OrganiCare FemiClear All-Natural and Organic Yeast Infection Treatment

Gone are the days when customers would struggle to find a nontoxic toothpaste, skin cream or deodorant that works. Translation: The personal care bar has been raised. This yeast infection treatment (technically this product is a “homeopathic drug,” not a cosmetic) got us excited about yeast infection remedies for the first time … ever. The four-ingredient product leverages calendula, melaleuca and olive extract to deliver results that, when put to the test (a third party test by Nelson Laboratories, that is), trumped the OTC leader and proved simplicity really can get the job done—better than the rest.

Gaia Herbs Agile Mind

Gaia does it again! The company continues the trifecta of expert formulation, sustainably sourced ingredients and a cutting-edge delivery format. Agile Mind combines Gaia-grown bacopa and a proprietary herbal blend rich in protective antioxidants to support healthy brain function and help maintain recall, addressing the growing problem of cognitive decline. Gaia’s vegan phyto-caps serve it up in powerful liquid concentrates.

Picaflor Live Culture Raw Fermented Pepper Flakes

Who thought you could reinvent the pepper flake? Picaflor did, and they did so with raw fermented innovation, integrity and amazing (yes, spicy!) flavor. Our judges loved the company’s dedication to process, including upcycling, organic farming, regenerative agricultural methods and fermentation. Picaflor's business integrity, community leadership and environmental stewardship really excite the senses!

Teton Waters Ranch Burger Blend

Many consumers are actively looking for ways to decrease their beef intake without completely giving up high-quality protein and craveable umami flavor. To serve the needs of this evolving consumer, Teton Waters Ranch is launching a burger blend consisting of 100 percent grass-fed beef that includes savory mushrooms. With numerous studies and research pointing to health and environmental benefits of moderating red meat intake, Teton Waters Ranch is providing a solution in the needs-updating frozen category that addresses the changing consumer’s needs.

Strong Roots Kale & Quinoa Burger

Strong Roots is dedicated to making sure plant-based eating means consuming whole, healthy vegetables and grains—not ultra-processed plant-protein derivatives, gums and thickeners. With curly kale as the first ingredient, each patty boasts non-hidden ingredients you can see, including puffed quinoa, potatoes, carrots, roasted onions and a flurry of pleasing spices. Refreshingly, this burger doesn’t mimic meat. It stands on its own as a delicious, filling vegan main.

Annabella Low Moisture Water Buffalo Mozzarella

Low-moisture mozz is that chunk cheese typically grated onto American-style pizzas. It’s firm and salty and full of umami goodness. And when it’s made from free-range water buffalo, it’s also A2/A2, non-GMO and more nutritious than cow’s milk products—double the protein, double the calcium, 40 percent more nutrients and half the cholesterol. Annabella claims the only 100 percent grass-fed water buffalo herd in the world and states a commitment to humane management—for healthier buffalos (and healthier pizzas, too).

Applegate The New Food Collective by Applegate Fresh Sausage

Applegate has long been in the business of organic and natural meat products. But its new subsidiary, The New Food Collective, tackles even more ground-breaking efforts, including building a new supply chain with regional farmers who raise livestock regeneratively and supporting small-scale farmers with new business skills. To pull it off, Applegate partnered with the Savory Institute to develop a Land To Market standard for regeneratively raised hogs and chickens. The brand has also become the first pork products to be verified by rigorous American Grassfed Association standards.

W.S. Badger Company SPF 30 Kids Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream

This reef-friendly, water-resistant, Certified Organic broad-spectrum kids’ sunscreen is naturally scented like an orange creamsicle and uses mineral-based protection, making it perfectly suited for kids sensitive to harsh smells and chemical sunscreens. This product impressively contains only six ingredients: non-nano zinc oxide, sunflower seed oil, beeswax, tangerine peel oil, vitamin E, Seabuckthorn fruit extract and vanilla fruit extract—plus, it rubs into skin with no pesky white residue left behind. The W.S. Badger Company is a certified B Corporation, implements cruelty-free practices and uses almost exclusively Non-GMO ingredients in its products.

PATCH Bamboo Natural Bandages

First aid reeks of hospital hallways, latex gloves and chemically laden antiseptics. But natural solutions could be just what your body needs to heal post-scratch, bump or bite. These stripped-down bandage strips are made from 100 percent organic, stone-milled bamboo fiber with gauze strips that are enhanced with coconut oil, aloe vera or charcoal that’s perfect for soothing and repairing skin after minor abrasions. The hypoallergenic, biodegradable and compostable bandages, paper wraps and unique cardboard canisters are free of plastics, latex and silicon.

Mooala Brands Coconut Oatmilk

Mooala’s Coconut Oatmilk, comprised of a blend of organic toasted oats and coconut cream, could be the very product that launches oat milk to the top of the alt-milk category. This delicious milk substitute has no added sugar (by comparison, the leading oat milk brand contains 7 grams per serving) and is calcium-fortified. Mooala formulated this product’s packaging with environmentally friendlier PET plastic, and the company also supports non-profit micro finance organizations in impoverished companies.

PROBAR live

PROBAR steps up their game with this new line of fresh, whole-food bars infused with one billion CFUs of live probiotics. Boasting 10 grams of plant-based protein and no added sugar, these bars are packed with nuts, nut butters, seeds and dates. The lack of preservatives and emulsifiers position them in the refrigerated section for optimal texture. PROBAR live comes in four indulgent flavors: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Coconut Cashew, Almond Butter and Peanut Butter.

A Dozen Cousins Authentic Regional Beans

At first glance, you may consider A Dozen Cousins’ Authentic Regional Beans as “just a bag of beans." The truth is, A Dozen Cousins is doing so much more than really tasty beans. The ready-to-eat pouches with clean ingredients from creole, Caribbean and Latin American cuisines fuel the company’s goal to directly serve black and Latino communities, a demographic disproportionately impacted by diet-related illnesses. They serve this socio-economic mission in several ways, such as partnering with non-profits to sponsor cooking and nutrition courses for underserved communities. So, you get the picture: they’re much, much more than beans.

Counter Culture All Purpose Non-Toxic Cleaner

This plant- and probiotic-based cleaner is disrupting the anti-bacterial philosophy. The company’s products are powered by good bacteria and the beneficial compounds they produce, cleaning effectively and promoting a healthy, chemical-free balance in your home. Scented with only essential oils, they smell amazing, too!

Hoplark HopTea

Blending just tea, hops and sparkling water, this microbrew (without the beer) satisfies as an alcohol substitute or afternoon refreshment. Some savvy tasters suggested that IPA lovers will especially enjoy this innovative RTD bev. Bonus: Indulge for a mere zero calories. Innovating an upscale tea experience is timely, what with the rise of consumers seeking classy yet low- or no-alcohol options. But don’t think of this as just an alt-brew, the tea focus is sure to also draw those looking for a clean caffeine boost.

Love Beets Golden Beet-o de Gallo

Beets are proving more versatile and pleasant than anyone who grew up on the canned version ever would have imagined. Love Beets keeps “beeting” the innovation drum, and their new fresh beet-based pico de gallo is no exception. A decidedly different taste than salsa, this one is for beet lovers, but it scoops and eats just like pico de gallo at the taco bar. It would also pair well with grilled meats or fish and might be a good re-introduction to the canned-beat averse.

RE Botanicals Hemp CBD Tinctures

This is hemp oil done exactly right—full-spectrum, USDA certified organic, USA-grown hemp and void of declarations of CBD content. RE Botanicals founder is hemp pioneer John Roulac, founder of Nutiva and a regenerative agriculture champion—so of course 1 percent of sales are donated to support regenerative ag and the cultivation of healthier soils that can address the climate crisis. All of RE Botanicals products are third-party lab tested to ensure purity and efficacy, and packaged at a USDA NOP-certified facility.

Navitas Superfood Lattes

Who doesn’t need a quick and delicious way to get a dose of functional ingredients? Navitas Organics Superfood Lattes are packaged in single-serve pouches that need simply to be stirred into hot water for a thick, satisfying latte, no espresso machine, sweeteners or dairy required! All of the ingredients are organically and sustainably sourced.

Lotus Foods Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups

Lotus Foods and Dalian Hongren, its supply partners in China, have a unique relationship spanning 23 years of converting suppliers to organic production, expanding organic rice agriculture and increasing farmer income. Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups are the latest ready-to-eat innovation from Lotus. Convenient? Yes. Tasty? Yes. And now we have a healthy noodle soup with utmost integrity that appeals to college students and ramen aficionados alike.

Pure Essence Real-Zymes Keto

Personalized nutrition is arriving, with this enzyme formulation specifically targeting those on the high-fat, high-protein keto diet. The next time a customer comes into your store looking for keto diet options, offer this 19-enzymes formula that supports every step of digestion for better nutrient absorption and less digestive distress. Bottles are 100 percent recycled and Pure Essence has been active in supporting non-profit contributions of varying good causes.

The Coconut Collaborative Paradise Pots

Paradise Pots are little indulgent dairy-free chocolate ganache desserts made from cocoa and coconut cream, and perfectly portioned to ring in at less than 100 calories and only 8 grams of sugar per pot. The Coconut Collaborative has a focus on sustainability, and, in conjunction with the Pur Project, plants thousands of coconut trees annually in Southeast Asia.

Lundberg Family Farms Chocolate Thin Stackers

A thinner version of Lundberg’s popular rice cakes and covered in chocolate, these snack stacks are the perfect sweet-tooth satisfying yet wholesome way to snack. They come in portion-controlled two-packs and hit all marks for sweet, salty and crunchy. Boasting whole-grain goodness, this to-go snack is organic, non-GMO, gluten free and made with Fair Trade Certified chocolate.

Wild Joy Goods Banana Jerky Original

So you’ve stopped eating meat, but dang, you sure miss snacking on some jerky when you’re off the grid. And you can’t pack a banana either, because we all know what happens to bananas in backpacks. It appears the people at Wild Joy Goods has faced this dilemma themselves, creating a tasty banana jerky with an impressively similar texture to meat jerky. The USDA certified organic snack uses Fair Trade Certified bananas and a solar powered dehydrating system to reduce their carbon footprint while offering a savory plant-based snack.

The NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards

Applicants in the NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards sent 1,000 product samples to health-focused consumers who provided valuable feedback and ratings, and chose the winner in the three NEXTY Consumer Choice categories: Food or Beverage; Personal Care or Natural Living Product; Supplement. New Hope’s technology partner in the NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards is Sampler.

The winner in the NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards Food or Beverage category is Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Chocolate Protein Bites.

The winner in the NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards Natural Living or Personal Care Product category is method All-Purpose Clean Wipes.

The winner in the NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards supplement category is Colorado Hemp Honey Sticks.

The NEXTY Editors' Choice Awards

During Expo West, New Hope Network’s content team, standards team, and NEXT Data & Insights team scans the show floor to discover products that stand out for innovation, inspiration and integrity. The teams meet on the final morning of the show to decide the winners of this coveted edition of the NEXTY Awards. Winners were awarded at their booths on the final day of Expo West 2019.

ReGrained SuperGrain Bars

Though we have been familiar with ReGrained and their up-cycled beer flavored grain bars for some time, the company’s commitment to and transparency around its efforts to prioritize sustainable packaging is what pushed it to NEXTY Editors’ Choice Award status this year. Despite a significant higher cost and other challenges, ReGrained was first to market with compostable wrappers. But the packaging failed and lead to instances of stale-tasting product in stores. The company is temporarily phasing out compostable materials and switching back to packaging used conventionally in the industry with a goal to be back to a fully certified compostable structure within one year that it will open-source and make available for adoption by the industry. The company says sustainable packaging is a non-negotiable value and has openly called for industry collaboration to solve the packaging problem together.

Country Life Gut Connection

Country Life Vitamin released an innovative line of microbiome-supporting supplements called Gut Connection. But make no mistake: These are not probiotics. The Gut Connection line comprises eight products designed to support various systems that are affected by gut health: digestive, immune, cognitive, stress, sleep, mood, energy and weight. Each product contains the branded, clinically studied ingredient EpiCor, a whole food fermentate prebiotic shown to support gut health.

Organic Essence Scrub Butters

This personal care brand is committed to organic ingredients and removing plastic from this over-plasticized category, and the industry as a whole. They developed their paper jar in 2008 and paper tube packages in 2009. Since then, they have developed several more sustainable packaging options to hold their line of deodorants, body butters, balms and creams. Organic Essence has also made their packaging available to other companies. The company believes that the most meaningful social justice is environmental responsibility, and we couldn’t agree more.

Clean Cause Sparkling Yerba Mate

Clean Cause’s mission is to create a sustainable source of funding to help individuals recover from alcohol and drug addiction. Half of the company’s profits fund its giveback initiative called CLEAN Kickstarts, which are 30-day sober living scholarships in high-accountability homes intended to give people who are fresh out of rehab the opportunity to focus on finding a job and establishing a recovery support system. The company’s founder—a recovering drug addict himself—knows that this bridge between rehab and reintegration into everyday life is critical. The company’s sparkling yerba mate line is a delicious, USDA Certified Organic non-alcoholic, naturally caffeinated beverage that comes in four flavors. Most of the company’s scholarship have been distributed in its hometown of Austin, Texas, but as Clean Cause gains distribution in other markets, it will begin allocating scholarships in those regions based on sales volume.

The NEXTY Gold Awards

The NEXTY Gold Awards recognize those brands that impress us year after year with products that truly move the mission of the natural products industry forward, disrupt the status quo and make the world a healthier, better place. The NEXTY Gold Award winners are a select few brands chosen by New Hope Network editors and awarded once each year at the Hall of Legends event at Natural Products Expo West every March.

W.S. Badger Co.

W.S. Badger Company continues to shine because of the thoughtfulness the company shows through it’s integrity standards and support of community and families. The company serves organic lunches to employees, maintains a school-hours work schedule to support families, has its own full-day partially subsidized child care center, is one of the first B Corp Certified companies, makes all products in the USA, and has an impressive charitable giving history to organizations that focus on the health and welfare of children.

Badger has innovated and advocated for safe, effective sun care before it was really on anyone’s radar and the company continues to advance the category through its investment in R&D. Every aspect of the W.S. Badger Company business represents consciousness, and for that, they are a NEXTY Gold winner this year.

Gaia Herbs

Gaia Herbs continues to be exemplary in creating and driving transparency standards. The company developed the industry-first herb traceability program, Meet Your Herbs. Customers can enter the ID number on the back of any Gaia product to view traceability aspects and even take a virtual walk on the farm where the herbs in their product were harvested. The company is committed to pollinator prosperity, agroforestry, regenerative farming practices and climate change reverse.

In addition to Gaia Herb's impressive traceability efforts, the company has a true connection to the earth and to how and why the supplement industry was founded. We believe they represent a beautiful marriage of nature and science that continues to be the backbone of the supplement industry, which is why they are a NEXTY Gold winner this year.