Qrunch Organics Qrispy Qrowns

Qrispy Qrowns are the grown-up’s Tater Tots. Protein-packed quinoa combined with organic potato, carrots and onions adds up to a healthier take on the American classic. Serve 'em on the side of a Qrunch burger for a mega-quinoa meal (OK, that might be a bit much). These healthy hash-brown bites are plant-based and free of the top eight allergens.

Primal Kitchen Organic Unsweetened Ketchup

To the untrained eye, ketchup might not seem like the most innovative product for a NEXTY Award, but Primal Kitchen’s Organic Unsweetened Ketchup is just want you want to dip fries into. It has a thick, hearty consistency with a great taste that tells you great tomatoes don’t need added sugar to be delicious. The judges can’t wait to have a certified organic ketchup in the fridge ASAP!

Gaia Herbs CALM A.S.A.P.

When it comes to fighting occasional anxiety, herbal formulas are an ancient solution to modern challenges. We see that in the demand that has built ingredients like ashwagandha into category-driving phenomena. But most of the products claiming to support emotional coping skills are based on a maintenance dose. Gaia Herbs stands out here for offering a formulation designed for relief in the moment. Based on herbs from the company’s farms and impeccably transparent supply chain, the formulation includes passionflower, skullcap and lavender essential oils. It may seem ironic to see the abbreviation A.S.A.P. paired with “Calm,” but all of us have had those moments when we needed help right then and not after several days dosage.

Know Brainer Ketogenic Butter Creamer with Collagen

Know Brainer seeks to disrupt the stagnant creamer market with this ketogenic creamer, packaged in a pourable 16-ounce container (unlike the brand’s flagship single-use packets). Inside, you’ll find a luscious blend of organic grass-fed ghee, non-GMO MCT oil and collagen to infuse coffee with functional benefits.

Tofurky Year-Round Ham Style Roast

With it’s silly-sounding name and meatless products before it was cool, for years Tofurky was the target of foodie jokes. But since the 1980s, core plant-based consumers have turned to Tofurky to fancy-up holidays when having a food centerpiece is a must, like Thanksgiving. We loved Tofurky’s Year-Round Ham Style Roast for its high protein content (22 grams per serving) and convincing meat flavor that will satisfy the most enthusiastic meat eaters.

Glean Goodness Sweet Potato, Beet & Pumpkin Goodness Flour & Powder

Glean Goodness brings on-point innovation and inspiration to market with its single-vegetable powders. Think giving food waste a second life. Think smoothie-boosting powders. Think hidden veggies. Glean Goodness covers these and more as it works with U.S. farmers to profit from their usually discarded “ugly fruit.” The product itself—dehydrated vegetable flour and powder—offers cooks a creative ingredient. On top of its sustainability mission it adds a social effort with a pound-for-pound donation for each product it sells.  

Barlean’s Omega Pals Nutrition for Kids

Want to hear a sad and true statistic? Children ages 8 to 10 spend an average of 5.5 hours daily looking at screens. Turns out a spoonful of omega-3s can help with that, especially the new line of extremely delicious liquid omega-3 fish oil from Barlean’s formulated for kids. Its Nutrition for Kids line features fruity flavors like tangerine and lemonade to mask any unpleasant taste, and also comes with a dose of Lutemax 2020 branded lutein and zeaxanthin to help protect young eyes from harmful blue light emitted from digital devices.

Para'Kito Party Edition Mosquito Repellent Refillable Wristband

Para'Kito has a line of all-natural bug repellents without that sticky, filmy residue we are so accustomed to. Made from a proprietary blend of essential oils such as citronella, rosemary, geranium and mint, this repellent is worn on the wrist or ankle via a refillable pouch tucked into a snazzy sports band—each refillable pouch is effective for 15 days. This is a chemical-free, no-deet repellant that leverages the power of essential oils to mask the natural scents our bodies generate, attracting those pesky mosquitoes.

RISE Brewing Co. Oat Milk Nitro Cold Brew Latte

Doing it well and doing it right. Our judges loved the RISE Brewing Co.’s unique combination of cold brew, nitro widget and oat milk. The flavors and textures marry perfectly for an enjoyable and energizing experience. Even more we appreciate RISE Brewing Co.’s commitment to responsible and organic sourcing. In today’s competitive market there can be pressure to get new ideas to market quickly; despite this RISE Brewing Co. decided to delay the launch of this product until it could find a way to make is USDA Organic. Doing it right, doing it well; no corner cutting here.

White Leaf Provisions Biodynamic Baby Food

White Leaf Provisions’ commitment to regenerative farming is enough to make its baby food stand out on its own; but, after trying it the judges were instantly impressed with how fresh this baby food is. Feeding our next generation healthy, sustainably grown, organic and GMO-free ingredients is something everyone can agree is important, and White Leaf Provisions Biodynamic Baby Food is leading this charge in all the right ways.

Foundry Foods Wildscape

Have you ever wondered why frozen meals are always overpackaged in unrecyclable boxes that hide the product inside? Well, Wildscape did and decided to add a degree of integrity and transparency to the point of purchase decision by creating a frozen food meal in a clear, fully reusable or recyclable container. Challenging consumer expectations about frozen meals, there is nothing to hide; company founders want the consumer to see the food—made from vibrant veggies and nutrient-dense whole food ingredients. An inspiring mix of solutions, Wildscape takes the old disposable-style frozen meal to another level with less waste and more transparency, literally.

Nutiva Organic Coconut Body Oil

Nutiva’s foray into the world of clean beauty is a smart tactic for continuing to scale its transparent, sustainable supply chain. The company, known for organic oils and seeds, introduced this hydrating body oil (coconut base infused with essential oils) that is poised to contribute to Nutiva’s goal of supporting organic farming practices and small farming communities across the world.

Caskai Sparkling Cascara Infusion

By taking the initiative to upcycle waste from the process of drying coffee cherries, Caskai introduces its Sparkling Cascara Infusion. Not only is the refreshing beverage an innovative way to reduce pollution and use an intriguing ingredient, it comes packed with polyphenols, essential amino acids, vitamin E, B vitamins, and the list goes on. Plus, with every sip you take, you’re helping ensure that cascara farmers in Panama and Nicaragua are being paid fairly with Caskai’s direct sourcing model.

Taali Water Lily Pops

Straying away from the typical processed snacks that are on the market, Taali is on a mission to make healthy snacking the new norm. With verified non-GMO ingredients, these delicious pops are packed with 6 grams of natural plant protein from popped water lily seeds, all while being a lower calorie snack option—not to mention the incredible taste and flavors of this product line, from tikka masala to sriracha spice.

Organic India Vital Lift Fermented Adaptogen Blend

A new entrant to the smoothie-boosting game is a powder that combines three fermented adaptogenic herbs to deliver energy and vitality sans caffeine. Fermentation enhances digestibility of the ashwagandha, tulsi and amla. Organic India is a Certified B Corporation that works with thousands of small family farmers who employ regenerative ag practices, and Vital Lift is both organic and non-GMO.

Honey Mama’s Oregon Peppermint Cacao-Nectar Bar

With a limited list of superfood ingredients, including cacao powder, raw honey, coconut oil and shredded coconut, Honey Mama’s is a treat that we feel great about. The company enters a new category of refrigerated snacks with its line of raw food chocolate bars that are free of refined sugars, gluten, soy, dairy and grain. We delighted in the creamy texture and intense chocolate peppermint taste of this new Oregon Peppermint variety.

Hail Merry Sweet Potato Cups

Hail Merry’s Sweet Potato Cups were a hit among the judges and truly deliver on an innovative flavor offering in the sweet snacks category. Sweet Potato Cups are made with clean ingredients which include organic shredded coconuts and organic maple syrup. Not only do they provide an indulgent experience, they satisfy the body while doing good for the environment.

Mayorga Organics Costa Rica Perla Negra 

Mayorga Organics’ Costa Rica Perla Negra whole bean, fair trade, shade-grown coffee was chosen for its quality and its environmentally sustainable cultivation, which is a rare example of organic microlot farming. Furthermore, Mayorga Organics puts farmers first by sourcing directly from a small family farm in Costa Rica, thereby eliminating the middle man and making a positive impact on the Latin American agricultural industry.

Bee Seasonal Organic Honey Varietal Gift Set

When it comes to transparency, this beautiful USDA-certified organic honey hits all of the marks from hive to jar. Bee Seasonal offers several varietals of clean, sustainably harvested honey. This brand does a fantastic job of educating consumers on package, from an infographic guide tracing the honey to its source, to extensive education provided on the company’s website. Being able to pick up a gorgeous gift pack knowing where these honeys come from, who harvests them, when they are harvested and a deep understanding of the supply chain before even purchasing is a huge plus.

Yuve Plant-Based Liquid Multivitamin

For those who don’t like swallowing pills or tablets, Yuve’s Plant-Based Liquid Multivitamin is a great-tasting option. In just 1 fluid ounce, you get your complete nutritional profile of 50-plus nutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. We also love the unique bottle that this drinkable, vegan multivitamin comes in.

True Story Foods Berkshire Non-GMO Fresh Pork

True Story specializes in organic meat products: fresh, smoked (read: bacon) and deli-ready. So, it’s with some irony that we organic-happy NEXTY judges award the non-organic pork product. Why? Because with this run of fresh pork (chops, rib racks) the company is promoting a heritage breed—something important in the shrinking reality of agricultural biodiversity—while continuing its commitment to small, family farms; animal welfare; and non-GMO feed. Plus, the fatty breed produces a delectably sweet and tender cut.

The Jackfruit Company Complete Jackfruit Meal

The Jackfruit Company keeps at it, bringing innovation to its inspired (and tasty) whole meals. This time it’s shelf stable pouches, appearing in four globally inspired recipes. With these pouches, it has added more than refrig-free convenience: with 6 to 9 grams of whole-food plant-based protein per serving the company has smartly addressed the oft-named concern of this meatiest of fruits. We’re happy to see continued development that helps The Jackfruit Company get more fruit to more people, delivering on the company’s founding vision for creating a market and distribution system for these Indian farmers.  

Sweet Earth Veggie Lover's Pizza

How excited can one get about frozen pizza, especially vegan frozen pizza? The answer is pretty darn excited if you’re talking about Sweet Earth’s Veggie Lover’s pizza, featuring a colorful bounty of brussel sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, sprouts, corn and more—all brought together by a delicious marinara and cauliflower herb sauce and a sprinkle of vegan Parmesan. Featuring 70 percent organic ingredients, tons of fiber, 6 grams of protein, and a carrot, cornmeal and chia seed “crust that matters,” this new Sweet Earth offering stood out among other frozen food innovations for its nutrient density and ability to make plant-based pizza so delectable. We are hopeful the marketing muscle of Sweet Earth’s new owner, Nestle, will help to spread this frozen pizza goodness far and wide.

Cocokind Chagaglow Chaga Bronze Highlight

When innovation marries simplicity, standout beauty products emerge. Cocokind Chagaglow Chaga Bronze Highlight is one such product—a unique and natural take on a face highlighter (swipe across your cheeks for on-the-go glow) that is bound to hook natural product devotees and beauty bloggers alike. Its formulation of organic plant-based oils, antioxidant-rich chaga mushroom powder (each of the company’s three highlighter hues highlights a different fungi) and mineral pigments lend a skin-healthy boost and natural shimmer to any complexion. Another reason we love this new launch from Cocokind? The woman-owned company’s Impact Foundation provides grants and mentorship opportunities that support an ecosystem of female entrepreneurs. 

Lavva Whole Food Plant Based Yogurt

It’s rare to find a plant-based yogurt that tastes like something you’d actually want to eat for breakfast. It’s even less common to find an option that’s free from gums, stabilizers and chalky protein isolates. Many existing vegan yogurts currently on the market fall short on texture and taste, and are not compatible with other special diets such as ketogenic, paleo or Whole30.

Lavva’s creamy, velvety yogurt earns an Editors, Choice Expo East NEXTY Award thanks to a genius blend that contains organic pili nuts, a high-fat nut hailing from southeast Asia, coconut and plantains. Plus, this product is sweetened just with whole fruit—cane sugar doesn’t appear in the ingredient deck anywhere. We Lavva-love it!

Primal Kitchen Organic Unsweetened Ketchup

Primal Kitchen’s founder, Mark Sisson, is an author and blogger with a mission to help people find a path to health and wellness through a low-carb, primal and paleo-style nutrition. Primal Kitchen products are simple, whole-food condiments created without highly refined and processed industrial seed oils (like canola, soy, sunflower or safflower). The brand’s new organic unsweetened ketchup is made without added sugar and resonated with consumers.

Trending Consumer Feedback: "This is by far the best ketchup I've ever tasted!”

WaterWipes

WaterWipes hypoallergenic baby wipes are made from 99.9 percent water and a drop of fruit extract. The company founder, Edward McCloskey, developed the product to help soothe his daughter’s sensitive skin after learning how many chemicals were in standard baby wipes and questioning the safety of using them on his baby’s delicate skin. The moist wipes are fragrance free and found traction with many parents.

Trending Consumer Feedback: "I really like the fact that they have no chemicals and are 99 percent water."

CW Hemp Plus

Pioneers in this industry since 2012, CW Hemp (also known as Charlotte’s Web) is vertically integrated from growing its own proprietary hemp genetics on U.S. family farms to its own lab and production facility in Colorado. Bucking the CBD trend, Charlotte’s Web believes plants have the power to change lives to help people thrive, and thus has the company goal of making the world’s most trusted hemp extract.

Trending Consumer Feedback: "The flavor could be improved somewhat. It was very oily tasting, it reminded me of cod liver oil, with a hint of the mint chocolate. I did feel like I got some relief from the product though." “Instructions were not included; unsure of how to use.”