AHPA leaders engage in outreach at World Tea Expo

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) was out in force at the 2014 World Tea Expo (WTE), May 29 through 31 in Long Beach, CA. AHPA President Michael McGuffin and several of AHPA's board trustees engaged the tea products industry to introduce them to AHPA.

WTE is the leading tradeshow and conference focused primarily on premium teas and related products and, with more than 200 exhibitors, it provided a unique opportunity for the tea industry to network.

 AHPA was a gold sponsor of the WTE and also co-hosted the Exhibitor Reception on the evening of May 28. In addition, McGuffin and board trustees Elan Sudberg (Alkemist Labs) and Wilson Lau (nuherbs Co.) managed the AHPA booth to meet WTE attendees and expand AHPA's relationships with the tea products industry.

An open meeting of the AHPA Tea & Infusion Products was also convened at the WTE. This committee, which was chartered in 2011, plays an important role in shaping policies and guidance to promote and protect the responsible commerce of tea products and is chaired by Lau.

"As the only U.S. trade association with a core focus on the herb and botanical industry, AHPA is uniquely qualified to serve the specialty tea trade," said McGuffin. "AHPA is already engaged in addressing some of the issues that now confront tea manufacturers and marketers, so our outreach at the World Tea Expo was intended to expand our relationships to include more of this unique and dynamic community."

Commenting on the involvement of AHPA trustees at WTE, McGuffin added, "I am very grateful to Elan Sudberg and Wilson Lau for their active support of AHPA's activities at the World Tea Expo." He also reported that the WTE was attended by several other AHPA trustees, including Steven Dentali, Ph.D., (Herbalife), Richard Enticott (Martin Bauer Group), and Katie Huggins (Traditional Medicinals).

For more information about the AHPA Tea & Infusions Products Committee contact Michael McGuffin.