5 New or Noteworthy Organic Specialty Foods

The NASFT's 53rd annual Fancy Food Show exhibited a new natural and organic food pavillion this week, stocked with everything "green" from Fair Trade Certified chocolates to USDA organic spices. To meet the demand of the ever-growing organic sector, attendees looking specifically for organic and natural specialty foods were treated to 600 products from 80 companies in the newly created pavillion alone. Here's a short list of five of the new or noteworthy food items that will help you in your quest to source and eat natural, organic and sustainably-produced specialty foods:

• 1. From the "cardamoms", a dynamic duo of two women who have combined their passion for cooking and doing the right thing for the health and well-being of people and the planet, comes tsp spices. These single use packages of organic and non-irradiated spices in teaspoon-sized increments are all neatly store in tin containers that, once empty, can be reused to hold your sanity-saving iPod. From allspice to oregano, there's just enough in each handy package to use in that favorite fennel-scented heirloom tomato sauce of yours. Mixing of spices to create your own blend is highly encouraged.
• 2. Theo Chocolate is one of only 12 companies in the U.S. that uses fire roasted Fair Trade Certified cocoa beans and takes them from "bean to bar" practicing social and environmental responsibility all the while. Pure cocoa butter is used to achieve the buttery "mouth feel" usually associated with quality chocolate. No soy lecithin or cheaper substitutes are allowed in this richly satisfying chocolate -- Willi Wonka would be proud.
• 3. Billed as "The Hardest Working Condiment On The Planet", Nip 'N Tang brings you fruit and nutrition-inspired horseradishes to, believe it or not, slather over bagels, pancakes and toast. Antioxidant-rich blueberries, cranberries, and apricots are just a few of the fruits used to create this sweet and savory condiment. It has other popular uses as well and can be brushed on grilled chicken, as a dip for the ubiquitous party pretzel, and has even found its way into a bowl of ice cream or two according to my Fancy Food Show sources. (We'll take them at their word on that last one.)
• 4. Faced with the prospect of how to find quality organic baby food that can be prepared in a flash, Canadian-based creator Kalpna Solanki has come up with a line of frozen organic, Kosher, allergen-free baby food formulated for babies 6 months and older. BoBo Baby food offers busy Moms the best of both worlds -- certified organic baby food that's frozen for convenience. BoBo Baby food will be sold in natural and mainstream grocery stores in the very near future. In the meantime, you can order directly from www.wellnessgrocer.com. Bon appetit, little ones.
• 5. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention at least one extra virgin certified organic olive oil. Mylopotamos out of Crete, and distributed from semi-upstate Shandaken, New York, offers a full-tasting fruity but delicate olive oil that works as well in a salad dressing as it does in homemade pizza dough. As part of their ongoing "green endeavor", Mylopotamos and Right From the Olive is offering a 5% discount on olive oil purchases you make from their website when you mention that you found them on The Daily Green. Also, portions of your olive oil purchases are donated to two noble causes -- the NRDC''s BioGems Initiative and the non-profit Doctors Without Borders.

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