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After recently returning from the Natural Foods Expo in Anaheim, Calif., I began to sift through all the information I brought back with me. I hadn't realized what a cornucopia of products—frozen and refrigerated foods and the other sections of the store—were being presented at the event.
The growth of natural and organic since my return to the magazine was duly noted. It's one thing to visit my neighborhood Whole Foods (how I wish our store would double its size) or shopping from the only two or three cases in one of our other local supermarkets, but it's quite another to see this category as one venue, with approximately 50,000 people under one roof.
To see the number of small, medium and large manufactures was most impressive. Several of our advertisers were well presented at the show, demonstratively confirming what opportunity and growth there is in this category.
Two categories very opposite to each other with each having very emotional purchasing decisions are baby and pet foods. Each represents a growing trend with numerous brands in play, when previously we've seen only a handful. It will be interesting to watch the jockeying for position of dominance in each category.
Gourmet foods were attractively presented, and excuse the pun, gave me food for thought that if these could to break into our everyday shopping experience as items to purchase, we'd all be able to give ourselves a new meal option. Perhaps that special meal with friends or family would give those of us relegated to the kitchen time away from cooking more time to spend with guests or family prior to the meal.
This show was a learning experience and has given me many things to think about. All in all, I came away with a deeper respect for those I met and spoke with regarding their strong testament to an idea and their commitment to a way of life. —Josie Parnell
Expo West was a wonderful showcase for all the new and growing organic- and natural-based frozen baby food companies that have come into the market in just a few short years. There is something inspiring about seeing so many entrepreneurial young women at the helm of their own companies.
With companies like Happy Baby, Tasty Baby, Plum Organic and Peas of Mind establishing such a presence at Expo West, it was apparent that our decision last year to focus on this emerging category in this issue was indeed the right one. Their strong showing at Expo East and Expo West made it easy to feature these emerging baby food makers in this month's cover story.
It wasn't that many years ago that women entering the workplace was considered groundbreaking. Then came women in corporations, executive offices, "male dominated" sectors like engineering and information technology, and subsequently women decided they had all the tools and skills to run their own companies.
One benefit to starting your own baby food company is that you can work from home—"raising baby" and experimenting with products at the same time. And what better "taste test panel" than your own baby or those of your friends and neighbors?
Good luck to all those who have struck out on their own in this sector. I see considerable growth for these brands and products in the future —Alan Robinson