HEADLINE-WORTHY PRODUCTS AND TRENDS AT 2008 USFES
News Date March 24, 2008
The lineup of new and innovative products at the 2008 U.S. Food Export Showcase (USFES) provides a barometer of today's market forces that will keep food and business writers in headlines for months to come, according to NASDA's Director of Trade Shows DeWitt Ashby. "In these turbulent economic times, small- and mid-size businesses are determined to find a competitive edge," explains Ashby. "The current circumstances of favorable exchange rates and exploding middle class demands in many countries give those companies a great opportunity."
The 2008 Showcase, April 27 to 29 in Chicago, offers international and domestic food buyers a coast-to-coast view of "what's cooking" across America. State departments of agriculture and regional trade groups sponsor pavilions where local food manufacturers exhibit items in virtually every product category. This year, food manufacturers have tuned into consumers interest in "green" and healthful products.
Royal Hawaiian Honey is touting its product as the first certified carbon neutral food. The company has off-set its carbon footprint by investing in carbon-reducing projects such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and reforestation. Royal Hawaiian Honey is distributed by Tropical Traders Specialty Foods (Booth 403).
Street Smart Cuisine (Booth 807) is offering a healthy alternative to one of America's favorite foods . . . pizza. Their Lean Lifestyle pizzas meet the nutritional guidelines of the American Heart Association and are available in Turkey Pepperoni Pizza or Low Fat Cheese Pizza.
1-2-3 Gluten Free (Booth 919) is introducing its brand-new Yummy Yellow Cake Mix, which is free of gluten, wheat, dairy, soy, corn, egg, peanuts, and tree nuts. The product is sugar free allowing consumers to add the sweetener of their choice.
HoneyTree's Sugar-Free All-Purpose Syrup (Booth 604) is a corn syrup substitute for those watching their sugar intake including diabetics. With this product, individuals can now enjoy recipes that were once "off limits."
For consumers interested in strengthening Chi' there is ChiBerry (Booth 915), an innovative liquid dietary supplement made from U.S.-grown organic schizandra berries. ChiBerry offers health-enhancing benefits of this ancient superfruit' in a flavorful, convenient liquid form.
Yohay Baking Co. (Booth 700) has new 100% USDA certified organic cookies including Cranberry Chocolate Chip, Lemon Dreams, and Espresso with new eye-catching packaging.
Jumbo whole cranberries have been added to the Graceland Fruit (Booth 600) infused dried product line. Graceland Fruit provides ingredients for numerous products from cereals to salads.
The culinary archeologists at Nosherei (Booth 913) have brought back the tastes of the past with their Fire Escape Eggplant. The product gets its name from the way fresh produce was flame roasted on the fire escapes of Manhattan's Lower East Side 100 years ago. Fire Escape Eggplant is flame roasted with sweet peppers in small batches with an heirloom blend of seasonings, which can be used as a salsa or bruschetta topping.
New from BlackMustard, Inc. (Booth 104) is a dry rub with the flavors of their award-winning BlackMustard Barbecue Slather. This mustard-style barbecue sauce starts off sweet and ends with a little bit of heat, making it perfect for chicken and pork.
The U.S. Food Export Showcase is sponsored by NASDA and will be presented under the umbrella of the Global Food & Style Expo 2008, April 27 to 29 in Chicago. (Contact: DeWitt Ashby or Megan McDonald)