BOULDER, Colo. (June 20, 2005) — An international audience of trend spotters, retailers, industry leaders, and media will gather at the Washington D.C. Convention Center to interact with more than 1,100 exhibitors of natural and organic finished products and ingredients this Sept. 15-18, 2005 at the 20th anniversary of Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America. Produced by New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media, the tradeshow will pinpoint industry trends and offer unmatched opportunities to sample and learn about the finest natural and organic products from around the world. More than 20,000 industry members attended Natural Products Expo East in 2004.

Americans have made their preference for organic and natural products clear. Shoppers spent nearly $45.8 billion on them in 2004, according to research just published in the 24th Annual Market Overview in the June issue of The Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine. Natural products sales increased 6.9 percent across all sales channels in 2004, including supermarkets, mass marketers, direct marketers and the Internet.

Attendees will discover what will be selling in 2006: Hot Trends icons and guides identify must-see products in Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), Grab-n-Go, Special Diet, Kids and Sustainability categories. A New Products Showcase Award Competition will offer insight into industry-led trends as retailers vote for their favorite new product in Food, Personal Care, Supplements/Herbs, Packaging, Innovation and Green (environmental impact) categories.

“Trends drive our industry and inject it with the kind of excitement that is influencing conventional categories and bringing new customers to natural and organic,” said Jen Shumar, attendee marketing director at New Hope Natural Media. “Whether you’re a retailer, producer, buyer or marketer, you need to know what the next big thing is. Natural Products Expo East is the place to find it quickly.”

Natural Products Expo East comprises Natural, Specialty and Vegetarian Foods; Natural Home and Textiles; Personal Care; Pet Products; Healthcare; Supplements; and Ingredients pavilions as well as Organic Products Expo-BioFach America, which showcases hundreds of certified organic products from around the globe. The show floor is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Educational events run throughout the show, beginning Thursday, Sept. 15. Free seminars, led by both industry experts and exhibitors, offer knowledge on industry developments, marketing, merchandising, sustainability, trends in health and wellness and much more. A keynote address by Deepak Chopra, one of the world’s greatest leaders in the field of mind/body medicine, will be given on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Chopra will explore the topic of “Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life.”

Other Expo East highlights include:

• The open-air Fresh Ideas Organic Farmer’s Market, combining a traditional farmers’ market atmosphere with a highly focused business-to-business event for buyers and sellers of certified organic products, which will take place on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and is open to the public.
• “Healthy Foods: A Global Initiative”, a keynote address by David Macnair of Cadbury Schweppes, on Friday, Sept. 16 at 9:00 a.m.
• Entertainment including a two-part organic evening starting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday comprised of the Spirit of Organic Awards Reception, sponsored by Spectrum Organic Products, Inc., and the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s Benefit Concert; An Evening in the Islands, a National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) reception on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6:00 p.m.; LunaFest, an evening of films in support of The Breast Cancer Fund sponsored by Clif Bar, on Friday, Sept. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and capped off with the Natural Products Expo East 20th Anniversary Party, on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9:00 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• A Retail Store Tour on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., co-hosted by Delicious Living magazine.
• An Organic Farm tour on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
• A Retail Resource Center on the show floor featuring one-on-one expert advice on law, financing and business strategy for retailers.
• A Global Business Program with seminars on the latest market data and industry trends in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Maximizing time for attendees is top of mind at the show. A sophisticated online Expo Planner, found at www.expoeast.com, can be used to build a personalized itinerary and floor plan before the show, schedule seminars, peruse show specials, and pre-book onsite appointments with exhibiting companies. Verified attendees can also access show content after the show at the free VIP Content Library at www.naturalproductexpo.com.

Register online at www.expoeast.com/press/registration.cfm. Editorial staff who meet press guidelines attend free of charge.

New Hope Natural Media is a division of Penton Media Inc. (OTCBB: PTON), a diversified business-to-business media company that provides high-quality content and integrated marketing solutions to the following industries: health/nutrition and natural and organic products; aviation; design/engineering; electronics; food/retail; government/compliance; business technology/enterprise IT; leisure/hospitality; manufacturing; mechanical systems/construction; and supply chain.