Sign of the Times: Plant-Based Foods Now Have Their Own Trade Group

Civil
Eats is highlighting one food attorney’s efforts to create a brand-new,
entirely plant-based trade association.

While foods like fresh produce and legumes were
already represented by trade groups, there wasn’t a single group focused on
meat, dairy, and egg replacements until now.

The Plant Based Foods Association, which launched earlier
this week, works to bring together like-minded
companies and promote their products.

In the past decade, the retail market for vegetarian foods
has doubled to $1.6 billion!

And the growing
market for alternative protein sources, including meat alternatives, is
likely to increase, with the potential to claim one-third of the protein market
by 2054.

Food attorney Michele Simon explains:

This is a very exciting time for
this industry. There is unprecedented interest in all things plant-based,
whether it’s Taco Bell announcing more
vegetarian items, investors putting significant money
into startups, or Big Food companies like Pinnacle purchasing
Gardein. This sector has matured to the point where it now needs to have a
collective voice, both for promotional activities, and to advocate for policy
changes to ensure its continued success.

With more and more delicious vegan products hitting store
shelves all the time, there’s never been a better time to ditch meat in favor
of healthful, cruelty-free alternatives.

Click here
for a list of our favorite meat substitutes.