That's a Wrap!

Another Expo West in the books. It's one of my favorite shows and offers a great opportunity to network and see old friends – and make new ones. It's humbling to receive support and friendship from such a diverse group of clients and suppliers alike.

As the hustle and bustle of Expo has concluded, I wanted to note some of the interesting items/innovations I saw at the show.

**Fruits and vegetables integrated into products to give them an elevated nutritional profile. Mushroom protein and other novel use of mycelium (mycelium is part of the mushroom you can’t see that sits in the soil).

**Labeling including organic, grass-fed, regenerative, ethically sourced, small batch, local, seasonal, glyphosate free.

**Novel use of chickpeas, legumes, lentils and other beans instead of nuts or flour.

**Products designed specifically for women. Women-owned and founded companies.

**Chef-crafted formulas for everything from bars to ready-to-eat meals to dips/spreads.

**Nut innovation. Bringing novel nuts to market and pushing an elevated nutrition profile.

**Focus on food waste and water conservation.

**Compostable packaging and paper/plastic replacements (utensils, straws, etc.)

What are your final thoughts about Expo West 2024? I look forward to hearing your observations.