My “in-depth summation of my experience at Natural Products Expo West”:

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The first or second night, I don’t remember, I was invited as press by the Neighbor agency to the Organic Center fancy schmancy dinner. Only, I didn’t know I was invited for the first half of the dinner, so I didn’t eat or sit at my table, but just hung out with some fellow media, notably the lovely Mellisa McGinnis, who invited me to moonlight a bit with her on camera (she was covering the show).

I got to meet a bunch of my idols, that night, many of whom I’d already had the honor to know for years, because I happen to live in Boulder and run a magazine that focuses on green, and greenwashing (Webster’s: Greenwashing: faux green bullshit created by douchebags who just want to make green without walking their talk). I wrote about the Expo in more depth here—it’s a wonderful (mostly) coming-together of folks who want to actually do something about bettering the planet, and everything on it.

Well, here’s a photo that, for me at least, perfectly encapsulates everything about the night. On my left is Walter, a power behind Whole Foods; on my right is Zolezzi (at right), whom I call Godfather (one of many, but not that many, in my life who help me with business advice, with connections).

Photo by Ryan of Melissa McGinnis media.