Desert Harvest in the News

Take The Lead announced its flagship Power Up conference, themed "Audacity: Leadership in Action," set for August 25-26, 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., with author Margaret Atwood delivering a moderated conversation on August 26. The 2026 program elevates menopause and women's health as core leadership issues, naming Desert Harvest as a leading sponsor. Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest and a Take The Lead board member, is quoted framing women's health as foundational to leadership and noting that care is too often fragmented and reactive. Co-founder and president Gloria Feldt describes the event as moving from conversation to action at a moment when progress is being tested. The release situates women's wellbeing within the broader mission of advancing women into leadership across sectors, and is corporate/advocacy news rather than a product story or medical claim.

On episode 143 of the Menopause Rise & Thrive Podcast, host Sara Poldmae sits down with Desert Harvest CEO and women's-health advocate Heather Florio to unpack why so many midlife women are repeatedly told they have a UTI when something else may be going on. The conversation explores the often-overlooked connection between hormones, pelvic health, bladder symptoms, and sexual wellness during perimenopause and menopause. They discuss how menopause affects urinary and vaginal tissue, why negative culture results and repeated antibiotic courses are so common, and how interstitial cystitis and bladder pain can be mistaken for recurrent infection. Much of the episode is about self-advocacy — giving women practical, science-grounded language to bring to their own appointments — and stays empowering and educational throughout.

Episode 220 of Not Your Mother's Menopause, hosted by Dr. Fiona Lovely, brings together double board-certified urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon Dr. Christine Vaccaro and Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio for a wide-ranging conversation on pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, and intimacy in midlife. The discussion explores why interstitial cystitis is so frequently mistaken for recurrent UTIs, the role of estrogen and testosterone in bladder and pelvic function, and how androgen-blocking medications can affect the pelvic floor. Dr. Vaccaro explains why a thorough pelvic exam remains the diagnostic standard and walks through anatomy clinicians often overlook, while Florio adds the patient-advocacy and daily-comfort perspective Desert Harvest is known for. The panel highlights the education gaps many clinicians still have around menopause and sexual medicine.

On The Vegan Menopause Podcast, host Anna Pelzer interviews Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio about intimate wellness during perimenopause and menopause, opening with the experiences of vaginal dryness, recurring urinary concerns, and pelvic-floor changes. The conversation walks through what to consider when choosing a vaginal moisturiser, the difference between oral and topical daily-care approaches, and non-hormonal options women may want to explore. Florio also touches on interstitial cystitis and bladder-comfort daily care and the pattern of repeated antibiotic prescriptions some women encounter. The episode draws on Desert Harvest's long history working with sensitive-bladder and pelvic-health communities and is educational and lifestyle-focused throughout. The show notes point listeners to desertharvest.com (discount code VEGANMENO), Florio's Instagram, and the book Grown Woman Talk by Dr. Sharon Malone.

On Sara Banta's Accelerated Health podcast, urologist Dr. Fenwa Milhouse and Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio examine why so many women receive repeated UTI diagnoses while the underlying drivers of their symptoms go unaddressed. The episode discusses how chronic urinary symptoms — burning, urgency, frequency, and pelvic discomfort — are often met with repeated antibiotic courses that may not match the real picture. The guests explore how pelvic-floor dysfunction, hormonal change, inflammation, and shifts in vaginal health can be mistaken for recurring infections, and they note the limits of traditional testing. The conversation also addresses the downsides of antibiotic overuse and offers guidance for women seeking a clearer understanding of their bladder health. It is educational and patient-empowerment focused, with a whole-person framing rather than medical advice.

For Pelvic Health Month, Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio's recurring "Dear HER-Health" advice column in BELLA Media answers a reader anxious about seeing a pelvic-floor physical therapist for pelvic discomfort and urinary leakage. Florio walks through exactly what a first pelvic-floor PT visit looks like, stressing that the initial appointment is mostly a conversation and that the patient stays in control the entire time. She explains intake, consent, and assessment in plain language, noting any internal exam is brief, consensual, and discussed in advance. The column is warm, educational, and de-stigmatising, encouraging readers not to put off care out of fear or embarrassment, and closes by pointing them toward resources for finding a qualified pelvic-floor specialist.

In this episode of Urology Times' Pearls & Perspectives, host Amy Pearlman, MD, speaks with Heather Florio, CEO and second-generation owner of the family-owned company Desert Harvest, about the evolving role of evidence-informed nutraceuticals and nonhormonal options alongside conventional care for interstitial cystitis, chronic pelvic pain, recurrent urinary symptoms, and bladder changes during menopause. The conversation is framed against renewed national attention on menopausal hormone therapy following the FDA's November 2025 removal of boxed warnings. Florio shares the family story behind Desert Harvest, founded after her aunt's IC diagnosis in the early 1990s, and how that journey led to the company's super-strength aloe vera (SSAV) formulation, emphasizing complementary approaches that may work together with conventional medicine rather than in place of it. The discussion covers IC phenotyping research, the possible relationship between menopause and bladder function, pelvic floor dysfunction, microbiome health, and the importance of supplement quality, third-party testing, and Desert Harvest's funding of randomized placebo-controlled studies. Several products beyond SSAV are referenced, including quercetin for histamine-related bladder flares, low-acid multivitamins for bladder-sensitive patients, probiotics, and lactoferrin being studied for menopausal and immune-related applications.

Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio joins Dr. Ginger Garner on The Vocal Pelvic Floor podcast (Season 5, Episode 101) for a candid conversation about shedding shame around pelvic and sexual health and supporting intimacy as part of whole-body wellbeing. The show notes frame the discussion around the idea that pelvic and sexual health are still treated as taboo and that the silence carries a cost. Heather shares her personal journey with endometriosis and experiences of being dismissed in medical settings, and the conversation explores body awareness, reconnection, and reclaiming agency. The episode also touches on the connections between stress, nervous-system function, and pelvic symptoms, and points listeners to practical resources such as physical-therapy locators, breathing exercises, and the 2026 Power Up Conference. It is educational and story-driven, with no medical claims made about any product.

This Physicians Weekly clinical Q&A pairs translational researcher Stephen J. Walker, PhD, of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine with Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio to examine how urinary symptoms are frequently defaulted to a UTI diagnosis. The conversation describes how dipstick tests and immediate antibiotic courses, often begun before urine cultures return, can contribute to antibiotic overuse and to interstitial cystitis (IC) / bladder pain syndrome being overlooked, especially in women. The Part Two installment continues from Part One toward the downstream clinical consequences of repeated misdiagnosis and the effects of repeated antibiotic courses on the gut, vaginal, and bladder microbiomes. Florio describes patients who go years, sometimes decades, being labeled with recurrent UTIs before an IC picture is recognized, while both speakers underscore the value of clean-catch sampling and culture confirmation before treatment. Walker emphasizes phenotyping a heterogeneous IC/BPS population so targeted research selects the patients most likely to benefit. The piece is physician-facing and educational, and a disclosure notes Desert Harvest funds a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its Super-Strength Aloe Vera (SSAV) at Wake Forest, with Walker as principal investigator.

On episode 141 of Menopause Rise & Thrive, host Dr. Sara Poldmae sits down with Take The Lead's Gloria Feldt and Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio for a conversation about confidence, influence, and reclaiming personal power during midlife. The discussion moves beyond menopause itself to what it means to own your power as a woman today, both professionally and personally. The show notes touch on why women's progress isn't linear, the difference between authentic workplace support and performative initiatives, communication patterns that can undermine women's confidence, and the healthcare gaps that affect career longevity. Menopause in the workplace is framed as a leadership and advocacy issue rather than a purely medical one. The episode also previews Take The Lead's 'Power Up' conference in Washington, D.C. (August 25-26, 2026) and closes by encouraging listeners to take one audacious action.

This Physicians Weekly clinical Q&A, Part One of a two-part series, features translational researcher Stephen J. Walker, PhD, and Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio discussing why urinary symptoms so often trigger a reflexive UTI diagnosis. Walker explains that because culture results take days, many clinicians begin antibiotics immediately 'just in case,' and Florio adds that smaller clinics frequently rely on dipstick tests and dispense antibiotics before cultures return, a pattern she says she observed to be even more pronounced during a recent trip to the UK. The conversation describes how interstitial cystitis (IC) and IC/BPS, which can mimic UTI symptoms, became a 'diagnosis of exclusion' once clinicians began seeing patients with classic symptoms but clear cystoscopy results. Both speakers emphasize the heterogeneity of the IC/BPS population and the need to phenotype patients into clinically meaningful subgroups, citing Dr. Lenore Ackerman's AI/machine-learning study at UCLA that grouped patients into bladder-centric, myofascial, and non-specific-pain categories. The piece is written for a clinical readership, framed around antimicrobial stewardship, and is informational rather than medical advice.

Heather Florio joins the Painful Bladder Talk podcast to discuss aloe vera, bladder comfort, and the lived experience of the IC/BPS community.

Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio joins the Strictly Anonymous podcast for a wide-ranging talk on sexual wellness and women's health.

A conversation with Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio on intimacy, comfort, and pelvic-health support.

On Episode 19 of Under The Hood, hosts Dr. Rebecca Howard Eudy and Dr. Alex DiGrado welcome Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio to explore why many people experience bladder symptoms that don't line up with a standard UTI diagnosis. The conversation distinguishes bladder problems from pelvic-floor dysfunction and walks through several drivers of bladder discomfort, addressing the common frustration of feeling like you have a UTI when test results come back normal. Florio discusses how aloe vera and lactoferrin are being researched in the context of bladder comfort, vulvar irritation, intimacy, menopause, and gut health. A recurring theme is how patients are often dismissed when their symptoms don't follow typical patterns. The show notes point listeners to Desert Harvest products and to pelvic-floor physical-therapy locators via pelvicrehab.com, and the episode stays educational and wellness-oriented rather than offering medical guidance.

On this episode of the Emotional Eats Podcast, host Kim Hynes sits down with Heather Florio, pelvic and sexual health educator and owner of Desert Harvest, for a candid conversation about how women's bodies change in midlife. They discuss why women over 40 and 50 may notice more bladder symptoms, how menopause and hormonal shifts can affect the bladder lining and pelvic floor, and what to understand about the vaginal microbiome, pH balance, and lubricant safety. The conversation also touches on interstitial cystitis, the increase in recurrent urinary concerns around menopause, and both non-hormonal and hormonal options women may want to explore with their provider. Florio shares a self-exploration technique aimed at helping women reconnect with their bodies and communicate their needs. The discussion is educational and supportive, framed around helping women feel more comfortable talking openly about pelvic and sexual wellness after 40.

Florio answers whether yoga can support pelvic-floor wellness, including bladder discomfort and tension. She explains that the pelvic floor can be either weak or overactive, and that gentle, supported yoga may support circulation, flexibility, and nervous-system regulation — recommending restorative practices and advising against intense core work or practising through pain.

Florio addresses vulvodynia — chronic vulvar discomfort lasting three months or longer without an obvious infection. She validates that the experience is real and nerve-based even when exams look normal, reviews possible contributing factors, and points readers toward a thorough evaluation and approaches like pelvic-floor physical therapy and nervous-system regulation.

On this Valentine's Day episode of Sapphire's Earplay, host Mehgan Sapphire speaks with Heather Florio, CEO of Desert Harvest, a company that specializes in pelvic and sexual health products. The roughly 54-minute conversation explores how discomfort during intimacy can overshadow connection, especially around Valentine's Day, and how women can approach those experiences with more openness and confidence. Florio draws on Desert Harvest's long history in women's health and the company's aloe-based approach to pelvic and intimate wellness. The episode also reflects on cultural attitudes toward female sexuality and pleasure, offered as an open, educational conversation. Content is for general information and is not medical advice.

A sexual-health Q&A column with Desert Harvest CEO Heather Florio, answering reader questions on intimacy and comfort.

Desert Harvest's Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin appears in the new-products section of Vitamin Retailer's February 2026 issue, reaching the supplement-trade readership of retailers and buyers. The listing introduces the human-identical (effera) lactoferrin, a precision-fermented protein structurally matched to lactoferrin found in the human body, paired with a small amount of Desert Harvest's Super-Strength Aloe Vera to support absorption and gentleness. The product is positioned as a non-hormonal option designed to support women through perimenopause and menopause, with trade framing noting interest in iron balance, bladder, bone, and immune wellness. Coverage is product news for retail buyers, not a medical claim. The Desert Harvest listing sits at page 40 of the digital edition, where the content is embedded inside a flipbook/PDF viewer that could not be deep-linked or text-extracted.

Florio fields a reader question on the trade-offs of GLP-1 medications for weight management. She outlines reported benefits alongside considerations such as nausea, muscle loss, weight regain after stopping, and cost — framing the medication as one part of a broader routine built on protein, hydration, strength training, fibre, and professional medical oversight.

Sourcing Journal's weekly 'Material World' column by Alexandra Harrell included Desert Harvest's newly launched Lunation among its roundup of materials and apparel innovations. The column describes Lunation as what the Whitefish, Montana-based company calls 'life proof underwear,' built with plant-based fibers derived from aloe vera that carry antimicrobial properties. The write-up details Lunation's five specialized layers, including ginger and bamboo fibers, its three-tampons'-worth of absorbency, and its machine-washable, reusable design. The inclusion situates Desert Harvest's textile innovation within the sustainable-fiber conversation alongside PFAS phase-out news. The article is fully readable with no paywall.

Vitamin Retailer, a leading dietary-supplement trade magazine, featured Desert Harvest's Heather's UTI Defense in the new-products section of its December 2025 issue, reaching a readership of retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. The listing introduces the botanical as the first supplement to combine Calluna vulgaris (heather) with Desert Harvest's patented Super-Strength Aloe Vera (SSAV) as a daily option for shoppers interested in urinary tract wellness, noting the heather is sourced from clean, high-altitude regions and that the SSAV is included to support nutrient absorption. The write-up references the formula's focus on bacteria commonly associated with urinary tract infections (E. coli, E. faecalis, and P. vulgaris) and lists the product in a 60-count bottle at an MSRP of $40. The placement reflects growing trade interest in plant-based approaches within the women's-health category, and as a trade new-products listing it is buyer-facing product news rather than a medical claim.

In the column's debut, Florio answers a reader navigating perimenopause and menopause. She walks through confirming menopause status with baseline hormone labs, tracking symptoms individually, and weighing options — from hormone replacement therapy to pelvic-floor physical therapy, vaginal moisturisers, lifestyle adjustments, and targeted supplementation — built with a healthcare provider.

BELLA Magazine announced that Heather Florio, founder and CEO of Desert Harvest, has joined its Medical Advisory Board. The piece highlights her background as a women's wellness advocate focused on pelvic health, chronic conditions, and sexual wellness, and introduces her recurring monthly column, "Dear HER-Health."

Green Queen Media's Anay Mridul reported on Desert Harvest's launch of a menopause-focused capsule that pairs the company's Super-Strength Aloe Vera with effera, a precision-fermented human-identical lactoferrin from Helaina. The article explains that each capsule combines 300mg of effera with aloe vera and is aimed at women in perimenopause and menopause. It details how the protein is made, with Helaina fermenting the yeast strain Komagataella phaffii in bioreactors in a brewing-style process and then filtering the protein from the broth, and notes the ingredient is free from animal byproducts, hormones, and dairy while being structurally identical to lactoferrin the body produces naturally. The coverage frames the launch as Desert Harvest's entry into menopause-support nutrition and positions effera as a non-hormonal, plant-derived alternative to bovine lactoferrin. It is product-launch reporting for a plant-based and wellness readership, not medical guidance.

NutraIngredients' Nikki Hancocks reported on Desert Harvest's new menopause-support supplement, which pairs human-identical lactoferrin (effera, from Helaina Biotech) with the company's high-strength aloe vera, with input from CEO Heather Florio. The trade feature describes effera as the first human-identical lactoferrin cleared for use in food and supplements, produced by precision fermentation, and notes that it matches native human lactoferrin at the amino-acid level with a similar digestion profile. It explains the rationale for a human-identical rather than bovine source, citing research that the two behave differently in the body. The article reports that the aloe vera component is included for upper-gut mucosal friendliness, and that Desert Harvest has initiated an IRB-approved prospective post-market study in peri- and post-menopausal women tracking measures such as iron status, GI tolerance, comfort, and immune-related symptoms over roughly 8 to 12 weeks. It situates the launch within a fast-growing global menopause category and frames the product as a non-hormonal option for midlife women.

BeautyNewsNYC's "Small Household Finds To Treasure" is a lifestyle roundup of about a dozen small home and personal-care products, and Desert Harvest's Lunation underwear is featured among them. The write-up introduces Lunation as underwear made for periods, postpartum, bladder leaks, and "everything in between," highlighting that it is PFAS-free and plant-based. It notes the garment is designed to absorb flow, help with odor control, wick moisture, and help reduce leaks. The piece points to Lunation being breathable, reusable, and machine washable, framing it as a money-saving everyday option compared with disposables. Coverage is consumer lifestyle in tone, with no medical claims, placing Lunation alongside other beauty and household finds.

Yahoo Finance reports on Desert Harvest's launch of the first supplement featuring human-identical (effera) lactoferrin, developed with menopause-related wellness in mind.

HBW Insight (Citeline) profiled Desert Harvest in its "Get To Know" wellness section, written by Malcolm Spicer, covering the launch of Heather's UTI Defense for a pharma and consumer-health trade-intelligence audience. The article reports that the formula combines Calluna vulgaris (heather) with Desert Harvest's Super-Strength Aloe Vera in a clinically formulated blend designed around bacteria most commonly linked to urinary tract infections, naming E. coli, E. faecalis, and P. vulgaris. It notes the company began selling Heather's UTI Defense in September. The most notable disclosure is that Desert Harvest is partnering with Oxford University on a clinical trial comparing the supplement head-to-head with D-mannose, described as the most commonly available dietary ingredient associated with urinary tract wellness. The coverage situates the product within the broader women's-health and dietary-supplement category and is framed for a trade readership.

Heather Florio of Desert Harvest on practical, empowering ways employers can support women navigating menopause at work.

US Weekly covers Desert Harvest's Lunation underwear — a plant-based design aiming to change how women experience their cycle.

SELF features Desert Harvest's aloe-based Aloe Glide among personal lubricants recommended by sex experts.

Heather Florio discusses pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, and aloe vera on the Carrots 'N' Cake podcast.

Heather Florio joins the Integrative Women's Health Institute to discuss aloe vera as part of a bladder-friendly protocol.

Trade-press coverage of the FDA-greenlit clinical study investigating Desert Harvest's aloe vera in people with interstitial cystitis.

Alternative Medicine covers the FDA's go-ahead for the aloe vera clinical study in interstitial cystitis.

Urology Times reports on the clinical trial investigating aloe vera in patients with interstitial cystitis.

Local news coverage of the FDA clinical study featuring Desert Harvest's aloe vera capsules.

Heather Florio shares how a late autism diagnosis reshaped her self-understanding and leadership — a syndicated feature across Yahoo Life and Business Insider.

Forbes profiles Desert Harvest's entrepreneurial journey and product innovation.

Coverage of Desert Harvest's move to refillable smart bottles, retiring single-use plastic pill bottles.

Drug Discovery News reports on research interest in aloe vera and bladder comfort.

A CBS New York segment featuring Desert Harvest's aloe vera wellness products.

The Interstitial Cystitis Association shares survey findings on Desert Harvest's aloe vera capsules and the IC community.