This month we have many new items for those in a hurry to create a quick and tasty entrée. From Annie Chun there is a collection of four different kinds of rice noodles to give Asian style dishes a more authentic flavor. Also from Annie Chun is the Soy Ginger Meal Kit with soba noodles and a sauce to apply after boiling. If you would like the flavor of seafood to go with your noodles without actually consuming the fish, we now offer vegetarian scallops, available in the frozen section.

If you are really in a hurry for your noodles, you can opt for the the Fast Natural Ready Meal by Fantastic. Varieties include Thai Lemon Grass, Ginger Shiitake, and Pad Thai. These are, of course, all vegetarian and without MSG. Also new to us under the Fantastic label are the vegetarian Three-Bean Chili, Spanish Paella, and Tuscan Mushroom Risoto. All of these products come in a sealed tray and heat up in minutes in the microwave or in boiling water.

Annie’s has a new line of low sodium organic canned soup which includes Cream of Tomato, Lentil Vegetable, and Butternut Squash. These are also low in fat, as are the new varieties of Annie’s Organic Refried Beans, which include Traditional, Black Bean, and a Green Chiles flavor. For summer time cooking we also now have Annie’s Organic Vegetarian Baked Beans.

If picnics are on your spring and summer agenda, we have a new collection of soy cheese from Soy Moon in the flavors of Mozzerella with Italian Herbs, Gouda, and Smoke House Style Provolone. For cooking out in the back yard or camp site, we now have meat-free Dogs from Quorn. If you need an easy vegetable to go along with all these simple-to-fix meals, now availble in glass is Tender White Asparagus Spears from Native Forest, which can be served heated or cold with a nice dressing.

While thinking of cooking out on the grill, you may want to give the new organic marinade by Annie’s a whirl; it comes in Spicy Ginger, a tropical Paradise, and Smokey Campfire flavors. For sandwiches and other recipes, Annie’s also has a new line of organic mustards in the following delectable flavors: Raspberry, Horseradish, Honey, Dijon, and the classic plain Yellow.

If you prefer an international style in your cuisine, this month we have a new organic salsa by Amy’s in Mild, Medium, and Black Bean and Corn. Also, Gustav has found four new olives for olive lovers to immerse themselves in. The organic Botiga olives from Peru are huge, meaty, and intense. Also very intense are the lovely oil-cured dry roasted Italian olives from the Bel Aria company. Because the olive harvest in Greece was poor last year, Gustav has been looking for a new source of Gaeta olive and now has found an Italian source of these wonderfully textured, intense black olives. Also new is a green Sicilian olive that Gustav describes as crisp and olivey.

Also among our extensive line of condiments we now are offering Organic, Asian-Style Pickled Cabbage by Real Pickles. Real Pickles also makes a traditanl Organic Sauerkraut, as does Hawthorne Valley Farm; all three of these pickled cabbages are raw and can be found in the cooler with other fresh products.

For easy summer salads, add some Edward and Sons organic croutons to your organic greens. They come in Onion Garlic, Italian Herbs, and Lightly Salted flavors. And for simple, lower fat cooking, we have a new Grapeseed Spray Oil by Spectrum Naturals; you may have alredy tried their Olive Spray with Garlic Flavor.

For sweet snacks this month we have many new gluten-free, dairy-free treats. Ener brings us a small paper pan of uncut brownies, and Newman’s Own Organics now has both organic Champion Chocolate Chip Cookies and organic Chcoclate Alphabet Cookies for the younger set.

Also for the kids are certified organic (but not gluten-free) Animal Cookies by Country Choice in vanilla and chocolate. All children young and old will love our new organic Sprinkelz Confetti desert toppings, good on cake, cookies, and ice cream. Newman’s Own Organics also is introducing Newman-O’s Wheat-free, Dairy-free (but not gluten-free) Cream Filled Chocolate Cookies for a more decadent experience. For those for whom chocolate is the key to fun, we are now carrying Granola Jo & Co.’s Dark Chocolate Granola Bark, made from all natural ingredients. A more simple sweet snack is the new Bettylou’s Cherry Bar, a small, unlabeled cereal-type bar in celophane found with other goodies in the cookie section. Country Choice now has single serving Instant Cocoa mix available in the cocoa section. Steaz is a new kind of soda we now offering which comes in a variety of yummy and intersting flavors, and which is made with green tea. Last but not least among the sweet treats for this month is the new Envirokidz Organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, a ceral that is sure to please for snacks as well as breakfast.

For a savory snack , we now have Primal Strips Meatless Jerky, sold in single serving size in Hickory Smoke and Texas BBQ.

HaBA is introducing several new items this month, including Hawthorn Dietary Supplement by Flora in a 17-fluid-oz. glass bottle, Heart Renew Dietary Supplement Drink Mix by Now, and two men’s multi-vitamens by both Now and Garden of Life in tablet form. Garden of Life is also offering an Iron-free Formula Living Multi with Homeostatic Nutrients. Last but not least is the timely introduction of Quit Bugging Me Insect Repellant by Shaman Earthly Organics, in both lotion and spray form. It smells clean and fresh and is certified 70% organic!