By Griffin Stein
Music and Film may take center stage at the annual South by Southwest Festival held throughout Austin, Texas for 11 days; however, this year brought the first Wellness Expo on March 10-11. Showcased were numerous companies covering all aspects of the health and wellness industry. Exhibitors included Alpaca Market, a family-run string of health-focused food kiosks in Austin; Pan’s Mushroom Jerky; Vegetarian Shiitake mushrooms with a delicious Umami taste available in flavors like Zesty Thai and AppleWood BBQ; and Barrel Creek Provisions (http://hatcreekprovisions.com) which makes vinegar and heated free pickled vegetables available in traditional jars, pouches, and bottled brines. And if you’re staying in town after SXSW and don’t want to leave Austin, check out the Vegetarian Journal’s great vegetarian and vegan restaurants guide for some can’t miss spots! See: VRG Online Veggie Restaurant Guide