2023 Winners

Maka, Superfood Hibiscus Passionfruit

Maka has created a zippy energy beverage with the added functional benefit of wheatgrass! Each serving of their new Superfood Hibiscus Passionfruit drink has the equivalent of eight pressed shots of wheatgrass for a fraction of the price. The energy punch comes from yerba mate and guayasa tea and is sweetened with agave. In addition to the multiple functions, Maka is USDA Certified Organic and the company is verified by 1% for the planet.

Great Eastern Sun, HealthSavor Organic Miso Mustard

This fresh take on a classic condiment blends tangy goodness with savory umami for an unexpectedly delightful pairing that can jump-start any number of snacktime or mealtime ideas. The combination of mustard, soy-free chickpea miso, turmeric and spices offers a Certified Organic kick from a company who has been committed to the movement since 1979. In addition, the brand is on track for B Corp status and have partnered with rePurpose Global to become a plastic-neutral company while they continually search for ways to reduce the plastic content of their packaging and use recycled plastics where possible. Great for folks looking to try a new twist on a classic topping.

Winged Wellness, Love Bites Desire and Stimulation Gummies

Love Bites Gummies, made with Saffr’Activ, a clinically-studied saffron extract that’s been shown to increase arousal and lubrication in women, is an incredible solution for stress reduction and boosting human connection and mood. The product is made with maca, damiana, horny goat weed and niacin. Love Bites are third-party tested and have organic ingredients whenever possible. And last, but certainly not least, a portion of all proceeds support economically-disadvantaged young women who receive tuition support through Winged Woman Scholarships, in partnership with the Girls for a Change organization.

Alec’s Ice Cream, Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb

Alec's Ice Cream is made with gut-friendly, 100% A2 dairy. We could just get lost in its new flavor, Peanut Butter Fudge Honeycomb. This crunchy, ultra-creamy delight balances everything worth loving about peanut butter, chocolate, honeycomb and toffee, all swirled with scrumptious fudge. Using premium organic, verified regeneratively grown ingredients and highest quality, regeneratively farmed A2 dairy, Alec’s Ice Cream is easier to digest and doesn’t result in the discomfort many experience after consuming conventional dairy products. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream that’s good for the gut and the planet.

Konscious Foods, Plant-Based California Rolls

If you’ve ever craved sushi but haven’t had the time (or energy) to go pick it up, you’re in luck. Konscious Foods’ new frozen California Roll offers fresh maki rolls in a snap, all from the comfort of your own home. With wholesome veggies and plant-based proteins, Konscious Foods’ innovative “ready to thaw and eat” category makes Asian flavors and foods accessible to the mass market while reducing overfishing of the oceans. Diehard sushi fans will quickly be converted, as Konscious Foods’ proprietary methods create textures and flavors that impress even the most discerning palate.

All Real Nutrition, Cashew Cookie Dough Protein Bar

If you’ve ever eaten a protein bar and been left with an odd, chalky taste in your mouth, you’re not alone. All Real Nutrition took consumer feedback and created a super soft and creamy protein bar powered by grass-fed Irish milk protein and clean ingredients. Not only is this bar revolutionarily tasty, but the company is making some serious moves in combatting climate change with plastic-free and home compostable packaging and a partnership with PlasticBank, which ensures that one plastic bottle is prevented from entering the oceans for every bar purchased. Another sustainability asset comes from an unlikely source: Irish dairy production has a 59.4% lower CO2 footprint vs. global average dairy.  All Real’s ethos can be seen in every aspect of its business from ingredients to marketing, making your next go-to protein bar an easy choice.

Meati Foods, Animal-Free Classic Steaks

Meati is introducing an exciting new generation of animal-free meats made almost entirely from a single, complete-protein whole food, mushroom root (mycelium). This ingredient provides significant amounts of fiber and important micronutrients while its simplicity sets it ahead of many other plant-based proteins. Consumers love steak and beef-based dishes despite the meat industry's polluting of both land and air. This new, animal-free classic steak could fill consumers' cravings and mitigate the environmental issues.

Spread'Em Kitchen, Meadow Herb and Garlic Cheese Alternative

When consumers want big taste and big benefits, they’ll definitely be reaching for Spread’Em Kitchen’s Meadow Herb and Garlic Cashew Cheese. And their gut flora will thank them. This indulgent snack is clean, full of probiotics and still one of the best tasting options to put on a cracker or carrot. The nuts and vegetables are sourced directly from producers wherever possible and the cashews score high in most measures of sustainability, making Spread’Em both people and planet friendly as well as scrumptious.

Alexandre Family Farm, Certified Regenerative 100% Grassfed Whole Milk Kefir

Alexandre Family Farm founders Stephanie and Blake Alexandre purchased 10,000 acres in Northern California in 1992, and since then, they’ve been raising the standard of dairy. A vertically integrated Regenerative Organic Certified company, Stephanie and Blake raise their A2/A2 crossbred cows on organic alfalfa grown on the same land. This grass-fed kefir exemplifies their dedication to the craft of dairy. Inside you’ll find 400 billion live CFU from 24 probiotic strains, and a naturally varying level of milkfat, which changes by the season. A unique QR code on the bottle links consumers to the milkfat percentage of their bottle.

Geosphere, Better for All PHBH Event Cups

The Better for All PHBH Event Cup is biobased and fully compostable and was designed to meet the market need for a non-toxic, reusable and fully compostable cup for large commercial events such as stadium games, concerts, festivals, campus events and large gatherings at home or work. PHBH is fermented in warm water baths that are strained using a Kaneka-patented, solvent-free process and post-use water purification. The fermentation inputs—a blend of seed oils—are RSPO-certified. The brand relies on home-compostable cup sleeves, recycled cardboard cases and water-based inks. Better for All Cups uses no titanium dioxide whitener, no processing additives, no coatings or chemicals and the products have been third-party-tested for heavy metals and ash flourines, and are certified for compostability. 

New Barn Organics, Regenerative Organic Certified Unsweetened Almond Milk

Almonds have historically proven to be unsustainable, but New Barn Organics has created what might be the first ROC-Certified almond milk in the United States. Produced with ROC-Certified almonds grown in California's Central Valley, New Barn Organics sources almonds from a farm run by the Burroughs—a third-generation BIPOC farming family that teaches other California farmers how to grow almonds both profitably and regeneratively, changing the almond farming industry in preparation for climate change.

Heyday Canning Co., Coconut Curry Chickpeas

Bringing flavor back from being merely an afterthought, HeyDey Canning is shaking up the canned food aisle with flavorful combinations of premium ingredients. The Malaysian-inspired curry sauce in the Coconut Curry Chickpeas pairs ginger, galangal, lemongrass and spices with coconut milk and Makrut lime. Served with flatbread or roasted veggies, a can of beans now becomes a meal in a matter of minutes—from a plastic-free, fully recyclable container (an aluminum can!). Sourcing its ingredients from regenerative and organic certified suppliers, the company aims to achieve certification within the next five years.

Amazi Foods, Moringa Hibiscus Dried Pineapple

Social enterprises collaborate to empower Ugandan farmers in this thirst-quenching dried pineapple snack with superfoods. Amazi Foods is building markets for pineapple and hibiscus growers while Kuli Kuli is supplying calcium and iron-rich moringa. Amazi Foods build markets for underutilized fruits or those lacking reliable market access to support local Ugandan communities. Additionally, this woman-owned brand has also established partnerships to process and manufacture at source, which activates local value creation, by generating more jobs.  

Spinster Sisters Co., Face Serum Stick

Get on-the-go skin hydration with this Face Serum Stick, made by a well-established leader in sustainability. Spinster Sisters is not only a Certified B Corp, but also the company’s products are made in a “microsoapery” powered entirely by wind and solar energy. This moisturizing stick is a representation of the company’s values: plastic-free packaging, no sulfates, parabens or water, and efficacious inclusions such as hydrating hyaluronic acid and skin-brightening vitamin C.

Blueland, Dishwasher Starter Set

Traditional pod-based cleaners are wrapped in a plastic film called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). While often marketed as biodegradable, that film is not: Each use washes microplastics from these pods into the world’s oceans, rivers and waterways. Not to worry! The Dishwasher Starter Set from Blueland uses innovative dry-form tablets that are formulated without VOC’s, parabens, ammonia, phthalates or chlorine bleach, making them just as effective with none of the plastic waste. Paired with a sleek reusable tin and refills packaged in compostable packaging, dish washing has never been so easy or eco-friendly. The starter set is Climate Neutral Certified, B Corp Certified and Cradle 2 Cradle certified, further cementing Blueland’s commitment to the environment.

Solely, Green Banana Pasta

Solely is at it again with more single-ingredient innovations. This time, it’s gluten-free, whole-food fusilli pasta made from green bananas. What!? Yup, these corkscrew noodles—high in iron and potassium and delivering loads of fiber—make eating green banana pasta a delicious way to add fruit, nutrients and fiber to a convenient diet. The flavor is, well…pasta, but the black noodles add color to the dinner plate. The organic bananas are purchased through the company’s network of organic farms in Mexico and Latin America and provide a grain-free, sugar-free pasta that tastes great.

Top Seedz, 6-Seed Crackers

Delivering nutty flavor without the high amount of water needed to grow nuts, Top Seedz offers a crispy cracker that’s a delicious and satisfying treat even before layering on a topping; and you can enjoy that snack knowing it is USDA Organic, gluten free and vegan. Seeds are packed with nutrients including protein, fiber and a full complement of vitamins and minerals. You could buy the roasted seeds alone, snacking them by the handful, but we liked the 6 Seed Crackers for the mix of sunflower, sesame, flax, pumpkin, chia and hemp seeds.

King Arthur Baking Company, Gluten-Free Bread Flour

Few flours have earned the stellar reputation among home bakers as King Arthur’s—and its GF doppelganger is a welcome addition to gluten-free pantries everywhere. Made with gluten-free wheat starch for a familiar flavor and mouthfeel, this product is ideal for loaves (and loaf lovers!) of all kinds—bagels, boules, buns, you name it. Plus, King Arthur’s commitment to do-good business is reflected in its B Corp certification and longstanding reputation for incorporating integrity as a key ingredient. This 100% employee-owned company and NEXTY finalist is a prime example of a legacy brand that’s addressing a market need in an improved way.  

First Person, Golden Hour

This might be the most NEXTY thing we’ve seen. Stacking mushrooms like lion’s mane and reishi alongside microdosing with psilocybin is what Nutrition Business Journal calls “psychedelic adjacent.” Stacking with microdosing is said to help advance the sub-perceptual effect of psychedelics, tweak the mind/body connection and boost connection and joy. The formula also includes lemon balm and the branded saffron ingredient, Affron. The branding is hip, and the super-awesome capsules are a trip in and of themselves. There are three different formulas in the box, sourced from a farm in the Pacific Northwest.

JonnyPops, Organic Rainbow Fruit Stacks

The classic bomb pop goes organic. But when it comes to these frozen novelty treats, JonnyPops certainly puts the “pop” in flavor. Here, you’ll find six layers of what they’re dubbing “fruit stacks” in natural flavors of cherry, orange, lemon, lime, blue raspberry and grape. The company self-manufactures JonnyPops, using proprietary technology and processes. Also significant, these treats are made in a facility that’s peanut and tree nut free (excluding coconut), making these frozen treats ideal for food-sensitive consumers. The community-minded company also supports various organizations through fundraising, donations and encouraging others to be more environmentally friendly.