Cutting-Edge Trends Showcased at 20th Anniversary of Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America; Deepak Chopra to Keynote International Tradeshow in Washington D.C.

BOULDER, Colo. -- 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.

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. Retailers will choose the winners of the third-annual New Products Showcase Award Competition showcasing hundreds of new products in six 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 Healthcare; Natural, Specialty and Vegetarian Foods; Natural Home and Textiles; Personal Care; Pet Products; Supplements; and Ingredients pavilions as well as Organic Products Expo-BioFach America, which showcases hundreds of certified organic products. 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. The open-air Fresh Ideas Organic Farmers' Market will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and is open to the public.

A comprehensive educational program runs throughout the show, beginning Thursday, Sept. 15. Free seminars will cover industry developments, marketing, merchandising, sustainability, trends in health and wellness and more. Deepak Chopra, one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind/body medicine, delivers the keynote on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

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/organic products; aviation; design/engineering; electronics; food/retail; government/compliance; business technology/enterprise IT; leisure/hospitality; manufacturing; mechanical systems/construction; and supply chain.