Gourmet News

USDA Invests $9.5M in Bioproduct Manufacturing

Published December 20, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an investment of $9.5 million to support the scale-up of sustainable bioproduct manufacturing in the United States. Three successful projects are funded through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Bioproduct Pilot Program, which funds research and development of value-added products from agricultural commodities.

Authorized and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Bioproduct Pilot Program presents a unique opportunity to spur economic activity in the nation’s rural areas while lowering commercialization risks associated with bringing biobased products to market. The program’s exploration into bioproducts accelerates USDA’s efforts to develop circular bioeconomies, where agricultural resources are harvested, consumed, and regenerated in a sustainable manner. This pilot program also supports the objectives outlined in President Biden’s recent Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.

“Adopting a more circular economy ensures that wealth and other economic benefits in the form of jobs and other opportunities are created, and stay, in rural communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We must support and incentivize practices like these, because it’s what consumers want — and what farmers, and our planet, need.”

The three awardees are:

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, for a project that proposes to convert food waste into biodegradable, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based bioplastics that can be used for a variety of consumer plastics, including flexible and rigid packaging and containers for food and beverages.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, for a project that proposes to convert swine manure and other organic feedstocks into biobinders for asphalt that increase the quality of recycled asphalt pavements. If commercialized, benefits include reduced landfill waste, reduced disposal costs for asphalt and food waste, and low-cost products.
Soylei Innovations, of Ames, Iowa, for a project that proposes to transform high oleic soybean oil into thermoplastic rubber for pavements, which has the potential to extend repair longevity for existing surfaces. Low-cost paving solutions are particularly important in rural and underserved communities where road paving and maintenance budgets are underfunded due to a reliance on local tax revenues.

“Each of the recommended projects includes collaborations with universities and companies that can bridge the gap between invention and the marketplace as well as produce stronger and more effective outcomes,” said Dr. Dionne Toombs, acting director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the agency administering the awards. “All three of them also have compelling benefits that advance environmental justice and spur economic opportunity for underserved communities.”

Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in November 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a transformative, historic investment for America to rebuild the physical infrastructure of our country, grow the economy for decades to come, create good-paying union jobs, and better position the United States to compete in a global economy.

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Global Specialty Foods Market Expected to Reach $224.88B by 2026

Published December 19, 2022

Whitney from Cellars at Jasper Hill took Best in Show at the 2022 American Cheese Society Show.

The global specialty foods market is expected to grow from $158.87 billion in 2021 to $170.21 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1 percent. The market is expected to grow to $224.88 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 percent, according to Research and Markets.

The market consists of sales of specialty foods and their related services. Specialty foods are made from high quality ingredients and have limited distribution with unique or beautiful packaging. They consist of cheese & plant-based cheese, non-RTD cocoa and coffee, refrigerated and frozen poultry/seafood/meat, yogurt, candy, pretzels/snacks/chips, bread & baked goods, and others.

The main product type are cheese and plant-based cheese, frozen or refrigerated meat, poultry, and seafood, chips, pretzels and snacks, bread and baked goods, chocolate and other confectionery and others. Cheese is nutritious food made mostly from the milk of cows and also from other mammals, including sheep, goats, buffalo, reindeer, camels and yaks. Plant-based cheeses are made from a variety of nuts, most commonly cashews, almonds and macadamias. The various type of distribution channels are food service, retail and online.

Asia Pacific was the largest region in the market in 2021. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the market. The regions covered in the specialty food market are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The growth in the number of millennials preferring at-home and healthy meals coupled with growing interest in having nutritious food for a healthy lifestyle is increasing the demand for specialty foods. According to Specialty Foods Association, millennials are twice likely to plan at-home meals and giving high preferences for specialty products to create interesting and healthy eating experiences.

Moreover, according to the research from the NDP Group in 2019, millennials, gen X, and baby boomers are expected to eat more meals at home. Thus, growth in at-home cooking activities of millennials and preferences for healthy foods is anticipated to boost the revenue for specialty foods market over the forthcoming years.

The high cost of specialty food is likely to hinder the growth of the specialty foods market during the period. Specialty foods are made from high-quality ingredients such as gluten-free, non-GMO, and ingredients rich in vitamins and minerals, thus include a higher cost of raw materials. According to specialty foods association, the high cost of ingredients, certifications, and production is increasing the prices of specialty foods making it unaffordable for the large group of the populace. Therefore, the high cost of specialty foods is predicted to hinder the growth of the specialty foods market during the forecast period.

The launch of high quality and innovative products such as plant-based, convenience, better-for-you, non-GMO products with authenticity, and products with unique attributes such as low fat, low calorie, low sodium, high protein, no dairy and organic is a major trend shaping the growth of the specialty foods industry.

In April 2021, Brazilian based JBS SA, a meat processing company, announced that it will acquire Vivera, a European plant-based food company, for €341 million ($410 million). The deal includes three manufacturing facilities and a research and development center located in the Netherlands.

This acquisition is an important step to strengthen JBS SA global plant-based protein platform, for the same Vivera will give JBS a stronghold in the plant-based sector, with technological knowledge and capacity for innovation. Vivera produces a range of plant-based meat replacement products and these products are distributed to retailers in more than 25 countries across Europe.

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National Beverage Corp. Pleads for St. Jude Donations

Published December 19, 2022

Commemorating its 29th year as a continuing partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Beverage Corp. asks all to help St. Jude in its lifesaving mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children.

“St. Jude’s dedication to research and patient care has saved countless lives and deserves our unconditional support,” stated Nick A. Caporella, chairman and chief executive officer. “It is an honor and a blessing to advocate for the incredible work of St. Jude as they work tirelessly to end childhood disease.”

Founder and entertainer Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude in 1962 with the dream that no child should die in the dawn of life. St. Jude affirms it is a ‘place of discovery, innovation and healing.’ Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.

“Together . . . we can make a significant impact on the success of St. Jude’s mission. We ask all this holiday season to join us in doing everything we can to support St. Jude. What greater joy is there . . . than inspiring dreams of a disease-free future for deserving children!” Caporella said.

Donations may be made online at www.stnicks4stjude.com or by calling 1-800-4STJUDE.

National Beverage has been honored by several charitable organizations, including: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The City of Hope, Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson, in recognition of our commitment to research that has revolutionized the treatment of cancer and other catastrophic diseases. In addition the company supports organizations that provide assistance to active U.S. military along with veterans and their families.

St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the United States from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since 1962.

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