-By James Mellgren

For many years, people regarded natural foods and gourmet foods as two vastly different entities; and most folks, whether consumers or retailers, considered themselves in one camp or another. Thankfully, those days are mostly behind us as people on both sides of the fence are realizing there are more similarities than differences between the two worlds. Gourmets are waking up to the notion that what we eat and how we eat has a great deal to do with our health and well-being. Natural food enthusiasts, meanwhile, are embracing taste and tradition, and seeing that those two concepts don't have to be sacrificed for food to be healthful and natural. Indeed, in most cases, the more traditional the food, the more wholesome it is; and some foods that may have been eschewed by folks in the past are increasingly thought to be wonderful components of one's diet when made according to time-honored methods by thoughtful artisans. The melding of these two great industries is presenting great opportunities for both, and ultimately, the consumer is the winner. You can experience the world of natural food this fall in all its glory at the Natural Products Expo East (NPEE), taking place from Sept. 23 through Sept. 26 at the Boston Convention Center. Naturally, we feel you should be there.

For Every Thing, There is a Season …
Lest you think the natural foods industry is a poor cousin, consider that it is $68 billion strong, and according to Natural Foods Merchandiser's 2008 Market Overview, the industry experienced almost 10 percent overall growth last year, a darn sight better than the food industry as a whole. Perhaps the attendance figures of last years' NPEE had something to do with it as more than 26,000 international industry professionals were on hand to visit the more than 2,100 exhibits at the show. As the slogan for the NPEE says, "Every season is a growing season for your business."

Once again, the NPEE is neatly divided into six main categories: Natural & Specialty Food, the Organic Pavilion, Pet Products, World Tea Pavilion, Health & Beauty, and Supplements. The well-organized setup of the show allows buyers to focus on the areas in which they are most interested, although the prudent buyer allows time to meander through those parts that may be unfamiliar to them. One never knows what one may find while strolling down an otherwise foreign aisle.

This year, an added feature will help buyers focus and save money at the same time. Special graphic keys will be used in both the catalog and at the individual stands. For instance, one key is in the form of a purple heart enclosing the word "indy," meaning that the exhibitor is particularly open to doing business with independent retailers. A "25%" logo indicates that there are show specials of 25% off or more to be had at those booths. Another, showing a green leaf, identifies an exhibitor employing green booth initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of the show (be sure to stop by and ask them how they did it).

Purely from a buying perspective, the NPEE is a terrific source for all kinds of natural and gourmet foods, including packaged foods, fresh baked and ready-to-bake goods, cheese and other dairy items, fresh and cured meats, fish and poultry, and beverages. In fact, the beverage category is one of the fastest-growing segments of the industry, and throughout the show, you'll find great examples of adult sodas; plain, flavored and fortified waters; bottled tea drinks; energy drinks; juices and dairy beverages; and all of that is in addition to the World Tea Pavilion, where you'll find great specialty teas from every tea-growing region on Earth, with exciting and innovative packaging as well.

In addition to all the marvelous products you'll encounter at the show, there are also many educational forums starting on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and continuing throughout the show. Also, the NPEE is a great place to meet and learn from other retailers, industry experts, food producers and importers. If all of that weren't enough to justify the trip, you'll also be in the heart of Boston, one of our country's loveliest and most historically rich cities. The Boston Convention Center is a stone's throw from the beautiful Institute of Contemporary Art, a stunning glass building with dramatic views, as well as the Boston waterfront, with restaurants, shopping and points of interest. Boston is a very walkable city and also boasts an excellent public transportation system. If you've never seen this gem of a city, you're in for a treat.

Great products, networking with your peers and industry experts, educational forums, and the chance to visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world are all great reasons to pack your bags in September and head east for the Natural Products Expo East. Naturally.

Show Dates & Hours
Education:
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009 -- Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009

Trade Show:
Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.