What's Hot!

What's Hot!  Here are brief video on interesting products introduced around the world in 2018.

Food Ingredients India -Blueberry HQ!

Welcome to the Blueberry Lounge!   This is a trade-only event and this year we are cooperating with ten different ingredient sellers who carry, frozen, dried and further processed blueberries.   We have plenty of space in the USHBC booth and meetings are happening continually.  Note: the gentleman in the Real t shirt is from a local foodservice supply company who sells frozen blueberries 5-star hotels in South India.

Raj Kapoor meets with companies looking for dried blueberries.

August 2018 - New Product of the Month

Interesting marketing -  one apple and 20 blueberries!  That's it!

Teaching the Teachers in Taiwan

USHBC cooperated with the (American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and Tunghai University in Taichung (Central Taiwan) on a one day training seminar (August 31, 2018) for culinary teachers in the region.  The concept: Train the trainers about US blueberries for hotel and restaurant professionals.  They will train students who will be the workforce as friends of blueberry!  Above) Executive Chef from Taiwan hotel chain demonstrates US blueberries to teachers and trainers from throughout the Taichung region.   These teachers influence hundreds of students each year who enter the hotel and restaurant profession.   Now they are experts on fresh and frozen blueberries.

Mandy Chen aka. "Blueberry Mandy" starts things out with an overview of US blueberries.

Next, executive chef demonstrates making superb desserts with blueberries including plating and presentation.

The Results!

The perfect blueberry cheesecake!

A meat dish with a signature blueberry steak sauce!   

Many thanks to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) especially Cleo Fu, a longtime booster of blueberries!   Also thanks to the Department of Hospitality Management at Tunghai University in Taichung as well as the Department of Animal Sciences and Biotechnology (Food Science Department).  

USHBC Debut in Colombia!

USHBC will initiate promotional activities September 5-6 at the Expo Alimentec in Bogotá Colombia.   This is an industry only show attended by food industry professionals.  (Similar to the Institute of Food Technologists in the USA),   This event will precede the 1st ever Blueberry Awards which will be held in a seminar and gala event held at the premiere culinary school in Colombia.   Celebrity Chef Eric Thomas from Sao Paulo Brazil will conduct a demonstration of highbush blueberry ingredients.   Stay tuned for information on this exciting event!

By Popular Demand - Here is the Brigadeiro Recipe!

Food Ingredients South America (FISA) was a hit!  For three days, the Blueberry FoodTech team met a continual stream of interesting companies!    To liven things up, we served a traditional Brazilian Brigadeiro treat.   You all know that Brazilians love things sweet.  This is the leading sugar producing country in the world.  This traditional confectionery is made with sugar, condensed milk and now--Blueberries!

The World is Flat...FISA is an international exhibition of food ingredient suppliers and regional food industries.  This included a large delegation of exhibitors from China (see mascot post) and India.   On day one our neighbor booth from Mumbai came by and tasted the blueberry brigadeiro. They loved it and came back again and again.  Evidently the taste of the condensed milk and sugar is similar to the Indian ice cream treat called "kulfi."  Word spread throughout the Indian exhibitors and dozens of new "brigadeiro friends" stopped in again and again. Some pledged to return to India and give it a try -- with blueberries of course!

Background:  The Brigadeiro is a "traditional" sweet which was actually created in the 1940s and has grown in popularity since.   The name is traced back to a national election where a Military Brigadier General named Eduardo Gomes was an extremely popular candidate.  The campaign slogan aimed at female voters: "Vote for the Brigadier General who is handsome and single."  The ultra-sweet Brigadeiro confection was created during the campaign as a fund raiser at election rallies.   The candy was a big success, but unfortunately the candidate lost the election.  But the candy grew in popularity and the name Brigadeiro has stuck!  Typically this is a home-made candy and every family has a home recipe.   It is also a commercial confectionery filling that is sold in high-end retail shops.  Brazilians are normally food purists when it comes to national items like caipirinhas (rum beverage) and feijoada (bean stew)  -- but a new generation of consumer loves to experiment with new flavors:  Introducing  the blueberry brigadeiro!


Recipe: 

Brigadeiro in a cup with blueberry and milk powder.

Ingredients:

For the blueberry jam:

1 cup of frozen blueberries

2 Tsp of fresh lemon juice

2 Tsp of blueberry concentrate juice (optional)

1 can (395g) of condensed milk

a pinch of  salt

1 Tsp of unsalted butter

200 mL of table cream

1 cup of powder milk

Prepare the blueberry jam:

1. In a saucepan, combine frozen blueberries, lemon and blueberry concentrate juice. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat until the liquid has started thicken. Crush the blueberries with the back of a spoon to release the juice of the fruit. Set aside.

Prepare the blueberries:

2. Combine butter, salt and condensed milk in a saucepan over low heat. Stir well until butter is melted.

3. Add table cream and powder milk. Continuously stir until mixture thickens and you see the bottom of the pan for a couple of seconds before the mixture levels out again. Add the blueberry jam and stir until well combined.

4. Remove from heat, transfer to a plate and let it cool to room temperature.

5. Put in small cups.

Food Ingredients India Exposition

The excitement is building in Delhi, India for the opening of the Food Ingredients India (FII) Exposition.  This is the big event for the Indian food industry and manufacturers from throughout the region will attend.    This year, USHBC has an extra large booth and several local suppliers of blueberries will attend and products are shown in a showcase  Having local cooperation with suppliers is key.   Although US highbush blueberries are extremely popular in India-- few companies are capable of importing direct for full container loads.    FI is a great place to connect!

Below: is the USHB booth ready for action!