This weekend, the Sierra magazine editors are making the rounds at Natural Products Expo West , a massive, yearly coming together of all the food and beauty companies that make efforts to be green and ethical. The trends at this sprawling convention? It seems a few are holding over from last year, including the coconut craze, the gluten-free spree, and the exaltation of all things exotic. Movements that seem to be grasping a bigger foothold include veganism and fake meats, the eschewing of parabens in hygienic products, and the cleaning up of children's snacks.
Some of the notable companies we've met with this time include yerba mate maker Guayaki , chocolate and vegetarian-gummy vitamin producers Hero Nutritionals , skincare-and-cosmetics company par excellence MyChelle , green-cleaning pros Ecover , and the fascinating organic-herb growers Oregon's Wild Harvest .
A true highlight, though, was meeting Katy and Philip Leakey (yes, of that prolific anthropology family), whose Leakey Collection encourages Kenyan women to preserve and protect their environment; the Leakeys employ them to make lovely jewlery out of the region's natural elements. Mr. Leakey, who served as an elected representative in Kenya's government for decades, spoke eloquently and inspiringly about the need for harmony in the world.
Some of the notable companies we've met with this time include yerba mate maker Guayaki , chocolate and vegetarian-gummy vitamin producers Hero Nutritionals , skincare-and-cosmetics company par excellence MyChelle , green-cleaning pros Ecover , and the fascinating organic-herb growers Oregon's Wild Harvest .
A true highlight, though, was meeting Katy and Philip Leakey (yes, of that prolific anthropology family), whose Leakey Collection encourages Kenyan women to preserve and protect their environment; the Leakeys employ them to make lovely jewlery out of the region's natural elements. Mr. Leakey, who served as an elected representative in Kenya's government for decades, spoke eloquently and inspiringly about the need for harmony in the world.
--Avital Binshtock