...AND WE'RE OFF

 Quite some time ago, we decided that the perfect place to launch Tastybaby Organic Baby Food would be at All Things Organic, a tradeshow of entirely organic food, clothing and other products in Chicago.  We felt a true kinship with the other exhibitors – all of them committed to creating something that is, simply put, better than most existing alternatives.
The show was an incredible experience for us!  After months of keeping our plans under wraps, it was time for our big reveal. 

Charlie Edwards, who designed and built our booth and Richard Zucker, who installed it, outdid themselves.  We felt so lucky to be able to bring a bit of our Tasty World to the show, and everyone who dropped by to visit and sample our yummy food got a little taste of what Tasty is all about.

A show like that is a lot of fun … it’s also a lot of work.  And there’s no way we would have made it through without the help and support of Delza, Dinna, Kelly, Tom, Michael, Katherine and Britney.  Their smiles were just as bright after days of meeting folks and telling them all about Tastybaby.

Needless to say, we made a lot of friends.  Some of our new buddies have stores, and they’ll soon be stocking Tastybaby in their freezers (we’ll keep you posted!).  Others are like-minded entrepreneurs, dedicated to making the world a better place.  Still others are in our same business – organic baby food – and it was a pleasure meeting such great people who also recognize the importance of giving babies the best possible start in life.

The Tastybaby booth at the "All Things Organic" Trade Show in Chicago, IL (photo: Richard Zucker)

We’d like to introduce you to some of the friends we made at ATO and tell you about their great products.
 
Wings of Nature
 
A few booths down was a team of adorable guys – Dominick and Michael – who make the most delicious nut bars.  They also sell olive oil, coffee, salsa and other organic gourmet goodies, but we can’t stop raving about those nut bars!  At the end of the show, they sent us home with more treats than we could carry …
Check them out at http://www.freshharvestproducts.com/
 
Maker’s Baker
 
These girls make some seriously Tasty cookies.  The concept is brilliant: healthy cookies that are still decadently chocolaty (why didn’t anyone ever think of making an oatmeal raisin/chocolate chip combo before?!) that are sold in frozen “drops.”  Pop them into your oven at home and in a few minutes you’ll have fresh-baked cookies the whole family will go crazy for … just like everyone at the Tastybaby booth did when Kendra & Renee delivered trays of cookies to us daily!
Check them out at http://www.makersbaker.com
 
Larabar
 
Ok, we’ll admit it: we were already huge Larabar fans before we ever got to ATO.  Lara, whose bars are as healthy as they are delicious, has it right.  Every flavor has very few ingredients – mostly dates, raisins and nuts – so there’s never a mystery as to what you’re eating.  And we love everything about her packaging and her cool, clean style.  That Lara is one Tasty girl!
Check them out at https://www.larabar.com
 
Snikiddy
 
We met Mary and Brett about 9 months ago when Mary was pregnant – in fact, she delivered her baby days after we met!  At the time, Liane had a young baby at home and Shannan was newly pregnant, so we bonded instantly.  These guys make some really yummy confections … we’re especially partial to the Banana Nibbles.
Check them out at http://www.snikiddy.com/
 
Barbara’s Bakery
 
Our pantries have been stocked with Barbara’s offerings for years.  Our daughters love their Puffins cereal and we also often put their Snackimal cookies in their school lunch boxes.  And to top it off, Barbara’s supports environmental organizations we admire.
Check them out at http://www.barbarasbakery.com
 
Charlie Trotter’s Organic Café
 
We felt so lucky that Charlie Trotter – the world-famous, Chicago-based chef – set up a café at ATO.  And the best part was that every single item on the menu was 100% organic.  We were all especially thrilled when Jennifer Dell-Acque Trotter dropped by our booth for a Tasty visit!
Check them out at http://www.charlietrotters.com
 
Kiddapotamus
 
Shannan’s been swaddling baby Sonny in Kiddapotamus’ cozy, organic sleepers since she brought him home from the hospital.  (Just between us, she’s convinced that the genius flaps for swaddling and the easy-access snaps for diaper changing are the secret to Sonny’s 8-hour sleeping stretches!)
Check them out at http://www.kiddopotamus.com/
 
Wagatha’s
 
The people at Wagatha’s think pets deserve Organics as much as people do … and we have to agree!  We are big-time dog-lovers – Liane has 4 mini daschunds and Mosey, a 3-legged rescue mutt and Shannan has her beloved long-haired daschund, Dodger.
Check them out at http://www.wagathas.com/