By Nourish Data Optimization Specialist Victor Yu, Montreal Office
The 2026 edition of Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert featured over 300 exhibitors, mostly from Quebec, dedicated to healthy eating, organic innovation, and eco-friendly living. I spent the weekend happily sampling the latest arrivals on the market and on the lookout for emerging trends and exciting new products.
Here are some of the standouts that caught my attention.
1. The Rise of the Haskap Berry
The haskap (or camerise) continues its ascent as Quebec’s superfruit. While its fresh season is short, its presence among pantry staples is expanding.
- La Survoltée: This producer stood out with a range that goes beyond basic jam. Highlights included their Haskap Syrup, a Labrador Tea-infused jam, and a Haskap-based BBQ sauce.
2. The "Chocolate-Covered" Revolution
Indulgence is meeting nutrition this year, with brands finding ways to wrap functional foods in good-quality cocoa.
- Evive: Known for their blender-free smoothie cubes, Evive has branched out into the snack category with Chocolate-Covered Smoothie Bites. These offer the same nutrient density as their drinks but in a convenient, guilt-free treat format.
- Verifruit: Specializing in preservation, Verifruit showcased chocolate-covered freeze-dried fruits. It’s an ideal snack or a topper for morning oatmeal, yogurt, and even pancakes!
3. The Mocktail Evolution
The sober-curious movement remains a powerhouse in the Quebec beverage industry, with brands moving toward more exciting flavour profiles.
- Fin Soda: This Montreal-based company continues to push boundaries with botanical ingredients. Their lineup features a unique cascara (coffee cherry), seabuckthorn & strawberry soda. And their newest creation, Disco de Verano, is a non-alcoholic take on the Spanish Tinto de Verano, blending red fruits, citrus, and warm spices.
- Statera: For those who miss the taste of spirits, Statera offers refined, alcohol-free versions of classic cocktails. Their lineup includes the Sex on the Peach, London Mule, and a Spicy Mango Margarita.
4. Upcycling for the Everyday Kitchen
Beyond individual ingredients, we saw a trend in accessible, sustainable meal solutions.
- StirJoy: A subsidiary of the duNord brand, StirJoy focuses on a subscription model with dehydrated meals that only require the addition of water. They create plant-based meal kits using upcycled vegetables from Quebec farms, offering a shelf-stable, affordable way to eat local and healthy while directly reducing food waste.
5. The Standout Innovation: A Local Shoyu
For me, the most impressive product at this year’s Expo was a masterclass in the circular economy.
- Signé Cameline: This new Shoyu sauce was a standout for its ingenuity. Rather than using traditional soy and wheat, they upcycle the "press cake" (residue remaining after extracting camelina oil) and ferment it with koji and yellow peas. The result is an umami-forward sauce that competes with traditional Japanese soy sauces while championing local Quebec ingredients. Fun to note that Signé Cameline’s virgin butter-flavoured camelina oil won a Gold Award at SIAL Innovation in 2025.
Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert was a terrific show, and a brilliant showcase for exciting innovations happening in food and beverage in Quebec. There is a vibrant and unique food culture here, and I love being immersed in it!
Title photo credit: Kova Production — Myriam Quenneville, photographer
