Major processing companies in São Paulo say that, in July, they are likely to increase the receiving of mid-season fruits from contracts of the 2019/20 season. According to players surveyed by Cepea, pear orange has been received in June, but in small volumes, because the quality was not good for juice production.

Besides, the volume of early varieties continued high in late June, which increased acquisitions of the industry – some companies reported that processing activities increased at the end of the month. As a result, the supply of these fruits may continue high, even with the availability of mid-season fruits increasing gradually.

As for trades in the spot market, only two of major processors were purchasing in late June, with values between 16.00 and 18.00 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, harvested and delivered – the value may change during the season. For small processing companies, in turn, quotes reach up to 20.00 BRL per box, depending on the company and the quality.

CONTRACTS – As for mid and long term trades (two or more crops), players surveyed by Cepea say that the demand is high until December/18, when contracts were established between 20.00 and 22.00 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, harvested and delivered.

BRAZILIAN MARKET – Players expect that, in July, as processing companies are receiving oranges, the volume in the in natura market may reduce, preventing prices to decrease sharply. Agents say that the demand for pear orange increased in late June because the supply of early varieties reduced in the in natura market.

Concerning ponkan tangerine, the crop from São Paulo, which started in February in some areas of the state, is about to end. According to agents consulted by Cepea, only a few orchards still had fruits to be harvested at the end of the month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded $1.8 million to two Cornell food science research projects.

One project improves the commercial viability of a new food packaging material that actively reduces the need for preservatives, while decreasing food waste; the other project improves juice and beverage production to keep the fresh taste in concentrates.

Ever-increasing food waste represents an emerging threat to the economic and environmental sustainability of the U.S. food system, said Julie M. Goddard, associate professor of food science. Preservatives are added to foods to retain quality with a longer shelf life, but consumers are demanding a reduction in additives.

However, this consumer movement leads to unintended results: food that spoils more quickly, which could cause a surge in food waste.

“We’ve shown that you can introduce preservative functionality into packaging materials, so that we can reduce the additives in foods and beverages without losing product quality,” Goddard said. These “active packaging” materials are a promising new technology, but technological hurdles and consumer-mindsets have so far prevented their successful commercial translation, she added.

Removing the preservatives in food products – such as sauces, mayonnaise or salad dressing – would severely diminish shelf life, even with refrigeration. But by adding chelating agents – compounds that can sequester metal ions – to the jar or bottle itself, the food can last much longer without the additives seeping into the food.

“There is a lot of benefit in having fewer additives but gaining the preservative quality built-in to the package so they don’t migrate to the food,” she said.

During the research phase, the researchers will work directly with consumers and producers to ensure that the packaging material meets food-production, supply chain needs and that consumers are more likely to accept this new technology.

Joining Goddard on this project will be co-principal investigators Randy Worobo, professor of food science, and Motoko Mukai, assistant professor of food science; David Just, professor of applied economics at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management; and Chris Ober, professor of materials science and engineering.

For the other project, Carmen Moraru and Olga Padilla-Zakour, both professors of food science, will lead research on using reverse and forward osmosis filtration and other cold processes to create nutritious, high-quality and tasty juices and beverages in an energy-efficient way. Collaborators include Miguel Gomez, associate professor of applied economics at Dyson, and Robin Dando, associate professor of food science.

Currently, juice processors use heat to create juice concentrate, but heat changes the product’s nutritional and sensory profiles.

“Our combination nonthermal process maintains product quality and makes the juice concentrate taste like it is fresh,” Moraru said.

Also, juice concentration consumes energy. “With this cold process technology, we can save energy and conduct the concentration at a fraction of the thermal evaporation cost,” she said.

The researchers will examine different filtration conditions for specific juices and other beverages. In addition to New York state fruit juices like apple and grape juice, the researchers will also examine concentration of cold-brew coffee and tea.

Juice and beverage concentrates make sense from a financial perspective, Moraru said.

“For commercial purposes,” she said, “it is more economical to transport concentrate rather than move the added weight of water. Concentrate is economical and stable, while water makes juices more prone to degradation.”

The developed processes will be transferred to industry stakeholders. Said Moraru: “Ultimately, this work will benefit consumers and will help boost the competitiveness and sustainability of the U.S. food sector by reducing the energy in food processing.”

These new projects add to the department’s growing research output in improving environmental sustainability in the U.S. and global food production by reducing food waste while improving energy efficiency.

The Brazilian exports of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent in the 2018/19 season are ending and the volume shipped to all destinations is still low – May was the ninth consecutive month of lower sales (this scenario has been observed since September/18).

This scenario, which was already expected by agents, is linked to the lower orange production in the Brazilian citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) this season as well as lower demand from the international market, mainly the United States. The exports decrease, in turn, prevents orange inventories of Brazilian processing plants from decreasing to critical levels by the end of the season (June 30 2019).

This season (July/18 to May/19), Brazilian juice exports to all destinations have decreased 18 % compared to the same period in the 2017/18 season, totaling 918.46 thousand tons, according to Secex. Revenue, in turn, has dropped 17%, totaling 1.69 billion USD.

Exports to the European Union, the biggest purchaser of the Brazilian juice, totaled 592 thousand tons, 8 % down compared to that in the same period last year. Revenue, in turn, totaled 1.09 billion USD, 6 % down in the same comparison.

Shipments to the United States had the steepest decrease in the season, of 38 % compared to the previous crop, totaling 190.71 thousand tons of juice. This result is linked to the lower demand from the USA, due to the estimates for the recovery of the 2018/19 crop from Florida as well as lower consumption. Revenue, in turn, dropped 39 % in the same comparison, totaling 331.55 million USD.

ESTIMATES – According to a report released by the USDA on June 11, the orange crop from Florida should increase by 58.4 % compared to the previous, totaling 71.4 million boxes (1.3 % down compared to that forecast in May).

Despite the decrease in the consumption of orange juice in the United States, the demand from the country for the Brazilian orange juice may not decrease too sharply in the coming seasons, due to the effects of greening on American crops in the long term.

BRAZILIAN MARKET – The trading pace was slow in the Brazilian citrus market in the first fortnight of June. However, the volume of oranges in the ideal stage for the in natura market was gradually decreasing in São Paulo, due to the increase in the deliveries to processing plants. Thus, between June 3 and 14, pear orange quotes averaged 18.08 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 21.5 % down compared to that in the first half of May.

As for tahiti lime, despite the large volume available for harvesting, the current weather allows the fruits to stay on tree for longer. Thus, growers reduced the pace of activities in the field, aiming to prevent prices from dropping too much. In the first half of June, tahiti lime quotes averaged 13.65 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, a slight 20.6 % down compared to that in the first fortnight of May.

EXPORTS – Lemon and lime shipments were positive in May, surpassing, for the first time in the year, the amount exported in 2018. Last month, exports hit a record (revenue and volume) in all Secex series, which started in 1997.

According to Brazilian exporters consulted by Cepea, as the weather delayed the maturation of tahiti lime crops in SP, shipments decreased from March to April, increasing again in May. According to data from Secex, Brazil exported 18.94 thousand tons of lemon and lime in May, almost two-fold the amount shipped in May 2018 and 57% more than that exported in April/19.

Nutricane Beverages, an innovator in the beverage space from India, announced the launch of its exciting and innovative range of fruit juices with two new variants – Mango and Guava under its brand name OMG!

This new-age range is a delicious blend of fruits with sugarcane juice, that not only enhances flavour but also elevates the nutritional profile of the juice and is a great source of vitamins and other essential micro nutrients. The packaging of OMG! juices in a recyclable glass bottle without any added sugar or chemical preservatives makes this juice an all-round winner.

These unique fruit juices are a first of their kind globally where fruits are combined with sugarcane juice that acts as a natural sweetener thereby replacing the need for refined sugar and water as is done in other packaged fruit drinks and beverages. This breakthrough was made possible by Nutricane Beverages through its internally developed patent-pending process called “FreshFusion” which gives sugarcane juice a long shelf-life. The company launched its sugarcane juice range in 3 flavours last year and has now introduced its new fruit juices range.

OMG! fruit juices are now available in a 250 mL glass bottle in two variants – Mango and Guava in Delhi NCR, Jammu and Kashmir, Jaipur, Chennai, Bangalore and Lucknow at an attractive price of INR 45/-. The juices will be available in more cities all over India in the coming months.

About Nutricane Beverages Pvt. Ltd. and OMG!
Nutricane Beverages Pvt. Ltd. is a juice & beverage company with a mission to innovate and offer unique, healthy and nutritional beverages to the global market. The company through its internal research and development over the past few years has developed ‘FreshFusion’ process, a patent-pending process to preserve natural sugarcane juice in ambient conditions while retaining its nutritional properties.
Under the brand OMG! – Oh My Ganna, Nutricane has launched flavoured sugarcane juices as well as fruit juices using sugarcane juice as a core ingredient thereby replacing any refined sugars, creating the most delicious, nutritious & wholesome juices.
OMG! products are naturally crafted and packed at its state of the art facility located in Jhajjar district in Haryana (India), using modern processes which offer more juice content, do not contain refined sugar or any chemical preservatives, a first of its kind that would create a new segment in the juice category for a healthy and happy consumer.

One of the large-sized processing plants from São Paulo State started purchasing oranges in the spot market in the first fortnight of May – early varieties from the 2019/20 crop as well as fruits out of the ideal period from the 2018/19 season. Two plants of this large-sized processing plant were crushing oranges in that period, one in Araraquara and the other in Colina.

Bidding prices were around 18 BRL per box, harvested and delivered at the processing plant, lower than that observed until December/18 for mid and long-term contracts, which ranged from 20 to 22 BRL per box – with the possibility of a participation additional in the international juice market. At smaller-sized processing plants, in turn, quotes ranged from 14 to 20 BRL per box in the spot market – depending on both the processing plant and the quality desired.

For mid and long-term contracts, the purchases of oranges from the new crop have been occasional this year, with no fixed prices and deals closed between some of the large-sized processors only.

The citrus farmers consulted by Cepea are concerned about the effects of the higher production expected for the citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) in 2019/20 on orange prices.

Higher supply estimates are based on the good development of orange orchards in all Brazilian regions, favorable weather in the second semester of 2018 (with mild heat and well-distributed rains) and the resume of investments. Still, greening should constrain yield at many orchards in SP.

Although higher productivity in 2019/20 may lower the unit cost of production, the new bidding prices are considered low compared to expenses, which may constrain the revenue paid to the growers who will depend on sales in the spot market. Concerning fruit volume, most oranges have already been traded, through contracts – either previously closed or closed in late 2018. However, a high number of farmers, probably smaller-sized ones, may have been waiting for prices to be fixed this year in order to sell their fruits.

THE MARKET IN MAY – Oranges quotes dropped in the first fortnight of May, pressed down by both higher supply and low purchases from processing plants. Between May 2 and 15, pear orange quotes averaged 23.03 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 34.5 % down compared to that in the first fortnight of April.

TAHITI LIME – The demand for tahiti lime was low in the first half of May, while supply continued high in the field of São Paulo State – due to the delay in fruit maturation in the first months of 2019. Between May 2 and 15, tahiti lime was traded for 17.20 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, 26.8 % down compared to that in the first fortnight of April.

EXPORTS – In the international market, the demand for tahiti lime was firm, due to the higher quality of the fruits available. However, this year, the Brazilian exports of tahiti lime have been lower than in 2018. In April/19, shipments totaled 10.6 thousand tons, according to Secex, 9 % down compared to that in April/18. Between January and April 2019, exports were 20 % lower than in the same period last year.

The Coca-Cola Company reported a solid start to 2019, with continued momentum that included gaining global value share. Reported net revenues grew 5 % in the first quarter, and organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 6 %, with positive performance across all operating groups, in addition to a benefit from timing.

“We’re encouraged by our first quarter results as our disciplined growth strategies continue to deliver strong underlying performance,” said James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “We remain confident in our full year guidance as we continue to make progress on our transformation as a consumer-centric total beverage company.”

Highlights

Quarterly Performance

• Revenues: Net revenues grew 5% to $8.0 billion. Organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 6 %. An estimated 2 points of revenue growth was attributable to timing, primarily related to bottler inventory build in order to manage uncertainty related to Brexit. Additionally, the quarter included one less day, which resulted in an approximate 1-point headwind to revenue growth.
• Margin: Operating margin for the quarter, which included items impacting comparability, was 29.1 % versus 23.7 % in the prior year. Comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) was 30.5 % versus 30.7 % in the prior year. Strong underlying margin (non-GAAP) expansion was offset by an approximate 260 basis point negative impact from currency headwinds and net acquisitions.
• Earnings per share: EPS from continuing operations grew 24 % to $0.38. Comparable EPS from continuing operations (non-GAAP) grew 2 % to $0.48, despite an 11-point currency headwind. EPS included an estimated 2 cent benefit from timing, primarily from the bottler inventory build related to Brexit.
• Market share: The company continued to gain value share in total nonalcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages.
• Cash flow: Cash from operations was $699 million, up 14 %. Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $335 million, down 1 % as strong underlying cash generation was offset by currency headwinds along with an increase in capital expenditures and cash tax payments.
• Share repurchases: Purchases of stock for treasury were $397 million. Net share repurchases (non-GAAP) totaled $243 million.

Company Updates

• Chairman transition and an evolving growth culture: Following the company’s annual meeting on April 24, James Quincey will become the 14th chairman of The Coca-Cola Company, contingent upon his reelection as a director. Quincey succeeds Muhtar Kent, who is retiring after a Coca-Cola system career that started in 1978. Kent served as chairman and CEO from 2009 until 2017 and then as chairman after Quincey became CEO. Quincey intends to build on the strong foundation Kent has established within the system, including a focus on fostering a growth-oriented culture.
• Pursuing the company’s World Without Waste goals: Supporting its commitment to the World Without Waste initiative and improved transparency, the company issued its annual progress report, which cited continued progress globally on design, collect and partner efforts. For example, the company, along with its bottling partners, now has 100 % recycled PET bottles in multiple markets and will have them in more than a dozen markets by the end of 2019, driving successful circular solutions for packaging. Much of the system’s Latin America business is engaged in a multi-country project to significantly increase the use of refillable packaging, and markets globally are assessing ways to move toward more diverse business models for product delivery.
• Broadening a consumer-centric portfolio: During the quarter, the company completed its acquisition of Costa Ltd., which gives Coca-Cola a significant entry point into hot beverages and a global platform in coffee. In the second quarter, the company will begin to leverage Costa’s scalable platform across formats and channels with the introduction of Costa ready-to-drink products. Coca-Cola also closed its acquisition of CHI Ltd., an innovative, fast-growing leader in expanding beverage categories in West Africa, including juices, value-added dairy and iced tea.
• Driving profitable growth under the Leader, Challenger, Explorer framework: Strong innovation within Leader brands included double-digit growth for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar globally for the sixth consecutive quarter. Within the U.S., the company showed strong performance for Orange Vanilla Coke and Orange Vanilla Coke Zero Sugar, which helped drive 6 % retail value growth for brand Coca-Cola. The company also launched Simply smoothies in the U.S., while innocent, the company’s leading juice brand in Europe, expanded into plant-based beverages. As a Challenger brand, smartwater continues to innovate through the successful rollout of smartwater antioxidant and smartwater alkaline in the U.S. Within Explorer brands, the company continued to capitalize on brands with edge, including Aquarius GlucoCharge, which has shown early signs of success in the fast-growing enhanced hydration category in India.
• Aligned and engaged system investing for growth: The company has established a sustained platform for performance that is focused on disciplined portfolio growth through an aligned and engaged system. Across the bottling system, the company is seeing the right strategic investments in supply chain, cold-drink equipment and sales force capabilities to drive accelerated results. These investments are creating a winning strategy in the marketplace, centered around improved execution that is committed to increasing the availability of core products, in addition to expanding the total portfolio.

Download the full earnings release (PDF)

Butterfly, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in the food sector, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Company for $510 million in cash, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

Founded in 1915 and based in Bakersfield, CA and Santa Monica, CA, Bolthouse Farms is a vertically integrated food and beverage company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing proprietary, high value-added natural, healthy products. The company has leading market positions in fresh carrots and refrigerated premium beverages in the U.S., along with a strong and growing presence in refrigerated salad dressings. Bolthouse Farms benefits from access to over 65,000 acres of premium growing land, nationwide fresh distribution capabilities, and a state-of-the-art carrot and beverage processing facility. The company has approximately 2,200 employees and operates facilities in Bakersfield, California; Hodgkins, Illinois; Wheatley, Ontario; and Prosser, Washington.

Bolthouse Farms is Butterfly’s fourth investment within its “seed to fork” approach to investing in food across agriculture, aquaculture, food and beverage products, food distribution and foodservice.

The closing of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in summer 2019.

About Butterfly:
Butterfly Equity (“Butterfly”) is a Los Angeles, California based private equity firm specializing in the food sector, spanning the entire food value chain from “seed to fork” via four target verticals: agriculture & aquaculture, food & beverage products, food distribution and foodservice. Butterfly aims to generate attractive investment returns through deep industry specialization, a unique approach to sourcing transactions, and leveraging an operations-focused and technology-driven approach to value creation.

Cartons will become full-scale data carriers and digital tools

Tetra Pak announced the launch of its connected packaging platform, which will transform milk and juice cartons into interactive information channels, full-scale data carriers and digital tools.

Driven by the trends behind Industry 4.0, and with code generation, digital printing and data management at its core, the connected packaging platform will bring new benefits to food producers, retailers and shoppers.

For producers, the new packaging platform will offer end-to-end traceability to improve the production of the product, quality control and supply chain transparency. It will have the ability to track and trace the history or location of any product, making it possible to monitor for market performance and any potential issues.

For retailers, it will offer greater supply chain visibility and real-time insights, enabling distributors to track stock movements, be alerted when issues occur, and monitor for delivery performance.

For shoppers, it will mean the ability to access vast amounts of information such as where the product was made, the farm that the ingredients came from and where the package can be recycled.

Ivan Nesterenko, Vice President, Cross Portfolio at Tetra Pak said: “We are unlocking new opportunities for our customers to get more value from packaging than even before. No longer is it only about product protection and functionality, it is about connectivity. The future of packaging is undoubtedly digital: this launch is a step towards a truly intelligent package, and we are excited to collaborate with our customers on this journey.”

Tetra Pak has successfully completed pilots with its customers to test the new connected package and its performance in retail in Spain, Russia, China, the Dominican Republic and India, working with beverage, juice and milk producers. In Spain a customer increased their sales by 16% through the scan and win campaign.

Döhler Group and Zumos Catalano Aragoneses S.A. (ZUCASA) have reached an agreement on the acquisition of the majority of shares in ZUCASA by the Döhler Group. With immediate effect, Döhler will manage ZUCASA’s juice production facility located in the Huesca region through its subsidiary Döhler Fraga S.L.

For Döhler, this transaction marks another great step forward in one of Europe’s largest fruit production areas. Customers will benefit from a more diverse offering in the stone fruits segment as well as in apples and pears; furthermore, the combined businesses will offer greater efficiency in a global market with regard to customised all-in-one solutions.

ZUCASA’s extensive expertise and ability to provide fruit and vegetable juices, purees and concentrates for food and beverages, combined with the broad product portfolio and the comprehensive industry knowledge of the Döhler Group, will create unique synergy effects. In the coming years, Döhler Group aims to set a benchmark within the sector and develop a plan of expansion and sustainable growth within its business model.

About ZUCASA:

Zumos Catalano Aragoneses S.A. is a producer of juices, purees and sweet fruit concentrates, vegetables and plants located in the region of Fraga (Huesca), with operations at the heart of Spain’s largest production area of sweet fruit between Huesca and Lleida. It has facilities spanning more than 24,000 m2 over an area of 168,000 m2, with capacity to store 32,000 m3 of natural fruit juices, purees and concentrates. ZUCASA began production in 2010 with three lines for processing fruits and vegetables: two of which for purees and a third for juices. Currently, it employs an average of 50 workers on permanent contracts, reaching 150 workers during high season. The company’s commitment to quality in production has been confirmed by the international certifications BRC, IFS, SGF, Kosher, FDA and others, which in turn have enabled it to expand internationally, with more than 60 % of revenues coming from exports.

Lion NZ announced that it has acquired Kiwi drinks brand, Teza Iced Teas. The purchase forms part of the company’s wider ambition to grow its non-alcoholic beverage portfolio and cater to the increasingly diverse social occasions of New Zealanders.

Sitting alongside the likes of GoodBuzz Kombucha, Hopt and Mac’s Soda, Teza will join Lion’s growing non-alcoholic division, Drinks Collective, which earlier this month also announced a new strategic partnership with flavoured sparking water start-up, Vista.

Teza Iced Teas is part of the Greenstone Drinks Company and was the first real-brewed iced tea in New Zealand. The product is made with batch brewed organic leaf tea, fruit juices and botanicals. Sold in 325 ml glass bottles, the brand offers several unique flavours including Feijoa & Lime Blossom and Lemon & Mandarin.

Stefan Gray, General Manager, Drinks Collective says: “The iced tea market is in strong growth globally so we’re incredibly excited to welcome Teza Iced Teas into the Drinks Collective. The brand’s premium offering complements our existing range nicely and will help us deliver greater choice and convenience for consumers across more social occasions. We’ll be leveraging our networks to make the brand more readily available nationwide and the Teza Grassy Tea Bush Van will also be making a return to the streets of NZ.

“I think typically people associate Lion with alcohol products and don’t realise what an amazing non-alcoholic beverage offering we have – from coffee and juices to low sugar sodas and Kombucha. We have big plans to grow the Drinks Collective as part of our commitment to meeting the evolving world of sociability and by 2025 at least 10 % of Lion’s sales will come from our non-alcoholic range,” adds Gray.

Lion’s Drinks Collective will take full control of the Teza brand and associated assets, with the founders, Joe Gehrke and Daphne Raj, now living in Australia where they are focused on growing their company, Greenstone Drinks Co. They will still be involved in the brand via an agreement which will see them distribute Teza for Lion in the Australian market through Greenstone Drinks Co.

Teza founder Joe Gehrke, says, “We created Teza when we moved home from our stint in the UK. We noticed a real gap in the market for a premium, more natural iced tea offering and are proud of the growth we’ve achieved for the brand so far, including Australia, Japan, and South Korea. We’re thrilled to pass the Teza brand on to Lion who has a proven track record of nurturing and growing strong brands in the Kiwi market. Under Lion, Teza can be taken to the next level.”

Odwalla is bringing a smooth, tasty twist to the kombucha craze.

Odwalla Smoobucha, which hits stores in the U.S. after a buzzed-about unveiling at Natural Products Expo West tradeshow in Anaheim, Calif., blends the great taste and texture of fruit smoothies with the boldness of pasteurized kombucha.

Three flavors – Citrus & Guava, Berry & Ginger and Apple & Greens – offer a unique mashup of flavor and function, with 40 percent less sugar and fewer calories than leading smoothies. The cleverly named beverage also includes 500 million colony-forming units of “good” bacteria, an excellent source of fiber that helps support digestive health and delivers 100 % daily value of antioxidant Vitamin C. Odwalla Smoobucha, offered in 15.2-oz. bottles, can be enjoyed as a nutritious, on-the-go snack.

Odwalla also is introducing two limited-edition flavors inspired by the vibrant essence of spring. Hot Tropics and Mint to Be Berry offer a refreshing blend of 100 % juice, coconut water and trendy botanical ingredients such as jalapeño and mint.

Cold-pressed juice leader Evolution Fresh announced the launch of new Organic Celery Glow, the first available celery juice hitting store shelves at select grocery and natural retailers beginning in April in the U.S.A. Consumer interest in plant-based hydration is on the rise, with the USD 54 M category growing 28 % in 2018^*, and Evolution Fresh is making it easier than ever to enjoy

“We are excited to introduce Evolution Fresh Organic Celery Glow nationwide and offer consumers a convenient celery juice without the fuss of juicing at home,” said Michelle Chin, vice president, marketing and category, Evolution Fresh. “Evolution Fresh Organic Celery Glow is a delicious, functional, ready-to-drink beverage that offers an easy way to get more nutrients from green vegetables as part of your daily diet.”

Evolution Fresh Organic Celery Glow

New Evolution Fresh Organic Celery Glow features revitalizing, cold-pressed celery juice that is brightened with a twist of lemon and contains 2 grams of naturally occurring sugar per 8 fluid ounce serving. The beverage is a good source of potassium and certified USDA Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and Kosher and is available for the suggested retail price of USD 4.99 (per 15.2 fluid ounce bottle).

^* IRI/Spins Plant Water Category L52 Wks ending 1/27/19

Every six packages form a cube, optimising use of space in transportation and storage

Tetra Pak today launched the Tetra Classic^® Aseptic 65 ml Cube package, offering an efficient packaging solution for dairy, juice and liquid food.

The dimensions of the package have been designed to allow every six packages to form a cube, hence optimising the use of space in distribution and storage. This has brought significant improvement in cost efficiencies and the environmental footprint.

The package adds to the company’s Tetra Classic Aseptic family, the tetrahedron packages known for their minimal use of packaging materials.

Compared to the traditional Tetra Classic Aseptic 65 ml packages, the new package requires less secondary packaging and needs approximately 40 % less space to transport the same quantity of products. This means food can now be delivered safely over longer distances, at lower cost, and made available to consumers at an affordable price.

Hemant Krashak, Product Director at Tetra Pak said, “With its robust food protection, minimal use of materials, and efficiency in distribution, the Tetra Classic Aseptic 65 ml Cube package provides a simple answer to the rising need of environmentally sound packages while saving cost for manufacturers. Many customers with existing Tetra Classic Aseptic filling machines can easily switch to this new package with limited investment.”

The new package is now available with hand packing for secondary boxes. It has been in use since December 2018 at a customer in Southeast Asia selling coconut milk as a cooking ingredient in markets where logistics infrastructure is a challenge.

Watch Tetra Pak’s video on YouTube!

JuiceInnov8, a Bangkok based deeptech startup in food biotechnology space, has closed a pre-Series A funding led by 500 Startups (500 Durians and 500 Tuktuks), making the total amount raised (including Seed Round and grants) at USD 1.2 M to date.

As the first venture-backed food-biotech startup in Asia, the company is now on the verge to reinvent global beverage industry with a better & healthier juice that has less sugar & lower calories. By working with leading food & beverage manufacturers worldwide, JuiceInnov8 develops sugar reduction technology platform with natural & non-GM (non-genetically modified) microbes and proprietary sugar conversion process through biotechnology. The technology allows sugar & calories reduction in juice to near zero while preserving its original 100 % juice content and key nutrients.

Proceed from this round will help JuiceInnov8 expand its core scientist & engineering team and help accelerate the development from pilot to commercial scale. The company is now working closely with leading brands & suppliers in the food & beverage supply chain in multiple regions around the globe.

To deliver new beverage options to consumers seeking healthier alternatives, Danone Waters Brazil has partnered with Crown Holdings, Inc. to launch its newest brand, 4U by Danone. Debuting in the Brazil market in November, the 4U line features two carbonated juices and two flavored teas, all made with 100 % natural ingredients. Two different sizes of sleek style cans from Crown, along with special ink finishes and colorful imagery, offer vibrant, eye-catching package designs that reflect the healthy, fresh blends of the 4U beverages.

With an uptick in global awareness for health, wellness and sustainability, the beverage market has seen a growing consumer preference for alternative, more natural options. The 4U brand helps Danone address this burgeoning market within Brazil and diversify its portfolio, which includes dairy products and water, and reach new consumers.

The launch of the 4U line brings four new flavorful beverage options to the market. Danone’s carbonated juice, developed under the sub-brand True 4U, is available in White Grape and Citrus and packed in 269 ml (9.1 ounce) sleek style beverage cans. The sub-brand Tea 4U features two flavors, Black Tea – Hibiscus and Berry and Lemon Grass and Citrus, and is available in 310 ml (10.5 ounce) sleek style cans. All four beverages are completely natural, containing no preservatives or artificial coloring.

Danone chose the beverage can for its durability, recyclability and decorative options. The format’s premium appeal, portability and increasing popularity in the Brazilian market were also important factors. Danone collaborated with Crown due to the Company’s reputation for sustainable products and practices and its close relationships with partners.

“Placing Danone on the forefront of Brazil’s growing natural beverage market required a strategic packaging partner that could accurately capture the new 4U brand and help us make our mark in this product sector,” said Rafael Ribeiro, Head of Marketing and Sales at Danone. “Collaborating with Crown allowed us to venture into uncharted territory and bring an exciting, fresh product line to our customers with the confidence that our brand would be represented in a high-quality, sustainable format.”

For added shelf appeal, Crown used two distinct sizes of its sleek style cans. Part of the Company’s diverse product portfolio, the sleek style cans bring a level of exclusivity to the brand and provide greater differentiation between the carbonated juice and tea varieties. The cans’ graphics feature bright colors to convey the bold flavors and fresh ingredients of the natural beverages. An all-over matte finish has been applied to the Tea 4U cans, creating a tactile experience for consumers.

“It is always an honor to help our customers bring a new concept to market, and we were thrilled to support Danone with the launch of the 4U line,” said Altair Frulane, Commercial Director at Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S/A, a subsidiary of Crown. “Our collaboration with Danone involved careful ideation and planning that resulted in a striking product that is true to the brand’s messaging and goals. It is this type of project that allows our expertise and creativity, both regionally and globally, to shine.”

Global Cold Pressed Juice Market is estimated to grow at a substantial CAGR in the forecast period as the scope, product types, and its applications are increasing across the globe. Cold-pressed juice implies usage of a hydraulic press to extract juice from vegetables and fruit, different from further procedures such as single auger or centrifugal.

The factors that propel the growth of the Cold Pressed Juice Market include growing number of diabetic patients, fatness problems, growing dietary and health concerns among clinicians, Changing lifestyle, and beauty and detoxifying benefits offered by juice. On the other hand, the factors that may hamper the growth of the market include high price of cold pressed juice.

Cold Pressed Juice Market may be explored by nature, type, distribution channel, and geography. Cold Pressed Juice Market may be explored by nature as Conventional, and Organic. The “Organic” segment led the Cold Pressed Juice Market in 2018 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance by 2024. Cold Pressed Juice Market could be explored based on type as Mixed Fruits and Vegetables, Fruits, and Vegetables. The “Mixed fruits and vegetables” segment led the Cold Pressed Juice Market in 2018 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance by 2024 owing to high demand and rising concerns concerning numerous health issues.

Cold Pressed Juice Market could be explored based on distribution channel as Hyper/Super Market, Convenience Stores, Internet Selling, and Retail/Grocery Stores. The “Hyper/Super Market” segment led the Cold Pressed Juice Market in 2018 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance by 2024.

Cold Pressed Juice Market is categorized based on geography into North America, Latin America, Japan, Middle East and Africa, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, and Eastern Europe. Europe and North America accounted for the major share of the Cold Pressed Juice Market Size in 2018 and will continue to lead in the forecast period.

The key players contributing in the robust growth of the Cold Pressed Juice Market comprise Pressed Juicery, Evergreen Juices Inc., Suja Life, Liquiteria, PepsiCo Inc., Evolution Fresh, LLC, JustPressed, Hain BluePrint, Inc., Organic Avenue, Organic Press Juices, and Juice Generation. The leading companies are taking up partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures in order to boost the inorganic growth of the industry.

US markets are poised to achieve continuing growth as Cold Pressed Juice Markets support better nutrition.

An increasing number of diabetic patients, terrible obesity issues, and increasing nutritional and health concerns among clinicians are having an impact on the Cold Pressed Juice markets as people turn to good nutrition as a supplement to medications. Changing lifestyle impacts the market. The cold pressed juice market can be primarily divided into two broad categories: raw juices and HPP. The HPP is packaged in plastic.

Independent brands comprise a higher percentage than is usual for other markets. The cold pressed juice market is comprised in part of smaller stores and from sources that operate as small entities. In other markets it is usually the case that the known brands dominate a market. What is different here with cold pressed juices is that cold pressed juice is better when it is really fresh. This requirement mitigates against large company usual methodical, slow ways of working. It is even more difficult than the milk market when the juice is not pasteurized.

A USD 4.3 billion market in the US in 2017 is expected to reach USD 8.1 billion by 2024, growing in response to demand for food that has more nutrition in it and is tasty.

The full report “Cold Pressed Juice Market” is available with Radiant Insights, Inc. at www.radiantinsights.com.

The Hamburg-based ingredients specialist Bösch Boden Spies presents a new product in its range: Ocean Spray’s 50° Brix cranberry concentrate. It offers beverage manufacturers numerous advantages.

The beverage market is changing: More and more consumers are looking for healthy thirst quenchers that are low on sugar and high on added functional value. Meanwhile, traditional juices and spritzers are increasingly having a hard time in the market. New product concepts are in demand: Ocean Spray’s 50° Brix cranberry concentrate offers beverage manufacturers the ideal basis for this.

The product is characterized by a special production process whereby fewer turbidity-forming ingredients are transferred into the concentrate. As a result, it is particularly color-stable and can easily be mixed with other beverages without flocculating.

Adding this cranberry concentrate to juices, for example, can significantly reduce the sugar content of the beverages. The products taste tart and exotic with a natural, light sweetness. At the same time, the subtle cranberry taste enhances the flavors of the other fruits.

The cranberry concentrate increases the antioxidant content of a drink. And their attractive red color gives beverages containing cranberry a special visual appeal as well.

The cranberry concentrate is also good for using in alcoholic beverages, and is suitable for other product segments as well, such as the dairy sector.

The prices paid to the orange growers from São Paulo and the Triângulo Mineiro region in the 2019/20 season should be positive, despite the larger production, since inventories are forecast to, again, decrease to critical levels at the processors from SP State (because of the lower production in 2018/19), underpinning the demand for the fruit.

According to estimates from CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters) released in August/18, the ending stocks of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent forecast to June 30 2019, at 146.7 thousand tons, would only be enough for a two-month exporting period. Therefore, this scenario could underpin orange prices in the Brazilian market in 2019, despite the high production in the 2019/20 season – although positive, the ending stocks in June/18 (related to the 2017/18 crop) were not too large.

Indeed, the first bids from large-sized processors for the oranges from the 2019/20 crop started early again (in October/18). Bidding prices were around 22 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, harvested and delivered at processors (with the possibility of a bonus added to the orange selling price in the international market). In the 2018/29 crop, the first bids were around 20 BRL per box.

Although cautious at first, citrus growers accepted to trade in mid-November, fearing that bidding prices could drop in the following months. Early purchases have been a strategy of large-sized processors since 2016 (when they started closing deals in October, although the 2017/18 crop was one of the largest in all times).

PRODUCTION – Citrus growers believe that the 2019/20 crop will be positive, based on the weather, which favored plants development during blossoming and fruitlet settlement. The main blossoming, which occurred between August and September in most orchards, were large.

In mid-December, the wide temperature range led part of the fruitlets to drop in some regions, mainly in late orange orchards, which are more sensitive to the weather. However, citrus farmers believe these losses should not be significant to the next season results. Still, some growers do not expect a super crop and believe the volume harvested will only recover in 2019/20; others forecast a 40% increase compared to 2018/19.

TAHITI LIME – The tahiti lime volume forecast to be harvested during the crop peak in São Paulo State, in the first quarter of 2019, is also positive. According to Brazilian agents, production may be higher than that from 2018, since the rains in the second semester last year were more frequent and well distributed.

Despite the higher supply, the demand from processors may help to underpin the prices paid to growers, controlling availability in the in natura segment. The good exports performance should also help to underpin tahiti lime quotes, even during the crop peak – shipments may continue at a fast pace, due to the firm demand for the fruit, mainly from Europe, where consumption has been increasing.

The calamondin is one of the most exciting new discoveries that tropextrakt has in store for its customers in 2019. Although it sounds like an exotic, unknown fruit right now, it has the potential to start a new taste trend in foods and beverages that can already be seen in the USA, for example. The calamondin, with its scientific name of “Citrofortunella microcarpa”, conceals powerful potential under its delicate peel with a great variety of flavours: sweet-sour and refreshing, it is reminiscent of mandarin orange, bitter orange, lime and pink grapefruit.

A wide variety of flavours for the food and beverage industry

“The unique flavour of the calamondin is perfect for exotic taste experiences and can make a subtle difference in many foods and beverages”, explains Ingo Kniepert, Managing Director of tropextrakt. “The calamondin, for example, corresponds perfectly with familiar ingredients like orange juice or vanilla.” The refreshing and sweet-sour nuances also develop very well in combination with grapefruit in soft drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers and many other drinks, including milkshakes. The juice is also suitable for fruity blends in dairy products, ice cream, marmalades, jams, fruit sauces and sweets. Its taste components also come into their own in dressings, chutneys and desserts. The calamondin harmonises well with apple, mirabelle and blackcurrant, and herbs and spices including cinnamon, peppermint and vanilla. Tropextrakt has tested these and other combinations in its own application lab, where special applications for customers in the food and beverage industry can be developed on request.

Year-round harvest – transparent production

The calamondin, a particularly small type of citrus fruit, is a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the oval kumquat. Externally, it resembles a lime, but is much smaller. Unlike other citrus fruits, the calamondin has a thin, delicate peel, which is why the fruit has to be cut from the tree by hand. tropextrakt obtains the unadulterated calamondin juice from Vietnam, where the fruits grow, are harvested and processed into pure calamondin juice in NFC quality all year round. “It’s very important to us that our products are left in their natural state, thus complying with the Clean Label standard”, says Kniepert. tropextrakt imports its raw materials from the producers themselves in order to be able to influence the corresponding quality and hygiene standards on site. Every batch can be traced back directly to one of the 500 family businesses with calamondin plantations. Additionally, the producer guarantees the fruit will be processed in accordance with ISO 2000 and the BRC Food and HACCP standards. Both the Vietnamese producer and tropextrakt are Sedex-certified and have made a commitment to sustainable supply chains. In doing so, tropextrakt also makes a contribution to the small plantations in Vietnam, where calamondin cultivation with controlled labour conditions helps in the fight against poverty.

Measurement of the colour of clear and hazy juices (Spectrophotometric method)

Principle. The colour of a juice is an important quality criterion. In some juices a relatively light colour is expected for a good quality, such as apple or grape juices. However, in red/black juices a deep red/purple colour is expected in good quality juices. The colour of a juice can be determined spectrophotometrically by measurement of its absorbance or transmission in the visible region of the spectrum. In yellow/brown products e.g. apple, pear, white grape juices the absorbance is measured at 430 nm. In red/black juices e.g. blackcurrant, raspberry etc. the absorbance is measured at 520 nm.

The text has been slightly revised to clarify part of the procedure.

The revised method can be access via the methods section of the IFU website www.ifu-fruitjuice.com

Determination of Sulphur Dioxide

IFU Method 7a – The determination of total sulphur dioxide has been revised and is available in the catalogue of methods which can be accessed via the IFU website www.ifu-fruitjuice.com.

The revision includes an addendum for the determination of SO₂ is via ion chromatography. This is useful when a confirmation of very low concentrations is needed or when false positive results must be ruled out. This can be the case for example in vegetable juices from Brassica (cabbage) which contains high levels of endogenous sulfur compounds. An analysis on sulfate from the solution of the first receiver flask can be performed using this procedure.

Less sugar, more minerals and still: 100 percent juice!

From 16 to 18 October 2018, the largest and most important European summit of the fruit juice industry – the Juice Summit in Antwerp – took place. Stefan Reiß, CEO of Green Coco Europe GmbH and co-founder of premium brand Dr. Antonio Martins was invited as a speaker emphasizing the potential and relevance of coconut water / coconut juice to the juice industry in front of about 600 decision-makers. The CEO of the Nuremberg company presents an interesting approach to reducing sugar in fruit juices. Coconut juice is very popular among athletes, vegans and nutritionally-conscious consumers due to its high potassium and low calorie content – making it an ideal blend for juices whose high sugar content no longer seems to hit the nerve of the times.

For some time now, the juice industry has faced immense challenges in terms of sugar discussions. The high sugar content of orange juice & co is increasingly being pilloried. For example, orange juice with about 8 grams of sugar per 100 ml of juice contains as much sugar as cola. For this reason, the 100 % fruit juice loses its healthy reputation not only with relevant nutritionists, but more and more with nutritionally conscious consumers.

“Coconut juice can be a solution here and take out the wind of the issue´s sails. Why not add coconut juice to orange juice and drastically reduce sugar content and calories? The fruit juice content remains in this way at 100 percent. The light and neutral properties of the coconut juice do not mask the taste of the orange juice. According to the latest figures from the market research study by Arizton, I see a potential of 297 million liters for juice with coconut juice by 2023, “says Green-Coco CEO Stefan Reiß, summing up his solution. Coconut juice adds valuable minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium to the juice and these can also be declared as such. The juice of the coconut is 11-19 kcal per 100 ml – the lowest calorie fruit juice ever.

A mixing ratio of 40 % coconut juice and 60 % orange juice gives 29 calories per 100 ml, instead of 42 kcal as before. In this way you achieve a reduction of more than 10 calories per 100ml to less than 30 kcal compared to the pure variant – in times of steadily rising numbers of diabetes diseases a step in the right direction. Even in multivitamin juices, adding coconut juice would mean a significant calorie and sugar reduction.

Other facts should encourage the industry to take this path: According to a market study by Arizton, the coconut water market is expected to grow by 25 % per year across Europe by 2023. Coconut juice is no longer a niche product, has established itself as an independent category and can be found in almost every discount. Supermarkets, such as REWE, already have a firm place on the shelves for their own coconut juice brands.

With “taste” being such a trending focal point at SIAL Paris 2018 many visitors were keen to discover our passion fruit exotic juice and food preps

Passina’s new branding and natural passion fruit-based food products attracted the attention of crowds of international food stakeholders at SIAL Paris 2018. Almost 160,000 visitors attended the international food trade fair.

“Our clients and partners understood our new concept and approach towards branding in the face of the intense competition the sector faces today. We know that collaboration is key to developing new products”, said Dr Pablo Hafner, Passina Group CEO.

Exploiting the innovation of passion fruit-products

“We have our own R&D department and are also partnering with various research organisations, mainly in the US and Europe. We are now in the research phase and want to launch nutritional supplements based on passion fruit in 2019”, added the CEO.

International experts in the food industry can discover the new applications through recipes prepared by the R&D team for the show:

• Tastings of passion fruit juice, smoothies and dips.
• Concept cards adapted to different sectors: juice & food preps, confectionery and cosmetics.
• Besides adding an exotic and savoury touch to dishes, passion fruit and its ingredients offer a range of health benefits, such as:
• Adding low-calorie, enriching fibres to dietetic snacks (from seeds).
• Reducing sleep disorders and restlessness through herbal teas (from leaves and extracts).
• Anti-inflammatory effects.

Digital presentations displayed at the Passina stand presented the company and its new brand identity. Passina attracted potential collaborators from various sectors and new business partnerships emerged during the busy fair. “We have seen positive outcomes from sales, R&D, and project managers within the food and nutritional supplement sectors”, said Hafner.

This all forms part of the ongoing development of Passi AG, including the sale of the non-passion fruit business to Döhler Group. The sale is currently being evaluated by the antitrust authorities and is conditional on their approval, with the outcome expected to be announced by the first half of November 2018.

Patented natural process converts sugar to fibers in just one-step

Better Juice Ltd. has developed innovative technology to reduce the load of simple sugars in orange juice. The patent-pending enzymatic technology uses all-natural ingredients to convert monosaccharides and disaccharides (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) into prebiotic and other non-digestible fibers and sugars, while keeping the juicy flavor of the beverage.

Popular juices, such as orange juice and apple juice, have nearly 1 oz. (25 g) of sugar per 1-cup serving (250 ml). Although juice contains the vitamins and minerals you’d find in fresh produce, it’s devoid of most of the natural dietary fiber as an outcome of traditional methods of juicing. In addition to its intrinsic health benefits, fiber also adds to the feeling of fullness.

Better Juice’s process harnesses a natural enzymatic activity in non-GMO microorganisms to convert a portion of the simple fructose, glucose, and sucrose sugars into fibers and other non-digestible natural sugars. The process works on all types of sugars. Yet the process preserves the great flavor and the full complement of vitamins and other nutrients inherent in the fruits. The technology was developed in collaboration with Hebrew University in Rehovot, Israel.

“This natural a non fermentative process occurs without adding or removing ingredients,” says Eran Blachinsky, PhD, Founder and CEO of Better Juice. “It also will not alter the flavor or aroma of the juice.” Better Juice uses an advanced solution that involves just one short and simple pass-through step in the juice-making process, allowing the product to be marketed at a price point comparable to other premium juice products.

”While the process does slightly reduce the sweetness of the juice,” explains Blachinsky, “It actually brings out more of the fruit flavor, making for a better-tasting juice product overall.”

Better Juice conducted several trials with different beverage companies and succeeded in reducing sugars in orange juice from 30 %, up to 80 %. The start-up can now provide proof of concept for orange juice.

Mono-and disaccharides – often called “simple sugars” – are easy for the body to digest and thus quickly metabolized. If the energy they provide can’t be used, it is converted to fat and stored. But when these individual sugar molecules link up, they become prebiotic fibers that are non-digestible. The shorter of these fibers, called oliggosaccharides, are still sweet yet have been shown to bestow a number of health benefits, from protecting against disease to helping manage weight. There are other natural monosaccharides that are not easily digested. These sugars have no glycemic index and low caloric values.

“Consumers, especially children, enjoy drinking natural juices but are not always aware of the less nutritious aspects of juice,” notes Blachinsky. “They want the whole package — great flavor, health, and natural ingredients, including the fibers that are essential part of fruits.”

The company will market an advanced device with the unique technology to fruit juice producers and, eventually, to cafés and restaurants.

Despite the firm sales prices, lower orange production in the 2018/19 crop from the citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) should constrain the revenue of farmers who trade with processors, since the lower number of boxes produced per hectare tends to push up the unit price. Only in southwestern SP, where production has not changed much, revenue may remain at high levels.

According to data released by Fundecitrus (Citrus Defense Fund) on September 10, this crop should be 31.4 % smaller than the previous (2017/18), totaling only 273.3 million boxes (40.8 kilos) of oranges. This volume is 5.2 % lower than that first forecast by Fundecitrus in May.

Lower production estimates confirm the initial expectations of the agents consulted by Cepea, who believe that the performance of the current crop may have been compromised by both the high rate of flower loss from the first blossoming (between August and October/17) and the lack of rains in the first semester of 2018. Fundecitrus has reported that the average weight of all varieties is lower than that forecast in May, because of the severe drought (May – July).

Lower domestic supply, in turn, has boosted orange prices to processors this year. Besides, inventories from the 2018/19 crop should again decrease to critical levels by June 2019, according to forecasts from CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters), totaling only 146.7 thousand tons of juice, the second lowest in the CitrusBR series, which started in 1988/89, and only enough for two months of exportations.

After the new estimates were released, prices have been stable in the spot market, at 24 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, harvested and delivered at the processor. However, quotes had already increased last month, when CitrusBR anticipated that estimates from Fundecitrus could be revised down. Despite the smaller amount available for crushing, the average yield is forecast to be higher than in the previous crop, due to the dry period in the citrus belt from May to July (CitrusBR).

Most farmers have already closed deals with the industry – since November/17, processors’ bidding prices have been up to 22 BRL per box. Thus, if quotes increase at processors from now onward, the few farmers with fruits available will still be favored.

SHORTER HARVEST – The new report from Fundecitrus has highlighted that the 2018/19 crop harvesting may end earlier, which, in turn, may push up orange quotes in early 2019, when supply is usually low. So far, 36 % of the oranges from that crop have been harvested, 2 percentage points above the same period last season.

IN NATURA MARKET – The low supply of fruits with the quality demanded by the in natura segment underpinned orange prices in the first fortnight of September. Thus, from September 3 to 14, pear orange quotes averaged 30.81 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, on tree, 10.6 % up compared to that in the first fortnight of August.

In the market of tahiti lime, supply is low, which increased quotes in the first fortnight of September – in the first week of the month, prices surpassed 90 BRL per 27-kilo box. Between September 3 and 14, tahiti lime quotes averaged 67.42 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, a staggering 83 % up compared to that in the same period last month.

On the other hand, higher quotes have constrained exportations, due to the competition with the fruits from Mexico. According to Fresh Plaza website, tahiti lime shipments to Europe usually step up starting June, both from Brazil and Mexico.

In general, the exportation season for tahiti lime was positive in the first semester, but shipments decreased in both July and August, according to Secex, by 21.5 % and 8.2 %, respectively, compared to the same months of 2017. From January to August this year, exports totaled 76 thousand tons, a slight 0.4 % down compared to the same period last year.

INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA to feature a Distillers’ Forum for the first time / Talks, sensor technology seminars and tastings

INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA, International Technology Trade Fair for Wine, Fruit Juice and Special Crops, will be held in Stuttgart from 4 to 6 November 2018. The varied accompanying programme will also contain for the first time a Distillers’ Forum with an associated tasting area. Starting at 10.00 on Sunday, 4 November 2018, sensor technology seminars and talks on liqueur, gin and fruit brandy will each be held in succession in the Oskar Lapp Hall (Hall 6). The length of these moderated seminars and talks will be between 45 and 60 minutes. Suitable marketing strategies will also be discussed based on well-known campaigns. The seminars and talks are being organised by well-known distillers such as the KOVAL Distillery from Chicago and Manufaktur Geiger, as well as recognised experts such as Dipl. Lebensmittel-Ing. Dr. Klaus Hagmann. Pre-registrations are required for the sensor technology seminars which are subject to a charge and have a limited number of participants. You can find all the programme information and registration formalities at: www.ivifho.de/rahmenprogramm. Fruit brandies, gins, whisk(e)ys and liqueurs can also be sampled in the tasting area on all three days of the trade fair.

About INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA
INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA takes place together with the International German Winegrowers’ Congress every two years at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre. As an international technology trade fair for wine, fruit juice and special crops, it covers the entire process chain from cultivation and harvesting technology, processing and process control, and filling and packaging technology through to organisation and marketing. The German Winegrowers’ Association (DWV) acts as the professional supporter of the INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA section and organises the International DWV Congress. The German Agricultural Society (DLG) is the professional supporter of the HORTITECHNICA section.

International trade show for production, storage and marketing of apples

Bolzano, 15 – 17 November 2018

With its motto “Bolzano loves apples”, Interpoma, the only international trade show dedicated to the apple, from November 15 to 17 will be welcoming guests from all over the world with a program of events and themed initiatives outside the trade show and across the whole city. Bolzano, as the international capital of the apple, will itself be turned into a true “big apple” during this period.

Interpoma 2018, the two-yearly international trade show dedicated entirely to the apple sector, is scheduled for November 15 to 17 this year at the Bolzano trade show center: there will be a special program of evening events, themed exhibitions and tastings of apple-derived products, featuring numerous enterprises from right across the city, including restaurants and hotels, as well as bars, bakeries and confectioners.

Interpoma is a major event capable of attracting 20,000 visitors to Bolzano from over 70 countries around the world and, with 500 enterprises present, makes South Tyrol a unique market place for the apple sector. With its program “Bolzano loves Apples”, Interpoma offers guests a unique sensory experience for their business trip that can be enjoyed all over the city.

Origins: an exhibition between past, present and future

Interpoma 2018 invites visitors on a journey through the history of the apple, with an exhibition that shows the origins of the apple in Kazakhstan, explains new possibilities for refining and processing, and offers a view of the technologies of the future.

Interpoma Taste

For the first time, Interpoma will this year feature an area inside the pavilion where visitors can taste apple-derived products and much more besides. The Laimburg Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry is presenting innovative apple juices, with tastings and judgings of ciders arranged by its Evaluation Lab. VOG PRODUCTS, the producer of natural ingredients for the food and beverage industry, will put the focus on apple juice, with a special section dedicated to “Pink Lady” products; while, in partnership with Red Rooster farm holidays, the Ausserloretzhof and Gasserhof farms and the Knöspele distillery will be presenting their natural products based upon ancient and traditional recipes, such as preserves and liquors.

The apple in the city

The entire city of Bolzano will for three days dedicate itself to the fruit that symbolizes the regions of Trentino and South Tyrol. In partnership with the Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs (HGV), the Unione HDS and BZ Heartbeat, 30 hotels and restaurants and 20 bakeries and confectioners in Bolzano are preparing apple-based menus and specialties for the entire duration of the event.

Interpoma Delicious Events

Trade shows are places to meet and do business, but they also represent an opportunity to get to know new cultures and taste the culinary delights of the host territory. For the opening night on Thursday, November 15, Interpoma is organizing the Golden Delicious Night at the on-site Forst Season restaurant; a “golden” night for locals, but also a chance for enterprises to dine with their customers or meet each other in an elegant and pleasant environment.

Then, on the evening of Friday, November 16, two parties will be held at the Bolzano exhibition center; one, “Rouge et Noir”, is organized by the Forst Season restaurant, while the other will be staged at the Hotel Four Points by Sheraton.

The world market for aseptically packed products amounted to 152 billion litres in 347 billion packs during 2017, according to the new Global Aseptic Packaging report from leading food and drinks consultancy Zenith Global Ltd and packaging experts Warrick Research Ltd. Volumes have risen by 2.7 % a year since 2012, with South East Asia achieving the fastest annual growth rate of 7 %, followed by China on 6 %.

Beverages such as fruit juice accounted for 39 % of aseptically packed products, with white drinking milk responsible for 38 % and other dairy/food products making up the remainder. Aseptic filling has also become established for soups, sauces, tomato products and baby foods.

“While European companies still dominate the global aseptic filling equipment industry, the Chinese market is increasingly supplied by Chinese equipment manufacturers, some of whom have also successfully entered other Asian markets,” commented David Warrick, Director at Warrick Research Ltd. “Volumes have been static in much of Europe, contrasting with rapid growth in many Asian countries,” added Arunkumar Anbalagan, Senior Insights Analyst at Zenith Global Ltd.

Other findings of the 2018 Global Aseptic Packaging report include:

• There are over 16,000 operational aseptic filling systems worldwide, serviced by more than 30 suppliers.
• The largest markets for aseptic packaging are China and South East Asia. China is set to become the leading country by 2022, followed by South East Asia and West Europe.
• Value added dairy products are a fast growing area of demand for aseptic filling systems. In some regions, fillers are used for both ambient and chilled dairy products.
• Environmental issues have become more important in many regions. Developments include the introduction of electron beam sterilisation as an alternative to chemical sterilisation. Demand is increasing for re-use or recycling.

By 2022, Zenith and Warrick estimate that the world market will reach 176 billion litres and 410 billion packs. The majority of additional demand will come from South East Asia as well as China.

The American Beverage Association (ABA) announced that Katherine Lugar, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), will join ABA as its new president and CEO later this year. Lugar will succeed Susan K. Neely, who successfully led ABA for 13 years. Neely was named president and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) in May 2018.

Lugar will leverage deep public policy and advocacy experience on behalf of ABA and its member companies, which make and sell some of the world’s most popular and innovative non-alcoholic beverages. As president and CEO of AHLA, Lugar transformed the lodging industry’s largest association in her five-year tenure, tripling revenue and membership, strengthening the association’s core mission on advocacy, championing the industry’s voice with policymakers and achieving historic highs for the industry political action committee (PAC) placing it in the top two percent of all association PACs.

Lugar previously served as the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s (RILA) executive vice president of public affairs, where she ran a number of successful, high-profile issue campaigns. Prior to RILA, Lugar led government relations for Travelers Insurance, served as vice president of legislative and political affairs at the National Retail Federation (NRF) and worked on Capitol Hill. She currently is chair-elect of the board of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for pediatric cancer, a member of the executive committee of the Bryce Harlow Foundation and a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Committee of 100.

The non-alcoholic beverage industry employs more than 250,000 people with a direct economic impact of more than $182.6 billion. The industry manufactures a variety of beverage choices in a wide range of calories and package sizes, including bottled water, 100 percent juice, juice drinks, sports drinks, soft drinks, ready-to-drink teas and energy drinks.

Brenntag North America, Inc., part of Brenntag Group, one of the global market leaders in chemical distribution, announces a new collaboration with Silvateam for the exclusive distribution of Pectin in United States & Canada.

Silvateam has dedicated over 160 years to plant-based extracts. Located in Northern Italy, Silvateam produces products used in a large range of applications such as food, beverages, and animal health and nutrition.

Brenntag North America has been appointed the exclusive distributor in North America for the distribution of the Silvateam Pectin Line:

• Aglupectin^™

“We are excited about our new relationship with Silvateam and the continued expansion of our value- added, functional ingredient options. The combination of our Food & Nutrition team, new food application lab, and Silvateam’s technical expertise position us well to provide quick solutions to our customer’s formulation questions when using pectins,” stated Larry Davis, Marketing Director, Brenntag North America.

Brenntag will focus on Silvateam’s versatile, clean label, pectin products. Pectin is a natural product widely used for its gel formation, thickening, and stabilizing properties in a variety of applications. Applications include fruit juices, jams, marmalades, dairy, confectionary, and bakery.

“Silvateam is a fast-growing company with an excellent reputation in the industry. We are excited to work alongside Brenntag North America to promote our range of specialty pectin,” said Alessandro Di Mase, CEO of Silvateam. “Brenntag’s strong technical expertise, service orientation, and sales team offer the market our tailor-made solutions for texture, mouthfeel, viscosity, flavor release, and suspension.”

Despite the positive ending stock scenario in July (referring to the 2017/18 crop), CitrusBR (Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters) estimates a tight carry over for orange juice by June 2019 (2018/19 crop), at around 146.7 thousand tons.

This amount would be enough for two months of exportations, at the most, the second smallest in the CitrusBR series (which started in 1988/89) and 5.6 % lower than the minimum stablished by the Association in May, at 154.7 thousand tons of Frozen Concentrate Orange Juice (FCOJ) Equivalent. The critical volume is due to the smaller crop forecast for the citrus belt, at only 288.29 million boxes, 27.6 % down compared to the 2017/18 season.

New estimates from Citrus BR are based on an average industrial yield at 259 boxes of 40.8 kilos of oranges to produce one ton of FCOJ, higher than that last season, due to the dry period in the citrus belt – approximately 120 days. The lack of rains, according to CitrusBR, should significantly affect the initial volume forecast by Fundecitrus (Citrus Defense Fund), released in May (which still did not consider the scenario from May to July).

As for the 2017/18 crop, CitrusBR reported ending stocks at 343 thousand tons of FCOJ Equivalent on June 30 2018 at the processors from SP. That amount accounts for a significant recovery at 219.6 % compared to the volume at the end of 2016/17.

This positive result is linked to the larger harvest at the citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) in 2017/18, which totaled 398.35 million boxes of 40.8 kilos, 62.4 % more than in 2016/17, according to Fundecitrus. Compared to the average in the last 10 years, the output was 25% larger and the largest since 2011/12 (when it totaled 416 million boxes). The positive harvest in 2017/18 ensured comfortable inventories at processors, which, however, cannot be considered a surplus.

IN NATURA MARKET – Despite the weak demand, pear orange quotes remain at high levels in Brazil. As crushing of mid-season fruits steps up at processors from SP, and with the low supply of good quality oranges at orchards, availability is low in the spot. Thus, pear orange quotes averaged 27.85 BRL per 40.8-kilo box (on tree) in the first fortnight of August, 5.9% higher than in the same period of July.

South African biotechnology company, Green Cell Technologies^® (GCT^®), announced it has signed an exclusive global licensing agreement for the world’s largest orange juice producer, Citrosuco, to make use of its proprietary Disruptor^™ technology, intellectual property, processes and applicable trademarks.

Green Cell Technologies’ award-winning, patented Dynamic Cellular Disruption^® (DCD^®) process, in conjunction with its Disruptor^® technology, is busy revolutionising the modern global food and beverage manufacturing industry. Without using harmful heat or chemicals, GCT is able to assist its clients in attaining higher yields, reducing food waste at source and all without denaturing the product. Because the process results in a molecular flow and allows for 99.99998 % of the available active ingredients to be harvested, the company already awarded for its work in the area, believes it is able to provide a commercially viable solution to the world’s future food security needs through its technologically advanced extraction and its New Product Development (NPD) capabilities.

The agreement – for an initial two year period – will see Citrosuco hold the exclusive licensing rights to GCT’s DCD process for the global orange juice and orange-related speciality ingredients market. This gives Citrosuco a significant competitive edge, taking its orange production into the future, streets ahead of conventional processing, while also reducing waste. Additionally, Citrosuco will have the increased ability to formulate products suitable for the growing consumer appetite for natural goods.

The Citrosuco development team commented: “Citrosuco aims to be the best company for natural fruit juices and ingredients in the global food industry. Access to Green Cell Technologies’ machinery and intellectual property will make this more of a reality. We are excited about the prospects this means for us as a global company to develop new products and for the people who will benefit from the added nutritional enhancements this technology can unlock.”

While both companies are necessarily un-specific as to the particulars of what the technology will generate for Citrosuco and what else the company is exploring, it is true to say that many possibilities are being explored and the companies will make further announcements in the months to come.

Roy Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of Green Cell Technologies confirmed the agreement, remarking: “We are delighted to be working with Citrosuco as they are a company that shares our ideals as far as natural foods are concerned, and one that is prepared to invest in sustainable innovation with the aim of being able to provide better foods for more people while minimising negative impact on the environment.

“With the world population growing on a daily basis and the ability to deliver meaningful nutrition diminishing, it is imperative that food processors enter the modern manufacturing paradigm.”

The agreement came into effect on 6th August 2018.

Cold-pressed juice brand Evolution Fresh announced it will expand its functional beverage portfolio by entering the $1.2^* billion refrigerated tea category with the launch of new bottled Evolution Fresh Organic Kombucha across seven major U.S. cities from coast to coast. Available in six delicious flavors – Ginger Lemon Honeycrisp, Mango Pineapple, Ginger Greens, Spicy Greens, Pink Grapefruit, and Turmeric Pineapple Coconut – the beverages have started to ship to grocery and natural retailers in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle and New York City, with plans to roll-out to additional cities this fall and next spring. Evolution Fresh Organic Kombuchas feature the company’s cold-pressed juices and will be available in 15.2 fluid ounce glass bottles. Customer interest in kombucha and fermented beverages is on the rise with the category growing 36 percent in 2017 according to IRI data.^**

To create its kombucha, Evolution Fresh starts with carefully selected artisanal teas—Congou black tea, Yerba Matè tea, pu’erh black tea, green tea and matcha. The teas are fermented and paired with cold-pressed Evolution Fresh juice. Leading with flavor, these recipes leverage the brand’s culinary expertise rooted in authentic taste and quality since 1992 to delight the palate and create the perfect combination in every bottle.

Evolution Fresh Organic Kombucha is available in six flavors and is certified USDA Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and Kosher:

• Ginger Lemon Honeycrisp: This invigorating elixir has complexity, leading with Congou black tea that lives in harmony with cold-pressed honeycrisp apple, tart lemon and a kick of ginger.
• Mango Pineapple: Congou black tea strikes a down-to-earth balance with vibrant, cold-pressed oranges, mangos and pineapples to bring a juicy-sweet edge to every lively sip.
• Ginger Greens: At the heart of this feel-good elixir is effervescent Yerba Matè tea, its notes deliciously pair with Evolution Fresh’s signature cold-pressed leafy greens, bright lemon and zingy ginger.
• Spicy Greens: Light-bodied yet full of character, green tea and matcha lift Evolution Fresh’s signature cold-pressed greens, pineapple and jalapeño. A refreshing blend with just a hint of heat, accented by the jalapeno’s rich flavor.
• Pink Grapefruit: This celebrated, complex pu’erh black tea is brightened with a sweet splash of cold-pressed pink grapefruit.
• Turmeric Pineapple Coconut: This spirited blend features bright Yerba Matè tea – made extra-special with savory turmeric and bright cold-pressed pineapple.

*IRI US MULO 52 WE 12/31/17
**IRI US MULO L52 Wks ending 7/30/17 & SPINS – Natural Channel L52 Wks ending 7/16/17 and NSS / Nielson Whole Foods report 8/9/17.

The 2017/18 Brazilian season of juice shipments finished in June with high volumes. As for FCOJ Equivalent (volume equivalent to concentrate juice), the total exported was the highest since the 2009/10 crop, while for NFC (not-from-concentrate-fresh juice), the amount hit a record.

Since the beginning of the season, exports surpassed the volumes registered in the same months of the year before, scenario boosted by the higher production in the citrus belt (São Paulo and Triângulo Mineiro) in 2017/18 and by the higher international demand, especially from the United States.

Secex says that, from July/17 to June/18, total juice (FCOJ Equivalent) shipments to all destinations amounted 1.2 million tons, for an increase of 28 % compared to the season before. The revenue, in turn, rose 29 %, totaling 2.2 billion USD. NFC exports totaled 1.5 million tons, for an increase of 14 % compared to the season before, generating 515.7 million USD, upping 16 % in the same comparison.

To the United States alone, the export increase was 81 % from July/17 to June/18, totaling 315.5 thousand tons of FCOJ. The revenue amounted 561.7 million USD, moving up 76 %. Both volume and revenue to the USA were a record in the 2017/18 season.

To the European Union, sales totaled 720.5 thousand tons of FCOJ, 17 % up compared to the previous season. The revenue, in turn, was 1.3 billion USD, for an increase of 18 % in the same comparison.

MARKET IN BRAZIL – The citrus market registered slow pace of trades in mid-July. Players surveyed by Cepea say that low temperatures and the lack of quality of fruits available in the in natura market hindered negotiations.

However, with the heated demand from processing companies, the supply of early varieties is reduced in São Paulo State, which increases demand for pear orange. From July 2 to 13, pear orange quotes averaged 26.30 BRL per 40.8-kilo, on tree, 3.1 % up compared to the first fortnight of June (1 – 15).

As for tahiti lime, demand decreased, mainly due to high prices and cold weather in São Paulo. Thus, in the first fortnight of July (2 to 13), quotes averaged 28.73 BRL per 27-kilo box, harvested, for a decrease of 21 % in the same comparison.

On-the-go combidome convenience for Pfanner’s range of ‘Supersäfte’ lifestyle drinks

SIG continues to fulfil its ongoing promise to turn the challenges of food and beverage manufacturers into viable commercial solutions. Pfanner, an internationally active premium manufacturer of juices and fruit juice drinks, is progressing its close cooperation with SIG as it chooses the innovative carton bottle combidome 500 ml for its new range of ‘Supersäfte’ healthy on-the-go drinks.

Pfanner’s recently launched Supersäfte not-from-concentrate range comprises of three unique drinks:

• Augenöffner (Eye Opener), a stimulating multi-juice energy drink, with added Guarana and caffeine for a natural boost.
• Pausenfüller (Pause Filler), ideal for hunger in between meals, is a mix of strengthening almonds, acerola cherries and bananas as well as other valuable fruits, with niacin to provide energy.
• Stresskiller (Stress Killer), a relaxing mix of direct-pressed apples, sour cherries, blackcurrants, elderberries, raspberries with added hemp, fragrant cinnamon and magnesium to support normal function of the nervous system.

Targeted at busy Millennials, who prefer to consume healthily on-the-go, Pfanner’s innovative Supersäfte range of lifestyle drinks is a stand out product that appeals to a younger, highly motivated and mobile demographic. Working jointly with SIG to create a complete product concept, from product ideas and recipes to overall marketing, the decision was made use combidome 500 ml as the perfect packaging solution. Pfanner first started to use combidome in its 1.0 litre fruit juice range back in 2016, moving from the gable-top carton for the first time in 18 years.

An increasingly mobile generation is making food and beverage manufacturers take important NPD decisions and packaging is playing an ever more integral role. SIG aims to drive Product Innovation and Differentiation, working in partnership with producers to offer product and packaging solutions which perfectly match food and drink innovations.

Millennials driving market change

Millennials are looking for healthy, nutritious and convenient snacking options which can be easily consumed on-the-go, expecting great taste and high quality to fit in with their busy lifestyles. combidome perfectly complements Pfanner’s new range, with its distinctive sturdy yet slim shape and modern design. It’s perfect for commuters who can enjoy the benefits of a carton pack in terms of product protection and environmental considerations. The packaging can be easily held and be resealed and stored neatly in a bag, just like a bottle. With a 28 mm single action screw cap positioned centrally on top of the carton, it creates the perfect angle for easy drinking straight from the pack.

Market research commissioned by Pfanner in spring 2017, with 20 to 35 age group, found that a staggering 98% of respondents thought the 500 ml packaging volume of combidome was the perfect on- the-go solution.

Standing out from the crowd

Pfanner also has the flexibility benefits of using the corresponding combidome filling machine, which can fill three different volumes on just one machine.

Peter Pfanner, Managing Partner of Hermann Pfanner Getränke GmbH, commented: “Different generations have changing needs and the mobile Millennial prefers to snack on the move, rather than taking regular meals. By working closely with SIG, we were able to develop a complete product solution for this health-conscious group, who like to maximise their time by consuming on-the-go. From developing initial product and packaging ideas through to the final concept, we now believe that together we’ve achieved the ideal range of drinks for this mobile generation.”

Pfanner continued: “combidome itself really stands out and helps us to differentiate our brand. We were able to create a dynamic, modern design, using the four display panels on the carton bottle, with fun colors and messaging which appeals to younger consumers and has excellent shelf appeal. At Pfanner, we value the reliability and high-quality production of SIG carton packs and we’re looking forward to developing our fruitful collaboration over many years to come.”

Pfanner continued: “combidome itself really stands out and helps us to differentiate our brand. We were able to create a dynamic, modern design, using the four display panels on the carton bottle, with fun colors and messaging which appeals to younger consumers and has excellent shelf appeal. At Pfanner, we value the reliability and high-quality production of SIG carton packs and we’re looking forward to developing our fruitful collaboration over many years to come.”

Marketing and Testimonials

Pfanner plans to promote its new Supersäfte on-the-go juice range on Facebook and Instagram, in a fun and engaging campaign. Influencer marketing will also be underway with target bloggers and opinion leaders. Pfanner has also implemented product tastings and sampling in 20 stores in Germany and Austria so far, with merchandised displays in many outlets.

Saying it with colour: the natural black appearance of the product stands out of the shelves.

Canadian Black River Juice launched a pure pomegranate juice. Made from high quality concentrated pomegranate juice sourced from Iran, where the pomegranate is native to. High in antioxidants, this juice is completely pure and refreshing. Sediment is normal, it’s just the natural fibre in the juice, give it a good shake and enjoy!

The juice, which is free from added sugar and flavours, is pasteurized pure pomegranate juice from concentrate available in a 1L glass bottle.

Canadian-owned and operated, Black River Juice had its humble beginnings in the cherry orchards of Prince Edward County. Founded by friends and co-workers, Keith Wallace and Grant Keane, they began by working with local farmers to help them sell the juice from their leftover cherries to Torontonians so not to have any of their crop go to waste. Keith and Grant quickly realized that the demand for this pure cherry juice far outweighed the farmers’ ability to keep up, so they bought a small juice press and some canning equipment and started to make the juice themselves. It was a labour of love that involved labelling, ladling and jarring by hand! In addition to the pure tart cherry juice, their first offerings were more exotic, like gooseberry, red currant blend and plum to name a few. They found there was no need to add sugar or flavourings as they were able to maintain much of the flavour and integrity of the fruit.

Why does a supplement made exclusively from tomato paste have an EFSA health claim, but not the tomato paste it’s made from?

Raised: 73,500€. Target: 270,400€.

The expansion of the Tomato Foundation Health Claim Project Consortium continues – rallying support from companies within the tomato industry global supply chain. The project focuses on obtaining an EFSA health claim for tomato paste/tomato products and improved blood flow – based on an existing EFSA health claim for a tomato supplement, awarded in 2009.

Consortium partners: Morning Star Packing Company / Kagome Co., Ltd. / Kagome USA, Inc. / Mutti S.p.A. / HIT Group / Assan Foods / Ingomar Packing Company / Integrated Supply Solutions SL. / Concentrated Solutions Inc. / Bösch Boden Spies GmbH & Co. KG / Agrofusion / Neil Jones Food Company / SADAFCO / CCFIA (China Canned Food Industry Association) / WPTC (World Processing Tomato Council) / AMITOM (Mediterranean International Association of the Processing Tomato)

Research group: SSICA (Stazione Sperimentale per l’Industria delle Conserve Alimentari) / Universidad Complutense de Madrid / NIZO food research BV / Caledonian Science Press Ltd.

Next steps – The product study: The Tomato Foundation invites collaboration, participation and support for the next step in the project, which is the tomato paste and product sample study. Samples from multiple locations will be tested.

For EFSA validation, a product study is needed to demonstrate consistent and sufficient levels of bioactives in tomato paste and consumer products. The health claim for Fruitflow dictates bioactive levels fixed by production standards. Processed tomato products are already standardised by the Codex Alimentarius for Natural Soluble Solid Content (NTSS). Therefore, the foundation’s new study will target bioactive content per standard serving.

An independent feasibility study produced by Nizo Food Research strongly suggests that the same bioactive content as in a single dose of Fruitflow is found in 12g tomato paste (30 % NTSS) and 70ml tomato juice (5 % NTSS).

The product study aims to show that, regardless of regional variation, the lower range of bioactive compound levels in standard servings of tomato products remain consistently above the level set by a single dose of Fruitflow. The study will be carried out by the SSICA food research institute – in Parma, Italy.

All consumer products that are tested in the study – and pass for sufficient bioactive content – will be awarded a licence of use for the health claim.

Only project consortium companies will be able to use this health claim for their products.

Full information on the project can be found here: www.tomatofoundation.org

For the 8th consequtive year already, the AIM took place from 9th-11th April 2018 at Dubai World Trade Center and is considered to be the leading interntaional direct investors meeting. More then 100 influencial and innovative experts participated at the conference to learn and discuss about the trends and innvocation of direct investments as a tool to guarantuee longterm competitiveness. The Conference was initiated and established by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economics to secure and promote innovative and direct investments longterm.

Claudia Lauener and Frank Hofer, nomenees and representatives of swiss-based Frutco AG, were proudly handed over the AIM Runner-up Investment Award 2018 for the best direct investment in Latinamerica, supported by nicaraguan ambassador Mohamed Lashtar.

The 20 Million Dollar project CHIMACO AG (farms) and Frutco de Las Americas SA (processing) has become an epicenter of sustainability for trainings, education and farming in regards of Maracuya. CHIMACO stands for Chinandega Maracuya Company and employs more then 100 people.

Frutco AG and CHIMACO currently produce on 200 hectares of farmland. As soon as the processing plant of Frutco de Las Americas SA, a joint-venture of Swiss based CT Finance AG and Nicaragua based Grupo Coen will be ready for production, additional independent producers for Maracuya, Guava and Bananas will join the project with a production plan of more then 1.500 hectares, ready to produce purees, concenrates and juices. Grupo Coen will dedicate 2.000 hectares of extra land to the project. In addition to that, enough land can be added for portential future projects.

Shot-sized health-boosting juice launches take off

Consumers are increasingly interested in naturally-functional food and drinks. This increase in health consciousness, coupled with busy on-the-go lifestyles, has fuelled innovation around smart, nutrient-rich snacking solutions. Tapping into this trend, health-promoting juice shots provide a quick, natural boost of nutrition in small to-go bottles. Though still niche, the share of juice shots in total juice launches in Europe has increased sixfold over the past four years.

Nordic countries take a leading role in innovation

Nordic countries, led by Denmark, take a prominent role in juice shot launch activity in Europe. Of all juices described as shots/boosters launched between October 2015 and September 2017 in Europe, 39 % were launched in Denmark. Germany, Norway and Sweden follow with 13 % of launches each. Repeatedly referred to as “the healthiest countries in the world”, Nordic countries put a strong focus on wholesome, nutrient-rich and naturally functional diets.

Ginger dominates the scene, but probiotic-rich ingredients on the rise

Using concentrated doses of fruits, vegetables, plant extracts and herbs, juice shots are designed as a preventive measure to boost consumers’ overall wellbeing, but can also address specific health issues…

The whole blog by Julia Büch, Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel

After the large output in 2017/18, supply may be limited again in the 2018/19 season in São Paulo State and Triângulo Mineiro. With unfavorable weather during the fruitlet settlement in the first flowering event (the main event), which would become fruits in the next season, losses were observed in three of the four main citrus producing regions in São Paulo.

Northern and central SP should be the most affected, followed by the eastern region of the state. In southwestern SP, however, fruitlet drops in the first flowering event were within normality. Thus, once again, productivity in this area may be high again.
With signs of new flowering events at the end of the year, losses may be softened if settlement is satisfactory. Still, the volume of fruits should be smaller than that from the main event.

The first USDA report for the next Brazilian orange crop, released in December, indicate an output of 320 million boxes of 40.8 kilos in 2018/19 in São Paulo State and Triângulo Mineiro, 19 % lower than in 2017/18. Although it is still early to measure, growers consulted by Cepea believe in an even lower output. The first estimates from Fundecitrus (Citrus Defense Fund), in turn, should be released in May.

Despite forecasts for lower supply of raw material in 2018/19, 93 % recovery of orange juice inventories at processors from São Paulo in June 2018 does not indicate excess in juice supply yet. The large crop will be enough only to replenish low inventories from 2016/17.

Besides, agents should be watchful for lower production in Florida as well. According to the last report released by the USDA (in December), harvesting in Florida should total only 46 million boxes, 33 % down compared to the previous season. In addition to greening, which has affected local production for some crops, hurricane Irma hit the area in September 2017. Local production results will be released in July 2018. Thus, as inventories decrease in the United States, there is need for more importation.

PURCHASES – The first orange purchase proposals in the 2018/19 season were reported in the market of São Paulo in mid-November, 2017. Although occasional, large-sized processors have signaled possible trades around 20.00 BRL per 40.8-kilo box, harvested and delivered at the processor, with participation additional in juice sales prices in the international market. If a larger volume is purchased – or for a period longer than two years –, bids at 22.00 BRL per box have been reported.

However, based on expectations for a smaller crop, citrus growers are cautious regarding closing new contracts, and many of them are monitoring price rises. The values initially bid by the industry are higher than in the spot market this crop, but lower than in the 2016/17 season, when supply was low.

TAHITI LIME – Tahiti lime harvest in 2018 is forecast to be smaller as well. According to Cepea collaborators, besides losses of part of the flowers (due to warm and dry weather), many small-sized fruits were harvested in November and December, which should be ready to be harvested now in January.

The tahiti lime crop peak is forecast for January, since rains in late December and early January may have favored the development and growth of fruits. Thus, prices are expected to remain at low levels until late March, pressed down by higher supply. On the other hand, exportations are expected to increase, as well as the volume of fruits sent to processors.

Central Washington fruit grower extends beyond premium dried fruit lines into beverage market

Royal Ridge Fruits announces, via its Stoneridge Orchards brand, the introduction of its Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, a new liquid twist on their popular dried Montmorency cherries.

The Montmorency tart cherry, grown largely in the U.S and Canada, are abundant in anthocyanin’s – a natural, flavonoid compound that contributes to the ruby-red color and distinctive sour-sweet taste. The fruit has become the source of over 50 studies supporting health benefits such as:

• Natural ant-inflammatory agent: targeted for general pain relief, reducing muscle soreness after exercise and easing arthritic or gout pain
• Natural sleep aid: through the presence of melatonin, a human sleep regulating hormone also found in certain plants.
• Natural immune system regulator: through the presence of vitamin C.

Royal Ridge Fruits is the largest West Coast producer of Montmorency tart cherries, through its farming settlement along Central Washington’s Columbia river basin – known for rich soils and a diverse climate. The product will be the first juice available among an extensive line of premium dried fruits, in whole, sliced and diced varieties.

“Responding to a growing body of research on tart cherries, and the popularity of our own tart cherry dried fruit snacks, adding the Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate was a natural step for us,” says Mila Savella, Vice President of Marketing at Royal Ridge Fruits. “The Montmorency cherry has held a special place in our growing cycle for decades, and through our new concentrate we’re hoping more can enjoy it year-round.”

Each bottle of the Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate contains up to 1,000 individual cherries, providing a rich source of the fruit’s natural nutrients. All ingredients in the drink are natural, non-GMO and gluten-free. The Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate will be available to consumers in select US markets through the company’s retailer network. For the initial launch, Stoneridge Orchards will offer the product for $2.00 off.

Ocean Spray, an agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry farmers, announced that it has added two beverage lines to its extensive product portfolio: Ocean Spray^® Organic 100 % Juice Blends and Ocean Spray^® Pure Cranberry (Unsweetened) 100 % Juice.

Ocean Spray^® Organic 100 % Juice Blends are the perfect combination of organically grown North American cranberries from family farms, with other organic fruit juices. Organic 100 % Juice Blends contain no added sugars¹, preservatives or artificial flavors and are available in three delicious flavors: Cranberry, Cranberry Apple and Cranberry Blueberry. All Ocean Spray^® Organic 100 % Juice Blends are non-GMO² and feature the USDA Organic seal (certified organic by QAI). Each flavor has 100 % Vitamin C per serving and each 8-ounce glass is equivalent to one cup of fruit. An 8-ounce glass of these blends contains 100-130 calories, depending on the flavor.

For the pure, authentic taste and unique health benefits of the cranberry, Ocean Spray’s Pure Cranberry (Unsweetened) 100 % Juice contains no added sugars1, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors and is non-GMO². Each one-liter bottle provides the health benefits from the juice of more than 900 cranberries! An 8-ounce serving is only 60 calories and is equivalent to one cup of fruit to support daily nutritional needs. The juice can be enjoyed on its own or added to smoothies or sparkling water for an extra health boost.
“By adding Organic and Pure (unsweetened) beverages to our line up, we’ve rounded out our portfolio of “good-for-you” juices and juice drinks,” said Patrick Cramb, Ocean Spray’s Director of Beverage Marketing. “We continue to develop innovative products to deliver the cranberry’s healthy attributes in formats that fit the lifestyles of consumers around the world.”

Ocean Spray^® Organic 100 % Juice Blend and Ocean Spray^® Pure Cranberry (Unsweetened) 100 % Juice are available nationally in the US. The suggested retail price of Ocean Spray^® Organic 100 % Juice Blends is $3.99 per 1 liter bottle, while Ocean Spray^® Pure Cranberry (unsweetened) 100 % Juice is $5.98 per 1 liter bottle.

¹ These products are not low calorie foods – see Nutrition Facts for sugar and calorie content.
² These products do not contain genetically engineered ingredients.

Central Washington fruit grower extends beyond premium dried fruit lines into beverage market
Royal Ridge Fruits announces, via its Stoneridge Orchards brand, the introduction of its Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate, a new liquid twist on their popular dried Montmorency cherries.

The Montmorency tart cherry, grown largely in the U.S and Canada, are abundant in anthocyanin’s – a natural, flavonoid compound that contributes to the ruby-red color and distinctive sour-sweet taste. The fruit has become the source of over 50 studies supporting health benefits such as:

• Natural ant-inflammatory agent: targeted for general pain relief, reducing muscle soreness after exercise and easing arthritic or gout pain
• Natural sleep aid: through the presence of melatonin, a human sleep regulating hormone also found in certain plants.
• Natural immune system regulator: through the presence of vitamin C.

Royal Ridge Fruits is the largest West Coast producer of Montmorency tart cherries, through its farming settlement along Central Washington’s Columbia river basin – known for rich soils and a diverse climate. The product will be the first juice available among an extensive line of premium dried fruits, in whole, sliced and diced varieties.
“Responding to a growing body of research on tart cherries, and the popularity of our own tart cherry dried fruit snacks, adding the Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate was a natural step for us,” says Mila Savella, Vice President of Marketing at Royal Ridge Fruits. “The Montmorency cherry has held a special place in our growing cycle for decades, and through our new concentrate we’re hoping more can enjoy it year-round.”

Each bottle of the Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate contains up to 1,000 individual cherries, providing a rich source of the fruit’s natural nutrients. All ingredients in the drink are natural, non-GMO and gluten-free. The Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate will be available to consumers in select US markets through the company’s retailer network. For the initial launch, Stoneridge Orchards will offer the product for $2.00 off.

Prodalim Group (Prodalim), one of the leading suppliers of juices, concentrates and multiunit blends, has entered into an agreement to acquire the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) juice facility in Winter Garden, Florida.

The facility will allow Prodalim to sell and distribute its portfolio of juices, concentrates and compounds to North American clients. Upon closing, Prodalim will also provide storage, blending and tank loading services to LDC under a long term agreement.

The 27-acre facility is located near Orlando and it includes tank farms, cold storage rooms and a state of the art blending and compounding facility. The tank farm has a storage capacity of more than 12 million gallons / 60 thousand tons in addition to cold storage capacity of more than 15 thousand tons in drums.

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods globally. The juice business has been a key pillar of its diverse portfolio for over 25 years, comprising farming, processing and logistics assets in more than seventy countries, with global sales reach for orange, apple, lemon and lime juices and byproducts. The core focus of the business is to produce quality juices to serve and partner with customers around the world.

This transaction is aligned with LDC’s ongoing business goals to focus on core business areas while expanding juice sales distribution. As one of the largest suppliers of orange juice in the world, and to North America in particular, LDC will continue to serve its customers across the region by offering a variety of fruit juices, sourced from different origins.

At drinktec 2013, WILD Flavors GmbH (WILD) will be presenting innovations for the beverage industry, demonstrating its keen understanding of current consumer trends and sharing its global market expertise. Thanks to products from WILD’s portfolio, manufacturers can breathe new life into established beverage sectors as well as new ones: beer-mix drinks, malt beverages, ready to drink (RTD) tea, energy drinks, juice and much more.

At the WILD booth, the right innovation for new growth is available for every manufacturer. As one of the leading experts in global ingredients, WILD is always on top of international markets and consumer needs, and just in time for drinktec it will be presenting its new developments. Its motto for the industry: We grow your business, naturally!®

En vogue with new beer-mixes and malt beverages
In the field of beer-mix drinks, WILD has created highlights with en vogue products such as cloudy variants with juice. Manufacturers can come to the WILD booth and experience for themselves how compelling the new flavors for these popular mixed drinks are. Non-alcoholic malt beverages are extremely promising for breweries as well as producers of soft drinks. Here WILD features a variety of options in terms of malt content and numerous fruity flavors – perfect for the many different taste preferences around the world.

Subscribing to success ― the energy-drink sector
Higher, faster, newer ― the energy drink trend keeps growing around the world. WILD is seen as one of the leading international manufacturers of ingredients for these drinks which give people new vigor. In addition to classic flavors, WILD’s portfolio also includes developments such as energy plus juice, energy plus coffee, functional energy drinks and no calorie concepts. The energy drink boom is far from being over.

On top of today’s trends: premium RTD teas
Today, manufacturers who want to offer consumers innovative new drinks with a healthy image will set their sights on premium tea beverages ― a powerful growth category. The latest addition to WILD’s selection is brewed tea, which offers new standards in terms of quality and flavor. Another attractive bonus is the fact that these products can be labeled as “brewed tea.” Manufacturers who want to concentrate on classic products based on tea extracts or tea infusions will find what they are looking for at WILD as well. For years the company has specialized in the trend segment, as its broad range of product options at the drinktec booth will confirm.

Expertise in great taste for juice and nectar
WILD’s product palette in the juice sector consists of the finest ingredients: an exquisite taste, top quality fruit and new product ideas. When it comes to compounds for juices, nectars and functional beverages with a juice content, the company is a competent partner for the industry, last not least due to its acquisition of Cargill’s juice business. Creative innovations for new product ranges in the field of juices and nectars round out what WILD has to offer.

Creating new inspiration for soft drinks
WILD is also presenting new soft drinks featuring a “grown-up” taste profile based on WILD’s newly developed fermentation technology. This process gives beverages a distinctive flavor and allows manufacturers to position products naturally. WILD also offers new flavors for soft drinks – everything from fruity to spicy, with mint ingredients or sweetened with stevia for low calorie concepts. In keeping with the stevia trend, the company also offers stevia sweetened products in other beverage categories, such as still drinks and tea beverages.

Brand-new: beverages which taste of dessert
One WILD innovation which provides an exciting taste sensation is combining fruit juice with dessert flavorings. This sweet and fruity blend is an excellent response to the demand for new thirst quenchers with a delicious flavor. WILD developed the “Delicious Duo” products on a basis of milk and emulsions. A highly promising concept around the globe – no matter whether the products are for Europe, the Middle East, Africa or America.

WILD at drinktec 2013: Hall B1, Booth 101