As I write my column this month, I am nine months pregnant.  By the time this issue comes out, I’m hoping to have delivered my first child. This pregnancy has been an adventure and opened my eyes to just the beginning of motherhood experiences.

Through the end of October, more than 300 new teas have launched in 2010, according to Mintel International’s Global New Products Database. Bagged teas led with the most new product introductions so far this year with 148 launches, and new ready-to-drink teas followed with 114 releases.

Consumers’ demand for transparency leads to increase in natural colors.  During the past few years, a demand has emerged from consumers for transparency. Consumers are attracted to “clean” labels and want to avoid products that have complex ingredients and products

Bottled at the source of an underground well in the village of Saint Jana, Croatia, near the Adriatic Sea, the water in Jana Natural European Artesian Water may be 3,000 to 7,000 years old, but it has been distributed in the United States for only four years.

Fair Trade certified beverages grow in popularity, finds Beverage Industry's Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Fuhrman.  Fair Trade USA, a third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States previously known as TransFair USA, released a number of announcements to coincide with Natural Products Expo East in Boston last month.

Alternatives and dairy-based drinks reported mixed results this year.  Dairy alternatives, kefir drinks and dairy-based drinks reported a mixed bag of results this year.