Organic Farmers? Market Debuts in D.C.
This year, Expo East will bring the touch, taste and feel of an organic farmers? market to downtown Washington, D.C. The Fresh Ideas Organic Farmers? Market will be open from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, on L Street, next to the Washington Convention Center.

For retailers who like to personally examine the quality of produce before buying it, or talk with meat and dairy producers about their products one-on-one, the Farmers? Market will help connect retailers with producers.

?Traditionally, farmers haven?t been represented much at Expo,? says Scott Silverman, organic program manager for New Hope. But that will change this year.

?It?s an opportunity to source certified organic products straight from the producer,? says Silverman. ?There will be farm-fresh produce, dairy products, meats and specialty foods.?

Recycling Made Easier at Expo
Visitors concerned with the amount of waste produced at Expo East will be pleased with the extra effort New Hope has put in this year to minimize the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

?We have had comments from concerned attendees who have seen the occasionally overflowing trash cans or who couldn?t find recycle bins at the show,? says Jo Dickson, New Hope?s trade show project manager.

At past Expos, according to Dickson, New Hope has recycled as much as 23,000 pounds of cardboard. Expo organizers have worked with the convention center this year to get a recycling bin next to almost every trash bin, and convention center staff will be trained about what materials are recyclable.

Also, leftover food products will be donated to D.C. Central Kitchen, a local food bank.

Low-Carb Café
At Expo East, retailers will be able to sample healthy low-carb products from a variety of companies all at one stop. Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day in Hall A, the Low-Carb Café will feature samples of low-carb beverages, breakfasts, entrees and desserts.

At Expo West 2004 in Anaheim, the Low-Carb Café was packed with visitors every time it was open, says Amy Dageenakis, exhibit sales coordinator.

The exhibit will also feature educational material about low-carbohydrate diets and products in the category.

?Low-carb is still a very popular group of products,? says Dageenakis. ?[Retailers] can see the latest and greatest low-carb products all in one spot.?

Go ?Down on the Corner? With CCR
After a long day on the show floor, Expo East attendees can relax to the classic tunes of Creedence Clearwater Revisited on Friday, Oct. 15, at 9 p.m. in the convention center?s Ballroom A/B.

?I think this will be a concert that people will have a good time at and want to get up and dance to,? says organizer Lori Kurtz. The concert is sponsored by Silk and New Hope Natural Media.

Creedence Clearwater Revisited came together in 1995, launched by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted rhythm section of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Almost 10 years later, they are still rocking the classics, such as ?Who?ll Stop the Rain? and ?Bad Moon Rising,? and have recorded the live double CD Recollection.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXV/number 10/p. 38, 40