Category: Trending

On September 25, 2019, the U.S. and Japan signed a limited trade deal that will eliminate certain tariffs and allow market access to specific agricultural products, as well as industrial and digital products.  Japan is America’s third largest export market and imported more than 14.1 billion dollars in U.S. products in 2018. From a trade …

Continue reading “Taking A Closer Look
The New US-Japanese Trade Agreement And Japan Tariff Schedule”

How Millennials Are Changing the Food Industry Yes, it’s the largest living generation and there are an estimated 80 – 95 million millennials living in the United States today. While opinions vary concerning the age span of millennials, most agree it includes those born between 1980 and 2000 making them between 19 -39 years old …

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If you think Whole Foods is expensive…how about four dollars for an avocado?  Or $24 for Macadamia nut cheese? You won’t find as many of these items at Whole Foods today as Amazon continues to cut prices and offer deals to its Prime members.  Gone are the days when people referred to Whole Foods as …

Continue reading “Inside Erewhon Where the Food is Healthy and Crazy Expensive But Shoppers Love it”

Nothing is impossible. Well, almost nothing…but have you tasted an Impossible Burger yet? If not, you’re in for a treat.  They recently changed and improved their product formulation and it’s even better than before!  As of April 2019, all restaurant partners should now be selling the new,updated recipe. Their aim with the new formulation is …

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Everyone loves a smoothie!  And why not?  These creamy, smooth and frosty concoctions are not only healthy and energizing, they are highly nutritious, delicious and convenient as well. Smoothies continue to gain popularity today globally across many market segments with sales projected to reach US$17 billion by 2024. Here’s why.  Smoothies satisfy many needs; they …

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On May 18, 2019, an agreement was reached between Canada, the U.S.A. and Mexico that ended all US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum.   In return, Canada and Mexico eliminated the retaliatory tariffs they had put in place such as the 20% duty on U.S. frozen potatoes sold into Mexico (Mexico is the third …

Continue reading “Tariff & Non-Tariff Trade Barriers They’re Not Good For Anyone”

Figures released last month by the U.S.D.A. Census of Agriculture show that trends behind America’s farms and diets are changing.   Leafy Greens, including kale, along with sweet potatoes, once thought to be fads are now changing America’s terrain. Sweet potato acreage increased almost 38% from 2012 to 2017.   White potatoes along with white flour and …

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As consumers search for healthier alternatives to their favorite foods, frozen food producers and grocery retailers are taking note. Although virtually all households purchase frozen food–spending nearly a collective $57 billion annually–consumers may not be aware of the full range of healthy products now available to them. Grocery retailers sell more frozen entrees than any …

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Fewer than one in ten Americans describe themselves as vegetarian, but plant-based foods are more popular than ever. According to new research, plant-based food sales were up 20% in 2017, soaring to $3.3 billion. Plant-based meat alternatives are especially gaining popularity, with a 24% increase in sales that resulted in $670 million – compared to …

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Two years after the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the United States and Japan have reopened negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement. The talks are a welcome development, especially in light of the Japan – European Union Trade Agreement which went into effect on February 1st of this year. That agreement will remove …

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The predictions are in, and 2019 is shaping up to be an adventurous time to browse supermarket aisles and restaurant menus in America. Global flavors predominantly Indian and Middle Eastern, meat and dairy alternatives, and wellness trends are expected to boom in the new year. Above all, people want to consume foods that promote health …

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Canned corn prices are on the rise – there are numerous reaons including labor and energy costs, however one area of concern is the rising tin plate cost. Tinplate is made primarily of steel or sometimes iron and contains 1-2% tin. This blend of metals resists corrosion, making it safe to store even highly acidic …

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The world of truck transportation as we knew it has completely changed since the end of December 2017 when E – Log rules went into effect which strictly monitors the length of time a driver can drive in a 24 hour period.  The mandate for trucks to use this electronic log book was fully impletmented …

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This month, China announced new trade tariffs that will affect $60 billion worth of products produced in the United States. China’s announcement is in response to recently imposed duties on $200 billion of imported Chinese goods. Earlier this year, the United States also upped fees on Chinese products valued at $34 billion and imposed a …

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Earlier this summer, temperatures hit record highs across Europe as heat waves swept the continent. A summer with extreme dryness and heat has left normally green fields a disturbing shade of brown. Drought settled over Europe with a high pressure weather system remaining in place for much of the summer. Vegetable growers/producers are facing the …

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In July, Japan and the European Union signed a groundbreaking free trade deal that eliminates over 90% of tariffs on goods exchanged between Japan and European countries. Trade between the European Union and Japan represents more than 600 million consumers and is valued at approximately $150 billion, or approximately one-third of the global economy. Notable …

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Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted on Sunday, June 3rd, killing at least 62 people and spewing a river of lava and plumes of smoke almost 6 miles into the air. Broccoli season is underway; fortunately, there was no damage done to the plantations. The winds were blowing east/northeast of the volcano, while the main growing area …

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