RODALE NEWS, ANAHEIM, CA—Thursday afternoon started with a double shot of probiotic juice and ended with a belly full of worms. Welcome to Natural Products Expo West. Well, the day before it. The real fun starts Friday.

Thursday’s Fresh Ideas Group Organic Marketplace tent was like tailgating before the big game. Natural Products Expo West runs Friday through Sunday and will highlight the latest products and trends in the natural and organic world, complete with the ridiculous and downright bizarre. The general public isn’t admitted to this fascinating mashup of commerce and ecology. But don’t worry—Rodale.com will be your eyes and ears.

So as I was saying, Thursday’s marketplace gave a sneak peak of things to come, from delicious blood red organic oranges and fair-trade chocolates, to probiotic drinks and bars, to naturally carrot-colored organic gummy worm candy. (They were yummy!) Wheat grass shots, recycled sock monkeys, beeswax lotion, and pesticide-free milk may not seem to have anything in common, but these products are luring tens of thousands of distributors, manufacturers, and retailers to Anaheim this week. Why? Because consumers want cleaner food, clothing, and cosmetics. Less toxins, more natural, please.

And if you couldn’t tell, food is a big deal here. Man, why didn’t I pace myself??

Delirious from the weird mix of organic stuff churning about in my stomach, I eventually moseyed over to the Nature’s Path booth, kicked the staff out, and hunkered down with the cereal samples, sharing the occasional cup with a passerby.

I would have stayed there all night, had I not glanced to my right.

Hmm. Is that…more chocolate…?

To Be Continued.