Disruption, innovation, clean label: These are just a few of the ways product developers brought new products to this year’s Natural Products Expo West. The industry’s most innovative food brands converged to unveil delicious walnut-made products shaping the landscape of the natural and organic food industry.
As we stepped into the bustling halls filled with more than 3,000 exhibitors, it became evident that walnuts are more than just a snacking nut; they’re a versatile nut that manufacturers used in a number of trending ways.
Here’s what we discovered:
Walnuts Are Bananas!
Walnuts and bananas are a historical match. But fitting in with the “newstalgia” trend — combining something traditional with a new twist — we were blown away with the number of banana- and walnut-made goodies on the show floor. Bananas were trending as an ingredient or flavor in smoothies, bars, nut butters, desserts, snack packs and, yes, even as a functional water.
Walnuts and bananas are versatile ingredients that can be used in a variety of products thanks to the balance of flavors, textures and nutritional benefits. Here are a few that caught our attention:
Sustainability for Our Planet
The California walnut industry is composed of multigenerational family farmers whose commitment to sustainability is deeply rooted in California heritage, rich farming knowledge and responsible stewardship practices. We continue to advance our sustainability practices by studying and reducing our environmental impacts and supporting the communities where we operate while continuing to grow high-quality walnuts.
These products with walnuts placed an emphasis on sustainable claims, which consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about year after year.
Organic Planet Friendly Oats, Wildway
Elevate mornings with Regenerative Organic Banana Nut Oatmeal. Wildway crafted this product for the planet’s health with a “mission to go beyond sustainable” message. Ingredients include walnuts, dried banana, coconut sugar, cinnamon and sea salt.
Redline Oatmeal, Stoked Oats
Stoked Oats focuses on protecting the planet and creating the most nutrient-dense, high-protein and low-sugar oat-based superfoods that customers can trust. Walnuts are mixed with a unique blend of instant coffee, flax seeds, chia seeds, gluten-free oats and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
All-Day Snack Remix
A number of 2024 trend reports predicted that “snack culture” would take over this year, and Expo West reflected this prediction in a huge way. The Frito-Lay U.S. Snack Index said that the blurred line of meals and snacking comes down to time constraints. People simply don’t have the hours in a day to prepare, eat and enjoy meals. However, consumers still have passion for food preferences and place importance on innovation in a reimagined center-of-plate “snack savant” reality.
Walnuts have long been a staple in trail mixes, snack packs and granolas. But we were treated to some new flavor combinations, packaging and “wow” moments when taste testing these bites:
Power Mix, Fruit for Thought
Walnuts, banana, mango, pineapple, apricots, apple, cherries, pear and peach are combined for a delicious salty-sweet combo that satisfies snack cravings all day long. The 120-calorie snack can be enjoyed on the go. Simple ingredients in a convenient snack pack.
Date Pops – Brownie, Joolies
Made with Joolies dates, walnuts and whole food ingredients, these energy snack brownies are guilt-free indulgence from farm to bite. There’s no added sugar, and they come in convenient, resealable packaging.
Developing a trending walnut product? Email dmikolajcik@walnuts.org
These products are mentioned for informational purposes only, and inclusion does not imply an endorsement.
