It was a tale of two shows for made-with-walnut products at Natural Products Expo West, one of the largest trade shows in the world for natural and organic foods and beverages.
On one hand, walnut’s inclusion in more-traditional categories such as bakery and granolas showcased the tree nut’s enduring popularity. On the other hand, walnut usage in the plant-based and snacking category highlighted the ingredient’s potential in growing categories that have not traditionally used walnuts. Regardless of categorization or usage, made-with- walnut products were prevalent on the show floor. Here are some of our favorites.
Mexican-Inspired Walnut Crumbles, Glenda’s Farmhouse
This walnut ground meat alternative hit all the right flavor and texture notes, and provided something most other meat alternatives did not — a clean ingredient label. Ingredients for the plant-based product include chopped walnuts, sunflower oil, spices including smoked paprika and ancho chili pepper, dried pinto bean flakes, maltodextrin, dried corn kernels, onion powder, dried diced mushrooms, quick rolled oats, salt, garlic powder, yeast extract, distilled white vinegar, fruit juice (color), natural flavors, extractives of paprika and rosemary extract (to protect flavor). The product also is available in Original Savory and Asian-Inspired varieties.
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Levain Bakery
The line at this booth stretched for ages as full-sized Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies were being handed out hot from the oven. This popular bakery recently started selling its cookies in supermarket freezer cases, promoting a more clean label and natural permissible indulgence. Ingredients include unbleached flour, semi-sweet chocolate chips, butter, sugar, light brown sugar, walnuts, eggs, kosher salt and baking powder.
Brain Fuel Gluten Free Muesli, GUUD
This product offered an interesting take on a “dated” cereal with muesli marketed as Brain Fuel. The formula includes oats, walnuts, goji berries, cranberries, blueberries and cacao nibs. Product packaging promotes 360 milligrams of omega-3s, 32% daily value of vitamin A and 8 grams of protein per ½ cup serving.
Lower Sugar Dark Chocolate Granola, Back to Nature
Walnuts, coconut and pumpkin seeds play a starring role in this new granola from Back to Nature. The product is touted as “lower sugar” and uses a combination of erythritol and monk fruit extract to provide a hint of sweetness to complement the dark chocolate chips and nuts used in the product.
Choco-Cherry Walnut MicroBiome Bar, Food First
Functional foods were all the rage at Natural Products Expo West, and this innovative food bar has a formula focused on prebiotic fiber and gut health. The Choco-Cherry Walnut bar has the prebiotic fibers AXOS, XOS, MOS and FOS that come from organic wheat, organic oats, organic flax and organic barley malt.
Did you see a made-with-walnut product at Natural Products Expo West that we missed? Email kseiz@walnuts.org and we may feature it in an upcoming blog post.
