Yes – it’s that time of year where there’s an insane amount of food events. I went to the Toronto Food and Wine show on Friday, took a rest on Saturday and went to two food shows on Sunday. (Toronto Garlic Festival and the Canadian Health Food Association Trade Show).

Todays blog post is going to be dedicated to the CHFA Trade Show as I want to share with you some of the trends I noticed. I walked around the show for almost 3 hours but needed more in order to walk thru the 800 exhibitors that are at this show.

Naturally I picked up some samples to take home plus I sampled plenty while I was walking thru the show. No need for breakfast or lunch.

1. DRINKS – I spotted: cold pressed watermelon , blueberry juice, water infused with a variety of flavours and fruit, and more. This category seems to be exploding!!

2. TUMERIC – There was tumeric tea and a tumeric drink that caught my eye. Something tells me that we are going to see more and more products that contain this spice.

3. PUFFED QUINOA  – I’m guessing that this is going to be the new “granola”. I can see myself sprinkling this on top of my yogurt with fruit or integrating it into fruit crisp recipes.

4. BARS – Cricket bars, and sprouted bars and more!! I actually first got introduced to Cricket Bars on a trip to San Francisco last year so I’m delighted to see that they are now in Canada.

5. COCONUT – Not exactly a new trend but it’s certainly continuing to grow. I sampled the Wasabi Coconut Chips and can’t wait to try them in a salad or crushed on top of a piece of salmon.

Hopefully you will see many of these products in local health food stores, and even in the health section of major grocery stores in the near future.

For more information:

Please visit the Canadian Health Food Association Website: www.chfa.ca

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I went to three Food Trade Shows in one week!!. As I walked thru the aisles of the CHFA show, I realized that I’ve mastered the skill of “sampling”. I can now add that to my list of skills on my Linkedin profile. (ha). This is the annual trade show for the Canadian Health Food Association and a great opportunity for me to find more new products to share with my readers (that’s you).

Here’s a few items that I’d like to share with you:

MONKEY TOAST:  These are flavour packed fruit crisps that are dairy free, and nut free. Ideal for kids and big kids too (like me).  I also adore their packaging and the fact that they are a Canadian company. (B.C. to be exact)

MACKIE’S CRISPS: All their potato crisps are suitable for vegetarians and their line up includes flavours like Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper, Scotch Bonnet Chilli Pepper and Aberdeen Angus steak. On a side note: My mom is from Scotland and I have family there so I have a soft spot for any product that is Scottish.

OHMBARS; This date and seed bar is Dairy free, Gluten free and is made in Ottawa (where I grew up). Naturally this caught my attention too.

CAPLANSKY’S MUSTARD:  I read on facebook about this new line of mustard and was delighted to see this new product at the Neal Brothers  booth. I sampled all of them (of course). Today I read that there’s a new menu being launched at Caplansky’s which means I really need to visit so I can try the mustard on meat instead on a pretzel!!

(note: stole this photo from Facebook. Hope you don’t mind Peter).

As always, had a great time wandering the aisles of this show. No shortage of new products to try!!

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I love trade shows and consumer shows. Especially if they are about FOOD. (My favourite subject. Did you know that?). Last week I walked thru Grocery Innovations looking for new food items, new flavour profiles and interesting packaging. This is an annual trade show for food companies, buyers, manufacturers, and distributors. Not to mention it’s a show that I’ve been attending for years as I was a food sales rep at one point in my career!! (fyi).

Here’s a few items that caught my attention:

ORANGE KIT KAT. I adore the combination of orange and chocolate and believe that this item will be a hit. Agreed?

LIVE HAPPY WATER. Water continues to be a huge trend and I’m happy just LOOKING at their booth!! Fact: This water contains naturally occurring lithia and other minerals. Plus it’s sourced from two ancient Canadian mountain springs.

QUINOA BARS: I love this concept and I think consumers will too. What do you think?

WHOLE WHEAT PANKO: What a great idea and will certainly be buying this in the future. The only comment I have for this company is “What took you so long”?.

Water without Sodium – called Aqua Carpatica. 

SUNMAID ORANGE COVERED RAISINS:

There was also an abundance of coconut water and gluten free products at the show as well. But for some reason, the above products stood out. Stay tuned for a blog post about the Whole Wheat Panko as I went home and made a recipe with my sample box as soon as I got home!!

Happy Grocery Shopping!!

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