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News
Virginians Anticipate Farm-Fresh Food From 240 Farmers’ Markets
As the demand for Virginia products has increased, so has the number of farmers’ markets in the state. According to VirginiaGrown.com, Virginia has more than 240 farmers’ markets statewide. That’s a 180 percent increase in markets since 2006. Some are open year-round, while many others open in April or May for seasonal business. Research by Virginia Cooperative Extension has shown that if each household in Virginia spent just $10 a week on locally grown agricultural products, consumers would invest an additional $1.65 billion into the local economy each year. To promote Virginia farmers’ markets, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and ... |
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Mead Industry Reports Explosive Growth
Mead, the alcoholic beverage made from honey, may be the world’s oldest fermented drink, but it is also the country’s hottest. A recent industry survey reveals that mead sales increased 130 percent from 2012 to 2013, exceeding growth rates for beer, wine, distilled spirits and hard cider. The numbers were released from the annual survey of American Mead Makers Association (AMMA) members. The trade organization represents the U.S. mead industry. The number of domestic meaderies has grown to 194 from 60 in just three years, accounting for 2.5 percent of American wineries. Mead is popping up on restaurant wine lists, ... |
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NPD: Majority of Grocery Shoppers Will Not Pay More for Non-GMO Products
Although slightly more than two-thirds of all primary grocery shoppers are unwilling to pay higher prices for non-GMO products, half of specialty store shoppers are willing to pay more, according to a recent food market research study by The NPD Group on genetically modified organisms (GMO) awareness.The labeling of genetically modified food is at the center of debate across the country, but the decision to buy or not buy non-GMO foods often is based on price, according to the market research company.Education about GMOs could spur future grocery store purchasing shifts, however. More than half of U.S. consumers express some ... |
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Finalists for Best Specialty Foods of 2014 Announced
Fruit gels from Hawaii, Sriracha popcorn from Washington state and beet yogurt from New York all made the finals in the Specialty Food Association’s 2014 sofi Awards contest.A national panel of specialty food professionals tasted and evaluated 2,025 specialty foods and beverages across 30 categories to come up with their list of 109 finalists.Winners will be announced at a red carpet ceremony June 30, 2014, at the association’s Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. The event will be hosted by noted pastry chef Dominique Ansel.“Creativity, innovation and excellence were in evidence across all awards categories,” said Ann Daw, president, ... |
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Fusionbrands’ GrillComb Wins Prestigious Red Dot Award
Fusionbrands earned a prestigious Red Dot Award for the high design quality of its GrillComb, what Fusionbrands calls “the stylish way to skewer.”With its multiple teeth, the GrillComb is a revolutionary grilling tool that straightens out the hassles of using long pointy skewers. Easily slide shrimp, beef, chicken and vegetables onto the stainless steel teeth, securing it in place and start flipping even the most delicate items without food spinning. “Realizing over 1,800 manufacturers, designers and architects from 53 nations entered the competition, we are extremely delighted to be given the esteemed Red Dot Award for Product Design for our ... |
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Gourmet Catalog Announces Best Vendor Award Winners
Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group, the leading and original buying group in the housewares industry, has announce its seventh annual Best Vendor Award winners. “The GC Best Vendor Awards are our way of recognizing and showing appreciation for the vendor members’ hard work and dedication toward the success of small independent retailers,” said Janis Johnson, founder and president of Gourmet Catalog (GC). “Gourmet Catalog is about connecting stores with vendors and these awards are a great representation of that – stores choosing vendors they feel did an outstanding job. The award is a huge thank-you for their strong loyalty and ... |
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Virginia Food and Beverage Expo Names Best New Products
Three products were hailed as the best at the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo in Richmond, Va., on March 26. The event, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, connects buyers representing grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops and specialty stores with Virginia specialty food and beverage products. The Expo takes place every two years to promote Virginia products and advance economic development within Virginia. Virginia’s First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore announced the Best New Product Awards during a ceremony at the Expo. This year, there were 63 entries in three ... |
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Report: Specialty Food Sales Break Records
Americans have a growing appetite for specialty food. U.S. sales of specialty food and beverages reached $88.3 billion in 2013, a record high for the fourth year in a row and a jump of 18.4 percent since 2011. Cheese dominated specialty food sales at retail, with $4 billion in sales in 2013, followed by the categories meat, poultry and seafood; and chips, pretzels and snacks. The fastest-growing categories were nut butters, eggs and frozen desserts, according to new research from the Specialty Food Association. “U.S. consumers are more sophisticated and discerning about their food choices than ever before,” said Ron ... |
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Extra Virgin Alliance Plans Summer Olive Oil Tasting Seminar
The Extra Virgin Alliance (EVA) will sponsor an Olive Oil Tasting Seminar for buyers and culinary professionals two days before the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. The intensive course is tailored to meet the needs of retail executives, category managers, buyers, culinary professionals and store employees, and will take place June 27 and 28 in advance of the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show. The class is a practical, hands-on introduction to the world of olive oil, including fundamentals of olive oil tasting; recognizing defects and appreciating positive attributes; understanding olive oil testing; deciphering global quality and ... |
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Natural, Organic Producer Annie’s Acquires Snack Plant
Annie’s Inc., a leading natural and organic food company, has completed the acquisition of Safeway’s snack manufacturing plant in Joplin, Mo., which has been Annie’s primary manufacturer of cookie and cracker products since the inception of its snacks business in 2002. Annie’s Baking LLC, a subsidiary of Annie’s Inc., acquired the plant for $6 million, plus the actual cost of inventory and supplies on hand at closing. The acquisition was funded with approximately $7.4 million in cash on hand. Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, Annie’s Baking also entered into a supply agreement to produce products on behalf ... |
