United States Due to a rainy and cool spring, planting for 2022 season corn started late. As a result, some processors experience bunching at the tall end of pack which caused some off grades. Less acres were planted due to the risk of freeze, which in the end did not happen. Weather was warm through …
Food Safety
FDA Announces the Final Rule for Food Traceability Under FSMA
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule on food traceability designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and/or deaths. Foods subject to the final rule requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL). The FTL includes fresh cut fruits …
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Trending
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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Trending
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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Food Safety
FDA Proposes Changes and New Guidelines to Label Foods as “Healthy”
The current definition of “healthy” that you will find on many packaged foods is up for revision and it’s about time. The definition of “healthy” as a claim for nutrient content was established in 1994 and hasn’t been updated since. Avocados and Salmon Don’t Qualify as “Healthy”? Here’s something you may not know. The current …
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Crop News
Florida’s Citrus Loss
United States Due to a rainy and cool spring, planting for 2022 season corn started late. As a result, some processors experience bunching at the tall end of pack which caused some off grades. Less acres were planted due to the risk of freeze, which in the end did not happen. Weather was warm through …
Trending
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 …
Food Safety
It All Begins with a Story
It’s a fact. We all want to know where the food we are buying comes from and that it is safe. Now “86% of U.S. consumers believe brand transparency is more important than ever before and 73% of consumers are willing to pay more for products that guarantee total transparency.” Enter StoryBird technology. It’s a …
Crop News
Sweet Corn Season Coming To A Close
United States A late start to corn planting resulted in some processors cutting back on later acres due to concern about frost. Corn season in the Pacific Northwest will be finishing up this month. Strong yields and quality are being reported, however this will not offset the tight corn market as acres were lost due …
Crop News
Potato Prices Are Soaring
United States A cold and wet spring in the Pacific Northwest delayed pea plantings and the crop ran about 2 to 3 weeks late. July’s heat wave with sizzling temperatures well into the 100 degree and over mark, brought on the crop very quickly. Acres have been lost as some processors could not keep up …
Food Safety
House Bill Calls for Single Food Safety Entity Under FDA
by Keith Loria A new bill, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), looks to create a single food safety agency under the department of Health and Human Services that would be responsible for keeping all food safe for market. The legislation, known as the Food Safety Administration Act, would ensure that a …
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Trending
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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Crop News
SIZZLING SUMMER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
United States A cold and wet spring in the Pacific Northwest delayed pea plantings and the crop ran about 2 to 3 weeks late. July’s heat wave with sizzling temperatures well into the 100 degree and over mark, brought on the crop very quickly. Acres have been lost as some processors could not keep up …
Trending
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 …
Food Safety
AFFI’s Continued Efforts on Alternative Approach to Listeria Monocytogenes
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) continues to work on behalf of frozen food manufacturers to address the control and prevention of Listeria Monocytogenes (Lm). On Friday, July 8, 2022, AFFI sent an update on this subject to all members prompted by an outbreak of Lm in Florida over the July 4th holiday believed to …
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Crop News
An Unpredictable Pea Season
United States A cold and wet spring in the Pacific Northwest delayed pea plantings and the crop is running about 2 to 3 weeks late. June was extremely cool and wet in Oregon and Washington and rainfall hit record highs. Along with the rain there was some wind and we have heard that some fields …
Trending
Tech-Facilitated Indoor Farming Finds a Home in Ocean Shipping Containers
Here at Noon International over the past few years we’ve been struggling to obtain 8×40 foot ocean shipping containers to get your orders to you, yet there are others who have happily been using retrofitted shipping containers for indoor farming and new business ventures. Indoor farming is nothing new. Hydroponics (the no-soil method of growing …
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Food Safety
Summer is Here! Food Safety Guidelines to Avoid Foodborne Illness
On June 21st, we officially welcomed summer – a season of picnics, barbeques, and outdoor eating. While camping, hiking trips and family vacations abound so does the chance for foodborne illness to occur if proper food safety guidelines are not followed. Warm weather is the perfect breeding ground for foodborne bacteria to multiply rapidly, thus …
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Food Safety
The FDA’s Role in Food Safety of Imported Foods
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was created to ensure a safe food supply in the United States using specific measures which include the FDA’s authority to mandate additional preventive controls to this end. Such preventative standards are applicable to both foreign and domestic food growers, manufacturers, processors, and packers. For example, the preventive …
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Trending
Vegetables and Upcycling Top the Trending List
The Covid 19 Pandemic along with supply chain disruptions over the past two years has changed the way we eat, what we eat, how chefs in restaurants source and prepare foods, and the popularity/trending of certain foods and ingredients. Massively disrupting supply chain issues forced restaurants and homemakers to turn to local suppliers and farmers …
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