Expo East Attendance Tops 23,000

BALTIMORE—Natural Products Expo East 2006 (www.expoeast.com) was held here Oct. 4 to 7, offering industry members more than 1,700 exhibits with products from around the globe. According to the show organizer, New Hope Natural Media, total attendance topped 23,000, a record for the show’s 20+ years.New Hope announced the winners of its 4th annual New Products Showcase awards: Kingslake & Crane Premium Blend Orchard Mix, Kee-Ka Inc.Wearable Garments, Pangea Organics Japanese Match Tea with Açaí and Goji Berry, Nutiva Hempshake Amazon Açaí, Don’t Bug Me Patch, and Maggie’s Organics Baby Bodysuit Set.

Also at Expo East, the 12th Annual Socially Responsible Business Awards (SRBA) were presented. Winners included Manitoba Harvest, Hemp Foods and Oils; Sambazon, Brazilian Acai Products; and Herb Pharm Organic & Wildcrafted Herbal Extracts. The keynote address was given by Michael Funk, chief executive officer (CEO) of industry distributor United Natural Foods.