A short stop at
SPAtacular 2001
By Sally Schwartz
You know, this is something that I really looked forward to. I enjoy
assignments that take me to places that I may not have normally gone, it's a
chance to discover new things and to broaden my world. This assignment was
going to be better then most because I was going to a spa convention!
Massages and facials and almost everything a person could need to help them
relax. And then instantly my assignment became almost surreal-- that
morning America came under attack by a nameless and faceless enemy and here it
was my job to go to the Disneyland Hotel and cover SPAtacular 2001.
I arrived shortly after noon and checked in at the media registration. I was
informed that my time was short due to the horrific events of the day. It
wasn't surprising that the atmosphere was subdued, the convention was largely
empty and at 1:30 p.m. it would be closed. Given the short amount of time
to gather the latest trends, I will attempt to do justice and represent the hard
work of the vendors and their products and services.
I spoke with Linda Lutz, the member services coordinator for the Organic Trade
Association, and she explained the different categories of the organic industry,
which includes growers, shippers, retailers, processors, certifiers, farmer
associations, brokers, consultants, importers exporters, distributors,
restaurants and many others. Established in 1985 as the Organic Foods Production
Association of North America, the main mission of the organic industry is to
encourage global sustainability through promoting and protecting the growth of
diverse organic trade.
The goals of the OTA are:
· To provide leadership
consistent with organic principles.
· To create and expand market
opportunities for the industry.
· To promote awareness and
understanding of organic production.
· To provide a unified voice
on legislative, regulatory and policy issues affecting the business of
organic production.
· To promote the
sustainability of a balanced ecosystem.
· To protect the integrity of
the organic guarantee.
For more information write:
Organic Trade Assoc. Headquarters
74 Fairview Street
P.O. Box 547
Greenfield, MA 01302 USA
Or visit www.ota.com
I also had taken a few moments to speak with Casey Keller, author of "The
Natural Beauty & Bath Book." I have used many of her recipes in my own soaps, lotions and oils.
Keller is not only a reputable writer but also the owner of Rain Country
Naturals and Rain Shadow Labs. Her company formulates and manufactures
all-natural bath, beauty, and homemade fragrance products. In addition to her scientific studies in pharmacology and medicine, she has a thorough
grounding in natural folk medicine and healing properties.
Casey started Rain Shadow Labs in 1983. The company utilizes the gifts of Mother
Nature, such as minerals, vitamins, herbs, botanicals, natural oils and
extracts. Some products require preservatives to retard bacterial growth and, in
this case, only carefully selected products that are safe enough to qualify for food use are utilized. I can say from personal experience with the
recipes that she has provided in her first book, that they are very well
formulated and achieve some of the best skin care available. Keller has
continued sharing her knowledge with the public in her sequel, "The Good
Earth Bath, Beauty and Health Book," which is another must for the home
crafter. She has also written "Natural Cleaning for Your Home." These
books are a must for anyone who likes to craft their own beauty aids.
I enjoyed my abbreviated visit to SPAtacular 2001. I only wish that the
circumstances could have been more appropriate. It would've been nice to
spend more time attending some of the many seminars and lectures. I was
pleased to note during the closing announcements, that several of the companies
in attendance had already made donations of services and products to aid in the
recovery efforts going on in New York City and Washington DC. Only hours
after the attack America was already beginning to pull together.
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