Redway, CA— How does a small organic dressings and sauce company from Humboldt County get noticed in the multi-billion-dollar organic market? One way is by attending Expo West, the largest natural products trade show in the world. Held annually in Anaheim, 2017 saw a record 80,000 attendees and nearly 3,000 exhibitors. That’s a lot of food samples. Many local companies attended with Humboldt Made, including first-time attendee, Sue’s Organics. Sue’s Nutritional Feast Dipping Sauce was selected as one of four NEXTY Award Finalists in the Best New Condiment category.

Experienced business folks often advise the aspiring entrepreneur to try and avoid entering into partnerships. If you can, go it alone. In the formative stages of a young business there are always tons of often messy, difficult issues to deal with. Complicating the situation with the opinions, wants, and needs of partners can be awkward if not downright contentious. One might think that whoever has the greatest percentage share of the pie can more or less have his or her way over partners, but that doesn’t account for the emotional investment that active partners make in a new endeavor. Someone who owns a 15% stake is likely to have every bit as much emotional skin in the game as someone who owns 30 or 40%. And that same minority share-holder just might have some brilliant ideas about how things should run .

With the fruits of their labor combined, a cluster of four organic body care companies have created a sophisticated menu of lotions, lip balms, perfumes and salves all made in Humboldt County. Among the many Humboldt Made members that practice sustainability as second nature, each of these female-owned businesses is committed to protecting Humboldt ecosystem. By growing organic herbs, harvesting wild native plants and crafting beauty products in small batches, they create unique products designed to inspire beauty from the inside out. As the countdown to Christmas marches forward, pop in the North Coast Co-op, Wildberries Marketplace or Eureka Natural Foods to find the perfect gift for moms, wives, daughters and friends.