The organic, natural and whole-grain market segments continue to thrive, as new product launches emphasize healthful ingredient profiles, taste and quality.
The Quincy, Mass.-based flour and grain-based products provider says it’s acquiring T.J. Harkins Basic Commodity Brokers Inc. and subsidiaries, a supplier of natural, nutritious and flavorful ingredients for grain-based foods. Harkins also supplies sesame and edible seeds, sweet spices, ancient grains, specialty grain flours and grain blends.
Forecasters say there’s a heat dome over the Corn Belt, and soybean prices are nearing record totals. Food inflation fears and fuel worries continue. The drought is affecting 55% of the land mass in the lower 48 states.
Simple salt just won’t cut it in the competition for consumers’ popcorn-craving palettes. Unique ingredients and flavor profiles are helping popcorn manufacturers go for their personal best in the great snacking games.
Low in calories, high in fiber—popcorn may just be the perfect natural snack. Of course, that doesn’t stop manufacturers from trying to up the ante by enhancing all the whole grain has to offer. Now, popcorn can be found competing with chips, pretzels and even candy in the snacking Olympics.
Pretzels have been around for more than a thousand years, originating in southern Europe around 610 A.D., according to historians. Today, crispy,
hard pretzels are consumed by people in many of the countries represented at the 2012 Olympics.
Crackers and crisps are benefitting from new production techniques, better-for-you ingredients, cleaner labels and innovative flavors as manufacturers deal with consumers having less discretionary income.
Crunch and flavor have always been gold and silver medalists in the cracker and crisp game, but because consumers are looking for more healthful snacks, there have been interesting developments with these products.
The Whole Grains Summit was recently held in Minneapolis, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend. Organized by the Grains for Health Foundation, the intended purpose for the summit was to develop a strategic plan for research, integration, communication and implementation to advance consumption of whole grains.
Christine Cochran, president of the Commodity Markets Council (CMC) in Washington, D.C., is the new executive director of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF), Ridgway, Colo. GFF operates as an independent organization jointly trusteed by the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the North American Millers’ Association.