August 20, 2019
Lilly’s Foods - Organic Keto-Cauliflower Hummus Keto consumers can once again take part in the joys of hummus (sans the extra carbs) with Lilly’s small-batch organic cauliflower-based hummus. The company created this delicious alternative with just five simple and USDA-certified organic ingredients—cauliflower, sesame tahini, salt, garlic and olive oil—making it easy for vegan and gluten-free consumers to enjoy as well. Low-carb dieters and healthy eaters alike will appreciate the transparency of Lilly’s recipe and the integrity of the organic, non-GMO components in addition to the ease of buying such a product as opposed to making it from scratch at home. ECOPROLIVE - Organic Extra Virgin Pitted Olive Oil Spanish company Ecoprolive’s 100% EU-certified organic extra-virgin olive oil is manufactured using pitted olives—a unique feature in the olive oil world that greatly reduces the water needed during the extraction process. This product is not exposed to oxygen and is maintained in a controlled temperature environment before it is packaged in order to preserve antioxidants and freshness. As an added bonus, all leftover materials (olive pulp, etc.) are upcycled by the company into forward-thinking products such as olive-based prebiotic fiber and a vitamin E-rich olive extract that can be used cosmetically.
Chameleon Cold-Brew - Oat Milk Lattes Limited Edition With Starbucks set to release their pumpkin spice latte on the earliest day yet, we can’t help but feel as though fall is in the air. Chameleon Cold-Brew’s Oat Milk Pumpkin Spice Latte answers the organic, dairy-free alternative call for the popular must-have leaf-peepin’ beverage. Sustainably sourced coffee paired with a delicious blend of oatmilk, lower sugar and all-organic ingredients has our team feeling all the feels. Petal Beverage - Petal Sparkling Botanical Blend Petal is an organic beverage company that blends botanical, herbal and fruit essences together with agave to deliver a super low-calorie and low-sugar beverage. Petal is a proudly woman-owned business with a mission is to empower women in the workforce and inspire everyone to live their best lives. For our team, it was love at first sight, then at first taste. This beverage delivers on beauty and benefit, mixing the power of botanicals and refreshment for a better-for-you functional treat. Minna - Lightly Brewed Sparkling Tea Minna is an organic, unsweetened, lightly brewed sparkling tea that uses only organic, non-GMO ingredients with no sugar or added sweeteners. We love Minna for its social mission, clean label and beautiful storytelling. Minna is leading the way by offering resources to support diversity and inclusion across their brand–the kind of leadership we love to see.
Rethink Brands – Rethink Juice Splash The ubiquity of juice boxes—and more accurately, high-fructose-corn-syrup-sweetened “juice” boxes—may be the bane of lunch-packing parents. While water is one admirable alternative, here’s an option aimed at keeping big smiles on little faces: a juice box with no added sugar, sweetened with organic fruit juice and organic monk fruit for a total sugar count of 1 gram. Tribucha Kombucha – Flowers of Life Unique flavors and attractive craft brew-inspired cans draw our attention to Tribucha. What follows is an inspired taste experience from herb-infused raw kombucha made with only organic ingredients and without added fruit juices, served up in a can for lightweight travel and easy recyclability. The Flowers of Life entrant features hibiscus, rose, honeysuckle, lavender and jasmine to create a light and uplifting brew aimed to deliver “mindfulness and peace with each refreshing sip." Chameleon Cold-Brew – Oat Milk Latte Cans Chameleon, the leading organic cold brew brand, doesn’t just source sustainable and ethical coffee beans. Through sustainability projects in five countries, the company invests in community-driven farm projects. To then boost the benefit for their farmer partners, they make great-tasting products that drive meaningful consumer demand. Their latest is this organic cold-brew oat milk latte, arriving in October in delectable dark chocolate or mouthwatering maple.
Tama Tea - Tama Sparkling Tea This unique blend of sparkling organic green tea and fruit boasts no sugar, calories or artificial flavors. The clean ingredients, high vitamin C content and low sodium content make these sparkling teas healthy alternatives to soda. We loved the healthy ingredient list, refreshing flavors and clever packaging. Beyond that, Tama donates a penny from every can to Masonboro.org, a nonprofit that protects public land access and preserves Masonboro, a beautiful barrier island off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina. 8th Wonder Tea - Ginseng Green Superfood Tea This new green tea blend from is formulated with filtered Rocky Mountain Spring Water, orange juice, ginger juice, lemon juice, green tea and lemongrass. What's innovative is that this tea brings ginseng to the forefront of the tea’s purpose and taste, which–though rare in a RTD tea format–was well-liked by our judges. The USDA-certified organic tea donates 1% of profits to Water.org, serves as a member of 1% For the Planet and is also Fair Trade Certified. Bluestone Lane - Australian Iced Cofee We love that this RTD offers a taste of Melbourne, Australia’s well-known coffee culture. Through a wonderful partnership with Elmhurst Dairy, the delicious cold coffee drink features oat milk—the darling of non-dairy alternatives. Understanding the incredible need for sustainable packaging, Bluestone Lane uses SIG combismile, a 100% recyclable material made from renewable materials.
Freak Flag Organics - Pestos Founded by natural food industry PR veteran Fred Haberman in collaboration with local chef Mary Jane Miller, this Minneapolis-based brand caught our judges’ eyes and taste buds. The organic vegan pestos offer interesting flavor mash-ups featuring kale, tomato and carrot. They definitely aren’t the everyday big-can-of-sauce pantry staple. Instead, we imagine them serving as a condiment and to add unique flavor to the latest at-home bowl creation. And a bonus - they are USDA-certified organic. Michele’s Granola - Lemon Pistachio Granola What’s not to love about Michele’s Granola? Small batch. Woman owned. Wind powered. Giving. Talk about checking all the marks. Through its Give One for Good Food, which it created in 2013, the company donates 1% of sales to organizations leading the way toward a healthier, more equitable food system. It has donated more than $125,000 to urban farms and nutrition education programs in its customers’ communities. Does the world need another granola? We know what most would say. But don’t answer that until you taste this one. Safe Catch - Wild Pink Salmon Safe Catch says it designed this line of snacks specifically for athletes, kids and pregnant women. The key to this is one important for all—mercury testing every salmon to limits 30 times stricter than FDA limits. The wild caught salmon is also dolphin safe and comes with Fisheries Certificate of Origin. Not only is the fish traceable, so are the spices. The on-the-go package makes grabbing a healthy, tasty, protein-filled snack easy. It proudly touts its Whole30 approved, Paleo friendly, American Pregnancy Association and Kosher creds.
Cappello’s - Almond Flour Pizza Cappello’s set out to change the $3.4 billion frozen pizza category by offering healthier alternatives in the form of these pizzas made with protein and fiber-rich almond flour crusts that are flakey, crisp and rich. This whole-food goodness is made from cage-free eggs, almond and cassava flours, coconut milk and oil, extra virgin olive oil, psyllium husks, lemon juice, sea salt, apple cider vinegar and honey – a clean, delicious gluten-free pizza alternative. These frozen pies come in three savory flavors topped with carefully sourced ingredients as well as a Naked Pizza crust, so you can let your imagination run wild. Caesar’s Kitchen - Frozen Entrees Created on the principal of democratizing health and convenience, Caesar’s Kitchen has found the (savory) spot in terms of making USDA-certified organic, healthy and delicious frozen meals at an accessible price. Not only that, the meals are served in tree-free, eco-friendly fiber containers that are compostable and packed into recyclable paper boxes. The dishes can be heated in both the microwave and oven while remaining cool to the touch. The innovative pasta recipes were developed by a network of Michelin-rated chefs and feature flavorful, real-food ingredients that are packed with protein, Non-GMO Project Verified and r-BST free ingredients. Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Company - Wholly Rollies Wholesome ingredients, sustainable practices and supporting kids and communities are the underlying philosophies of this family business. This woman owned, Certified B Corporation donates healthy food to The Healthy Kids Happy Future Project, an organization that it founded to help feed children in need. This belief in good-for-you, real food extends to these new frozen protein balls: simple and nutrient-dense snacks that taste homemade and make the perfect bite-sized treat right out of the freezer.
Serenity Kids Baby Food - Grass-Fed Bison Baby Food Would you feed bison to your baby? The mamas on our judging panel say “Yes,” especially after examining the nutrient benefits and approving the taste of this newest offering from Serenity Kids. Committed to sourcing 100% grass-fed, grass-finished bison (an ideal protein source that delivers iron, zinc and vitamin B12 and improves the animal agricultural ecosystem), Serenity Kids mimics the macronutrients in breastmilk by adding to it kabocha squash, spinach and avocado oil. We also love their mission to train infants’ palates to enjoy savory flavors versus the traditional sweet and fruity offerings found in most baby food pouches. Zephyr Foods - 1 Source Ground Beef Traditional ground meat and poultry is made from the trim and fat byproduct of hundreds of animals that could be from anywhere in the world. Knowing that consumers want more transparency than that, Zephyr Foods packages each pound of ground beef sourced from a single US Choice Black Angus cow raised humanely on U.S. farms, similar to how you would purchase a high-quality cut of steak. We encourage Zephyr to push its traceability standards even more by eventually allowing consumers to see what farm (and even which cow) their product came from. Force of Nature - Grass-Fed Regenerative Meats The destructive impact of factory-farmed meat is well publicized. The corrective force of holistically-managed, pasture-raised meat, however, is a story—and a practice—deserving of much more attention. Force of Nature appears to live and tell that story with its 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised ground bison, venison and elk. We hope to see greater distribution, crucial certifications (and maybe a bit less polarization in the education) from this important young company.
Picnik - Unsweetened Vegan Creamer There is something about starting your day with a cup of freshly brewed coffee drizzled with a deliciously smooth creamer. In the world of dairy-free, it can be difficult to find a #treatyourself moment that isn’t overly sweet and doesn’t separate when it’s poured. Enter Picnik Unsweetened Vegan Creamer made of plant-based fats such as cashew milk, coconut cream and MCT oils. This product rose to the top for it’s beautiful branding, functional ingredients and oh-so-deliciously smooth taste. All of the magical warm and fuzzy feelings, none of the dairy. 100% keto, vegan, unsweetened paleo dreams are made here. Good Catch Foods - Plant-Based Tuna in Water Plant-based tuna is a thing and Good Catch is leading the charge. Finally, we can all enjoy seafood without sacrifice that is both good for you and good for the planet. We love the texture, nutrition and approachable flavor profile. This product is made up of six different legumes and algae oil, combined for a fresh and flavorful approach to plant-based. In a challenging space Good Catch is hitting all the marks–without the worries of fish farming or high mercury levels.
Hu Products - Hu Gems Hu Kitchen was created by two founders who wanted to “feel better than ‘fine.’” They went on a mission to make high-quality real food that tastes delicious, founding the restaurant and chocolate line they wished had already existed. As many vegans can attest, good vegan baking chocolate is hard to find, so Hu’s Snacking and Baking Dark Chocolate Gems were a pleasant surprise with their delicious taste, texture and richness. A small handful of these little hexagon-shaped chunks, made from organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar and organic fair-trade cocoa butter, also make a yummy, paleo snack! Farm&Oven Snacks - Bakery Bites Developed by a mom who wanted her family to eat better, Farm&Oven’s soft, chewy mini-muffins are the perfect healthy snack, with five grams of fiber per serving to stave off mid-day cravings. They come in a convenient pack of three, and each of the four flavors we tried were delectable. We’re also super impressed that these hearty bites have 40% of your daily veggies and 1 billion live probiotic cultures in one serving! We love their mission to help people find the joy in eating healthy. Rule Breaker Snacks - Rule Breaker Bites Already a favorite among the New Hope staff, Rule Breaker’s new bite-sized brownies and blondies are perfect for on-the-go snacking. We love that the first ingredient is chickpeas–but you’d never guess it from the taste! Chickpeas are not only rich in nutrients and fiber, they also use much less water than other crops and add nitrogen to the soil (no need for greenhouse gas-producing fertilizers). Not to mention these heavenly bites are vegan and free from most common allergens, so almost anyone can enjoy them!
Pride of India – Papadum Lentil Crisps After just a minute in the microwave, these papadums crisp up to restaurant quality and produce flavorful protein and fiber-rich, grain-free snacks that wowed our judges. Behind the curtain, things get even richer. They are made by hand and from scratch as part of an Indian minority-based women’s empowerment initiative that employs underprivileged women of working age to help them earn fair wages and support their families. Dieffenbach's Potato Chips – Uglies Kettle Cooked Potato Chips Uglies has created expertly crunched and flavored chips from upcycled potatoes. The vagueness of “upcycled” is clarified in the name, as the brand aims to find a home for cosmetically undesirable potatoes. What that means is smaller and darker chips, but when they taste this good, one might ask: who cares? The bag answers with prominently displayed food waste and hunger stats—such as “26% of U.S. produce gets discarded for cosmetic reasons”—making it easy for anyone to care. Elma Farms – POSHI It’s surprising when such simplicity and so few ingredients can be so innovative. Surprising but not unheard of, and happening in a big way with these simple, tasty veggie snack pouches. Single-serve pouches provide keto-friendly marinated veggie snacks—such as artichokes with basil and thyme, asparagus with rosemary and oregano or French green beans with lime and garlic—without trans fats, GMOs or gluten. We’d love to see organic certification hit these labels, but the healthful yumminess delivered here makes it hard not to be excited by these uncommon snacks.
Lopaus Point - Gluten Free Waffles Gluten-free waffle options are a dime a dozen these days, but Lopaus Point stands out from the crowd. Its artisanal waffles have an ingredient profile that boasts no added sugar, dairy, soy or preservatives. Lightly sweetened with organic fruit, these gluten free waffles pack a flavorful punch on their own. Beyond their delicious concoctions, Lopaus Point also focuses on inclusion efforts; from the very beginning, they've included team members with special needs and believe "we are more alike than different". 88 Acres Foods - Watermelon Seed Butter We come across unique ingredients all the time, but watermelon seeds as the headliner? Now that catches our eye. This tahini-like watermelon seed butter boasts rich and buttery flavor with more protein per serving than almonds or peanuts. We thought the sweetened version could stand in as an allergy-friendly swap for nut butters, the unsweetened version makes a good sesame-free tahini that has a positive water conservation impact, too–watermelons use 78 times less water than shelled almonds to grow! Nuttin Ordinary – Cashew Cheese It's a tall order these days to find dairy-free cheese options with simple, clean ingredients, but Nuttin Ordinary nails it with their spicy cashew cheese spread. Made with only six ingredients plus a probiotic blend, it's a fantastic option for vegans and dairy lovers alike with delicious, bold flavors that just might be mistaken for the real thing. Nuttin Ordinary is making plant-based foods more approachable for the masses, keeping in mind the health of our bodies and the health of the planet.
Vital Farms - Pasture-Raised Original Ghee Squeeze Bottle The first iteration of this pasture-raised ghee launched in jars this past spring was Vital Farms’ response to creating a product based on ethical and sustainable farming. This novel, squeezable format (available in both the Original and Himalayan Pink Salt flavors) makes it even easier to use this quality clarified butter, which has a higher butterfat content than the industry norm, a high smoke point at 485 degrees and is lactose and casein free. ECOPROLIVE - Marina Olive Salt Sustainability, upcycling and a respect for the nutrient-dense foods that form the basis of the Mediterranean diet are in the DNA of Spanish company Ecoprolive. Their Olive Salt comes from a unique approach to extra virgin olive oil production by upcycling the pulpy leftovers into PreBiofenol, an olive prebiotic fiber rich in phenolic compounds. This delicious, European Union-certified organic salt is a blend of sea salt, turmeric, garlic, shitake and reishi mushrooms, and black pepper. Know Brainer Foods - Ketogenic Powder Creamers Now available in powder form, this ketogenic creamer from Know Brainer is not only keto-friendly but has the bonus of coconut-derived organic MCT oil to support mental clarity, grass-fed collagen to promote skin and bone health, and grass-fed ghee sourced from ethical and sustainable farms. With this product, the company moves away from single-serve creamer packets, reducing its packaging by 70% with this 1lb bag of product. The result is a low-carb, no-added-sugar way to have your keto-friendly coffee.
Beckon - Dairy Full and Lactose Free Ice Cream Beckon targets the 25% of Americans who are lactose intolerant with one of the first lactose-free ice cream pints on the market. Using lactase to combat the uncomfortable effects of cream and milk on sensitive stomachs, Beckon has developed a delectable dessert is not dairy free, but “dairy full.” We appreciate the simple ingredient list, indulgently creamy texture, and that the milk and cream are sourced exclusively from farmer-owned co-ops. Keto and Co. - Fudge Brownies Keto Baking Mix We were blown away by the rich flavor and fudgy texture of Keto and Co’s brownies. With only 1 gram of sugar and 8 grams of dietary fiber, this product is a great treat for any consumer looking to cut down on sugar and up their fiber intake. While many keto “treats” on the market fall short in taste and texture, these fudge brownies measure up to their less-healthy counterparts. Theo Chocolate Inc. - Peanut Butter & Jelly Cups Theo Chocolate has always been a gold standard of integrity in the industry with direct farmer relationships and the ability to trace every cocoa bean from the farm through its supply chain, all the way to its USDA-certified organic and Fair-Trade certified chocolate confections. The company’s new Peanut Butter & Jelly Cups are a delightful treat, with creamy peanut butter and tangy raspberry jelly that combine for the perfect bite. We also love that this will be one of Theo’s first products produced with 100% plant-based packaging.
Nutricare USA - PATCH Bamboo Bandages First aid reeks of hospital hallways, latex gloves and chemically laden antiseptics. But natural solutions could be just what your body needs to heal post-scratch, bump or bite. These stripped-down bandage strips are made from 100% organic, stone-milled bamboo fiber with gauze strips that are enhanced with coconut oil, aloe vera or charcoal that’s perfect for soothing and repairing skin after minor abrasions. The hypoallergenic, biodegradable and compostable bandages, paper wraps and unique cardboard canisters are free of plastics, latex and silicon. Eco Tan - Eco by Sonya Driver Eye Compost We were hooked when we saw the high-performance, plant-based blend of Kakadu plum, sprirulina and vitamin C geared toward making the around-the-eye area appear awake and youthful—and the product’s jade roller applicator that promotes healthy circulation was a welcomed surprise. The fact that you can get more from your product, while taking a few minutes out of a busy day to indulge in a small beauty ritual, opened our eyes to the small details that make a big difference in the natural skin care category. Palmetto Harmony - Holy Cannacense Topical Cream In an industry where a lot can go wrong, Palmetto Harmony does so much right—initiated by founder Janelle Ralph’s passion in launching the company as a way to bring relief to her ill daughter. Ralph’s advocacy efforts helped legalize hemp’s cultivation in South Carolina (which has made Palmetto Harmony a vertically integrated company) and the company’s direct and honest marketing are incredibly respected. Pure, organic and traceable, the product clearly labels what is (and isn’t) in the product. In addition to full-spectrum hemp, the topical cream contains shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil for an ultra-nourishing blend. The Australian Natural Soap Company - Original Solid Shampoo Bar Now here’s a refreshing take on the “bar” category. But don’t get it twisted: It’s not soap meant for hands or body, but rather a stripped-down shampoo bar containing potent Australian botanicals that deliver a two-for-one, cleansing and moisturizing product. What we love most? It washes away undesirable side effects that come with traditional shampoos: plastic packaging (the cardboard packaging is completely biodegradable), harsh chemicals that can run-off into our waterways and the need to use conditioner (the shampoo’s plant oils are uber hydrating). We are saying “yes” to these no’s—and a creative addition to the world of natural hair care.
Nutrawise - Youtheory Collagen Liquid Collagen has been booming the past five years, with annual growth sometimes exceeding 30%. That makes the time ripe for product innovation and differentiation. In this case, Youtheory capitalized on pill fatigue by offering a liquid shot, and wisely chose a leading, science-backed collagen peptide, Verisol, and using the research-backed dosage level of 2,500 mg per serving. Plus, it tastes good, too! Naturelo Premium Supplements - Whole Food Multivitamins So many so-called whole-food supplements actually contain synthetic USP vitamins that are tossed in fermentation tanks, taken up by yeast, dried, and the vitamin-enhanced yeast is then called whole food. It’s probably not what consumers think of when they see a “whole foods” declaration on the label. Naturelo gives consumers what they want by sourcing only from real food sources like kelp, sunflowers and fruit. They then differentiate, so there’s a men’s and women’s formula, plus a men’s and women’s 50+ formula. Now this is something we can sink our teeth into. Emerald Health Bioceuticals - Endo Omega Vegan Three of the biggest trends of the last decade are DHA Omega-3s, the ketogenic diet and hemp. So why not combine the three? And why not do it with a bioavailability-enhancing oil emulsion that tastes yummy to boot? Combined, the three ingredients target the body’s endocannabinoid system to bring about bliss and balance. The education around the latest body system to be discovered is a great treat to the great mass of imbalanced, dis-eased people out there.
Sun God Medicinals - Organic Eir Menopause Hemp Tincture 500 Smart formulators watching the hemp CBD revolution roll across every category in the supplement industry are now discovering they can use more than one key to unlock all the potential in the body’s endocannabinoid system. Sun God Medicinals addresses menopause support with a tincture that combines hybrid hemp flower with ingredients that include damiana, red clover, valerian root and, of course, black cohosh to create a formulation with CBD as the star player and tried-and-true herbals as the supporting cast. MegaFood - Immune Defense Shelf-Stable Probiotics The probiotic market can often look like a straight-out-of-the-lab category where science-first marketing doesn’t always appeal to consumers seeking enlightened values and a holistic approach to health. Enter Megafood, known for transparency and a crusading stance on organic and regenerative agriculture, with a 15-strain probiotic blend in its Immune Defense formulation. With their Glyphosate Residue Free certification and Certified B Corporation status, this product does everything right to deliver solid science with the glow of an intentional brand.
Sun God Medicinals - Organic Aja Body Relief Daytime Hemp Tincture 500 Sun God Medicinals hails from Oregon, where they manage extensive USDA-certified organic hemp production. What they don’t grow themselves they source locally, supporting the region’s organic herb farmers, sustainable wildcrafters, health-conscious food producers and local artists. With licorice root, nettle leaf, burdock and valerian, they’ve produced a powerful formula of herbs that support a healthy inflammation response. Rena’s Organic - CBD Super Cider Hemp CBD is, to say the least, trending. You know what else is? Apple cider vinegar. That’s the base liquid in this USDA-certified organic elixir that contains a passel of other botanicals designed to act as an antioxidant, mood improver and digestion enhancer. Just one tablespoon does the trick. They’ve even got a money back happiness guarantee. RE Botanicals - Hemp CBD Relief Body Oil Already the winner of the inaugural Best New Hemp-CBD product in the 2019 Expo West NEXTY Awards, RE Botanicals is innovating new product formats with this roll-on hemp while staying true to its industry-leading mission of sourcing USDA-certified organic hemp. This is of paramount importance because the hemp revival holds forth the promise of introducing the next great American commodity crop to farmers. GMO soy and corn are grown in some 80 million acres each. Hemp was not even 100,000 acres in 2018, but its uptake is surging, and wouldn’t it be a boon to the organic movement if hemp got off the ground as an organic crop? RE Botanicals takes things one step further with their Glyphosate Residue Free certification through the Detox Project and initiative to educate framers on regenerative agricultural practices. Palmetto Harmony - Sublingual Oil Like the pioneering CBD brand Charlotte’s Web, Palmetto Harmony is also named after a child who found relief via the hemp plant. Palmetto Harmony is fully integrated—they grow their own hemp in South Carolina, extract it, blend it with organic MCT oil, and then their entire production is certified organic by the USDA. Soil fertility and crop nutrients are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations and cover crops. This is a great regenerative agriculture product—and the packaging is divine, darling, don’t you think?
Wedderspoon - Apple Cider Vinegar Concentrates with Manuka Honey Wedderspoon impressed us with its innovative approach to the “drinking vinegars” craze. Their Apple Cider Vinegar Concentrates contain nutrient-rich New Zealand Manuka honey and Beechwood honey along with organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Both their Blackcurrant flavor (for immune support) and Ginger Turmeric flavor (for detox) were delicious when mixed with water to create a healing wellness tonic. We also admire Wedderspoon’s commitment to the vitality of honeybees and their colonies. Vibrant Health - Digestive Vibrance Vibrant Health’s Digestive Vibrance gut health formula wowed us with its 100 billion(!) condition-specific probiotics, fermentable fibers and carefully selected ingredients for digestion support. Their Supplement Facts label is impressive, disclosing each ingredient and amount for a transparent product that consumers can trust. They’re also a proud supporter of Vitamin Angels, an organization that provides nutritional support to mothers and children at risk of malnutrition and Autism Hope Alliance, a foundation that provides education, financial support and volunteerism to families facing the diagnosis of Autism.
VEO Active Probiotics - Probiotics Surface Cleaner We all know that maintaining a healthy microbiome in our bodies is important for health, but what about surfaces and our environment? With a clean and soil-friendly formulation, Veo brings innovation to home surface cleaning with an exclusive blend of active-probiotics that biodegrade dirt and grime for up to three days. We're inspired by this balanced approach to whole home health! The Australian Natural Soap Company - Dog Shampoo Every dog needs a good wash every once in a while. This pooch shampoo provides the safety and integrity we're looking for in a product for our fur family member–compostable packaging, less water weight (a lower carbon footprint) and super clean, simple ingredients that won't harm your dog's sensitive skin. Fido can’t wait for his bath, especially when its with soap that’s never come in contact with any plastics!
Bobo’s Oat Bars - Bobo’s Apple Pie Stuff’d Bites Perfectly sized for tiny hands, these mini baked snacks are a wholesome option that parents can feel good about stocking (and snacking on themselves). Made in their own bakery in Boulder, Bobo’s is a trusted brand that has been delivering the comfort of small-batch baked goods in a convenient and nutritious on-the-go format for years. We also love that Bobo’s has made the commitment to organically source two typically chemical-laden ingredients, oats and apples, to calm any parent's worries about the quality of what they're feeding their little ones. lil’gourmets - Organic Veggie Meals Any parent knows that most blended baby and toddler food pouches and jars tend to be heavy on the fruit and low on the veggies. Not to mention, most options are shelf stable and highly processed. Lil’gourmets aims to change that by being committed to a veggies-first promise (all recipes contain 70-95% veggies), low-sugar formulation (every pouch contains 5 grams of less of naturally occurring sugars) and a focus on fresh (you’ll find ‘em in the refrigerated case). Perfect Snacks - Perfect Kids Peanut Butter Cookie New pediatric guidelines recommend early initiation to common food allergens, including peanuts, and soft peanut butter is the most appropriate first form. Not only does this kid-friendly addition to the Perfect Snacks line-up help deliver nutritious peanut butter to toddlers, but they are an extremely tasty and nutritious snack parents can feel good about serving. These small refrigerated bars deliver 7 grams of protein plus a dried whole-food powder made of kale, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, carrot, beet, pumpkin and cauliflower. In future evolutions of this line, we would love to see removal of the dried milk powder and dried egg, which would not only make the ingredient list more sustainable, but also align this product with the plant-based trend and make it more accessible for even more parents and kids.
Eco Tan – Eco By Sonya Driver Hand & Nail Cream for Rafiki Mwema Seeking the best way to address a social issue, Eco Tan decided to develop a product with the sole intention of driving finance to a worthy cause. The company’s Hand & Nail Cream does just that, with 100% of profits (yes, you read that right!) going towards Rafiki Mwema, a charity focused on supporting Kenyan children that are victims of sexual abuse. The certified organic, toxin- and cruelty-free lotion supports this important cause and leaves refreshed skin smelling like mangoes. RE Botanicals – Relief Body Oil While the CBD market has exploded over the last two years, products using organic hemp have been lacking. Hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning it absorbs elements—both good and bad—from the soil, making organic certification not a want but a need. These natural, Relief Body Oils use a simple formulation of coconut MCT oil, essential oils and full-spectrum hemp extract and are Glyphosate Residue Free, certified by the Detox Project. Driven to push responsible agricultural practices forward, RE Botanicals also donates 1% of all sales towards regenerative agriculture education for farmers. Northern Planet – Dtocs Plastic-Free Disposable Plates It's hard to imagine a durable, disposable plate made from one single, natural ingredient, but that’s exactly what Northern Planet created. Mimicking indigenous manufacturing methods, the plate uses naturally fallen palm leaves processed with water and UV radiation for disinfection.—no plastics, chemicals or resins are used. Eco-focused and providing employment to remote and under-developed villages and communities, Northern Planet is on its way to organic certification, Non-GMO Project verification and Fair-Trade certification.
Original Uncle Dougie’s – Organic (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce Squeeze Pouches Original Uncle Dougie’s is changing things up in the condiment category by offering squeeze pouches over the conventional glass jars. After noticing that their local municipality stopped collecting glass jars in their curbside recycling, they conducted a third-party life cycle assessment and found that these pouches have a significantly lower carbon footprint than their recyclable counterpart, including 65% less greenhouse gas emissions. Not only that, these USDA certified Organic BBQ sauces are delicious, so you can have clean ingredients and a tasty dinner all while helping the planet. World Centric – NoTree Cups and Bowls Every year, as many as 20 million trees are cut down to manufacture upwards of 50 billion paper cups used in the US annually. World Centric, a mission-driven Certified B Corporation is addressing this issue with their fully compostable tree-free foodservice hotcups and bowls, using unbleached sugarcane paper. With 25% of pre-tax profits supporting grassroots community and environmental projects, the NoTree hotcups and bowls go above and beyond the company’s already noble initiative of waste reduction.
Primal Kitchen - No Soy Teriyaki Primal Kitchen comes to the rescue for the paleo-focused again, this time with their No Soy Teriyaki. This USDA-certified organic, Whole 30 Approved condiment stands out amongst its competitors with a clean ingredients list, making delicious Asian cuisine more accessible to those who otherwise would be admiring from afar. The tasty sauce is gluten-free too, making it a versatile, clean condiment that you’d want in your pantry for the quick mid-week concoction. Hippie Snacks - Cauliflower Crisps Healthy snacking is a habit on the rise, and cauliflower has been at the epicenter of this trend. The versatile veggie has gained wide-spread consumer acceptance, and Hippie Snacks offers a tasty, Non-GMO Project Verified Cauliflower Crisp that you can feel good about eating. The plant-based, high-protein snack can be eaten on its own or with your favorite dip – a no-guilt, mid-afternoon snacking experience.
DERMA E - Vitamin C Instant Radiance Facial Peel Now you can get a fancy facial without going to a fancy spa. This latest addition to the vitamin-C line from trusted beauty brand DERMA E features the potent vitamin antioxidant plus citrus peel puree to help remove the appearance of discoloration and dark spots, and glycolic acid to remove surface dead skin cells. After just a 5-minute application, skin feels moisturized and smooth, an impressive result for a lot less ($26 all in for multiple applications) than you'd pay at an esthetician's office. Bare Republic - Mineral SPF 30 Face Lotion Consumers want a sunscreen that doesn't leave harmful residues on their skin or in the oceans, where it can be detrimental to marine ecosystems. They get both in this mineral-based SPF 30 sunscreen that doubles as face lotion - no white streaks, just a sheer, untinted, unscented lotion that rubs right in and provides broad spectrum, water resistant protection from active igredients titanium dioxide (5.2%) and zinc oxide (2.5%).
CV Sciences - PlusCBD Hemp Oil Spray The supplement market has been bombarded with a new, magical ingredient called CBD. Consumers have not only had to warm up to this new ingredient, but they’ve also had to adopt tinctures as a delivery format – an issue for some. CV Sciences Plus CBD addresses thid hesitancy with their Hemp Oil Spray – an approachable way for a new consumer to enter the world of CBD wonder and magic. Sunsoil CBD - Sunsoil Full Spectrum CBD Oil 2019’s most popular plant, hemp, is a biomediator, meaning it absorbs both good and bad nutrients from the soil. That’s why it is critical for hemp to be grown in an organic environment, and lab-testing is a must. Sunsoil does just that with their full-spectrum tincture, which a clean, simple formulation of coconut MCT oil and in dessert-like flavors such as cinnamon or chocolate mint.
CV Sciences - PlusCBD Hemp Oil Spray The supplement market has been bombarded with a new, magical ingredient called CBD. Consumers have not only had to warm up to this new ingredient, but they’ve also had to adopt tinctures as a delivery format – an issue for some. CV Sciences Plus CBD addresses thid hesitancy with their Hemp Oil Spray – an approachable way for a new consumer to enter the world of CBD wonder and magic. Sunsoil CBD - Sunsoil Full Spectrum CBD Oil 2019’s most popular plant, hemp, is a biomediator, meaning it absorbs both good and bad nutrients from the soil. That’s why it is critical for hemp to be grown in an organic environment, and lab-testing is a must. Sunsoil does just that with their full-spectrum tincture, which a clean, simple formulation of coconut MCT oil and in dessert-like flavors such as cinnamon or chocolate mint.
In a showdown of natural products stardom (and as a preview of great things to come at Natural Products Expo East), several dozen products rose to the top for meeting the main NEXTY Award criteria of innovation, inspiration and integrity. You'll see these exemplary products in the NEXTY Finalist showcase at Natural Products Expo East 2019 in Baltimore, as well as at their respective booths.
What are the NEXTY Awards?
Twice a year New Hope Network and industry judges gather to celebrate the newest innovations coming from the brands driving the natural products industry forward. This time, from a field of 400 nominations, we’ve chosen 62 impressive products as finalists for the Natural Products Expo East 2019 NEXTY Awards program. The second and final round of judging took place in the New Hope Network office in Boulder, Colorado, on Aug.16. Judges for that round included New Hope Network's content team, marketing team, NEXT Data and Insights team and standards team, as well as a panel of industry judges. Read more about how the winners are chosen here.
In addition to the 62 products that impressed us, we’re recognizing six finalists for our NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards—a branch of the NEXTY Awards program that entails brands applying to have their product shipped to 1,000 targeted consumers to receive product ratings and feedback. Learn more about the new Consumer Choice Awards.
Only one product per category will be awarded a coveted NEXTY, to be presented to the winners on Thursday, Sept. 12, directly at their booths. We'll also award three NEXTY Consumer Choice winners and four NEXTY Editors’ Choice winners that will be selected on-site.
For more information about the NEXTY Awards, head to the NEXTY Awards website.
Here are this year’s finalists for Expo East 2019.
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