Natural Products Expo West, the largest natural foods show in the country celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Anaheim Convention Center in California where, a record 56,000 attendees sampled the latest in natural, organic, healthy, eco-friendly and fair trade products. Thirty years ago, the size of the natural products industry was estimated to be $2.4 billion and natural and organic products were sold mostly by independent retailers and co-ops.

These days, consumers can find healthy, environmentally conscious products in most retail channels in North America. According to the Natural Foods Merchandiser’s 2009 Market Overview, the natural products industry is now worth nearly $68 billion.At the 2010 trade show, thousands of booths were set wall-to-wall and floor to ceiling over five massive pavilions exhibiting every kind of food, health and household product imaginable.

“Natural Products Expo West has grown because it is the premiere show in the industry,” said Adam Andersen, the show manager for Natural Products Expo West.  “Hundreds of new product introductions at Expo West are proof positive of the strategic value surrounding in-person business events.” …read more of Expo West ‘Greener than Ever’ Hosts 56,000 Attendees here

Our editor sent me a link to a Time Magazine article titled “Asia Challenges the U.S. for Green Tech Supremacy”
I was enraged at the shallowness of this thought process. Having worked within global manufacturing for over fifteen years. I have seen the “new pink,” the buzz words that become the focus of corporations.

Spoken by the CEO’s to boards, stockholders and management; like “outsource,” ‘DIVERSITY,” “Supply Chain,” all of which have been great ideas that turned scapegoats; used for the purpose of getting a tax advantage, saving money, all about the stock price today. Nothing considered as to the long term ramifications. And this article is that one-dimensional.

With this knowledge, knowing others have similar insights I am throwing this out there to start a discussion. …read more of “Does Asia really challenge the U.S. for Green Tech Supremacy?!” here

You are not alone. Sometimes it’s hard to find them, but there are others living in your area who share your interested in environmentally sustainable business.

Whether you’re feeling out a green career change, starting a new green business venture, are a green business veteran, or just a conscientious consumer there are many opportunities to help you spread the word and build your network of contacts.

These networking events can feel unnatural and forced if you go into them with the wrong attitude, but in reality they are a great opportunity to meet business contacts with common interests and values. …read more of Green Business Networking here

In this tough economy people are forced to cut expenses to the very basics of lifestyle choices. It’s gone beyond eating out less and not going to the cinema.

More time is now spent deciding on how to curb our drive time to save gas. Turning off lights when not needed - and sometimes even when we normally would think we need them on - can be an obsession.

Gas and electric bills are closely monitored so that maybe we’ll put on a sweater or open the windows rather than spending the extra dollars on our utility bills. …read more of Recession is Boon for Green Movement here