United States With sweet corn shortages in the Midwest region and Europe, coming into season with lower than usual inventories, plus some loss of yields here in the Pacific Northwest, expect for a tight sweet corn market with prices firm going forward. Most Northwest suppliers are officially off market, for the time being. Carrot harvest …
Continue reading “Challenges Face European Potato Growers and Processors”
The first lab-grown meat was just recently approved for human consumption in Singapore. This is a big deal, especially exciting for the San Francisco based company “Eat Just” – the first ones to get it to market. You may also know lab-grown meat by its more official title, cultured meat or by other descriptive terms …
“COVID19 did not start in central China’s Wuhan but may come through imported frozen food and packaging” experts said on November 24th Facebook post by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily. It is clear from this statement and a recent stepped-up media campaign by the Chinese government that they will do whatever is necessary …
United States With sweet corn shortages in the Midwest region and Europe, coming into season with lower than usual inventories, plus some loss of yields here in the Pacific Northwest, expect for a tight sweet corn market with prices firm going forward. Most Northwest suppliers are officially off market, for the time being. Carrot harvest …
In the early 1900’s the residents of Philadelphia experienced a new kind of dining – the first Automat called “Horn and Hardart” (named after its founders) had just opened. It was a huge success. Food was chosen by the customer from a wall of cubbies that were coin-operated, and the quality of food couldn’t have …
Continue reading “The Return of the Automat, A Modern Solution to “Contactless” Eating”
Just a few weeks ago Taipei’s streets were filled with thousands of protestors gathered for the “Autumn Struggle”, an annual march organized by various Taiwanese labor groups. The anger of the marchers was fueled by a recent decision of the current government to allow the importation of U.S. pork that contains the additive ractopamine. This …
United States Northwest sweet corn harvest will be completed in the next week. While a fewprocessors are already done, there are a few still processing. The weather has turned cool, so everyone is trying best to button up the season before a major frost hits. The market is a tight one both on conventional corn …
Have You Met Marty? He’s made by Badger Technologies and only one of five robotic systems currently in place in grocery stores throughout the U.S. He checks inventory, alerts staff to spills on the floors and directs customers to various store locations. As of April 2020, 172 Giant Stores and 325 Stop and Shops have …
Continue reading “Robots Gain Popularity in Retail Grocery Stores”
The FDA has proposed a new rule “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods” (Food Traceability Proposed Rule). This is a key part of the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint and would implement Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This was prompted by the many produce recalls over the …
Continue reading “FDA PROPOSES NEW RULE FOR FOOD TRACEABILITY”
The FDA is initiating a new approach to smarter FOOD SAFETY that will use technology and other methods in order to create a more digitized traceable food system. Simplicity and modernization are also keys in the development of this “smarter food safety” along with effective leadership and additional education in the area of food safety …
Throughout the world, COVID-19 has changed the way people dine both inside the home and out. Public attitude towards restaurants and choice of eating places has changed. Restaurant owners have had to become more innovative and adapt to these differences in order to keep their businesses open and hopefully, profitable. Some are ready and anxious …
United States Northwest sweet corn is full steam ahead. The season is expected to be a tight one both on conventional corn and organic corn. The smoke cover in the Pacific Northwest from fires cooled the air and delayed the growth of much of the harvest. Processors are scrambling to finish up the season before a …
Continue reading “Maine’s Wild Blueberry Season Disappointing”
Several weeks ago, while food shopping, I noticed a sign above where eggs are sold asking shoppers not to open egg cartons (to check for broken eggs) as touching the carton could enhance the spread of the Corona Virus. This inferred that the virus could be spread on packaging materials like an egg carton and …
Continue reading “Study Shows COVID-19 Not Transmitted by Food”
COVID-19 on the way out – Is everything back to normal? In Wuhan, things changed suddenly with the onset of COVID-19 about eight months ago. Life in China came to a standstill and the government forced the closure of just about every shop and type of entertainment; travel in and out as well as within …
United States Northwest sweet corn has commenced, and so has the true heat of summer! Processors are between 35% and 45% complete with their pack. Favorable weather continues continue in the Pacific Northwest for this crop. Packers are keeping true to their budgets and quality. Carrot will commence in late September. The sometimes-forgettable Lima Bean …
In the food industry, there is really no definition for “clean label”, yet its importance cannot be underestimated. It has taken on even greater significance with the impact of COVID-19 and more buyer demand for truth and transparency. And the global market for “clean” labelled food sales this year will be worth $180 billion – …
Continue reading “Truth and Transparency: Is Your Product Label “Clean” Enough for COVID Consumers?”
USA Online grocery sales in the U.S. grew 22% in 2019 (Coresight Research U.S. Online Grocery Survey 2020) and COVID-19 lockdowns have propelled e-commerce food shopping to an even higher level. In April 2020, e-commerce sales overall jumped 49% compared to early March before lockdowns went into effect, according to new data from Adobe’s Digital …
Continue reading “COVID-19 Leads to E-Grocery Boom Snapshot: China & the USA”
United States Northwest green peas harvest has been completed. Conditions have been good; however, weather heated up in the middle of the pack which caused bunching for some processors. Overall budgets were met, however there may be more lower grade peas than desired, with high quality AAA grade product at a premium. In regard to …
Each year the Specialty Food Association publishes a detailed industry report – it is a joint research project prepared by Mintel and SPINS/IRI. The report covers the three most recent calendar years of sales data and has figures for 63 specialty food categories. In addition, it includes data and insights from a 23-question customer survey …
Continue reading “State of the Specialty Food Industry Report”
United States Northwest green peas are in peak harvest. Conditions have been good; however, weather has heated up in the last week which may affect grades coming out of the fields. Depending on who you speak with, some processors have been unable to keep up with harvest as peas are coming in quickly due to …