It seems to be a trend of late. Investment firms are buying up farmland in the United States at an increasing rate. Since 2008 to mid-2023 the amount of farmland bought by investment firms has increased 231%. Taking a closer look, at the end of 2023 investors owned $16.6 billion worth of farmland, up 9.2 …
A Battle Cry from Farmers Paralyzes France And Spreads Across Europe
The farmers in France call it “Operation Paris Seige” and they’re not backing down. Major roads and highways surrounding cities in France and Belgium have been blockaded with the participation of French and Flemish-speaking farmers. In the smaller cities as well as in Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse, blockades are disrupting supply chains and creating havoc …
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What Does It Take to Become a Costco Vendor?
Costco stands out as a remarkable company with a rich history of achievements, as I highlighted in the previous week’s article. Here are some impressive facts about this retail giant: They are responsible for distributing half of the world’s cashews. Annually, they sell more than 100 million rotisserie chickens. Their decision to stock a book …
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The Joy and Secrets of Costco Shopping
If you want to sell to Costco, are already selling to Costco, or just love shopping there, then the latest book The Joy of Costco – A Treasure Hunt from A to Z is a “must read.” The authors, David and Susan Schwartz, delve deep into the secrets behind Costco’s success and, when writing this …
Vanilla Ice Cream from Recycled Plastic? Still Waiting for Approval
Ice cream with vanilla flavoring sourced from recycled plastic doesn’t sound very appetizing to me, but I must give credit to Eleonora Ortolani, a Central Saint Martins Design School student in the UK for her forward thinking and desire to make better use of recycled material. “If I tell you there’s an ingredient in that …
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Expansion Frenzy as FRESHIPPO Opens a Store Each Day
“They say at Freshippo good things come in large quantities“ Freshippo, also named Hema Fresh is a Chinese retail company owned by Alibaba. It is best known for its innovative new retail model that is driven by big data and advanced technology. The first Freshippo was opened in Shanghai, China in January 2016. Fast forward …
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Cheese Producers Use Edible Microchips To Protect Against Knockoffs
Parmigiano-Reggiano producers have had enough. For years Italian producers of parmesan cheese have been fighting against imitation or counterfeit products that have been eating into market share and profits. As the demand for authentic, high-end cheese grows, so does the knock-off market with estimated global sales for counterfeit cheese now reaching $2 billion annually. The …
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The Prickly Pear Cactus Gains Popularity With Health Benefits Galore
The Prickly Pear cactus (Opuntia spp) or Nopal is a traditional ingredient in Mexican cooking, dating back to pre-Colombian times. The word “nopal” comes from the Nahuatl word “nopalli” referring to the pads of the plant. As its name suggests, the prickly pear is characterized by its unique physical appearance with flat fleshy oval to …
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Lab Grown Chicken Gets Final USDA Go-Ahead
On June 22, 2023, the USDA approved lab-grown chicken for human consumption for the first time. UPSIDE Foods and GOOD Meat (a subsidiary of food tech company Eat Just, Inc.) were given the go-ahead to sell products that have been cultivated from real animal cells. Good Meat launched in Singapore in 2020, when Singapore became …
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What Irritates Consumers Most About Frozen Food Packaging
The frozen food industry continues to grow as consumers want greater variety along with increased demand for convenience foods and improvements in frozen food quality. A significant factor in the success of this industry is packaging and thus knowing the preferences of consumers is important. Today, we’ll look at what shoppers like and dislike about …
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The BIG MAC Is About to Change
I may be dating myself…but I’m sure some of you remember this famous jingle… “Two all-beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickles onions and a sesame seed bun.” It’s the BIG MAC jingle, of course. You remember it, right? I’m not ashamed to admit I still know it by heart. That’s because way back in …
Don’t Miss the Millennial Market
Millennials, also known as Generation “Y” are born between the early 1980’s and the mid 1990’s although the exact dates can vary depending on the source of information. As of 2021, they made up the largest generational group in the United States, representing approximately 27% of the total population according to the U.S. Census Bureau …
Food Processing and AI – We’ve Only Scratched the Surface
Since December last year we’ve heard a lot about AI – artificial intelligence and in particular OpenAi’s ChatGPT. In fact, just last week, Microsoft released some beta-testing of its new AI powered Bing search engine which is powered by OpenAi’s ChatGPT and the results were stunning. Over one million people signed up for the beta-testing …
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ChatGPT check on Plant Based Foods
This month, just for fun I decided to enlist the help of AI (artificial intelligence) to write about what’s happening in the plant-based meat category, (often called “fake meat”), so I logged onto chat.openai.com. Was AI as up-to-date on the market info as those of us humans who work at Noon International? A little background…according …
Expanding Technology to Increase Digital Sales Spells Success for Yum! Brands, Inc.
Almost everyone enjoys the food that comes from a Yum! Brand franchise or subsidiary. Who doesn’t like Kentucky Fried Chicken or a piping hot pizza from Pizza Hut? Today, Yum! Brands, Inc. (headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky), operates a system of over 53,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories throughout the world under the brands KFC …
Frozen Fruits & Vegetables Rise in Popularity
We’re all experiencing higher food prices at the grocery level these days. Staples like a dozen eggs for example, that cost on average $1.83 a year ago, now cost $2.90. Like potato chips? It will run you $6.05 a bag today against $5.05 a year ago. And have you eaten out lately? Restaurants here in …
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Westcoast Container Back-Up is Over But Still, Lots of Problems
In January this year, the number of ships in line waiting to unload at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach was 109 stretching 60 miles into the Pacific. This week, it dropped to just four according to the Wall Street Journal. In pre-Covid times the queue was usually zero to one container ships …
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New Ready-Made Meals Trending in China
Hiking and exploring the great outdoors are popular among the young people in China today and new-style ready-made meals fit the bill when it comes to satisfying their hunger. Unlike conventional ready-made meals you may be familiar with, these are just a little bit different. Fanhu, a creative Guangzhou based start-up, entered this market in …
Taste a Luscious “Ruby June” Strawberry! Sourcing Locally Makes Good Sense
Just when I thought I knew most of the varieties of strawberries, I see yet another is about to make its appearance! It’s called the “Honeycrisp of Strawberries” – a Ruby June variety that is a deep dark red color and, according to Seal the Seasons, has a “sweet, luscious flavor.” My mouth is already …
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Flowers, Funding and A New Ice Cream
Ever Wonder Why Supermarkets Sell Flowers? In almost every grocery store across the USA from Whole Foods to smaller shops you’ll find a flower section loaded with cut flowers, plants, and orchids. I’ve always wondered why flowers have such a large presence in this type of retail environment but it’s a planned and strategic move …