Organic Mushroom Products became a hot topic in 2024 Natural Products Expo West

The Natural Products Expo West 2024 was held at the Anaheim Convention Center in United States on March 13-16. This event attracted over 3,000 exhibitors from around the globe and welcomed more than 65,000 attendees. Large retailers such as Walmart, Costco, Target, Trader Joe's, MOM's Organic Market, Walgreen, CVS, and others participated in this exhibition.

In this event, there were 898 first-time exhibiting companies, showcasing a plenty of innovative products. According to New Hope Network’s Nutrition Business Journal, the natural and organic industry grew 5.4% to $278 billion in 2022 and is forecast to surpass $300 billion in sales in 2023. The data indicates that the natural and organic products industry is rebounding and experiencing growth following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The functional mushroom food was a major highlight of this exhibition. With over 30 companies showcasing mushroom food products, the offerings ranged from mushroom coffee, mushroom gummies, mushroom tea, mushroom beverages, mushroom chocolate, mushroom meat substitutes, to traditional forms of dietary supplements such as capsules, powders, and tinctures. Among them, the efficacy of Lion’s mane mushroom in enhancing memory and regulating mood became a highlight of the exhibition, garnering significant market attention and popularity.

Scientific research and product development on mushrooms like Lion's mane are continuously advancing. A recent clinical trial conducted by Sempera Organics showed that daily consumption of 1.8 grams of Lion's mane extract formula product (SO-DSX1) could alleviate emotional stress after 28 days. Nirmal Nair, CEO and founder of Sempera Organics, predicts that more Lion's mane products will hit the market within three to six months. Major brands like PepsiCo's Rockstar Energy have already introduced product lines containing lion's mane.

The world-renowned mycologist Christopher Hobbs was invited to attend this exhibition, where he delivered a presentation on the science and practical benefits of medicinal mushrooms. He also unveiled his new book, "Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide," which delves into the scientific research and benefits of medicinal mushrooms such as lion's mane, reishi, and turkey tail, as well as how to choose mushroom products. Hobbs emphasized during the event that consumers should opt for organic mushroom products when consuming mushrooms.

Zhejiang Biosan Biotech Co.,Ltd (Biosan), the largest producer of organic mushroom ingredients at this exhibition, showcased a wide range of organic mushroom ingredients, including Lion's mane, Reishi, Turkey tail, Chaga, Cordyceps, Maitake, Shiitake and so on. Biosan presented over 100 different specifications of products, encompassing more than 10 varieties of mushrooms. Additionally, Biosan offered customized products such as powder and capsule formulations. During the exhibition, Biosan’s high-quality mushroom fruiting bodies and samples attracted a large audience. Biosan has been a consistent participant in this exhibition for several years. The next expo is scheduled for March 4-8, 2025, and Biosan will participate the expo again. The booth number will remain 3900.