Market Report
- Thursday, 24 January 2019
Grocery marketing has declared February as National Snack Food Month. Super Bowl Sunday is just days away.
We are a nation of snackers, spending over $60 billion dollars annually on those ever tempting chips, crackers and other processed goodies.
On the heels of those recently made resolutions to eat better and create a life around healthier imperatives, take time for preparations. A month-long snack fest requires some resistance, resolve and retooling.
Turn the tables on the media driven snack food propositions. Favorite nibbles can have a makeover that satisfies every occasion. Don’t support empty calories and carbohydrates, saturated fats, high in sugar and provide no nutritional value.
It’s hard to resist Doritos and Ruffles. Moderation is key in most food choices. Watch what goes in to the shopping cart for improving the inevitable snack attacks. Look for desirable alternatives to the known culprits of over-indulged behavior.
We are a nation of snackers, spending over $60 billion dollars annually on those ever tempting chips, crackers and other processed goodies.
On the heels of those recently made resolutions to eat better and create a life around healthier imperatives, take time for preparations. A month-long snack fest requires some resistance, resolve and retooling.
Turn the tables on the media driven snack food propositions. Favorite nibbles can have a makeover that satisfies every occasion. Don’t support empty calories and carbohydrates, saturated fats, high in sugar and provide no nutritional value.
It’s hard to resist Doritos and Ruffles. Moderation is key in most food choices. Watch what goes in to the shopping cart for improving the inevitable snack attacks. Look for desirable alternatives to the known culprits of over-indulged behavior.
- Thursday, 17 January 2019
Color affects both emotions and mood. Winter is no reason to forfeit bright colors. It may well be the absolute best time of year to strut the most vibrant hues on the color chart.
Citrus is at peak of season in availability and taste. Use the many varieties to lift spirits, boost immunity and improve menus.
Out of hand snacking is made convenient with portable “easy peel” varietals. This includes navel oranges, mandarins and tangerines.
Navel oranges have a sunny flavor with a touch of acidity. These seedless fruits are perfect for making any dreary day a bit cheerier. A fan favorite, they are bursting with unreal juicy sweetness.
Cara Cara oranges are very sweet with pinkish-red fruit flesh. They have hints of berry and floral flavors for a citrus change of pace. Consider segments added to yogurt, compotes and desserts.
Citrus is at peak of season in availability and taste. Use the many varieties to lift spirits, boost immunity and improve menus.
Out of hand snacking is made convenient with portable “easy peel” varietals. This includes navel oranges, mandarins and tangerines.
Navel oranges have a sunny flavor with a touch of acidity. These seedless fruits are perfect for making any dreary day a bit cheerier. A fan favorite, they are bursting with unreal juicy sweetness.
Cara Cara oranges are very sweet with pinkish-red fruit flesh. They have hints of berry and floral flavors for a citrus change of pace. Consider segments added to yogurt, compotes and desserts.
- Friday, 11 January 2019
Smart cookers like Instant Pots are enjoying a moment. This celebrated multi-cooker is touted as capable of replacing seven different appliances.
It brags of doing the work of a slow cooker, an electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan, and food-warming pot.
Cooking speed may be the single most advantage of going for the Instant Pot. This is particularly true if cooking some meats is high on the menu. Shaving time off of ribs, roasts and whole chicken matters.
Risotto and dried beans seem to cook in record time. Soups and stews from scratch develop depth of flavor without turning on the stove or oven.
Not everyone wants or needs several (or even one more) kitchen gadget taking up shelf space. Competition among food processors, stand mixers, blenders, juicers and various coffee makers is fierce within most households.
It brags of doing the work of a slow cooker, an electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan, and food-warming pot.
Cooking speed may be the single most advantage of going for the Instant Pot. This is particularly true if cooking some meats is high on the menu. Shaving time off of ribs, roasts and whole chicken matters.
Risotto and dried beans seem to cook in record time. Soups and stews from scratch develop depth of flavor without turning on the stove or oven.
Not everyone wants or needs several (or even one more) kitchen gadget taking up shelf space. Competition among food processors, stand mixers, blenders, juicers and various coffee makers is fierce within most households.
- Thursday, 03 January 2019
Cultivating Change is a local farm grant program offered by Greener Fields Together.
It aims to fund projects and pursuits that will help local farmers do what they’re best at– farming.
Qualified growers and aggregators are able to win funding based through an online voting platform and peer review panel.
As farmers applied for this current January program, they were required to apply for a specific funding category to enhance an area of operations. Demands for all farms and ranches requires a continuous state of improvement for sustainability.
Certifications is one fund category that assists with organic, food safety, non-GMO, fair trade, biodynamic or other daunting regulatory requirements. This is an avenue of competitive advantage for many growers.
It aims to fund projects and pursuits that will help local farmers do what they’re best at– farming.
Qualified growers and aggregators are able to win funding based through an online voting platform and peer review panel.
As farmers applied for this current January program, they were required to apply for a specific funding category to enhance an area of operations. Demands for all farms and ranches requires a continuous state of improvement for sustainability.
Certifications is one fund category that assists with organic, food safety, non-GMO, fair trade, biodynamic or other daunting regulatory requirements. This is an avenue of competitive advantage for many growers.
