Wild Tonic Jun Kombucha -- which differentiates itself from other brands with a green tea and honey base -- plans to expand beyond natural channels to conventional retail this year with a package redesign, said founder Holly Lyman. A slim can format proved successful last year, driving on-the-go sales and making Wild Tonic the top kombucha brand for sales velocity in July of last year, Lyman added.
The European Union has agreed to extend the temporary food safety controls brought on by the pandemic through July 2021 because of challenges in performing inspections during this time. Self-inspections by member states are one such measure that is being permitted if there is no conflict of interest, under the guidance that "exceptional arrangements last for no longer than necessary and do not put food safety and consumer health at risk," officials said.
Illumination Partners founder and CEO Deborah Coviello prides herself on being able to use her experience working in quality assurance to help other food safety professionals discover their confidence and advance within the industry. "I elevate people, while at the same time I elevate the business," she said.
Storm and freeze damage to the citrus crops in three Texas counties is expected to total at least $300 million according to initial estimates from the Texas Citrus Mutual. "Rio Grande Valley producers had already harvested about 80% of their orange crop and about 67% of their grapefruit crop before the storm, but what remained was all lost," said Juan Anciso, a horticulturist at Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service.
A faltering economy could be a positive force for sales of plant-based products, which are already surging as shoppers seek out healthier choices. A recent forecast from Culinary Tides says many consumers could soon be searching for protein alternatives based on price alone, with Culinary Tides President Suzy Badaracco saying, "It's not for health or to save the planet...[i]t's because I can't freaking afford a steak."
AgroFresh Solutions has introduced an edible plant-based produce coating as part of the VitaFresh Botanicals brand portfolio. The product creates a membrane that keeps fruits and vegetables fresh and extends shelf life by cutting down on dehydration.
Dole Asia launched the The Sunshine for All Fund to which it will contribute $2 million annually for efforts to help it meet global health and sustainability goals made last year as part of The Dole Promise. The vow includes taking on the challenge of malnutrition and food insecurity worldwide, ending the use of petroleum-based plastic and cutting fruit waste.
More than 15 new dairy and alt-dairy products made their debut at grocers this month, including a lactose-free milk range from Good Moo'd and dairy and vegan ice cream bars from Van Leeuwen. Halo Top revived its popular strawberry cheesecake flavor for a limited time, and Tillamook expanded its Maker's Reserve cheese line with 2011 and 2018 vintages.
Experimental cider-makers around the US are borrowing natural wine production methods with refreshing results, such as North Carolina's Botanist and Barrel, which produces "a fruit and floral cider that is reminiscent of gewurztraminer" by co-fermenting apples and muscadine grapes, Dan Pucci writes. Among Pucci's recommendations for these inventive American ciders are Art & Science Symbiosis from Willamette Valley, Ore., and Emme Wine Jonathan x Nero D'Avola Co-Ferment Pet Nat from Sebastopol, Calif.
The pandemic forced chef Ray Garcia to close his Los Angeles restaurant Broken Spanish in August, but he is bringing back dishes from the menu with a pop-up at NeueHouse, a Hollywood coworking space. Garcia's residency runs through March 27, and the menu will include tamales and hand-pressed tortillas.