-By Kristin V. Montalvo

Venus Wafers has been baking gourmet specialty crackers and flatbreads since 1930. The company has developed many gourmet and organic product lines, including their newest addition, Venus 8 Grain Organic Crackers. Available in Certified Organic Hearty Original, Seed Celebration and Mediterranean Delight Crackers, these low-fat crackers have no trans fat and no cholesterol. For more information, visit www.venuswafers.com.  


French Meadow Bakery offers the marketplace a sweet alternative with its All Natural Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie and All Natural Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. The Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough makes nine cookies, bakes in just minutes, and the cookies only have 190 calories per serving.  The Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie offers nine individually wrapped brownies in a package and contain just 150 calories each. In addition to their delicious taste, the brownies and cookie dough are made with zero grams trans fat, they are lactose and peanut free, and they have no artificial colors or preservatives. For more information, visit www.frenchmeadow.com.  


Kettle Cuisine, Inc. will launch a line of five gluten-free frozen soups, selected from its most popular varieties. These deliciously wholesome and convenient soups are high in natural protein, featuring all-natural chicken and beef raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, and traditional New England clam chowder made with fresh, hand-shucked clams. The soup lineup includes: Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles, Angus Beef Steak Chili with Beans, New England Clam Chowder, Chicken Chili with White Beans, and Grilled Chicken & Corn Chowder. For more information, visit www.KettleCuisine.com.  


BrandStorm Inc. introduces a unique healthy snack - Wasabi covered Goji berries. The combination of dried Goji berries and the hot crunch of the Wasabi coating creates a distinctive sweet and spicy treat that is 100 percent natural, with no artificial color - a rare feat for Wasabi. For more information, visit www.brandstorminc.com.


1-2-3 Gluten Free, Inc. will debut its much-anticipated new product, Yummy Yellow Cake Mix. Like many of 1-2-3 Gluten Free's other products, this premium gluten-free baking mix is free of gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, corn, egg, peanuts and tree nuts. This mix is also sugar-free. The consumer adds the sweetener and has the ability to add sugar, evaporated cane juice or agave, among other choices, which makes this product an ideal choice for celiacs, diabetics and many other consumers with dietary concerns. For more information, visit www.123glutenfree.com.  


Attune Foods, a California-based natural foods company, is rolling out two new Probiotic Wellness Bars ��������������������������� Dark Chocolate and Mango Peach. These all-natural daily wellness bars feature more than five times the beneficial probiotics found in yogurt in a portable package for today's on-the-go lifestyles. For more information, visit www.attunefoods.com.  


Barney Butter almond butter is the all-natural, no-stir, no-fridge, healthier alternative to peanut butter, and is now available in convenient, on-the-go 90-calorie serving packets. Pop it into a lunchbox, backpack or office desk - this packet is made to travel. Made from 100 percent natural ingredients, and containing no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, and less saturated fat than peanut butter, Barney Butter is a nutritious and high-energy alternative. For more information, call 559-696-2023.   


Bouquet of Fruits has developed a line of all-natural Fruit Energy Bars. The On Track bars are unique with no added sugar - sweetened only by the natural sugars of the fruit (fructose). They are high in fiber, contain no trans fats, are vegan, gluten-free, raw and kosher. Each bar is the equivalent to two servings of fruit - and they taste good to boot. Flavors include Mixed Berries; Strawberry Banana; Peaches and Cream; and more. For more information, visit www.ontracksnacks.com.  


With the introduction of its new organic range, DELVERDE has reinforced its position as the emblematic Mediterranean culinary traditions market leader. Produced in farming systems that are free of any traces of chemical fertilizers or other synthetic substances, DELVERDE Whole Wheat Pastas undergo a slow drying process at low temperatures, avoiding the burning of delicate fibers, and leaving a delicious taste. For more information, call 559-322-2022 or visit www.delverde.it.  


Good Health Natural Foods, Inc., a leading innovator of healthy snacks, announces the creation of its Avocado Oil Potato Chip. This innovative product combines the benefits of the heart healthy avocado with the popular taste of potato. This is the first time that avocado oil has been used to cook potato chips, resulting in robust flavor and 30% less fat than traditionally cooked chips. Four delectable varieties include: with a pinch of Sea Salt, Chilean Lime, Barcelona Barbecue and Quattro Formaggio. For more information, visit www.goodhealthnaturalfoods.com.  

Alter Eco's chocolate bars are made in the pure Swiss tradition from Fair Trade and natural ingredients. For these mouthwatering, soul-quenching bars, Alter Eco has selected fair-traded ingredients from distant corners of the world: Fair Trade cocoa from Ghana and Bolivia, unrefined organic Fair Trade sugar from the Philippines, as well as Fair Trade cashews, raisins and fine Arabica coffee beans. They are 100 percent natural and do not contain artificial flavors or sweeteners, chemical additives or emulsifiers. For more information, visit www.altereco-usa.com.  


Nature's Path, has collaborated with Andrew Weil, M.D., a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. The first line of products created with this collaboration, Weil by Nature's Path Pure Fruit & Nut Bars, is available now. Weil by Nature's Path Pure Fruit & Nut Bars use organic ingredients and stay true to the concepts of integrative nutrition. All of the bars are organic, vegan, wheat-free and contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For more information, visit www.naturespath.com.  


Wholemato has sparked a healthy ketchup revolution by taking ketchup flavor and quality to a whole new level with the launch of their Original Organic Agave Ketchup. This fresh take on an old classic combines the rich flavor of premium ripe organic tomatoes with an artistic blend of spices and agave nectar - a natural sweetener that is one of the hot culinary trends in the healthy food marketplace. For more information, visit www.wholemato.com.  


Terra Nostra Organic is launching its 1.5-oz. bars: Robust Dark 60% cacao with Chocolate Pomegranate Truffle center (puckering sour sweet); 73% Intense Dark with Goji Berries; and Pink Himalayan Mineral Salt (exotic chocolate on the go), as well as dark and milk chocolate Creamy Caramel bar. Kosher dairy certified and USDA Organic certified. For more information, visit www.terranostrachocolate.com.  


In conjunction with the company's ongoing commitment to preserving nature's playground, Bear Naked is offering four new Trail Mixes, featuring unique, robust blends and heart-healthy ingredients. The Trail Mixes are part of Bear Naked's Triple Crown Project, a national effort to conserve, build and maintain America's three classic long-distance hiking trails. For more information, visit www.bearnaked.com.  


Edward & Sons Natural Bouillon Cubes are perfect for soups, stews, curries, pilafs and more. Offering a refreshing, natural alternative to other bouillon cubes that are packed with hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, hydrogenated fat and extra salt, the Natural Bouillon Cubes contain only natural, vegan ingredients. They are also gluten-free and contain no MSG or trans fat. Available in four flavors: Garden Veggie, Low-Sodium Veggie, Not-Chick'n, and Not-Beef. For more information, visit www.edwardandsons.com.  


Come enjoy Helen's Kitchen line of bold internationally themed complete meals - all featuring their original Tofu Steaks. Each of Helen's meals are certified organic, meat-free and completely free of trans-fats, MSG and GMOs. Tasty meals include: Farfalle with Basil Pesto; Cheese Enchiladas; Thai Yellow Curry; and Indian Curry. For more information, visit www.helensfoods.com.  


Barbara's Bakery new 100 Calorie Organic Mini Cookies provide an all-natural, low-calorie, great-tasting cookie in a convenient package. Available in Oatmeal, Chocolate and Ginger, the 100 Calorie Mini Cookies provide a delicious portion-controlled snack that is calorie-conscious, convenient, and free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, cholesterol, hydrogenated oils and trans fats. For more information, visit www.barbarasbakery.com.  


Turtle Island Foods debuts its new line of Tempeh products including: Five Grain Tempeh (organic), Soy Tempeh (organic), Spicy Veggie Tempeh (over 95% certified organic). The Original Multi-Grain Tempeh, for example, is made with soybeans, rice, millet, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. Each product is vegan with no genetic modifications, no herbicide, no pesticide and no chemical fertilizer. For more information, visit www.tofurky.com.  


Crunchies from Crunchies Food Company are made through a unique freeze-drying process in which individually frozen fruits and vegetables are placed in a refrigerated vacuum chamber that removes up to 97 percent of the moisture. This special process gives Crunchies their crunchy texture and allows them to retain a high percentage of the nutritious enzymes that are invariably lost through traditional heat drying. Free of additives, chemicals, preservatives or unhealthy ingredients. For more information, visit www.crunchiesfood.com. 


Frutzzo's family of natural and organic juices includes the new antioxidant "super hero" Yumberry-based juices: 100 percent Yumberry, Yumberry Pomegranate, Yumberry Blueberry and Yumberry Cherry. The ruby red, 100 percent juice has no added sugars or colors. Frutzzo's free-radical-fighting, natural and organic super juice blends are available in award-winning, fully recyclable glass bottles. For more information, visit www.frutzzo.com.   


Genisoy will be introducing their new Potato Bakes at Expo West. They'll also be sampling other new products, such as their new Heart Healthy Baked Soy Tortilla Chips, Smart Hearts, Crispy Dippers and Ultra Bars, along with sports nutrition products from their MLO brand. All of Genisoy's products provide simple and delicious ways to receive the benefits of soy protein. For more information, visit www.genisoy.com.