You never get as many auto responses as you do in the last weeks of December. Most everyone is in hibernation mode, comfortably situated wherever they’re spending the holidays. The mood has changed, the pace slowed down, and we’re left to wonder how the year seemed to have passed so quickly. The projects, the meetings, …
Why Mountain-Grown Plantains Make Better Chips
Some products feel mass-produced. Others feel crafted. And every once in a while, you come across something so thoughtfully made that it forces you to rethink what a simple snack can be. That’s what happened during our team’s recent visit to a chip plant tucked into Colombia’s coffee-growing mountains—an operation that quietly produces some of …
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Trending
When Flavor Becomes a Feeling
Flavor forecasting for 2026 is widening the lens: it’s no longer enough for a product to taste good—it has to mean something. The next wave of winning profiles is being framed as “emotionally intelligent,” where nostalgia, comfort, and cultural identity carry as much weight as heat level or sweetness. In practice, that’s why “spicy” and …
Food Safety
Sweeteners Under Review as Ultra-Processed Food Definitions Evolve
Regulators and industry stakeholders are closely watching efforts to establish a federally recognized definition of ultra-processed foods. As definitions take shape, non-nutritive sweeteners used for sugar reduction are emerging as a key area of focus, including both traditional high-intensity sweeteners and sweeteners often positioned as plant-derived or “clean label.” For manufacturers, the way non-nutritive sweeteners …
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Crop News
Mexico Remains Lead Supplier as U.S. Avocado Arrivals Grow
United States Blackberries (including marionberries/boysenberries): Processors reported good quality and sweetness, with yields sufficient to cover demand and carry some inventory for spot needs, supported by improved sorting performance. Blueberries: In Oregon, the blueberry run extended late due to mild fall weather; quality was strong with a higher share of top-grade packs, and processors noted …
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New Year, Healthier You: How to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables in 2026
As the new year approaches, many of us think about resolutions — and improving our health often tops the list. One of the simplest, most impactful ways to start is by increasing fruit and vegetable intake. According to Harvard Health, most Americans fall short of recommended produce goals, but small, manageable changes can help you …
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Merry Christmas
As the year comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the relationships we’ve built and the opportunities we’ve shared. Your continued support means the world to us, and we’re honored to be part of your journey. May your Christmas be peaceful, joyful, and full of moments that matter—and may the new year bring …
AI in Food & Beverage
AI has moved past the buzzword stage in the food and beverage industry. It’s no longer something teams talk about for “someday”—it’s beginning to show up in the everyday work of developing products, managing demand, and keeping operations running smoothly. What’s striking is not the flashiness of the tools, but how quietly and effectively they’re …
Gen Z is Rewriting the Holiday Menu – Here’s What That Signals for 2026
Younger diners aren’t just tweaking tradition—they’re remixing it. A recent Frozen Foods Biz feature, citing a Tyson Foods survey, shows Gen Z leaning away from the once-untouchable turkey centerpiece and toward easier, flexible proteins and globally inspired comfort—holiday tables calibrated for low stress, high flavor, and social-shareable moments. For food manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice …
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Watch Now: 2026 Food Innovation Trends
Year-end quiet is when the best roadmaps get built. If you work in food manufacturing, retail, or foodservice, one session is worth an hour: Innovation Trends 2026—a concise look at what’s next, presented by Food Business News. Why it matters: year-end decisions hinge on clean inputs. A trends briefing helps you pressure-test roadmaps before …
Your Year-End Shortcut: AFFI’s Supplier Directory + AFFI-CON 2026
December means one thing for procurement teams—finalizing Q1 plans while inboxes fill up and calendars close out. If you source frozen fruits, vegetables, or the services around them (cold storage, packaging, logistics, food safety), AFFI’s Supplier & Services Directory is your shortcut to starting 2026 with confidence. It’s built for the frozen industry—searchable by what …
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India’s Frozen Fry Revolution Is Heating Up Just in Time for Winter
As the year winds down and holiday menus shift to comfort food classics, one player is making noise in the global frozen potato aisle: India. Once known mostly for table potatoes and starch, India has rapidly evolved into a powerhouse in frozen french fry exports. In just five years, the country’s export volumes have jumped …
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Two Mangoes, Two Strategies: What Vietnam’s Keo and Cat Chu Mangoes Tell Buyers Heading Into The New Year
By the second week of December, procurement calendars tend to harden. Budgets are mostly spoken for, production plans are sketched in pencil for Q1, and buyers are quietly asking the same question: Where do I want flexibility next year—and where do I need certainty now? That’s where Vietnam’s mango mix becomes worth a closer look. …