Best in Show Browse some herbivore-approved highlights from the latest Plant Based World Expo North America. BY TRACY MORIN
A
fter a pandemic hiatus, the Plant Based World Expo—the only 100% plant-based B2B conference
for the food and retail industry, produced by JD
Events—returned to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center on December 9 to 10, 2021. And attendees were hungrier than ever for its unique array of plant-based products and education. If you need more proof that plant-based is the future, note that more than 3,100 show-goers perused the aisles of 200-plus exhibitors—reflecting more than 65% growth in exhibit space and more than double the audience over a pre-pandemic 2019. Trends on display included female-owned businesses, plant-based cultured butters, global cuisine, and more plant-based chicken than you could shake a beak at—from the usual nuggets and patties to shreds, chunks, strips and more. Plant Based World Expo 2022 has been scheduled for September 8 to 9 at the Javits Center, and it’s already expected to double in size again. Find more info at plantbasedworldexpo.com, and to keep up with the plant-based pizza scene, visit PMQ’s sister site, PizzaVegan.com. In the meantime, peruse some of the products that caught my eye as I roamed the show floor for two glorious plant-based days. 58
PMQ PIZZA MEDIA | PMQ.COM
Umaro Foods Manufacturers and consumers alike are on the hunt for a better bacon alternative, and there were a few delicious entries in this category at the trade show. The one that made me double-take (literally—I had to go back for more) is from Umaro Foods and available in three varieties: Original, Maple Bourbon and Hickory Smoke. Bursting with flavor and sporting a seductive crunch, this bacon would be a win on taste alone. It was only later that I learned the bacon’s base is—surprise!—seaweed. The company is even working with two U.S. universities to “advance the first generation of offshore seaweed farming in the Gulf of Maine,” with the goal of making seaweed the new soy, as a source of protein that’s both sustainable and nutritious. How cool is that? umarofoods.com
