|
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 10:35 by foodmatch
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Food for Thought
|
|
In celebration of the holiday season, FoodMatch Focus asked the question:
"What do the holidays mean to you?"
"The holidays are all about spending time with loved ones and knowing that they aren't going to judge me for devouring an entire pie all by myself."
- Heather Mitchell
"The holidays are all about the senses: the sound of bubbling oil frying crispy potato latkes, the warmth of friends and family and the smell of toasted pine as I vacuum up the Christmas tree debris that my cats scatter around." - Will Sirota
"My Dad's Christmas pudding!" - Meabh O'Neill
"Time with family, hot toddys, great food and wine, and spoiling my Grandson" - William Voves
"FAMILY! I have 32 immediate family members that I get to spend the holidays with!" - Sonya Leitner
"Eggnog and Champagne...but not necessarily together."
- Mary Caldwell
|
|
|
| |
| Crop News Barnier Picholine and Lucque Olives |
FoodMatch is pleased to announce that new crop
Barnier Fresh Harvest Picholine and Lucque olives have arrived!
One look at a Barnier Fresh Harvest olive will transport you to a fresh market in the Provencal countryside of Southern France where olives are hand-selected and unrivaled in flavor. Always unpastuerized, Barnier Fresh Harvest olives are firm in texture and strikingly bright in color. Due to strict quality guidelines and the fact that their fresh olives are kept refrigerated, they are also extremely low in sodium.
This year's green olive crop carries on the taste and tradition you have grown accustomed to from Barnier Fresh Harvest olives. Picholines grown in Southern France experienced some challenging weather this summer with heavy dry spells. While lack of water can sometimes reduce the caliber size of a given Picholine crop, it can also intensify the delicious almond-like taste of the fruit.
Lucques can also be a challenging olive to grow. The Lucque olive trees have female flowers that must be pollinated by Caillon or Amelo trees that bear male flowers. The pollination period lasts for only three days during the month of April. This means that if France experiences weather problems in April, the Lucque crop can be compromised. Fortunately for Lucque aficionados around the world, April in France provided ideal weather for a successful pollination and the new crop of Lucques are bright green, crisp and delicious!
Picholine Olives
The Olive: Medium green color, crisp-tender and slightly salty
Region: Southern France (Provence and Languedoc)
Taste Notes: Smooth and fresh tasting, never acidic
Item #: FR503
Case pack: 1 x 11 lb pail
Lucque Olives
The Olive: Almond shaped, bright green, firm and meaty
Region: Grown in Languedoc region of Southern France
Taste Notes: Distinguished by a wonderful nutty flavor
Item #: FR502
Case pack: 1 x 11 lb pail
|
| Fancy Food Show Preview FoodMatch: Booth #2607 |
 Produced by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, the Winter Fancy Food Show is one of North America's largest food and beverage trade shows of the year. Returning to the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the NASFT expects another huge turnout this year featuring exhibitors and attendees from more than 80 countries. This year's show is being held from January 18th-20th and is expected to draw 20,000 attendees who will be able to sample over 250,000 products from close to 2,500 exhibitors.
FoodMatch is happy to announce that we will be exhibiting at this winter's Fancy Food Show. Our booth is #2607 and we are located in the South Hall of Moscone Center. We invite you to sample over 100 of our favorite products including some exciting new products that are sure to whet your appetite! We will also be unveiling a new booth design---details on the new look are top secret so you'll have to stop by and say hello to check it out!
|
| Product Feature FoodMatch & Garlic |
 Garlic is among the oldest known horticultural crops in the world with evidence of usage dating back 5000 years from both Egyptian and Indian cultures. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, global garlic production takes up approximately 2.5 million acres of the world's farmland and produces close to 10 million metric tons of garlic each year.
Research suggests that garlic might also carry some impressive health benefits. Studies have shown that an enzyme in garlic (known as allyl sulfide compounds) is produced when whole garlic cloves are either crushed or chopped. A helpful tip researchers provide if you are eating garlic for its health benefits is to let the sliced or chopped garlic clove sit for 10-20 minutes before cooking.
Allowing garlic to stand protects this enzyme which otherwise is deactivated.
Possible health benefits of garlic can include:
- Reduction of cholesterol that accumulates in the arteries
- Digestion assistance due to antiseptic properties
- Reduction of high blood pressure
- Lower risk for stomach, colon, prostate and breast cancer
Below are some of our most popular olives and antipasti items that feature garlic:
Divina Organic Green Olives w/ Minced Garlic Item # OG576 Case Pack: 2/5 lb bag
Divina Mt. Athos Green Olives w/ Minced Garlic Item # D0576 Case Pack: 2/5 lb bag
Divina Mt. Athos Green Olives stuffed w/ Garlic, Bulk Item # D0276 Case Pack: 2/5 lb bag
Divina Mt. Athos Green Olives stuffed w/ Garlic, Retail Item # 20276 Case Pack: 6/7.8 oz jar Divina Lombardo Peppers w/ Garlic Item # D0801 Case Pack:2/5 lb bag
Barnier Selection Marinated Garlic Cloves Item # A734-3 Case Pack: 3/6.06 lb tin
Barnier Fresh Harvest Black Olives with Garlic Item # FR303 Case Pack: 1/13.2 lb pail
Barnier Selection Black Olives with Garlic Item # B303-3 Case Pack: 3/6.6 lb tin
Source: The United Nations Food & Agricultural Organization.
|
| In the News Global Food Crisis |
 In a recent essay entitled "The Perils of Efficiency", author James Surowiecki investigated how the current global financial crisis could impact the world's food crisis.
Prior to the 1980's, most countries had Agricultural Marketing Boards whose job was to purchase commodities such as rice, wheat and corn from farmers at fixed prices. The prices were structured so that farmers could make a small profit and countries could purchase a surplus of goods in the event of future crop shortages or natural disasters. This process was eventually phased out when governments began disposing of surplus commodities that were no longer needed and high percentages of product went to waste.
A new global agricultural policy was adopted to encourage a larger percentage of farmers to grow cash crops. Commodities would be grown in mass by only a small amount of farmers in specific locations. (For example, only 3 countries provide 90% of the worlds corn exports while only 5 countries would provide 80% of the worlds rice exports.) Private investment (not government) would fund farming and unexpected food shortages would be handled by international aid organizations.
Prior to our current economic problems, unforseen climate problems and higher international importation taxes saw commodity items rise in price in upwards of 150% in early 2008. The world was faced with over ten million new cases of malnutrition and starvation. A system that had been put in place to avoid excess was now left with a massive shortage of goods. The global economic crisis that began to take shape at the same time would be the only thing, that in an odd turn of events, would actually alleviate the agricultural epidemic. Similar to what we've witnessed with the cost of crude oil, lower demand/ability to purchase commodities have finally seen prices return to their 2007 averages. It is impossible to know what the future holds for commodity pricing but we can only hope that a lesson has been learned from the recent events that threatened the lives of millions.
Source: New Yorker Magazine
|
| Upcoming Events January, 2009 |
|
The 2009 Winter Fancy Food Show
January 18-20, 2009
FoodMatch Booth #: 2607
Moscone Center
San Francisco, California
|
Employee Profile David Palsgrove
|
 Just the Facts
Name: David Palsgrove
Department: Quality Control
Job Title: Quality Assurance Assistant
Years @ FM: 1.5
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Job Description: "I like to think of myself as the royal taster. I transfer product from our warehouse to our office to send as samples for our sales team. In the process of doing so, I look at the quality of a pretty big cross section of what we are currently selling. It is my goal to have seen and tasted as many lots of product as possible to ensure that they measure up to FoodMatch standards."
Favorite FoodMatch Memory: "For Halloween of 2007, Brandon and I took third place in our office costume party. We dressed as shipping supplies. My costume was a giant bag of cornstarch packing peanuts and ended up looking like a cloud. Oh, and I may of been responsible for dripping the cornstarch peanuts all over the office."
Little Known Facts and Hobbies: "I'm a big outdoors type and a certified coxswain (boat captain). I spend a lot of time rowing 25' Whitehall Gigs around the Hudson River and even circumnavigated Manhattan this year. I am also totally addicted to National Public Radio." |
|
Thank you for reading this edition of FoodMatch Focus.
Please send all comments, questions and article suggestions to News@Foodmatch.com
Phone: (212) 244-5050 Web: www.FoodMatch.com E-Mail:News@FoodMatch.com
|
|
|
|