As we’ve worked hard to grow airfare, we’ve learned about the continuous stream of small tasks that are neither fun nor glamorous.

Tax paperwork, state permits, hours on the phone with UPS, or helping a customer having trouble with the website while he explains the bowel-related impacts of his new high-fiber snack diet. These are not part of the dream life of a high-flying entrepreneur.

On the flip side, there are times when it’s pure bliss, like attending Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif. last week. For a hardcore snack geek, it’s heaven.

Imagine two full days of sauntering up and down rows of booths dedicated to natural snack and food companies, each one begging to give out a sample of its newest product. The only downsides are running out of time and spoiling dinner—both of which are inevitabilities.

Last year was our first appearance at the annual event, and it was our first opportunity to meet many of our original snack partners. We spent time with the founders of Texas real-food bar maker, Thunderbird, the Santa Barbara-based bite and trail mix pros at Sun & Swell, and the two bean-loving gals from New York who started Lupii.

We also formed new relationships, including with companies that have quickly become some of the most beloved by airfare customers. These include California edamame experts at Seapoint Farms, friendly, facial-haired dudes from Austin’s Bearded Brothers, the men responsible for bringing us the sweet and nutty tastes from Afghanistan at Ziba Foods, and Nashville’s sprouted almond gang, Daily Crunch Snacks.

This year’s Expo West brought us more reunions, more first-time embraces with like-minded snack makers, and an exciting chance to scout new snack possibilities.

Highlights included hugs from California nut-butter-lovers at Spread the Love, our local Boston-area partner, Bruce, the fruit and nut mad scientist from Healthy Truth, the man behind the bar sporting the California flag, Brian from Bear Bar, and the brains behind the wrapped-cashew wonder of Karma Nuts, Ganesh, pictured above.

We’re excitedly working through samples and new deals, and here are some previews of coming a-snack-tions.

We’re eying a sweet potato crisp, some berry-focused dried fruit, and maybe even a nut butter-and-oat-based bite. 😉

We’ll roll them out over the coming months, so keep an eye out.