Progressive Grocer India - Blueberry Healthy Snacks

Here is a sign of how far dried blueberries (dried fruit and nuts in general) have come in the modern Indian grocery scene.   Traditionally dried fruits and nuts are sold as bulk commodities in wholesale markets.  Each city has a huge dried fruit market such as the Khari Baoli in Old Delhi which has centuries of tradition in dried fruit and nut sales.   If you visit you will see narrow alleys with dozens of stalls packed with bulk dried fruits like raisins (kismis), dates, almonds and walnuts.  The new grocery scene in India is now featuring more and more packaged dried fruits and nuts. Check out the Progressive Grocer magazine India Edition.   It features stories on two companies who are expanding the retail trade for healthy snack packs -- including dried blueberries.

 

Trade Publicity Reaches Food Research and Development

USHBC continually publishes articles in food trade magazines read by product developers.   Here is a selection of a few in the past months.

Australian Food Technology Conference

Australia is a nation of 24.6 million .  They produce fresh blueberries.  They restrict imports of fresh US blueberries. They also import substantial quantities of processed blueberries.(dried, frozen, juice) -- around  3 million kg per year from the US.  (5 million lbs)

This year, USHBC took a step towards food industry market development with attendance at the once-every three year FoodPro exhibition and conference in Sydney.   This is the place where Australian companies look for "ingredient solutions" such as powders, purees and concentrates that are used in baking, dairy, beverages and snacks.

This year we checked out the show and it looked promising.  We will exhibit in 2020!

FoodPro is similar to the Institute of Food Technologists in the USA.  It happens every three years and is sold out years in advance.  Flavor Consultants, a US based company with operations in Australia invited Blueberry Guy to attend and check out the show for future consideration.  It was a great place to interact with the Australian food industry.

Flavor Consultants sells natural flavors and has strong ties with the research and development staffs at major Australian companies.    They are now promoting blueberry powders to their customers as you will see from the Real Blueberries banner.

Here is a shot of the China Pavilion at Food Pro.   Yes, this is during the show hours at this busy exposition.  Chinese berries were implicated in food safety scandals the last three years.

New Blueberry Trade Advertorial

Here is the new advertisement supporting the Real Blueberries ™ Seal!  It is running in publications read by food processors.

Blueberry Eyesight Japan

Two decades ago, we saw a surge in blueberry eyesight products in Japan.   The pioneer is Wakasa Seikatsu, which describes itself as a quality supplement company.  Their main item is "Blueberry Eyesight" and you will see their product in pharmacies, convenience stores and groceries.  You will also see the Blueberry Eyesight commercials on Japanese television around the clock.

Check out the Wakasa Seikatsu web page where you will see a whole collection of their clever commercials.

Here is the website for more 

http://web.wakasa.jp/buruburu/movie/index.html

Real Blueberry Products for Schools

USHBC Food Tech works with food manufacturers to get Real Blueberries into products served in schools.   Some utilize frozen and dried blueberries from USDA Foods programs and others purchase blueberries from suppliers and packers.   Five years ago, a visit to the School Nutrition Association -- we saw a few companies using blueberries here and there.   In 2017 at the recent meeting (July 9-12 in Atlanta, Georgia -- dozens of new products were featured including Real Blueberry muffins, Real Blueberry granolas and bars and all sorts of beverages, frozen novelties and Real blueberries in a cup.

Manufacturers and school districts alike are optimistic about the use of frozen and dried blueberries in these products as they give districts an easy way to provide the goodness of blueberries to student meals and snacks.  USDA visitors surely took note of the popularity of blueberries in the schools.

Here are just a few.

Real Blueberry Granolas with dried blueberries.

Real Blueberry Muffins

Real Blueberry beverages

Happy National Blueberry Muffin Day!

Check out the very latest issue of the Berry latest to learn about National Muffin Day, July 11!
The Berry Latest Second Quarter
http://blueberrytech.org/berrylatest/2017/2nd-qtr-muffins.html