Baltimore, MD—It’s that time: The 34th annual Natural Products Expo East will take over the Baltimore with education events at the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) and nearby hotels from September 11-14, and the trade show floor will be open September 12-14. Last year, there were over 27,000 attendees (a huge increase from the first Expo East in 1985, which drew 5,096 attendees). Some highlights for this year:

The Harvest Festival, which combines the appeal of a farmers' market with the business-building power of a trade show, will be held Wednesday from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Outside Terrace of the BCC. The Festival is included with the exhibit hall badge.

On Wednesday, “a la carte” events (with separate registration and fees) include the Natural Products Business School (a day of learning and networking to help emerging brands connect with service providers and potential investors), the Natural Products Hemp & CBD Summit, and the Expo East Herb Walk, hosted by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), American Botanical Council (ABC), and American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP). Thursday brings more educational sessions, including The State of Natural & Organic: Leading Perspectives on a Growing Industry; The Science of CBD: Research, Innovation and the Future of CBD and more.

Friday features Keynote Shawn Achor at 9 am in the Hilton Key Ballroom 7/8. Achor, bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential, will give a presentation on positive psychology. Educational sessions and seminars include Regenerative Agriculture Can Help Save the Planet; The Organic Center Presents: Soil & Climate Connection; and The Hemp CBD Metamorphosis: From Fear to Fever with speaker Stuart Tomc of CV Sciences.

Another highlight: ChildLife, exhibiting at booth 3229, will be hosting various events. On Thursday, Dr. Nicole Avena will be speaking and doing a book signing between 2 pm and 4 pm; On Friday, VIP guests can enjoy a complimentary drawing from a caricature artist; and from September 12th-14th from 10 am to 6 pm, ChildLife will have Selffee at the booth to serve edible selfies served on top of cookies and lattes.

And come see us at booth 3012! Say hello and let us know what topics you’d like to see WholeFoods cover in the future.

For more, visit www.ExpoEast.com.
Related: Three Steps to Trade Show Success NPA Releases Agenda for The Big Natural
Thursday, September 12 9:30 am - 6:00 pm: Hemp Pavilion (Level 300); Hot Products Pavilions (Levels 300/400) 10:00 am - 6:00 pm: Main Halls

Friday, September 13 9:30 am - 6:00 pm: Hemp Pavilion; Hot Products Pavilions 10:00 am - 6:00 pm: Main Halls

Saturday, September 14 9:30 am - 4:00 pm: Hemp Pavilion; Hot Products Pavilions 10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Main Halls