IRVINE, CA — The season of guacamole, dips, and avocado-dense bites is upon us.
With the Big Game just weeks away, California Avocado Commission says that California growers are anticipating an earlier harvest for fresh California avocados this year, so operators should check with produce suppliers for California availability.
To help retailers get ready to pre-game that produce department, the commission recommends these consumer favorites:
California Avocado-Shrimp Spring Rolls
Hosts no longer have to depend on chips and chicken wings. These easy finger foods satisfy the inevitable snacking that comes with football parties, while still supporting a fresh appetite. Find the recipe here.
Chorizo Sliders with Cajun Guacamole
With a spicy finish that meets the heat trend gripping the market, this will satisfy those bigger party appetites while easily feeding a crowd. Find the recipe here.
Grilled Fajita Salad with California Avocados and Serrano Vinaigrette
Offering an enticing salad option continues to keep in line with the goals of those New Years resolutions, while still serving as an active party entre. Find the recipe here.
These are just a few examples of how to put a twist to the avocado’s roll in the Super Bowl festivities. For even more options to promote to consumers, visit CaliforniaAvocado.com/Foodservice.
The path for pickling is widening, with produce flavors being revisited and revitalized by using this artisan-esque technique. In the most recent issue of our sister publication, The Snack Magazine, we look into various ways the pickling technique is evolving into a full on nation and worldwide trend, and produce along with it.
Check out the full article in The Snack magazine by clicking here, or continue reading the full piece below.
If you want to subscribe to The Snack magazine, click the green button below.
Pickling Trend
I’m a sucker for a good flavor trend, but now pickling is officially a full-blown global culinary art. From kosher cucumber pickles in New York City, chutneys in India, kimchi in Korea and salted duck eggs in China, to pickled herring in Scandinavia, corned beef in Ireland, and salsas in Mexico—there are few types of cuisine out there that don’t seek to enhance its flavors by pickling.
At its heart, pickling is simply soaking different foods in solutions to prevent spoilage—but pickling foods does much more than simply preserve them. Through the picking process, fresh produce can also change in both taste and texture in innumerable different ways. In fact, chefs from across the globe are still experimenting with possible flavors that can be coaxed out by pickling.
Just a few pickled items I've tried in great local restaurants recently are dill pickled green beans, ginger pickled carrots, and traditionally pickled rhubarb and cauliflower. And this is just in the produce category. Unlike some of its more complicated flavor trend counterparts, pickling offers its fans a sense of returning to an era where food was authentic—something that truly resonates with this age of millennials. With so many different types of combinations available to great culinary minds across the globe, pickling is uniquely positioned to be one of the next great flavor trends in the industry, and I, for one, am excited to see where it goes.
OXNARD, CA - Chinese New Year is a two-week long celebration before and after the lunar new year, and to help promote the popular holiday, San Miguel Produce is gearing up with its line of Asian greens and offerings. Produce-centric dishes are often featured as families and friends gather for a fresh start to a new year, gathering for family style meals consisting of up to ten courses of culinary delights.
For this CNY, San Miguel has redesigned new packaging for its Jade Asian Greens bags. The San Miguel team found that by moving to bags, they would be able to hit a more aggressive price point and improve freshness and product quality.
Items featured are Baby Bok Choy, Baby Shanghai Bok Choy, Snow Pea Shoots (Dau Miu).
“We were also able to expand on our messages on the bag to include cooking tips and updated recipes; one of the recipes I developed to serve at my wedding a couple years ago,” Garrett Nishimori, Marketing Manager and Corporate Chef, tells me.
See the recipe below:
Garrett’s Baby Bok Choy and Salmon En Papillote Recipe
Besides working for a company that has CNY items ready to ship for retailers, Garrett notes, “I have been celebrating Chinese New Year for the past 10+ years with my wife’s family, and this is what I know… First thing you need to learn is how to say, Kung Hei Fat Choy (Happy New Year). If you say it, parents, aunts and uncles give children red envelopes that are filled with very crisp money. It is interesting to me that Choy is in the saying as Choy also means green leafy vegetable (bok choy, gai choy).”
A couple of his personal CNY favorites are whole steamed fish covered with green onion, ginger and cilantro and sea cucumber with shitake mushrooms and gai choy (Chinese Mustard Greens). Stir-fried Dau Miu (snow pea shoots) with ginger and garlic, also tops that list.
Citrus, especially oranges, tangerines and mandarin oranges play an important role in the Chinese New Year celebration. Garrett’s wife’s family buys citrus by the case during this time of the year to display in their home and eat with their family and friends.
“The tangerines are often displayed with the candy box which includes dried fruit, candies, pumpkin seeds and watermelon seeds,’ he adds.
Now is a great time to continue holiday ad planning for Chinese New Year, so stay tuned as we bring you more on the popular produce items.
Our sister publication, The Snack Magazine, works to set the precedent for print publications in produce, mandating us to stay ahead of the trends and keep you on the forefront of what’s to come. So of course we had to cover the show that is growing into one of the hottest events in the industry.
For those of you who didn’t go to the record-setting Austin debut, here are reasons not to miss the 2016 Viva Fresh Expo in San Antonio, Texas.
Check out the full article in The Snack magazine by clicking here, or continue reading the full piece below.
If you want to subscribe to The Snack magazine, click the green button below.
5 Reasons to Go to Viva Fresh
This time last year The Snack Magazine introduced the very first Viva Fresh Expo, giving readers a glimpse into how this new event was not “yet another” produce show.
This year we’ll let the numbers do the talking for us.
The Viva Fresh Expo did not have an impressive debut, it had a shattering one.
“The tremendous response from this past year’s expo shows the importance of the Texas, Southwest, and Mexico growing regions,” Hugh Topper of H-E-B tells us. “This is a true regional expo with an international flair that brings value to both suppliers and customers.”
Spots were flying off the proverbial shelves faster than the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA) could sell them, with over 900 in attendance at Austin, Texas, and this year is looking to be even stronger.
But if you need more convincing than that, keep reading and find out why we say that the question isn’t “why should I go to Viva Fresh,” but “why wouldn’t you?”
1. Networking:
Yes, we know this is the pro-tip every convention, expo, and event in the industry gives for why you should show up. So what sets this one apart? For starters, the focus of Viva Fresh isn’t on the quantity of connections, but the quality.
TIPA impressed more than anything that creating a positive networking environment that would successfully bring buyers and sellers together is always a top priority of the Viva Fresh Expo, and that making sure key suppliers are present to make the trip worth your while is a focal point when putting this experience together. And speaking of experience…
2. Everything's bigger in Texas, including the ideas:
Remember- everything is bigger in Texas, and the shows are no exception. The flavors, the displays, and the ideas.
Last year’s cap was 900 as Viva Fresh came out of the gates, seeing 142 booth spaces sell out this past March. Because of this, TIPA has increased the capacity for this year by 26 percent, and has already sold 60 percent of the exhibitor booths. With over 100 booths already snatched up, it’s a strong possibility that 2016 will sell out as well, with more room for innovations in the industry.
The ideas look to only get bigger, promising an environment that’ll look to bring you to the forefront of produce and tech trends. Which brings us to...
3. Keeping at the Forefront of Technology:
Last year, Viva Fresh Expo’s premiere was also the debut for a virtual farm tour, bringing real-time experience with the growers and the places that the fresh produce is coming from to the comfort of the conference itself.
No three hour drives, no dirt on your show clothes, with all the benefits and experiences of being right there with the crop. After this virtual experience, who wouldn’t be eager to see what they have for us this year?
4. And of Course, the Produce:
Hosted at the luxurious JW Marriott Hill Country Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, this year is themed The Gateway to the Americas and highlights produce grown in Mexico, Texas, and neighboring Southwest states. It promises to leave you trying to figure out which was bigger, the ideas or the flavors? But, in all honesty, the dilemma is a win-win scenario for all who attend.
5. Be at the Forefront of a New Tradition:
Though this is an industry of tradition, meaning the longer you have been around the better, we can’t emphasize this enough: Viva Fresh sold out completely its very first year, and will only continue to grow. Staying ahead and getting in while you still can is key, and becoming part of a new tradition is a scarce opportunity in produce and agriculture.
“Last year’s Viva Fresh Expo proved to be an overwhelming success, with triple digit retail and foodservice buyer attendance, standing room only meeting rooms, and a busy convention hall,” Bret Erickson, TIPA President & CEO, said when the association announced that the registration for the second Viva Fresh Produce Expo was officially open. But while those numbers were very impressive, especially for a show’s premiere year, it was the feedback that Bret said truly resonated. “The feedback from attendees was extremely positive, highlighting the importance of this region and a well-executed show focused on quality produce.”
Still sound like just another produce expo? Don’t forget that opportunities to catch the beginning of a produce tradition in an industry of generations is rare. And while the capacity for Viva Fresh has kicked up to accommodate the spread of last year’s success, TIPA said that it still expects spots to be snatched up quickly.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of this incredible show. Like we said, the question isn’t ‘why should I,’ but rather, ‘why wouldn’t you?’
MATTHEWS, NC - Harris Teeter is ringing in the New Year with the opening of its largest store ever, spanning a whopping 78,200 square feet.
The store, located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, will make its grand opening debut on Tuesday, January 12 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a complimentary in-store sampling of a few of Harris Teeter’s “most unique products.”
Whether or not the retailer will plan to open more stores of this size remains to be seen. Company spokeswoman Danna Robinson confirmed to the Charlotte Business Journal, however, that though this bigger format will not be the prototype for all future locations, Harris Teeter “will test the success of this larger model to determine if it is a good fit.”
In comparison, the Charlotte Business Journal says that the average size of the most common format Harris Teeter utilizes is typically around 53,000 square feet.
“This particular site allowed for a larger format, and we saw a need for a more upscale store with better and more unique offerings than what currently exists in the community,” Robinson added.
The store features fresh produce, a salad bar with fresh-made salads, produce party trays, a full-service butcher’s market, a deli and bakery, organic and natural foods, and an expanded specialty foods section. Other unique additions include a wine and beer bar, with 16 beers on top and a growler station, a meat smoker in the butcher’s market, a juice bar, an expanded general merchandise section, and a walk-in humidor.
“By expanding our amenities, we are able to focus on what we do best, which is delivering the absolute best shopping experience, period,” Robinson concluded.
For more on Harris Teeter, stay tuned to AndNowUKnow.
WILMINGTON, DE - DuPont Chief Executive Ed Breen delivered some heavy news to employees in a company-wide memo, announcing that DuPont Co., who recently finalized merger plans with Dow Chemical, is cutting 1,700 Delaware jobs, about 28 percent of its workforce in the area.
“Especially given that we are in the middle of the holidays, we would have preferred to wait until individual notifications were complete before reporting the full local impact,” Breen wrote in the memo, according to Delaware Online. “… I wanted you to hear the difficult news – directly from me.”
While many were notified of their being cut earlier this month, several hundred of those that will be laid off will be notified in January to ensure the layoffs are complete during the first part of 2016. According to the report, this marks one of the largest mass layoffs to hit Delaware in recent history.
This move comes just a couple of months after the company announced that it will be laying off 5,000 employees nationwide in order to cut its spending by $1.6 billion.
DuPont officials wouldn’t comment on particulars, only that there are no plans to shutter any of the company’s facilities in the state at this time. Those consist of DuPont’s headquarters, employing about 3,000 workers, an experimental station employing about 2,500, and a research center with about 600 workers.
Breen stated that DuPont is required to detail the layoffs in a state filing due today, and so preferred to announce the full scope of the decision to the company himself.
Those that will be laid off will reportedly receive a severance package, officials stated, as well as placement services and training allowances based on how many years of service they have with DuPont.
GLENMONT, NY - New York Apple Sales is the largest, most geographically diverse sales agency in New York State. We partner with more orchards and more growers, and the finest packing facilities in New York.
We ship over one third of NY’s fresh apple crop annually.
We export to Asia, Central America, the UK, India, Russia and other countries. We import fresh apples from New Zealand, Chile, and Scotian Gold Cooperative in Nova Scotia, Canada.
We grow our own at our Fish Creek Orchard, so you consistently get only the best of the best from us all year around. And that’s just the start of why New York Apple Sales should be your one apple source.
New York produces more apple varieties than any other state, almost 30 million bushels a year, so we can ship the best of the best. Varieties like these and more, from Acey Mac to Empire, Honeycrisp to McIntosh.
Our partner orchards and packers maintain the same dedication to unsurpassed quality, safety, and customer service that we do, as our 99% acceptance rate at retail attests.
We’re all about innovation and technology that makes a difference. We team with the renowned ag experts at Cornell to take part in numerous studies. Our new planting techniques are producing more flavorful, better-color fruit.
All our packing facilities receive third-party food safety audits and meet or exceed the highest standards. We care about the environment and sustainability, and we walk the talk through initiatives like these and others.
We make sure it’s there when it is supposed to be there through our acclaimed logistics team. We put it all together beautifully every day for you.
New York Apple Sales. More orchards. More varieties. One source.
TAHLEQUAH, OK — Authorities have confiscated 12 kilos of an illegal powder discovered in a banana box in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
The substance is estimated to have a street value of anywhere from $800,000 to about $1 million depending on if it’s meth or cocaine. It was found in a distribution box of certified organic bananas at a local Reasor’s store earlier this week.
After having been discovered while unpacking bananas around noon, authorities were called to the scene.
Police are still waiting for test results to confirm if the powder is meth or cocaine, however they did tell Fox23 that similar discoveries of cocaine have been made in the state.
Reports disclosed only that store employees discovered the illegal powder; no suspects were reported. The Tahlequah Police Department are still investigating the how the drugs came to be packed with the produce. AndNowUKnow will continue to follow this story as more details come to light.
FOWLER, CA – Bee Sweet Citrus is encouraging retailers alike to stock up on mandarins with peak season already in full swing. And what better way to keep consumers’ healthy New Year’s resolutions on track than with a nutritious, flavorful snack?
“Many people are going to ring in the New Year with new health goals,” said Monique Bienvenue, Director of Communications. “Mandarins are an ideal choice for health enthusiasts everywhere because they’re low in calories, high in nutritional value, and full of flavor.”
Bee Sweet offers Clementine Mandarins, Murcott Mandarins, Page Mandarins, and Satsuma Mandarins, all of which are seedless, easy-to-peel, and sweet in flavor, according to a press release.
“One of the struggles that people face when starting a new health regiment is finding foods that are both healthy and filling,” Bienvenue continued. “Mandarins are a great snack for anyone looking to improve their health because they are extremely tasty and provide enough fiber to help curb hunger cravings.”
Ideal for on-the-go snacking or tossed in a salad, mandarins offer a great source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, and flavonoids.
Both organic and conventional mandarins are available.
As we previously reported, Bee Sweet’s Sweetheart Mandarins carry the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) logo on the packaging to support the organization’s mission to find a cure for breast cancer. The family-owned company recently donated $50,000 to the foundation, raising a total of $100,000 since 2014.
Here’s to kicking off a healthy and happy new year!
UNITED KINGDOM - As a proponent and member of the produce industry, I am all for new frontiers that promote fruits and veggies. But kale or beetroot jam with my chocolate? Can’t say I thought of it.
But chocolatier Cadbury has not only thought of it; it is pursuing it.
Mondelēz Europe-owned chocolate maker Cadbury is jumping on to the produce trends, marrying superfoods like kale and beets into new flavors to fill the candy tray.
A spokesperson for Mondelēz told the Oceanside Post that the company is looking to meet consumers' "ever changing tastes and preferences,” comparing the experimental chocolates to fashion. "The clothes you see on the catwalk never appear as they are on the shelves. Instead you may see new flavors inspired by these further down the line,” he said.
Those flavors include Kale Crème, meeting the inclining demand for savory/chocolate combos and nutrient-dense superfoods, the Beetroot Jelly, also a superfood, and Wasabi Crunch.
"At Mondelēz we constantly focus on innovation and experimentation, which is why we've created the concepts of Kale Crème, the Beetroot Jelly, and the Wasabi Crunch,” Dave Shepherd, Chocolate Inventor for Mondelēz Europe, said.
In addition to these produce-centric, albeit unconventional, chocolate flavors, Cadbury has unveiled a number of other samples this year, including Apple Crunch, Truffle Heart, and for Cadbury Australia, a Vegemite-filled experiment.
Will this be the trend that opens an entirely new food market to the produce industry as Shepherd postulates? It will be interesting to see.