiscus growers while Kuli Kuli is supplying calcium and iron-rich moringa. Amazi Foods build markets for underutilized fruits or those lacking reliable market access to support local Ugandan communities. Additionally, this woman-owned brand has also established partnerships to process and manufacture at source, which activates local value creation, by generating more jobs.
Seattle Chocolate Company Jcoco Chocolate Boharat Spice
This collaboration with chef Tarik Abdullah fuses Peruvian-sourced cacao with savory Middle Eastern spices as a means to put people first. Not only does this chocolate bar celebrate flavors of North Africa, but it empowers Peruvian cacao farmers to participate higher up in the value chain (post-harvest processing like fermenting and drying) by paying a premium that is 83% higher than commodity prices. This brand nourishes consumers with decadent chocolate, nourishes farmers through higher wages and nourishes the poor by donating 10% of net profits to food banks and food justice organizations.
Quinn Snacks Family Farmed Popcorn Kernels
Quinn Snacks is on a mission to regenerate a farming community in Missouri with regenerative practices. Braggadocio, Missouri, has suffered a few too many setbacks after a series of devastating tornadoes. By sourcing popcorn kernels from these family farms, Quinn is able to realize crucial elements of ethical food, improved transparency steward regenerative agriculture.
Evergreen Zucchini and Carrot Waffles
Neither zucchini nor carrots are new to sweet baked goods, but this appears to be their first foray in the waffle format. And it works. These not-too-sweet toaster treats need no butter or syrup (or plates or patience) to deliver a great-tasting snack. We’re ambivalent about the hidden veggies trend and love seeing these veggies in the product name. Go Evergreen! But more than that, we love the simple whole-food ingredients—only nine plus water and salt— including honey for sweet and almonds for protein.
Glenda's Farmhouse Original Savory Walnut Crumbles
This quick and easy hot protein is refreshing in part because it’s neither meat nor meat substitute. California-grown walnuts, grown with regenerative and bee-friendly practices, are crumbled with savory spices into a ready-in-five-minutes supplement to or replacement for meat in sloppy joes, tacos, stuffed peppers and sauces. Vegan Bolognese, anyone? Each quarter-cup serving delivers 4 grams of rich umami protein with zero trans fats or cholesterol.
Solely Green Banana Pasta
Solely is at it again with more single-ingredient innovations. This time, it’s gluten-free, whole-food fusilli pasta made from green bananas. What!? Yup, these corkscrew noodles—high in iron and potassium and delivering loads of fiber—make eating green banana pasta a delicious way to add fruit, nutrients and fiber to a convenient diet. The flavor is, well…pasta, but the black noodles add color to the dinner plate. The organic bananas are purchased through the company’s network of organic farms in Mexico and Latin America and provide a grain-free, sugar-free pasta that tastes great.
Konscious Foods Plant-Based Kale Gomae Onigiri
Konscious’ innovation centers around frozen plant-based seafood, but this Kale Gomae Onigiri delivers pure satisfaction without any seafood substitutes. Here, kale, perfectly seasoned with a traditional sesame gomae dressing, is stuffed inside onigiri triangles. The flavor and texture are restaurant quality just one (microwaved) minute out of the freezer.
Misaky Tokyo OoMee Strawberry and Hibiscus Marine-Plant Fruit Infusion
OoMee, which to the Japanese-language literate evokes ocean (umi), is a fresh, innovative pre- and probiotic “fruit infusion” made from red algae. The hibiscus and strawberry version, flavored with real freeze-dried strawberries, lemon juice and hibiscus tea—all organic—is a satisfying and filling beverage in the Japanese tradition of putting seaweed in a broad array of formats. The parent company has developed marine plant technology to bring this ingredient to market in a plant- and planet-sensitive manner. Further, the company is dedicated to saving the endangered sea otter—in part to protect the ingredient supply ecosystem from sea urchins, a staple of the sea otter diet—by donating a portion of its revenues to support the animal.
Wildbrine WildVine Banh Mi Medley
Not quite kimchi, this collection of pickled goodness is flavored with mint, lime and a ponzu vinaigrette to emulate the flavors of a bánh mì thịt, the famed Vietnamese sandwich. Fun fact: The shorthand “banh mi” denotes only the bread. Indeed plant-forward, this Non-GMO Project Verified medley puts carrot, Persian cucumber, daikon radish and jalapeno out front for a tangy, crunchy, slightly sweet snack or condiment. Part of the WildBrine family, the group proudly lets nothing go to waste, finding homes for the entire vegetable across its growing line and brand extensions.
Yumi Strawberry and Rhubarb Organic Bar
This (yummy) children’s snack bar is the latest introduction from inspired baby food brand Yumi. All organic, with no added sugar, the tasty strawberry rhubarb bar additionally delivers nine superfood veggies, including broccoli, spinach, kale and sweet potato. We loved the flavor, and we love the brand that pushes forward quality ingredients from local growers with sound health- and food-science guidance and a mission to reduce food waste.
Megafood Digestive Health Water Enhancer Lemon Ginger Kombucha
Mood supplements are everywhere these days, but have you seen “booch” as a single-serve, on-the-go powder stick-pack? A so-called water enhancer sounds a little ho-hum, but this is an alluring digestive blend that contains kombucha powder, apple cider vinegar, green tea and the probiotic strain B. subtilis DE111. This Lemon Ginger variety is one of three flavors along with Guava Passion Fruit and Pineapple Mango. MegaFood is committed to organic and regenerative agricultural practices and is Certified Glyphosate Residue Free, as well as a Certified B Corp.
KAL Women’s Multivitamin AM/PM
This product is from a 91-year-old company that’s still around thanks to unicorn behavior like conducting clinical trials on finished products—something that almost never happens. Usually, universities or ingredient suppliers that conduct this work. This product uses two forms of magnesium and conducts tests all along the supply chain to ensure quality, efficacious ingredients. The innovative, comprehensive product is a twice-a-day multi to be taken morning and night. The company supports local farmers and is focused on sustainability.
Solaray Mycrobriome Prebiotic Citrus Powder
Prebiotics—the lunchbox for friendly probiotic bacteria—are an increasingly popular way to optimal gut health. This one is unique, made without inulin or FOS but rather with a unique blend of prebiotic fibers and resistant starch, and is a low-FODMAP product. The prebiotics come from the organic reishi, maitake and oyster mushrooms, which support butyric acid that strengthens the intestinal lining. The powder is not gritty and dissolves easily. It’s vegan, keto-friendly and soy free. The company has a GMP, ISO-accredited lab, powered by solar, that conducts six quality tests along the way.
Bioray Life is Peachy
Flower essences are an underappreciated part of the herbal business—solutions of brandy and water with the water containing uber-diluted quantities of flower material, kind of homeopathic in that way, but with subtle yet notable effects on 38 different negative human emotions. This one was ideated as a peacemaker for ornery teens, containing essences of lion’s mane, chlorella and red clover from wildcrafted sources. The labels are cotton, the ink is soy, the bottles are glass and the box material is recycled. Ingredients are lab-tested for heavy metals.
First Person Golden Hour
This might be the most NEXTY thing we’ve seen. Stacking mushrooms like lion’s mane and reishi alongside microdosing with psilocybin is what Nutrition Business Journal calls “psychedelic adjacent.” Stacking with microdosing is said to help advance the sub-perceptual effect of psychedelics, tweak the mind/body connection and boost connection and joy. The formula also includes lemon balm and the branded saffron ingredient, Affron. The branding is hip, and the super-awesome capsules are a trip in and of themselves. There are three different formulas in the box, sourced from a farm in the Pacific Northwest.
Health in Harmony Everyday ECS Balance
For hemp CBD products, this one stands apart for the Vesisorb technology that has been clinically validated to improve pharmacokinetics and heighten bioavailability while it uses the up-and-coming minor cannabinoid beta-caryophyllene. The product is manufactured in a NSF GMP-Certified softgel facility and undergoes rigorous quality and safety testing by independent, third-party labs. This is the direction CBD needs to go.
JonnyPops Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks
The classic bomb pop goes organic. But when it comes to these frozen novelty treats, JonnyPops certainly puts the “pop” in flavor. Here, you’ll find six layers of what they’re dubbing “fruit stacks” in natural flavors of cherry, orange, lemon, lime, blue raspberry and grape. The company self-manufactures JonnyPops, using proprietary technology and processes. Also significant, these treats are made in a facility that’s peanut and tree nut free (excluding coconut), making these frozen treats ideal for food-sensitive consumers. The community-minded company also supports various organizations through fundraising, donations and encouraging others to be more environmentally friendly.
Norma's Handcrafted Snacks Elderberry Ginger Fruity Snacks
“Progressive taste without pretension.” That’s one of many mantras from Norma’s, a fun, shareable, fruit snack brand with a purpose. Think gummies for a new generation as Norma’s—a sweet collaboration between herbal guru Norma Porter and her candy-developer granddaughter Tessa Porter—specializes in sophisticated flavors that are sourced sustainably from local farmers and other producers. The key ingredient in these low-calorie chewies is Norma’s signature homemade elderberry syrup, made from immune boosting elderberry juice, ginger, local honey and cinnamon. The conscientious twosome behind the brand proudly uses honey from Fat Head Honey Farms in Clarkson, Nebraska. A portion of the profits benefits pollinator conservation programs to support hard-working bees.
Honey Mama's Cherry Hazelnut Cocoa Truffle Bar
Christy Goldsby introduced her very first refrigerated truffle bars more than 10 years ago at the Portland Farmers Market. And though she’s long expanded into a nationally distributed brand, she refuses to cut corners when it comes to quality and sustainability for Honey Mama’s products. For example, the company operates out of an SQF-certified manufacturing facility. Also, Goldsby sources organic, non-GMO, direct-trade ingredients from majority Oregon-based suppliers. For the Cherry Hazelnut Cocoa Truffle Bar—first introduced in 2019 at the annual Feast Portland food festival—local ingredients are celebrated and elevated. Pacific Northwest Bing cherries and roasted hazelnuts are swirled into a creamy cocoa base that is sweetened only with raw honey.
Eat the Change Maple Cardamom Organic Carrot Chews
Eat the Change sets itself apart from other snack companies because it supports responsible and regenerative farming by choosing ingredients that require little water and are organic. The brand is a big fan of carrots for this reason—and when they are dehydrated, they are reportedly even more nutritious. Eat the Change's newest flavor, maple cardamom, is as tasty as the rest of the line. The brand has donated more than $1 million in grants to nonprofit groups making sustainable changes in their local communities.
Real Food from the Ground Up You Need This Cinnamon Churro Puffs
Cinnamon Churro Puffs check all the boxes for discerning snack-goers everywhere, from finicky Gen Zers to baby boomers who’ve altered their diets for health reasons. They also satisfy those with a sweet tooth and savory lovers simultaneously. Each bag contains about 22 sticks of these puffed veggie snacks made with butternut squash and a blend of spinach, broccoli, carrot, tomato, beet and shiitake mushroom. Who needs a V8 when you can indulge in Cinnamon Churro Puffs? They’re vegan and gluten free.
Issei Mango Mochi Gummies
The best—and most appetizing—way to tell families' heritage stories is through food. That’s why Issei Mochi Gummies founder Mika Shino decided to create these chewy, healthier sweet snacks for her kids. Using her Japanese heritage as the blueprint, Shino made the usually perishable mochi a shelf-stable product. She also converted the confectionary into a clean-label product, using rice and tapioca flours, ensuring they are vegan, gluten free, soy free and nut free. The newest flavor consists of naturally sweet mango with a hint of lime. The brand's name, Issei, means first-generation, referring to Japanese people who immigrate to the United States. Shino hopes to innovate traditional Japanese foods to inspire the next generation.
We’ve opened boxes, checked in products, organized categories, prepared food, tasted beverages, read nomination forms and eaten gummies until our teeth were rainbow-hued—and then we did it all again. With 19 product categories, 850 nominations and more than 30 judges evaluating each and every NEXTY-nominated product over a (very full) two days of preliminary judging, this year’s NEXTY Awards competition once again demonstrated that chaos and magic can co-exist.
Organizing, judging and carrying out the NEXTY Awards can be a Herculean feat, but it’s more than worth it. We are delighted to say that this year’s Natural Products Expo West NEXTY Awards may be the finest edition yet. Of course, the true merit is in the countless innovative, inspiring and strongly mission-based brands that nominated products this year.
Choosing the finalists out of so many phenomenal products is no easy task, but now that it’s done, the only thing we love more than making the NEXTYS come to life is sharing these fabulous finalist brands and products with the natural products community. The 100 product finalists featured here stand out for their innovation, inspiration and integrity.
From here, a panel of expert guest judges will join the New Hope team to further review these finalists and choose the winners, which will be announced on the Expo West Virtual Platform on March 1.
Congratulations to all of the Natural Products Expo West 2023 NEXTY finalists!
Click through the gallery to see the finalists and learn what made them rise above the rest.
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