Here in the San Francisco (California) area, we have had large
"Whole Life Expos" in the past. Up until a few years ago, they
were twice a year; recently they decreased to once per year.
These Expos typically featured speakers on raw foods, as well
as speakers promoting conventional vegan and vegetarian diets.
Some famous people have spoken at these Expos in the past:

* raw - Viktoras, Ann Wigmore, Brian Clement

* conventional veg*n - John Robbins

Late next month there is a "San Francisco New Age Expo" being put on
by people connected (in the past) with the Whole Life Expo.
Anyway, I mention this not to provide advertising (having seen
the program guide, there is no reason to attend - in my
opinion), but to comment on a possible trend.

The trend(?): the latest Expo has no raw diet speakers, and only one
speaker on vegetarianism (an "unknown" talking on the dubious
topic of eco-vegetarianism). This is unusual and a departure
from the speaker pattern of previous years.

I can suggest 3 hypotheses to explain this:

1. The Expo is "small" (compared to previous Expos) and they are
emphasizing New Age topics over alternative health.

2. There was a large, free vegetarian Expo put on down in Silicon Valley
a few months ago. The organizers of the New Age Expo might choose to
deemphasize raw/veg diet speakers to avoid redundancy and to provide a
clear product differentiation between themselves and the free Expo.
(Pardon me for the marketing-speak. :-))

3. The Expo organizers believe that raw/veg alternative diets are less
popular now than in the past. (Even at their peak, the raw/veg communities
are small compared to SAD, Atkins, etc.)

I invite list members to make rational comments on the above.  (I
personally believe that all 3 factors above are relevant.)
Important note: I don't claim those are the only hypotheses; feel free
to propose additional hypotheses.

Back to the possible trend:
I would also comment - based on 30+ years in and observing the raw and
veg movements, that these are cyclical. That is, they have a pattern
with peaks and troughs in the size of the movement. In my opinion, the raw
movement peaked about 1.5-2 years ago, and has been declining in size since
then. This opinion is based on a number of data points (email list
participation, participation in local raw groups, cancellation of many
raw events due to lack of interest, etc.). Others may have different views.

My time is very limited so don't be surprised if I don't comment on posts
by others. Feel free to discuss the above here - with or without my
participation.

Tom Billings