Hot Trends and the Inside Scoop at Natural Expo West

Herein are the ramblings of an exhausted participant of the Natural Products Expo West. Over the past 10 years I've been involved with the natural products industry in a variety of capacities. I've attended hundreds of seminars, conferences, or trade shows, and served on numerous panels, or made presentations to various professional organizations. It has been well beyond just pet products, these experiences include human food, supplements and personal care items too. I was happy to serve on a panel and also give a presentation at the Natural Products Expo West this year in Anaheim, California. Expo West is much more than the premier trade show for the healthy products industry. It attracts more than 53,000 natural industry professionals from across the globe sharing, learning and exchanging ideas and information with one another. It incorporates the Nutracon conference, the Healthy Baking Seminar, the Fresh Ideas Organic Marketplace, and the Supply Expo, which together represent the entire life-cycle of healthy products. Thirty years ago, Expo West was a tiny show, regarded as an event for hippies and the fringe. Today, Natural Products Expo West ranks in the top 100 shows in the US and one of the fastest 50 growing trade shows in all of North America. This year it covered 300,000 square feet of the Anaheim Convention Center and featured over 1,900 exhibitors from over 30 countries. The reach is so huge because it includes natural and organic specialty foods, supplements, health and beauty personal care, natural living, household products, everything organic and pet products too.

This week's episode of The Palm Springs Savant & Co radio show covers highlights of the Expo West. It's all about the current and hot trends for healthy living, from my perspective. This year's Expo has even more energy and buzz than usual. The education and events were heavily attended, with people using social media activities, posting comments live via Twitter and Facebook. Personally, I found tweeting boosted the experience and interaction levels. I engaged in online discussions with people attending the education sessions or expo, despite having not met them in person.

What is it about the health and wellness industry that continues to experience such growth and fascinate consumers? Well part of it is that the concept of health and wellness has evolved to mean everything is connected. From the earliest ages, what we eat, the environment in which we live, even interactions with other species all have an impact. Despite advancements in modern medicine, there is an even greater interest in healthy and alternative lifestyle management. During one of the sessions I attended, it was discussed that most physicians still practice disease management, instead of proactive optimal functioning living.

The panel experts discussed that healthy living must be introduced at the earliest ages in life rather than when "health problems arise". The notion is that long before the onset of age-related diseases, such as obesity, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s or diabetes, people can affect their health starting at childhood. Some experts believe that many diseases begin to germinate in childhood, which is why they urge consumers to start making changes early in life. Reducing exposure to pesticides and toxic chemicals is perhaps one of the most important, but a close second is to start with a healthy diet of foods minimally processed, without artificial colors, flavors or ingredients. Fresh foods are best. Prioritize what foods you can select as organic, and do your best to wash produce thoroughly before consuming. Carefully select vitamins and supplements for quality and potency. Most of all, read labels and ask questions. The Natural Products Expo West is an important annual industry event because it continues to bring forth product innovation-and discussion about what can help promote healthy living naturally. I hope you take the time to look at what you consume and read labels. Regardless of your budget, my advice is to avoid pre-made foods (usually anything in a box), reduce sugar intake, and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits when possible. I'm not a doctor, nutritionist or health professional, nor do I suggest this post is complete in its health advice. It is merely my opinion on the benefits of consuming natural products in your life. Oh- and don't forget your pet too. Better nutrition makes a huge difference in a dog or cat's life.
-Rick Rockhill

A Day of Zany Fun at the Natural Products Expo West

Every year I attend the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. It's a huge industry trade show for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, media and service organizations within the natural and organic industry. This year I was a speaker at one of the conference sessions, and gave an address about trends in Pet Health and Nutrition. I also sat on a panel discussion with three other industry experts discussing regulations, pet nutrition and the vitamin/supplement products too. I really enjoy participating in conferences and try to speak at a few each year. For me, today was all about getting around to all the trade show booths. Like everything I do, I try to have fun and look for interesting things along the way. Well either that or strange things seems to find me. In any event I almost always have a camera handy. Take this first photo, above left. It was for a company that makes all kinds of things with ginger- cookies, candy, etc. The people working the booth all had their faces made up to look something like ginger root- all flaky and layered. It struck me as amusing. Click on the photo above left to biggify it and check out their faces more closely.

above: Then there was this cute bumble-bee girl who was so bubbly. I just had to get a photo with her.

above: And then the cow-girl. Or should that be cow-woman. Or bovine-female? ah, fugget-about it. I just like finding creatures like these for photo-ops for the blog.

above: and then there was this smokin' hot blond chick, wearing a skin-tight black patent-leather body suit. The guys walking by were all bumping into each other, as their heads were turned watching her as she stood in her booth.

above: these are always so corny, but I got a kick out of it for some reason.

above: who says just because its natural and organic that it can't be fun or taste good? These samba girls were dancing up a storm and attracted quite the crowd, too. Tomorrow I'm back at Expo West to make my way through the show floor. Still plenty more to see, and miles to go before I sleep.
-Rick Rockhill

Free Pet Nutrition Workshop Sat 11/14

NOTE: At work, I've been involved in the development of these pet nutrition workshops, so I decided to add a post about it on my personal blog. I hope you can attend. Just go to any PETCO store nationwide. We have over 1,000 stores in 50 states, so it shouldn't be too hard for most of you to find a PETCO store if you live in the US.

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All PETCO stores nationwide will host a free pet nutrition workshop facilitated by specially trained in-store nutrition experts on Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. During the 30-minute workshop, pet parents will learn about the nutritional needs of their dogs and cats, have a chance to discuss the benefits of good pet nutrition, receive an assessment of their individual pet's nutrition needs and understand the difference between basic, premium and natural pet food categories. Pet parents who attend the event will receive educational materials and free food samples from food suppliers Natural Balance, Wellness and Halo.

WHEN: Saturday Nov. 14th at 2 p.m.
WHERE: All PETCO locations nationwide
WHY: Your pets deserve the very best nutrition to help them live longer, be healthier and happier too!
I hope you can attend this Saturday.
-Rick Rockhill

Generation Natural Pet is up and running....

In my spare time, I've been contributing to a new site on Facebook called Generation Natural Pet. It's a site for people who want the best for their pets and want to hear and learn from other pet parents, share information etc. The site's mission is "to promote and celebrate optimal pet health and happiness through Natural, Organic and Holistic Products." I'm a member of The Generation Natural Pet Council along with others who are contributing information and ideas to help other pet parents learn how to help their pets live longer, happier and healthier lives with natural pet products. Don't worry, it is not a site selling anything- it's a fan site for fun and sharing. So if you have a pet and want to join it, please go to our new Generation Natural Pet site on facebook, become a fan and have some fun. Right now we're running a contest to find the pet with the shiniest coat. All you need to do is upload a photo of your pet and you are entered to win a $200 gift certificate. So what are you waiting for? Hope to see you over there soon.
-Rick Rockhill

Helping Your Pets Live Longer

Today my company's blog posted an article about our Pledge to Premium Pet Nutriton. This is part of a larger goal to educate consumers about why feeding a high quality pet food can really make a difference in the quality of life of a dog or cat. As is the case with people, what you put into your body has an impact on your health and well-being. That’s why choosing a high quality premium or natural food really makes a difference over the life of your pet. Pets lives are too short as it is, so if better nutrition can help my pets live longer and have fewer health problems, I’m there! Last December it was so hard for me when we had to put down my beloved Koshimi, but he lived a long life (16 years), mainly because we always fed him a really good natural food. Which is why I feed Sheldon, Duncan and Owen one of the best quality foods available so they too can live a long life. How do you know if your pet's food is high quality? Well, just read the ingredient panel on the bag.

It should start with high a specific protein, like chicken, lamb, salmon, turkey, duck, venison, etc. Never buy a food that says something generic like “poultry” or “meat”. You should know what kind of specific protein is being used in your pet’s food.


The next ingredients should be things you recognize and understand. Look for other specific proteins, like a fish, egg, pea protein, etc. All good foods also have fat to provide energy. Most have a carbohydrate source such as rice, or potato, etc. Look for other ingredients you recognize such as flaxseed, blueberries, cranberries, tomato, eggs, etc. Most pet foods will also contain some vitamins and minerals toward the end of the ingredient list. Those help ensure it is nutritionally complete and balanced. A really high quality food should never contain any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or chemicals. There has been lots of controversy around ingredients such as wheat, corn and soy. Unless a vet has diagnosed a specific food allergy, most pets aren’t allergic to wheat corn or soy. Technically those are not bad ingredients, but in my personal opinion I prefer a specific meat or fish protein in the first few ingredients. Anyway, that’s my opinion for those of you interested. If you want to know more, check this out.

The Hippy Green Grocer

Last week I was in Portland, Oregon on business for a few days. I always enjoy getting up to the Northwest part of our country. It's so green- in more ways than one. It is green in the sense of the landscape and foliage- a stark contrast to Palm Springs or even San Diego, where the hills are all brown from low rainfall. Portland is naturally green and easy-on-the-eyes. But Portland is also green in another manner. Green as in eco-friendly. Restaurant menus are printed on recycled paper. Recycle bins are available in most places consumers go. It just seems Portland is more green than many other places I visit- and believe me, I get around the country. In addition, wherever one goes in Portland, you can easily find all sorts of natural and organic products. I drove past this cute little "country store" called The Green Grocer. We stopped in for a look around. It was a wonderful little store with all organic and natural products. I bought some organic ice cream bars, and organic peanut butter crackers as a snack. Also had a nice chit-chat with the hippy chick who was working. I had a feeling she may have been the owner, but it wasn't clear. She as all excited because some movie is using the exterior of her store in a major Hollywood movie sometime soon. I already forgot what the name of the flick will be, but it didn't really matter anyway. I just thought this little store was so cute. I wanted to patronize a local business, especially since it was full of wonderful organic products. Anyway that's my little Portland story of the Green Grocery. Any green stores in your area?
-Rick Rockhill

If its not one thing, its another...

When it comes to pet food nutrition, I consider myself to be quite knowledgeable. After 12 years of working in the pet specialty industry, pet food is something I do know well. However when it comes to people food, I'm not quite as well-versed. There are so many differing opinions, latest research, fads, personal preferences and facts that I can't keep up. As a consumer segment, I'm what marketing folks refer to as a "foodie"- someone who loves good food, fine dining, preparing fresh food from scratch and hosting dinner parties. I subscribe to several cooking magazines, enjoy experimenting with recipes and find that a glass of wine helps it all taste even better. Aside from being a foodie, I am also a major advocate for organic foods, including animals raised free-range, without antibiotics or growth-hormones. All that being said I tend to think I know how to "eat healthy". So why do I think I'm not well versed in human food? For the longest time I have been trying to eat more salmon to increased my intake of Omega 3's, and also consume less beef. I recently found out that farm-raised salmon is not necessarily all that beneficial at all, because they are often fed grain based flakes, which deliver fewer beneficial omega 3's and more omega 6's which are not good in high doses. Apparently the trick is to only have wild caught salmon, which consume krill and other naturally occurring things in the open sea. Problem with that is the darn mercury gets you. Or at least that's the issue with Ahi tuna anyway. Now I hear that grass-fed beef can actually be best for you anyway. I used to think that whole wheat anything is better than white bread. Now I hear than any wheat products can be bad. Apparently carbs/sugars are the source of all evil. Milk and cream are supposed to be better than Soy milk. Butter is better than margarine. Olive oil is apparently dangerous to cook on high heat. Low fat stuff isn't necessarily all that good for you if the sodium levels are too high. So that rules out just about anything processed, pre-made or things that come in a box. The one thing I do still believe in is organic foods. It stands to reason that consuming fewer chemicals and pesticides must be better for long term health. So I guess the lesson of the day is to find organic foods that are low sodium, not processed, free-range, grass-fed or wild caught. If its not one thing that will get you, its another. A psychic once told me I'd live to at least 87. If I only live to 86 because I can't lay off the occasional Klondike bar, so be it. There's no way I'm giving up pasta, pizza or chocolate either. Well that's all for today's rant. I'm going to go have some organic strawberries now.
-Rick Rockhill

The LOHAS Forum in Boulder, Colorado

Greetings from Boulder, Colorado where I am attending the annual LOHAS Forum. The term "LOHAS" is actually an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability; which is a market segment that is all about health, well being, fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and also social justice. The Forum is a three day business conference to share knowledge, ideas and practices with other professionals. The objective is to learn the best way to provide goods and services to consumers interested in health and sustainability. It attracts executives and experts from a broad cross-section of industry, commerce and technology. The highlight of yesterday was an address by Anthony Zolezzi, an entrepreneur/consultant/executive focused on sustainability and the development of the organic product segment. His presentation was standing room only, and spilled out into the foyer. It was an inspirational speech that had the attendees pumped up.

above: Yesterday I was interviewed by Melissa McGinnis, who was covering the conference for the website Greenopolis.com She was filming several TV segments for Greenopolis.com TV. I had a chance to share my personal views on the importance of sustainability efforts.

above: Greenopolis.com is an interactive, collaborative and educational online social network that joins individuals, businesses, communities, and organizations to help people learn about sustainability and going green.

above: Sharing a laugh in front of the camera with the beautiful and talented Melissa McGinnis. I also had a chance to discuss the progress my company has made to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The conference has been very interesting and a chance to learn a great deal as well. Go to Greenopolis.com to learn more.

-Rick Rockhill

A Glimpse of the Natural Products Expo

This past Friday and Saturday I attended the annual Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA. It is the premier trade show for natural, organic, holistic and healthy products. Many years ago Expo West was a small show for hippies who ran health food stores. With the explosive growth of the natural products industry, today it is a huge trade show attracting over 52,000 industry professionals (manufacturers, buyers and retailers) who attend to find the best products of the industry today and the up and coming trends of the future. After attending this show for many years, I have become an advocate for natural and organic products. I believe we can improve our health by eating that foods that are minimally processed, and made without artificial preservatives, chemicals or additives. I try to buy organic foods because I want to avoid pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones or bio-engineered ingredients in my foods. I attend this show to increase both my professional and personal knowledge of the industry, and to expand my horizons as well. Since I know some competitors follow this blog, I certainly won't disclose all the interesting things I learned that pertain to my job (that would bore you to tears anyway). Instead I'll share a few silly photos for you. For instance, take this photo above left. I was drawn into the "Pirate’s Booty" booth by these two models dressed as pirates. Pirate's Booty is air-puffed rice and corn with white cheddar cheese. They were so much fun, I'll give them a plug. They also make Veggie Booty, Smart Puffs, Tings, Dude’s Chips, Chaos, Antique Potato Chips, Soy Crisps, Awesome Party Chips, and Blue Organic Tortilla Chips. Of course, I took the opportunity to sample each of these at the booth....mmmm.


above: Some of the vendors at this show go all out and have interesting displays in their booths. This vendor had a tree with colorful lanterns hanging overhead.
And Now For Something Completely Bizarre...Ear Candles.
I stumbled on a booth that was demonstrating something called ear candles. I took a photo of this woman in the booth who was demonstrating the ear candles on some man. Out of curiosity, I went to the website of the company who makes these ear candles. Here is how they explain what ear candles are (this directly from their website, so I want to credit this explanation as their own words): "Ear candles function as an energetic modality comparable to the fields of reflexology and acupuncture. These modalities encourage healing as the body shifts from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state within the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Many practitioners believe that this shift in the ANS enables healing within the ear, sinus and lymphatic systems. The vortex pattern occurring inside of the ear candle in conjunction with the warm compressed air into a highly stressed nervous system initiates the flow of energy, that serves as a catalyst that shifts the body into a relaxed state. This encourages the lymphatic system, sinuses, and Eustachian tubes to begin healing itself. This shift in the human body’s autonomic nervous system from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state is well known in the fields of reflexology and acupuncture." Far be it for me to pass judgement, but this was a little strange.
How About a Gluten-Free, Wheat Free Wedding Cake?

above: A team of bakers assemble, frost and decorate a fabulous chocolate wedding cake that was gluten and wheat free. Everything they sampled was so delicious!

A Throw Back to the Past...

above: I thought this was fun. It's a hippie puppet driving a VW bus with his dog in the passenger seat. In a way, it was an homage to time when you could only find these products in small health food stores. Today natural and organic stuff can be found virtually everywhere. Maybe the hippies were right all along, just ahead of their time.

-Rick Rockhill

Another Excuse for Me to Crow About Organic Foods

Labor Day typically signals the end of summer, the timing of which means for many people, less locally grown produce. If you buy produce at a farm stand, you have the opportunity to ask the farmer how he treats his crops and soil. You can ask if he uses pesticides or chemical fertilizers. As the growing seasons wind down and you are forced to buy produce at the MegaSuperGroceryStore, consider buying organic produce where possible. Also take a look at the country of origin for each item. Regular readers know that I am an advocate for organic foods and feel strongly that we should reduce the level of pesticides we ingest in our bodies. The benefits of eating organic foods are well documented. I won't make this post a lecture, but organic foods do not contain pesticides, synthetic chemicals, antibiotics, growth hormones, artificial colors, additives or preservatives, irradiation, or use sewage or sludge in farming techniques. You really don't want any of that stuff in your food do you? My great grandparents always had a huge garden, so we had veggies from their own yard. Very few people have time for that anymore, so we are more dependent on stores for everything. Things are different from 50-60 years ago- when a lot of the chemicals and pesticides weren't as prevalent in our food supply chain. We've also become more educated about the role these things play in diseases and cancer rates. I have made a lifestyle choice to buy as much organic product as possible, in an attempt to reduce the amount of bad stuff I consume. I figure the old adage "less is more" applies well here.

Since not everyone has a Whole Foods store nearby, or the major grocery store doesn't carry much in the way of organic produce there may not be many choices. If that's you, ask the grocery clerk or store manager to start carrying some organic produce for you. The challenge for most people will be that organic foods tend to be more expensive. So, if you can't afford to buy a lot of organic products, there is a short list of things that you can concentrate on to minimize your exposure to pesticides and all that other bad stuff I mentioned. At the very least, focus on seeking organic as an alternative for these foods listed below- they tend to have the highest amounts of pesticides, chemicals, additives and hormones:

Meat & Poultry- Even if it's not organic, look for "no antibiotics or growth hormones".

Milk- The fat in dairy products often has pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormones.

Peaches-There are 45 different kinds of pesticides regularly applied to peaches, which have very delicate skin.

Bell Peppers- This vegetable has thin skin that does not serve as a barrier to pesticides

Celery- Has no protective skin, so the 29 different kinds of chemicals used to grow conventional celery go right into you with every bite

Strawberries- Nearly 500 pounds of pesticides are used per acre of strawberries. Be especially leery of strawberries imported from countries that do not have similar regulations for pesticide use.

Lettuce- Often contaminated with the strongest pesticides used on crops.

Potatoes- Amazingly have the highest levels of pesticide residue. Since they are grown in the soil, they can pick up any chemicals applied above ground that contaminate the soil and are absorbed by the potato while growing.

Tomatoes- Another delicate skin that is easily punctured, allowing the entire tomato to be contaminated.

So as Labor Day passes and the local farmstands close up shop in the next month or so, be on the lookout for organic produce, milk and meats. It may just contribute to a healthier life for you down the road.
-Rick Rockhill

An Evening with Health Guru, Dr Andrew Weil

This weekend I am in Anaheim attending the Natural Products Expo West trade show. It is a huge show with all kinds of cool stuff here. Aside from my professional work reasons for being here, I am also an advocate for organic foods. I believe that our foods should not contain any pesticides, growth-hormones, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, irradiation, genetically modified ingredients, or artificial colors or flavors. Recent science shows that organic foods are actually healthier and minimize a variety of health problems. One of the leading advocates for organic products is health guru Dr Andrew Weil, who I had the pleasure of meeting once again Friday evening. I attended a small reception where Dr Weil was speaking about pet foods and the benefits of sustainable farming and ranching as well as organic food production. I was a guest of the folks at Pet Promise brand dog & cat food, a company founded to create a pure pet food; committed to natural growing methods and a healthy environment. Dr Weil actually endorses Pet Promise because of how they produce food. He is a very impressive guy who has a calming effect when you meet him. Later I attended the Organic Trade Association reception, followed by The Organic Center VIP dinner where Dr Weil addressed the audience. I sat at the Pet Promise table, who are big supporters of the Organic Center. The evening was hosted by "green living expert" and TV host Sara Snow, who introduced Dr Weil to an audience of manufacturers, retailers, organic farmers and ranchers.

above: Evening festivities at the Organic Trade Association reception...a man on stilts and a great band that entertained attendees who snacked on organic cheese and crackers and organic wines and beers.
Earlier in the day...

above left: The human Pear and Tomato were awfully friendly! above right: I stopped at one booth with organic chocolate. This burlap bag was filled with real cacao beans and smelled delicious. It was a great start to the show..but plenty more to go on Saturday and Sunday...so stay tuned for the next update.
-Rick Rockhill

Come to PETCO for some Natural Pet Food

Lots of people are still worried about the wet pet food recall. The media has been exaggerating as usual, scaring people crazy. I can understand, dogs and cats are important members of the family. I just wish more people knew the facts: DRY DOG FOOD HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. For people whose brand of dog or cat food is not available due to the recall, or if you just want to switch to something else, I recommend either Natural Balance, Natural Ultramix or Organix. These are three excellent brands that I feed to my dog and cat and are really excellent quality too. Natural Balance is Dick Van Patten's dog food company. Above left is Dick Van Patten with his son Jimmy Van Patten cooking up a batch of their human-quality Eatables canned dog food.

OK, so here is the shamless plug for the day: If you are a pet owner and are worried about the recall on WET dog and cat food, don't panic. Come to PETCO and check out all these great brands...you'll find some of the best foods available.

This site is about my personal opinions, experiences and stuff I am interested in. From time to time I express a personal opinion about natural, holistic and organic dog and cat food brands. As the author, I am writing this with no affiliation to my employer, although I am a dog food merchandise manager and have an excellent knowledge of pet foods. There are many kinds of natural, holistic, organic and super premium dog and cat foods available. When looking for a natural, holistic or organic pet food it is important to first consider the needs of your pet. What are you feeding now? Are there any issues that your pet is having? How is your pet's skin and coat? healthy? Shiny? Does you pet have any digestion issues? Always consult your vet if you notice any serious problems. In my personal opinion, if you want some of the best natural and holistic pet foods available, try brands such as Natural Balance, Natural Ultramix , Organix, Solid Gold and Pet Promise.

-Rick Rockhill