Applegate’s Well Carved Organic Grass-fed Burgers

Applegate ups the blended burger ante beyond mushrooms with this blend of humanely raised meat and vegetables, legumes and grains. This better-for-you burger includes 1/3 cup of veggies. Applegate has long led the way in improving animal welfare standards and cleaning up processed meat ingredient panels. The company commissioned a third-party environmental impact analysis to compare this line to traditional beef patties. It found that the plant-blended burger creates 51% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions, uses 67% less water and generates 99% percent less water pollution from run-off.

Global Village Foods Allergy-friendly African-inspired Frozen Meals

Damaris and Mel Hall began serving up the rich flavors of Damaris’ native Kenya in farmers markets, food festivals and a restaurant in Vermont. As parents to a child with severe food allergies, they later created this brand of allergy-friendly, frozen, African-inspired dishes to provide other families with healthy and flavorful meal options such as this flavorful Moroccan Inspired Lemon Chicken and olives with preserved lemon and green olives—one of five dishes in a line that also includes Swahili Inspired Curry Chicken, Ethiopian Vegan Lentil Combo, Chickpea Vegetable Tajine and African No-Nut Vegan Stew. This frozen food doesn’t look or taste like traditional freezer fare—an innovation worth cheering.

The Jackfruit Company Jack and Annie’s Crispy Jack Nuggets

This truly plant-forward meat substitute wonderfully dupes chicken nuggets with whole jackfruit as the first ingredient. The little ones will never know. While not organic, the farmer-direct supply chain impresses; and Jack and Annie’s has helped get 8,000 acres certified organic. The company focuses on harvesting from wild jack trees and hopes its creative line extensions create a market for the versatile vegan ingredient. Nearly 70% of jackfruit goes to waste because of underuse.