The Cracker magazine, July 2010

The Cracker July 2010 v No. 2 The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

Beijing Congress Biggest Ever!

Dried Fruit/Nut Trends Explored Budapest Congress Set for 2011

CONTENTS July 2010 Edition 50 INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jack Mariani – Chairman Mariani Nut Company, USA Giles Hacking – Vice-Chairman CG Hacking & Sons Limited, UK Jordi Martí – Treasurer & General Secretary Borges SAU, Spain Asadollah Asgaroladi Hassas Export Co. Ltd., Iran Pino Calcagni V. Besana SPA, Italy Baljit Chadha Balcorp Limited, Canada Helmut Dankert Max Kiene GmbH, Germany Erdinç Kapkaç Aegean Exporters Association, Turkey Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California, USA Mark Mariani Mariani Packing Company, USA Chris Nubern Kraft Foods, USA Antonio Pont – Honorary President Borges SAU, Spain Sabit Sabir Sabirlar Findik Ihracat Ltd. Sti., Turkey Berton Steir Paramount – Roll International Corp, USA Frank Vaerewijck Q.M. Frank Vaerewijck BVBA, Belgium Kees van de Sandt C. Van de Sandt BV, Netherlands Dick Walden The Green Valley Pecan Company, USA Michael Waring MWT Foods, Australia Douglas Youngdahl Blue Diamond Growers, USA Cuneyd Zapsu Balsu AS, Turkey Bian Zhenhu China Chamber of Commerce, China Executive Committee Jack Mariani – Chairman Giles Hacking – Vice-Chairman Pino Calcagni Antonio Pont Berton Steir Douglas Youngdahl Cuneyd Zapsu Goretti Guasch – Executive Director Senators Hubert Berrebi, France John Cardassilaris, Greece Raul Gamon, France Chris Hacking, UK Walter F. Payne, USA Abbas Rafii, Luxembourg Don Soetaert, USA James Swink, USA Jack Taillie, Netherlands

The Cracker

7 World News INC NREF to feature symposium at November ADA in Boston; peanut skins for anti-aging; new on confection trends; new data about food allergies.

26 Nuts and Cancer Spanish researcher details relationship between cancer and consumption of nuts in diets similar to Mediterranean diet; gender results reveal new information.

27 Beijing Recap a Big Success!

Nearly 900 delegates attended INC Congress last May in Beijing.

See our summary report and photos that recapture the most successful event ever. Get ready for Budapest in 2011!

34 Dried Fruit Overview U.S. raisin industry faces challenges with future of marketing order; new trends emerging in Germany; food safety, future of retail products, new emerging markets; Russian Federation looks to Middle East to explore future opportunities.

58 Pistachio Health and Safety Seminar Beijing Congress targets challenges that include unnecessary bleaching; A need for new food safety laws and national standards; China set to be leading pistachio market.

60 NUCIS Germany German tree nut industry features health in nutrition, school programs, physicians and others; health brochures take message to consumers.

86 New! Nuthealth.org Launched INC NREF launches new website with redesigned logo to emphasize nut health. Most comprehensive nut study to date draws major news attention in America!

The Cracker Editorial Committee Jack Mariani – Chairman Susan Brauner, Editor Goretti Guasch, Advertising Sales Steve Wong, Designer

Cover photo: An assortment of nuts for sale in Old Delhi market in India

Legal Deposit: B-7497-1989 Permanent Secretariat of INC Goretti Guasch, Executive Director Calle Boule 2, 43201 Reus, Spain Tel: +34 977 331 416 Fax: +34 977 315 028 E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org Web: www.nutfruit.org The Cracker is published three times a year by the International Tree Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation (Fundacio Privada International Tree Nut CIF G-43738475). This magazine including all articles and illustrations, is copyright protected. Any utilization beyond the light limits set by the Copyright Act is subject to publisher’s approval.

Index INC Secretariat News................................. 20 INC Ambassadors........................................ 55 Statistical Outlook...................................... 63 Advertisers................................................... 85 Nutrition Research......................................88

All trademarks, brand identities and graphic images shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

While the publishers believe that all information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to press, they can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may appear or loss suffered directly or indirectly by any reader as a result of any advertisement, editorial, photographs or other materials published in the Cracker.

July 2010 • The Cracker 3

Chairman’s Commentary Greetings from Winters, California!

By Jack Mariani, INC Chairman

B

eijing was the place to be last May as a record 900 tree nut and dried fruit industry members gathered at the first INC Congress to be held in Asia! For the first time ever we turned away delegates due to space limitations. A lesson for all of us in 2011 as we head to Budapest-- our INC congresses are attracting more interest from around the world!

Delegates representing nearly 60 countries agreed that our Chinese hosts warmly welcomed our industry and provided a spectacular setting for one of the most memorable Congresses ever! A record number of working groups and business updates informed us about industry status, while guest speakers provided insight into Chinese business customs and traditional Chinese Medicine.

The social venues entertained us with some of the most riveting theatrical acts and beautifully lush Chinese gardens in a palace setting like most of us have never experienced except perhaps from film clips! For those who toured the Great Wall and other renowned spots of historical significance in China, including a taste of the famous Peking Duck, delegate response was again awesome.

From a business perspective, we also accomplished significant progress as INC representatives met with leaders in Beijing from major Cashew producing countries to organize a Global Cashew Alliance. Discussions included global quality standards, creation of research for health claims, accumulating accurate production and consumption figures, create an electronic working group among members biannually and many other topics. INC will continue to provide the Cashew industry with assistance to accomplish its goals.

As we outlined in our congress business meeting in Beijing, INC offices will eventually move from our current headquarters in Reus, Spain hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. With financial assistance from Spanish government organizations, INC has been granted a 50 year lease along with financial support in return for refurbishing an old building in the new Techo Park located near the Reus airport.

In an effort to finance the repairs of the century-old building, over 30 INC members have stepped forward with donations for a personalized brick of special recognition to be placed at the entrance to the new INC headquarters.

There are still Gold sponsorships available for E 8000. Our goal is to have enough sponsors to finance the repairs and have the new building paid for the next 50 years so that all INC income can be used for promotional activities that benefit our industry. For donation information please contact INC headquarters. We would very much appreciate your contribution to our success for the next 50 years!

We are also pleased to announce the selection of several members to serve as INC Ambassadors in their respective countries. Being an Ambassador in the country of our INC membership provides an important liaison for industry promotions about our products and their nutritional value to our consumers. The INC Board of Directors voted to approve the appointment of several new Ambassadors while in Beijing. They include the following: Australia: Chris Joyce France: Richard Monnier Germany: Thomas Apfel Hungary: Sarhan Omar Lebanon: Hani Akzam

Singapore: Amit Khirbat South Africa: Duncan McGregor Thailand: Varee Phonphaisan United States of America: Helen Watts

In addition, Bert Steir was elected to replace Gary Ford on the Executive Committee. Dick Walden was selected to replace Bert as Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Board also voted to award the 2012 Congress to Singapore.

As attendance continues to grow for our Congresses, be sure to mark your calendar now for May 20-22, 2011 for our Congress in Budapest Hungary. Look for registration materials and more information in our November issue of The Cracker. The beauty of this old city and our first venture into Eastern Europe will make it another memorable Congress!

Best wishes for a successful harvest and prosperous fall season, Jack Mariani C

4 The Cracker • July 2010

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

INC NREF to be Presenter at ADA 2010 The American Dietetic Association(ADA) has accepted the INC NREF proposal for a session on nuts and diabetes at its annual meeting in November in Boston . This is the most prestigious meeting of key dieticians in the US and is well attended by nearly 10,000 people. Researcher David Jenkins of the Department of Nutritional Sciences Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto who conducted the diabetes research will be the key speaker as well as Karmeen Kulkarni.

Karmeen Kulkarni, Director of Scientific Affairs, Abbott Diabetes Care, in vivo marketing, is a certified diabetes educator, board certified advanced diabetes manager and registered dietitian. She was the coordinator for the Diabetes Center at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, until September, 2006. With over 20 years experience in the areas of nutrition and diabetes, she is recognized nationwide for her clinical expertise. She has published numerous articles, studies, and nutritional guides for both professional and lay audiences.

Dried Fruit, Nuts Snacking Good for Zetar In a trading update ahead of the group’s preliminary results for the year ended 30 April, Zetar said sales had increased 10 per cent to reach £131m.

“The introduction of a number of economy dried fruit and nuts lines proved incremental to our existing premium ranges and, together with the launch of our first licensed branded products such as Reggae Reggae nuts and Sun Pat peanut clusters, contributed to an overall 11 per cent increase in divisional sales,” said the company.

Confectionery sales also saw a hike of nine per cent to £82m. “We achieved notable successes in growing sales from our three factories of branded, private label and third party all-year-round chocolate products,” claims the group.

Raw materials costs, added the group, were less volatile during most of the year and the also helped its margins recovery.

Ian Blackburn, Zetar CEO, told this publication that its ‘no added sugar’ Fruit Factory brand, which was extended last year, has been currying favour with parents seeking ‘better for you’ school lunch options as they look like confectionery products, while he said its flavoured nut ranges are appealing to adults intent on a healthier lifestyle. And he is optimistic that earnings for 2010 will be significantly up on last year.

According to the CEO, the business can deliver strong organic growth in 2010 through maximizing cost synergies across its seven UK production sites. It has centralised raw material buying and will shift product production from one facility to another if it ensures cost efficiencies are met.

The group also plans to grow acquisitively if suitable opportunities arise, and Blackburn sees investment in a facility that would enable Zetar control of distribution to continental European based retailers as essential for increasing exports.

Zetar, which is also involved in private label and subcontract manufacture, said its confectionery division accounts for approximately two thirds of total group revenue, with the natural and premium snacks unit responsible for the remaining third.

For Good Health, Try Some Peanut Skins One researcher at N.C State University’s food science program is examining peanut skins in search of anti-aging chemical compounds traditionally associated with grapes and red wine.

“What people fail to realize is that peanuts and peanut skins have just as many, if not more, antioxidants as fruits and vegetables,” said Wanida Lewis, a doctoral candidate in the Food Sciences Bioprocessing and Nutrition laboratory at NCSU, which is associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Lewis and other university scientists hope to show that peanut skins contain phenolic compounds, touted by nutritionists as chemical “fountains of youth” because of their antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-aging properties.

Many plants naturally produce phenolic compounds for defense when they are under attack by pathogens and herbivores. Recently, animal studies have credited these compounds with an assortment of attributes, including antiinflammatory properties. They can also lower blood sugar and reduce negative effects of a high-fat diet.

Resveratrol - one such compound notable in grapes but also found in peanut skins - has been shown to prolong the lifespan of some animals. Another compound group in peanuts, called flavonoids, consists of the same chemicals that provide the health benefits of green tea. Traditionally, peanut skins have been considered a waste product, often ground up and used for animal feed.

July 2010 • The Cracker 7

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS Microwave Sterilization to Revolutionise Food Processing

Test Improves Control of Chocolate Origins

A revolutionary microwave sterilization processing technique that dramatically extends food shelf life while preserving its nutrients, taste and texture has been approved by US regulators.

The new technology, developed at Washington State University (WSU), has already attracted the attention of the US military, a host of major food companies and could be used to preserve food for frontline soldiers and astronauts on deep space missions, said the team. Scientists involved in the project believe it could revolutionise how food is preserved and processed.

The Microwave Sterilization Process has been developed over a 13-year period by WSU professor Juming Tang and a team of university, industry and US military scientists. The technology received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance late last year to process mashed potatoes and the group is currently working on authorisation for other foods. The system also has huge potential to be developed as a pasteurisation tool for such items as frozen products, Tang told FoodProductionDaily.com.

New processes for producing shelf-stable, low-acid foods must pass rigorous reviews by FDA to ensure that the technology is scientifically sound and the products will be safe. The team patented system designs in October 2006 after more than 10 years of research and spent another three years developing a semi-continuous system, collecting engineering data and micro-biologically validating the process before receiving FDA acceptance.

The technology immerses packaged food in pressurised hot water while simultaneously heating it with microwaves at a frequency of 915 MHz — a frequency which penetrates food more deeply than the 2450 MHz used in home microwave ovens. This combination eliminates food pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in just five to eight minutes and produces safe foods with much higher quality than conventionally processed ready-to-eat products, said the researchers.

A simple test of volatile compounds in chocolate may serve as chemical tracers to enable better traceability of cocoa and inform consumers of the countries of origin, say French researchers. Aided by the high fat content of chocolate, which traps all but the most volatile of compounds, researchers from the Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique et Sciences de l’Aliment in Illkirch report that identification of seven compounds that can be used as chemical tracers.

The analytical technique is said to integrate the entire production process for chocolate – from bean to processing to final product – and distinguishes between chocolate originating from the Caribbean, Madagascar, Africa, and South America.

“Consumers have no way of tracing the origin of the cocoa used to produce their chocolate to a particular country, much less a particular site of agricultural production,” explained the researchers. “To determine the quality of chocolate and the veracity of labelling, consumers need to be informed of the cocoa production site’s country, even more with the rising market of ‘healthy chocolate’,” they added.

Researchers chose hydro-distillation for its simplicity, and combined this with separation by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry detection or flame ionization detection.

The researchers tested 51 commercial dark chocolates from eight countries, provided by French luxury chocolate company Valrhona. “The analysis of the volatile content and their statistical processing by multivariate analyses tended to form independent groups for both Africa and Madagascar, even if some of the chocolate samples analyzed appeared in a mixed zone together with those from America,” wrote the researchers.

“This analysis also allowed a clear separation between Caribbean chocolates and those from other origins.”

8 The Cracker • July 2010

Australian Macadamias

Short macadamia crop drives strong demand

T

The 2009 Australian macadamia crop yielded 37,500 MT nut in shell (NIS) or 10,500 MT kernel equivalent according to figures provided by the Australian Macadamia Society and based on information provided by handlers that account for some 90% of production. The AMS revised the original 47,600 tonnes forecast downwards due to severe and prolonged adverse weather conditions around harvest.

This second short crop in a row means a continuing tight market and is disappointing in light of the significant new plantings that have taken place over the last decade. These new trees

should be coming into commercial production over the next five years and be reflected in future crop figures.

Unusual severe weather accounts for some of the shortfall between predictions and actual figures and further industry analysis is being conducted on other associated factors.

With predicted long term growth the Australian Macadamia industry continues to invest in market development activities that support the growth in consumption of macadamia nuts in Japan, Europe, USA and Australia in retail and food ingredient applications. The industry also invests in

research programs in Australia to ensure our growers lead the world in growing the best macadamias in the original home of the macadamia where nature intended them to grow.

For more information about Australian Macadamias visit: Australian Macadamia Society Ltd Suite 1/113 Dawson Street LISMORE NSW 2480 Ph: +61 2 6622 4933 Fax: +61 2 6622 4932 www.macadamias.org

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS USA Pays $152B a Year for Illness Related to Food Food-borne illnesses cost the United States $152 billion a year, a tab that works out to an average cost of $1,850 each time someone gets sick from food, a report by a former Food and Drug Administration economist says. “A lot of people don’t realize how expensive food-borne illnesses are,” says Robert Scharff, a former FDA regulatory economist and now a professor of consumer science at Ohio State University. “It’s important for the public to understand the size of this problem.”

Scharff worked with government estimates that there are 76 million food-related illnesses a year, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. The costs include medical services, deaths, lost work and disability. They are based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA. His report was paid for by the Pew Charitable Trust’s Produce Safety Project and Georgetown University.

Scharff hopes policy-makers can use his methodology to determine which regulations would give the biggest bang for the buck. “This makes it easier to do a risk-based approach,” he says.

Though the FDA had not had an opportunity to review

the paper, Jeff Farrar, its associate commissioner for food protection, says: “We welcome all contributions toward a better understanding of the impact of food safety in the United States. The cost of food-borne illness is undoubtedly high and underscores the need for rapid passage of bipartisan legislation to provide new food safety tools for FDA.” The three most expensive illnesses for the nation were campylobacter, common in poultry, at $18.8 billion; salmonella at $14.6 billion; and listeria at $8.8 billion. Both salmonella and listeria are found in multiple foods. In terms of individual cases, some types of food-borne illness are more dangerous and expensive than others. The most expensive were vibrio vulnificus, from shellfish, at $3,045,726 per case; listeria at $1,695,143 per case; and botulism, from improperly canned foods, at $726,362 per case. Costs include medical services, death, disability, and pain and suffering.

That means “consumers are spending $85 billion on the consequences of unsafe food for every $1 billion the government is spending to prevent it,” says Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety coordinator for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “This report shows that if we could work to eliminate pathogens in common food products, it would go a long way toward reducing health care costs.”

US Consumers Create New Confections Trends America’s love of sweets is coming of age. Consumers are more sophisticated and demanding when it comes to confections, according to “Confections and Dessert: Culinary Trend Mapping Report” from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and Packaged Facts. This consumer demand is creating an exciting new sweetscape where flavor complexity, artisanship and nostalgia mingle to create increasingly grownup, yet still satisfying, treats.

Four over-arching consumer trends are driving innovative shifts in the sweets market: Nostalgia: Americans seek comfort in the sweets of childhood, yet still want treats that reflect current interest in bold flavor profiles and higher-quality ingredients Indulgence: Americans need a break and are indulging in exciting — and affordable — new sweets to provide escape, reward and just plain delight Flavor Adventure: Plain old vanilla and chocolate aren’t enough these days. Savvy consumers from generation Y to boomers are seeking excitement from sweets that reflect a global palate of exotic and varietal fruits, savory-sweet flavor profiles, and other adventurous tastes.

Artisan Appeal: Sweet treats that are handmade with well-chosen ingredients and reflect current values in local and sustainable production are winning over more and more Americans 10 The Cracker • July 2010

New and updated confections and desserts create a new sweet vista for consumers. Olive oil desserts show off Mediterranean ingredients in more health-friendly forms while offering intriguing new savory-sweet flavors. Parisian macarons, pastel-colored ground-almond meringue sandwich cookies, bring classic French sophistication to the modern American pastry counter. Japanese sweets transport savvy candy lovers to new frontiers of exotic flavor and texture, while American-crafted micro-batch chocolate epitomizes the new range of artisan foods that also exhibit a taste of place.

Americans grew up on salty-sweet Cracker Jack but are now ready for something more 21st century. In updated Salty Sweets, bacon, sea salt and savory herbs raise familiar sweets to new adventurous and satisfying heights. Americans from the Northeast grew up on the stalwart chocolate cake and vanilla cream Whoopie Pie; today, the homey snack appears coast to coast in alluring flavors and colors, giving cupcakes some competition. The familiar warm, brown flavor of caramel has gone glam in the form of homemade butterscotch used in puddings and sauces, Latin-inspired dulce de leche and a candy box full of retro confections, like honeycomb, toffee and brittle, appear as candy bar and ice cream inclusions, dessert garnish and artisan sweets at farmers’ markets and boutique candy shops.

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS “Solid” Evidence About Increasing Nut Allergy in Children The prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy is increasing in US children, according to data reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in New Orleans last March. Dr. Hugh A. Sampson of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and colleagues determined the prevalence of peanut, tree nut and sesame allergy in 2008 and compared the results (for peanut and tree nuts) to similar surveys conducted in 1997 and 2002.

The same methodology was used in all three time periods -- a nationwide, cross-sectional random-digit telephone survey. A total of 5,300 households (13,534 individuals) were surveyed. The investigators report that the prevalence of peanut and/or tree nut allergy in children younger than age 18 years was 2.1% in 2008, up from 1.2% in 2002 and 0.6% in 1997. The prevalence of peanut allergy in children rose from 0.4% in 1997 to 0.8% in 2002 and 1.4% in 2008. There was a similar increase in the prevalence of tree nut allergy -- from 0.2% in 1997 to 0.5% in 2002, and 1.1% in 2008.

The change in peanut and tree nut allergy prevalence in US children seen from 1997 to 2002 “is the most solid data that we have that nut allergy really did go up in that five-year period,” said Dr. Robert A. Wood, of Johns-Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, who was not involved in the

study. He acknowledged that random-digit dialing surveys “may overestimate prevalence because some people may think they have an allergy when they don’t, but because the methodology was the same, we can be pretty confident that the increase that was seen in an 11-year period from 0.4 to 1.4 (in children) has to be real. It’s hard to imagine that it is not.”

Dr. Wood said there are “at least a dozen” theories as to why nut allergies are increasing in children. The hygiene theory -- which postulates that reduced microbial exposure because of improved sanitation and cleaner lifestyles leaves a young child’s immune system unchallenged and therefore at greater risk for allergies -- is perhaps the “most intriguing” one, he noted, “and probably makes sense when you look at an underdeveloped country versus a developed country.”

Rates of allergy are much higher in developed countries, and if a country becomes more developed its inhabitants seem to develop more allergies, he said.

“But when you look at certain populations, there are huge holes in the hygiene theory that can’t explain everything. For example, in developed countries, we see lots of allergies in urban, inner city populations where exposures are high,” Dr. Wood pointed out.

Four Countries Gatekeepers of EU Food Safety Italy, Germany the UK and Spain “take the lion’s share of protecting and policing EU” food safety as they are responsible for almost 60 per cent of notifications under the bloc’s RASFF system, according to new research.

The report also suggested that countries with large ports or air traffic hubs will bear the burden of the EU’s food security policing role. It added this may explain the Netherlands’ higher than expected contribution to notifications based on its population. The study by A Petroczi et al analysed thousands of food notifications recorded through the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) between 2000 and 2009. The team found that the four main countries accounted for 57.7 per cent of all food notifications while the remaining 26 EU countries and Commission Services accounted for the rest.

Introduced under Regulation EC/178/2002, RASFF was put in place to provide food and feed control authorities with an effective tool to exchange information about measures taken responding to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed.

12 The Cracker • July 2010

A key aspect of the RASFF system is its categorisation of notifications between: market notifications, border rejections and news notifications – which express varying degrees of concern about health risks arising from a food product if placed on the market.

The paper - Gatekeepers of EU Food Safety – has been published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal. It found a distinct pattern among the four countries responsible for the majority of notifications. Around half the RASFF information is issued at the borders of these countries said the team. The majority of alerts originate from market control, with the lowest value of 50 per cent for the UK compared to 87 per cent and 70 per cent for Italy and Germany, respectively. But this was offset somewhat as own company reports in the UK accounted for 12.7 per cent of all alerts, versus 1 per cent in Italy and 2 per cent in Germany. This pattern is also reflected in the number of alerts arising from consumer complaints in each country.

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Here are just a few of the things we do as an environmentally sustainable supplier of California Almonds: Our Solar Power plant provides 75% of the electric power required by our processing facility.

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New “Green” corrugated packaging looks great, and is easier to recycle.

To Hilltop Ranch, it is just common sense - take care of the environment with sustainable practices, and good things will follow.

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We look forward to seeing you in Budapest Hungary, May 20-22, 2011

14 The Cracker • March 2010

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS Functional Foods Innovation Up in Spain Andalusian public policies for research in the functional foods sector have achieved significant results, with many scientific groups of international renown being attracted to the region, according to a journal review.

Researchers in the University of Granada evaluated the relationship between public sector research and industrial development in the functional foods sector in the region of Andalusia in Spain, and their findings were published in this month’s edition of the journal Food Policy. The authors report that since 1997, there has been an increase of 58 per cent in the number of functional food firms established in Andalusia, with 2007 data showing the region as having a total of 29 firms producing functional foods.

Forty-nine per cent of these were located in Granada, a further 13.7 per cent based in Córdoba and 10.3 per cent of the companies were based in Seville, they said. The researchers also noted that there were 21 Andalusian research centres and universities with research lines on functional foods. They also said that they assessed reports produced by the regional government on regional research and development policies for 2007, and sector based studies for that year, which showed, according to the authors, that public investment in biotechnology R&D by the regional government in 2007 was €103.8m.

They note that this level of investment put Andalusia in third place in the national ranking after Madrid and Catalonia, with functional food research accounting for 37 per cent of this investment (€37.2m).

Food Sensitivity Rates Vary by Country People in Portland are more likely than those in Iceland to be sensitive to certain foods, but reactions to fish, eggs and cow’s milk appear rare in both places, new research suggests. The study, of more than 4,500 adults from 13 Western countries, found that nations varied in the rate of people who were sensitive to at least one food -- ranging from about 25 percent of those in Portland, Oregon, to just under 8 percent of those in Reykjavik, Iceland.

However, countries tended to be similar in the specific culprit foods. Certain foods that people commonly view as potential allergy triggers -- namely, milk, eggs and fish -- were among the least common causes of food sensitivity across countries.

For the study, published in the journal Allergy, the researchers tested participants’ blood for antibodies against a range of foods.

This gauges food sensitivity, which refers to an immune system response to a food’s proteins. Not everyone who is sensitive to a food has a clinical allergy, which means that a person has specific symptoms, like wheezing, hives, swelling or digestive problems, after eating the food.

Along with the U.S., Germany, Italy and Norway had the highest prevalence of food sensitivity -- with about 22 16 The Cracker • July 2010

percent of people from each country showing antibodies against some type of food. The lowest rates were seen in Iceland (11 percent), Spain (11 percent), France and the UK (each around 14 percent). The most common types of foods behind people’s sensitivities included hazelnuts, peaches, shrimp, wheat and apples. At the other end of the spectrum, fish, eggs and cow’s milk were the least common causes of sensitivity.

Those patterns were fairly consistent across countries -- more consistent than would be expected by chance, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Peter Burney of Imperial College London in the UK. Across countries, less than 1 percent of people had sensitivities to fish, eggs or milk. In several countries, including the U.S., Italy, France, Australia and Iceland, no one had fish sensitivity; egg sensitivity was also absent in a few nations. Seven percent of people across the nations had sensitivity to hazelnuts, with some countries -including the U.S., Germany, Norway and Sweden -- showing a prevalence of 12 percent to 15 percent. The next most common causes of sensitivity were peaches, shrimp and wheat, which each affected about 5 percent of people across countries.

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS Food Safety: Consumers Pay Attention to Ingredient Origin Concern about food safety used to be a simple phenomenon,

calories (71 percent), total fat (63 percent), sugars (50 percent)

as consumers wondered whether something they might eat

and sodium (45 percent).

was tainted and would make them sick. Now, as is clear from

The information on the label doesn’t always make for

a Deloitte survey, mainstream consumers have a more refined

easy reading. One of the striking findings of the survey is

understanding that includes attention to how “processed” a food

that 55 percent of respondents said they “understand half

product is and where its ingredients originate.

or less of the ingredients.” The best that can be said about

Sixty-five percent of Deloitte’s respondents said they’re more

the incomprehensibility of ingredient lists is that consumers

concerned than they were five years ago about the food they

don’t feel the brands are actually trying to hoodwink them.

eat. Thirty-four percent rated themselves as highly concerned

“My sense is that they don’t think anything devious is going

about the quality and safety of foods they eat at home. Even

on,” says Conroy. “But it does make them uneasy.” After

more, 44 percent, felt that way about foods they eat elsewhere.

all, this isn’t like buying some gadget whose innards can’t

When asked to identify their primary concerns about foods they

endanger your health. With food, notes Conroy, people now

buy, 49 percent cited “healthiness” and 36 percent “safety.”

ask themselves, “’Do I take this on trust?’ If you’re buying

Also high on the list were “possible use of chemical ingredients

food that goes into a loved one’s body, there can be damage

that are detrimental to long-term health” (29 percent)

there. Just trusting the ad campaign that says ‘new and

and “use of high-fructose corn syrup” (27 percent).

improved’ doesn’t carry the day anymore.”

In an indication of the degree to which relatively

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

sophisticated concerns about food have gone mainstream,

Safety issues involving some products from China have

the poll (conducted in March) found 31 percent of

turned concern about “country of origin” of food

respondents including “over-processed food” among their

ingredients into a mass phenomenon. The survey found

top concerns about the foods they eat. Do marketers

51 percent of respondents regarding country-of-origin

realize that “over-processed” has become a turnoff for

labeling for fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables as

so many consumers? “I think they’re clearly aware

“extremely” or “very” important to them, along with

of it, and I think they’re selectively dealing with it,” says

another 35 percent saying it’s “somewhat” important.

Pat Conroy, vice chairman and U.S. consumer-products

Forty-five percent said they’d “like to find out

practice leader at Deloitte.

country-of-origin on a Web site for all ingredients in a

CONSUMER BELIEFS Scientific evidence is mixed on whether certain things are

packaged/bottled food product.”

Would so many people really go online for this sort of

or are not unhealthy. “But what matters at the end of

information? Conroy thinks so. He notes that ever-growing

the day is what the consumer believes,” adds Conroy,

numbers of consumers are already going to food brands’

characterizing the situation as one of those in which

Web sites for coupons and recipes, “so it’s not a stretch

“perception is reality.” While companies are moving to

to think they’d look for other information,” including

make some of their products more “natural” and to

country-of-origin data for product ingredients. He also

communicate this to consumers, “they’re doing so in a

notes Deloitte research among marketers that finds them

somewhat muted way, since they’re not changing all their

believing consumers are increasingly going online “to

products across the board.” It’s also a “balancing act,” he

cross-examine the brand.”

says, that involves such disparate considerations as flavor and

While food science may resolve some of consumers’ worries,

profitability.

it creates other concerns. More than one-third of respondents

Meanwhile, 53 percent of Deloitte’s respondents said

said they’re “extremely concerned” (13 percent) or “very

they “frequently or always read the list of ingredients on an

concerned” (21 percent) about eating genetically modified

unfamiliar packaged/bottled food item”; 54 percent frequently/

foods. Among women, nearly four in 10 were concerned about

always check the “Nutritional Facts” box when considering

eating such foods (16 percent “extremely,” 23 percent “very”).

such products. Atop the roster of items they’re examining are 18 The Cracker • July 2010

July 2010 • The Cracker 19

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT New INC Home

Building the Future Together The INC Board of Directors approved the proposal presented by the Executive Committee in Beijing, on May 20, 2010, to move our current location in the headquarters of the Reus Chamber of Commerce.

With financial assistance from Spanish government organizations, we have been given a 50 years lease along with their financial support in return for refurbishing a XIX century building in a surface of 4,500 square meters, in the new Techno Park near the airport.

The Techno Park is a new high-technical space with a surface of 50,000 square meters that will strategically support venture firms specialized in R&D, health and nutrition. It will be formed by different areas of interest, i.e. Healthcare (with a new hospital), Faculty of Dietetics and Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Bioprocesses and Engineering com-

panies, Pharmaceutical, Agriculture, Robotics and Automatism. The main building of the Techno Park will consist on a Congress Palace and different meeting rooms, the Reus Chamber of Commerce, and R&D net of companies. The new INC home will also include a 2,500 square meters Arboretum formed by different species of tree nuts and fruits trees.

Since the new offices shall be ready in three years, the members of the Board of Directors agreed to celebrate the 2013 World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Reus-Barcelona, on occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the INC, and the opening of the new INC home.

Over 30 INC members have stepped forward with donations for a brick to be placed at the entrance to the new offices. There are still Gold Sponsorships available for 8,000 EUR.

New INC Home

Sponsorship Opportunities for Members Sponsorship Benefits for 8,000 EUR: • Recognition as GOLD Member • Discount for INC Congresses • A plaque of recognition at the entrance of the building Gold Sponsors and Government Sponsors are open for Sponsorship. Now the INC offers the opportunity to be part of the project and build the future together to its members.

Please contact us if you are interested: Tel. +34 977 331 416 E-mail: goretti.guasch@nutfruit.org

20 The Cracker • July 2010

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT MycoRed Project 2nd General Assembly 11-12 May 2010 · Toulouse, France

The INC participated in the second General Assembly of the EU-funded project MycoRed (novel integrated strategies for worldwide mycotoxin reduction in food and feed chains), held in Toulouse, 11-12 May 2010, where the participants of the project discussed the ongoing work and situation of the different Working Packages of this large collaborative project that involves mycotoxins experts around the world. Participants reported about the finalized, current, and scheduled activities, milestones and deadlines. Dr. Antonio Logrieco, Coordinator of the project, presented the news, modifications and new collaborations.

The MycoRed Executive Committee decided to enlarge the project research topic, adding fumonisins in the grape wine chain, and agreed new collaborations with Canada (Biological Detoxification of

Mycotoxins in Food and Feed) and Argentina (Integrated national program program for prevention and control of mycotoxins in the food and feed chains).

The INC presented the 2009 RASFF report on nuts and dried fruits, a report on the dissemination done in the website, newsletter, The Cracker magazine, and the Annual World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, as well as the collection of worldwide statistics on production, imports and exports of nuts and dried fruits (15 products total). In addition, the INC presented the draft of the training video on sampling and the questionnaire for the economic evaluation of the impact of mycotoxin contamination.

The coming weeks the INC will distribute a Delphi questionnaire to scientists and experts in mycotoxins around the world.

INC 2009/10 Annual Report of Activities The INC has recently released the annual report of activities which provides an annual overview and detailed information on the INC activities and projects carried out from January 2009 to May 2010.

The report was released to the participants of the XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Beijing, China, May 21-23, 2010.

The report is available in multiple formats –print, CD-Rom and online at http://www.nutfruit.org/annual-report. Copies may be provided to INC members upon request.

Please contact us at +34 977 331 416 or e-mail inc@nutfruit.org.

July 2010 • The Cracker 21

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT 2009 RASFF Notifications for Nuts and Dried Fruits The INC has recently published a report on the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications for nuts and dried fruits in 2009.

The RASFF is a tool to exchange information within EU Member States about measures taken responding to risks detected in relation to food or feed. The RASFF list of members includes the 27 EU Member States, the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

The INC has collected and classified all alert notifications for nuts and dried fruits published in the RASFF portal website in 2009: by product, country of origin, notifying country, type of notification and reason for

22 The Cracker • July 2010

notifying. In addition, the report provides a summary of total notifications for mycotoxins; general overviews for edible nuts and dried fruits; and 2007-2008-2009 alerts comparison.

The report is part of the EU-funded project MycoRed (Novel Integrated Strategies for Worldwide Mycotoxin Reduction in Food and Feed Chains).

Copies of the Report may be provided to INC members upon request subject to availability.

Please contact us at +34 977 331 416 or e-mail inc@nutfruit.org.

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July 2010 • The Cracker 23

DECLARATION OF BARCELONA Results of the INC Symposium Nuts and Cardiovascular Health II Congress of the Federation of Societies of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Barcelona, Spain, March 4, 2010

As the results of the INC Symposium “Nuts and Cardiovascular Health” held on March 4th, 2010, in Barcelona, Spain, within the frame of the 2nd Congress of the Federation of Societies of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics (FESNAD), the moderators and guest speakers of the session concluded the following declaration on the benefits of consumption of nuts on cardiovascular health.

The benefits of nuts on cardiovascular health 1. Nuts are a whole food that has been consumed by humans throughout history.

2. Nuts are energy-dense foods, rich in total fat and unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, minerals, and bioactive phytochemicals with antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. In nuts, the whole is greater than the parts.

3. Nuts are among the whole foods with a more impressive body of scientific evidence supporting beneficial effects on cardiovascular and other health outcomes.

4. Large prospective studies have consistently associated frequent nut consumption with a reduced incidence of fatal and non fatal coronary heart disease.

5. Incorporating various kinds of nuts in a healthy diet has shown a consistent cholesterol lowering effect that is dose related and more pronounced in persons with higher baseline cholesterol.

6. Nut consumption may help to decrease triglyceride levels in persons with hypertriglyceridemia.

7. Nuts reduce the postprandial glycaemic response when consumed with high-glycaemic index carbohydrate foods in both normoglycaemic subjects and type 2 diabetic patients.

8. The reduction of coronary heart disease risk associated with nut consumption is likely to reflect mechanisms other than cholesterol lowering, as nut consumption can have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, oxidative and inflammatory processes and vascular reactivity.

9. Both epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that frequent nut intake is not associated with weight gain or worsening diabetes control.

10. The daily inclusion of a handful of nuts in the usual diet can be of benefit for healthy individuals and those with hypercholesterolemia and type 2 diabetes.

Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó University Rovira i Virgili (Spain)

Dr. Emilio Ros Lipids Unit, Barcelona Hospital Clinic (Spain)

Prof. Miguel A. Martínez-González University of Navarra (Spain)

Dr. Joan Sabaté Loma Linda University (USA)

24 The Cracker • July 2010

Prof. Linda C. Tapsell University of Wollongong (Australia)

July 2010 • The Cracker 25

NEW EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA IN RELATION TO NUT CONSUMPTION AND CANCER RISK The healthy effects of nuts on the cardiovascular system are widely recognized. Studies conducted in the past two decades have shown that nuts can protect against the development of and mortality from coronary heart disease, fatal and non-fatal ischemic heart disease, and sudden cardiac death (Kris-Etherton et al, 2008). However, the relationship between nuts and cancer has not been sufficiently studied.

By Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó Chair of Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain.

Member of the INC Scientific Committee

Cancer is a disease characterized by the loss of genetic control over cell growth and proliferation, mainly as a result of exposure to environmental factors. Giving up smoking and consuming plenty of fruit and vegetables are currently the most important recognized means of reducing the risk of cancer.

In the past decades a considerable number of epidemiological studies have suggested that prudent diets rich in vegetables and fibre are associated to a reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

In contrast, Westernized diets rich in meat and processed foods, saturated fatty acids and trans-fatty acids have been related to an increased risk of cancer.

Nuts are very rich in components that have antioxidant, antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties: i.e. selenium, magnesium, arginine, folic acid, antioxidant vitamins and several phytochemicals.

In recent years, several epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between the frequency of nut consumption and some types of cancer. In 2006 we reviewed (Gonzalez et al, 2006) all the articles analysing these associations and concluded that although the results are not conclusive, a protective effect on colon and rectum cancer is possible. Likewise, some of the studies published before 2006 showed a possible protective effect on prostate cancer, but the data was insufficient to determine other tumour locations. We also concluded that new epidemiological studies are required so that the possible effects of nuts on cancer can be clarified.

26 The Cracker • July 2010

The relationship between frequency of nut, seed and legume consumption and endometrial cancer was also explored in a case-control study conducted on a small sample of Mediterranean Greek women (Petridou et al, 2002). The results of this study support the role of nut-rich diets in reducing the risk of this type of cancer. However, the results need to be interpreted with caution since the sample of women was small and the risk of endometrial cancer low.

Recently, the association between adolescent fiber intake and proliferative benign breast disease, a marker of increased breast cancer risk, was examined in the Nurses’ Health Study II (Su et al, 2010). In this prospective study conducted on 29,480 women consuming more than two servings of nuts per week had a 36% lower risk of proliferative benign breast disease than women consuming less than one serving per month. These findings support the hypothesis that the intake of fiber and nuts during adolescence influences subsequent risk of breast disease and may be a viable mean for preventing breast cancer.

In the future the mechanisms that explain the protection attributed to the bioactive nut constituents responsible for the anticarcinogenic effect need to be explored. We also need more information about the protective effect of nuts on other tumour sites such as prostate and breast.

REFERENCES Jenab M, Ferrari P, Slimani N, Norat T, et al. Association of nut and seed intake with colorectal cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004;13(10):1595-603.

González CA, Salas-Salvadó J. The potential of nuts in the prevention of cancer. Br J Nutr. 2006;96 Suppl 2:S87-94.

Four important epidemiological studies have been published lately adding new data to the literature on colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and proliferative benign breast disease.

Kris-Etherton PM, Hu FB, Ros E, Sabaté J. The role of tree nuts and peanuts in the prevention of coronary heart disease: multiple potential mechanisms. J Nutr. 2008;138(9):1746S-1751S.

In the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer Prevention (EPIC) cohort, a significant inverse relationship between regular nut consumption and colorectal cancer was found only in women (Jenab et al, 2004). This gender discrepancy was also reported in the risk of colorectal cancer associated with peanut consumption in a different ethnic population group from Taiwan (24,000 individuals followed for 10 years). However, in both studies the protective effect of nut consumption was not observed in men.

Petridou E, Kedikoglou S, Koukoulomatis P, Dessypris N, Trichopoulos D. Diet in relation to endometrial cancer risk: a casecontrol study in Greece. Nutr Cancer. 2002;44(1):16-22.

Su X, Tamimi RM, Collins LC, Baer HJ, et al. Intake of fiber and nuts during adolescence and incidence of proliferative benign breast disease. Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Mar 14.

July 2010 • The Cracker 27

THE XXIX WORLD NUT AND DRIED FRUIT CONGRESS WELCOMED OVER 860 PARTICIPANTS FROM 49 COUNTRIES IN BEIJING, CHINA, 21-23 MAY 2010

Professionals from around the globe gathered to exchange views, meet worldwide colleagues, strengthen commercial relations and explore new initiatives in the nut and dried fruit business.

Congress attendees had 33 presentations to choose from, which ranged in topic from market dynamics and trends, to research and regulatory affairs.

MAIN SPONSOR

28 The Cracker • July 2010

OTHER SPONSORS

Mr. Pino Calcagni welcomes participants to the Dried Fruit Seminar

Dried Fruit Seminar

Welcome by the CFNA President, Mr. Bian Zhenhu

Congress officially opens. From left to right: Mr. Jack Mariani, INC Chairman, Mr. Giles Hacking, former Congress Co-Chairman, and Ms. Jiang Fan, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Commerce

July 2010 • The Cracker 29

Scientific Round Table

The CFNA receives the Corporate Golden Nut Award

General Assembly

INC Ambassadors

30 The Cracker • July 2010

General Assembly

Peanuts Seminar

Mr. Cheng Hung Kay receives the Individual Golden Nut Award

The INC Executive Committee delivers a plaque to Board member Mr. Doug Youngdahl on recognition for his outstanding service to the INC for 9 years

Blue Diamond Growers, Major Congress Sponsor

CFNA and Congress Organizers in China

INC Executive Committee and staff

July 2010 • The Cracker 31

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The Dried Fruit Seminar and Working Groups were Held Friday, May 21, 2010, with Over 200 in Attendance.

Dear INC Colleagues, I am pleased to report information about the evolution of dried fruit consumption in the European Union market.

This is the first time that INC has engaged in the project. It is focused on the top seven importers/ exporters and will eventually extend to 20 key countries worldwide.

Please note that the E.U. is actually producing only dried prunes and dried apples; sultanas and currants are coming from Greece. Therefore the E.U. depends on worldwide supply.

English ‘plumcake’, the German ‘Stollen’, the Italian ‘panettone’, the breakfast soft prunes and the delicious Malatya apricots, are examples of how consumers use dried fruit and nuts.

Recently there has been a big increase in dried small berries like cranberries, blueberries, goji berries all enrich mixed fruit snacks.

The only concern is the reduction of SO2 (<2000 ppm) in apricots and dried grapes. There are studies already initiated in Turkey by INC to avoid conflicts with European legislation.

With best regards, Pino Calcagni Chairman INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee 34 The Cracker • July 2010

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

Trade Statistics

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 35

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

Trade Statistics

36 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

Trade Statistics

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 37

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

California Raisin Export Program in Jeopardy?

Barry Kriebel, President of Sun-Maid Growers of California opened the Dried Fruit Seminar with a history and future projections for the California raisins export program. The California raisin industry has operated an export program in one format or another since 1949 when the industry was first authorized to do so by the United States Secretary of Agriculture, under legislation enacted by the United States Congress in 1937.

Many people outside of California, including traders, buyers, and end users around the world, are surprised to learn that the rebate program under which California supports world exports is 100% funded by California raisin growers. It is not government subsidized, explained Kriebel.

The program is voted on periodically by a Committee comprised of 47 delegates and 47 alternate delegates of growers and packers who meet from time to time and evaluate the economics of supply and demand; the threat of frost in April and May of each year; the diversion of raisin grapes to wineries and the grape juice market; the threat of rain and poor drying conditions each Fall; evaluation of the needs of domestic raisin customers; and how much California growers want to pay to support the program.

38 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar The 2009/2010 season witnessed a California industry that did not easily reach industry consensus and approval by the Secretary of Agriculture. Much of this uncertainty was caused by the combination of tight supplies and high export sales.

This made the source of funds difficult.

Whether California continues to have an export rebate program for the Fall and Winter of 2010 will likely be decided after September 1st, 2010.

For complete charts, visit INC website, Beijing Congress presentations.

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 39

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

European Dried Fruit Consumption, Trends and Growth Opportunities Michael Rund, BĂ&#x2013;sch Boden Spies GmbH & Co. of Germany, discussed the growth opportunities for dried fruits in Europe which will be driven by quality, product

innovation, new target groups, focus on health and wellness, the elimination of foreign material (including insect damage and pits), proper labeling, and improved marketing efforts.

40 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

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July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 41

2010 Dried Fruit Seminar

Dried Fruit Industry: Japan Hidemitsu Honda Shoei Foods Corporation echoed similar issues would drive the dried fruit market in Japan: the importance of food safety; retail product lifecycles are shorter with consumer products changing frequently; price consciousness is increasing with the Japanese economy slowing down and experiencing deflation; and the need for new product development and marketing plans. Prunes comprise about 50% of the Japanese market, with raisins 25%. Dried mango has increased substantially since 2004 and is now third. Blueberries have dropped to number four, but are expected to increase as a result of falling blueberry prices. Mixes, especially of raisins and diced tropical fruits, are becoming popular.

42 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

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2010 • The Cracker September 2005 • July the CraCker 65 43

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Dried Fruit in the Russian Federation Sergey Khaesh, Agroimpex Co. of the Russian Federation, emphasized the development of quality within the production areas of Uzbeskistan and Tajikistan for raisins, dried apricots, and prunes. Other key countries for raisins, dried apricots, prunes, and figs are Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, the United States, Argentina, and Chile. There are a number of joint ventures between Russian and Middle East Companies resulting from Middle East growers being market-oriented to Russia.

44 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

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July 2010 • The Cracker 47

SUCCESS FOR THE FIRST LIFE HEALTH TM

By Jennifer Getz Marketing Director, Domestic California Walnut Commission

48 The Cracker • March 2010

O

ver 1000 consumers, health professionals, and media attended the sold-out Food for Your Whole LifeTM health symposium June 6-7 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. This new approach to nutrition education and disease prevention looked at each phase of life and foods that can help prevent negative health outcomes. As principal sponsor, the California Walnut Commission demonstrated their continued commitment to health and nutrition education. Participating sponsors all dedicated to spreading this message included: American Institute for Cancer Research, HealthCorps, New York State Dietetic Association, USA Pears, US Dry Pea and Lentil Council, and the Wild Blueberry Association of North America.

Lifestyle choices account for 38% of all U.S. deaths, but research has shown that choosing the right foods can help combat these lifethreatening diseases. Symposium speaker Dr. Brian Wansink talked about the concept of “Mindless Eating” and the 200+ food choices people make every day without realizing it. Simple corrections to mindless eating habits can have a huge impact on health. The good news is that 67% of people do want to hear about the connection between food and health. However, 42% of people agree that food and health information is confusing and conflicting.

Food for Your Whole LifeTM presented this relationship in a manner that was clear and easy to understand for all attendees.

Sunday was open to the public and had over 1000 consumers and health professionals in attendance. This half-day session talked more generally about food choice with Keynote Speakers Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, Dr. Michael F. Roizen, and Dr. David L. Katz.

Drs. Oz and Roizen took the stage together to address questions from the audience. Additionally, Dr. Brian Wansink presented his research on easy ways to get children to make healthier food choices and fitness expert Petra Kolber led the whole crowd on a quick and energetic chair-based workout. To conclude, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Mollie Katzen led a cooking demo that paired Chef Rocco DiSpirito (Food Network) and Chef Jamie Lauren (Bravo’s Top Chef) with teen chefs from the HealthCorps program.

The Monday session was exclusively for health professionals and featured more in depth science-based content on the best food choices for each stage in life. Speakers included Dr. Roger Clemens (University of Southern California); Dr. David L. Katz (Yale University Prevention Research Center); Elisa Zied, RD; Karen Collins, RD; Dr. Brian Wansink (Cornell Food and Brand Lab), Dr. Joan Sabaté (Loma Linda University), Dr. Donald Ingram (Pennington Biomedical Research Center), and Dr. Michael Roizen (Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute). Continuing Education was

EVER FOOD FOR YOUR WHOLE SYMPOSIUM. available to MDs, PAs, NPs, and RNs through Columbia University and to RDs and DTRs through the American Dietetic Association.

“In assessing the success of the symposium we feel extremely positive. Not only were both days sold out but literally hundreds of consumers and health professionals were turned away due to the lack of space – and we are talking about one of the biggest ballroom in Manhattan,” said Dennis A. Balint, CEO of the California Walnut Commission. The symposium was attended by representatives of several supermarket chains as well as food manufacturers.

There was excellent media attendance and both a media reception and press conference were held, the latter was also web cast.

The feedback from attendees was over the top with enthusiasm.

Comments ranged from “Will this be an annual event?” to “How did you manage to get so many health and nutrition superstars in one event?”

Attendees also commended the unique approach to the symposium. In fact many of the speakers mentioned the value of repeating this event on the West Coast.

Today, the nation faces its highest obesity rates in history, and communicating the importance of good nutrition is essential to starting a downward trend for obesity and other chronic and life-threatening disease. As principal sponsor, the California Walnut Commission is proud of the outcome of Food for Your Whole LifeTM. For more information, visit www.FoodForYourWholeLife.org.

WWW.FOODFORYOURWHOLELIFE.ORG March 2010 • The Cracker 49

50 The Cracker • July 2010

July 2010 • The Cracker 1

...Quality, Commitment, Tradition

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 51

J

oe walks into his office on a sunny, Tuesday morning. Before he sits down at his desk, his Blackberry begins chirping wildly. He grabs the phone, notices that it is Rachael, the Facility Manager, whom he reports to directly, so Joe answers the call right away.

Joe is a Production Manager at a nut processing facility. His face turns white as he listens intently and starts to pace back and forth in his office. They are having an unannounced regulatory inspection audit.

Joe is responsible for all food safety systems and has been putting effort into them; however, with everything else he is responsible for, he finds it difficult to know where to focus his energies. Now, he will soon find out if he spent his time effectively.

A team of regulatory inspection auditors enters the production floor and immediately starts evaluating every area of production, including Joe’s food safety systems. Joe was consistently surprised with many of the questions the auditors asked. Unfortunately, the auditors were just as equally surprised with Joe’s inability to answer. At the end of the inspection, document review and environmental pathogen swabbing, Joe’s facility was hit with numerous non-conformances, a few of which were critical. The next three days were very long and, at times, filled with startling revelations for Joe. After the whole ordeal, Joe called his friend Dan, whom he had met at a food safety conference last year. He remembered that Dan had gone through a similar unannounced regulatory inspection and had a much different outcome. During their conversation Dan relayed to Joe that he knew exactly what to expect in his audit and only had one minor non-conformance issue. Joe asked Dan how he managed to do so well. Dan’s answer was simply, the “DFA” also known as the American Council for Food Safety and Quality (ACFSQ).” DFA of California helped Dan prepare for the inevitable regulatory inspection audit by providing training and conducting practice audits at his facility.

Fortunately for Dan, DFA understands the challenges that growers, handlers and processing facilities face. They have built a team of British Retail Consortium and GMASafe certified auditors and consultants with backgrounds in production, quality assurance and control, and auditing to effectively assist and guide their clients through food safety systems development, implementation, and continuous improvement.

– Continued on page 54 52 The Cracker • July 2010

“A team of regulatory inspection auditors enters the production floor and immediately starts evaluating every area of production, including Joe’s food safety systems. Joe was consistently surprised with many of the questions the auditors asked.”

You just can’t sort things too carefully.

For BEST’s engineers, sorting is a serious business. Words like ‘foreign object’, ‘contamination’ and ‘recall’ strike fear into their very souls. And so every detail of every sorting machine we make is checked repeatedly to make sure it’s up to the job. All this commitment to quality is for just one reason - our clients’ reputations depend on it. And we wouldn’t be a world leader in sorting if the world couldn’t expect, the best from us. For a demonstration of just what’s possible, contact us or visit our website.

info@bestsorting.com www.bestsorting.com

– Continued from page 52

The most valuable DFA service Dan took advantage of was the unannounced GMP/ Food Safety inspections. Once every four months, one or two, trained auditors inspected and audited the operating conditions at Dan’s facility. The unannounced audits were essential in assisting Dan’s management and facility staff to examine gaps in their systems. This service offered a more realistic snap-shot of production, employee practices and regulatory compliance. When Dan experienced a genuine regulatory inspection audit, he knew exactly what to expect as a result of this service. He was prepared and confident.

His company has the proper documentation and control systems in place, demonstrating their commitment and adherence to food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory requirements.

Dan also took advantage of DFA’s HACCP, GMP, environmental monitoring and food safety training classes and consulting services. Dan liked the fact that the trainers and consultants have experience working in production and used this knowledge to make Dan’s training more meaningful. They offered specific examples of application methods designed for his facility and specific industry.

Let’s check back in with Joe. After the regulatory inspection, Joe started working with DFA as well and they helped him develop a road map to not only fix his non-conformance issues, but also assisted him with continual improvement and refinement of existing food safety systems. The DFA staff provided guidance to Joe regarding his response to the regulatory inspection letters, corrective action documentation and GMP Training. The DFA staff developed a corrective action and systems implementation plan specific to Joe’s facility and needs. Joe is now confidently enhancing his food safety systems.

Even though Joe and Dan were at different places in the status of their food safety systems, they both still benefited from various DFA services.

DFA, established in 1908, represents the collective interest of the dried fruit and tree nut industries in California. Since the mid-1960’s, DFA has expanded well beyond its initial scope to include a full service food laboratory, Good Manufacturing Practices audits, HACCP certification, BRC and GMA-SAFE Audits, technical research, product inspections, arbitrations and ever increasing international involvement. Headquartered in Sacramento, CA, DFA is a leader in food safety auditing and consulting.

DFA consultants guide members in developing an efficient and easy-to-audit document development and control system, which will aid in demonstrating compliance with a regulator when they visit a facility. It is not enough to do all the right things, documentation is also required. It starts with documenting operating procedures and policies, training on those operating procedures and policies, cleaning and sanitation activities, and monitoring device verification checks, just to name a few.

The purpose of DFA’s tri-annual audits is to ensure that systems are in place, being monitored, in use and effective. It also evaluates the overall process and mechanics of the operations, assessing the ability to function both day-to-day and in times of crisis. Audits also offer a road map of specific items to assist with continual improvement and refining of food safety systems. Regardless of the longevity of the food safety systems, continuous improvement should be part of the vocabulary. British Retail Consortium and GMA-Safe certified auditors are on staff at the DFA and offer consulting and auditing against these two audit platforms.

For more information on enhancing your food safety systems or to contact DFA, go to www.agfoodsafety.org.

54 The Cracker • July 2010

“After the regulatory inspection, Joe started working with DFA as well and they helped him develop a road map to not only fix his nonconformance issues, but also assisted him with continual improvement and refinement of existing food safety systems.”

The SenSible AnSwer To worldwide regulATionS AflaTest: The Test of Choice for the Tree Nut Industry

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VICAM also offers on-site training, worldwide distribution, and commodity-specific protocols.

For more on AflaTest, AflaTest WB® and AflaTest WB SR, call 508-482-4935, visit www.waters.com/vicam23 or email vicam@vicam.com ©2010 Waters Corporation. Waters, VICAM, AflaTest WB, AflaTest and UPLC are trademarks of Waters Corporation.

Vicam_NutAd_2010_halfCracker.indd 1

2/2/10 9:27:16 AM

INC AMBASSADORS As an INC member, you have immediate international access to recognized leaders in the industry who volunteer their time and expertise at no expense to INC on matters which benefit the entire industry.

Oscar Vergara, Argentina

Omar Sarhan, Hungary

Ruslan Sokht, Russia

Christopher Joyce, Australia

Pratap Nair, India

A ntonio Pont, Jr., Spain

Michael Waring, Australia

Asadollah Asgaroladi, Iran

A mit Khirbat, Singapore

Frank Vaerewijck, Belgium

Mehrdad M anouchehri, Iran

Ducan McGregor, South Africa

Stephen Meltzer, Canada

Remy Berrebi, Israel

Caroline Lindeberg, Sweden

Siegfried Von Gehr, Chile

Riccardo Calcagni, Italy

Varee Phonphaison, Thailand

Chen Ying, China

K azuo Julian Tagawa, Japan

Mohsen Boujbel, Tunisia

Saifuddin Abidali, Egypt

Pius M. Ngugi, Kenya

Sezmen Alper, Turkey

Hubert Berrebi, France

Hani Akzam, Lebanon

Bilge A nbarlilar, Turkey

Richard Monnier, France

Parissa R afii, Luxembourg

Sabit Sabir, Turkey

Thomas Apfel, Germany

K arim A zzaoui, Morocco

Jafar Moallem, U.A.E.

Dieter Scheuer, Germany

Khalid Bennani, Morocco

Roby Danon, U.K.

John Cardassilaris, Greece

Kees van de Sandt, Netherlands

Stephen Sousa, U.S.A.

Cheng Hung K ay, Hong Kong

Erik Harlem, Norway

James Warner, U.S.A.

K ároly Bognar, Hungary

Jorge Carqueja, Portugal

Helen Watts, U.S.A.

Kourosh Mojibian, Russia

July 2010 • The Cracker 55

Pecans Provide Neurological Protection : Study Suggests Pecans May Delay Progression of Motor Neuron Degeneration

E

ating about a handful of pecans each day may play a role in protecting the nervous system, according to a new animal study published in the current issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research. The study, conducted at the Center for Cellular Neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, suggests adding pecans to your diet may delay the progression of agerelated motor neuron degeneration. This may include diseases like amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Researchers suggest vitamin E – a natural antioxidant found in pecans – may provide a key element to neurological protection shown in the study. Antioxidants are nutrients found in foods that help protect against cell damage, and studies have shown, can help fight diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease. Pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and are among the top 15 foods to contain the highest antioxidant capacity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“These findings suggest regular consumption of pecans may provide significant nutritive and antioxidant benefits for your body,” said lead researcher Thomas B. Shea, PhD. Dr. Shea and his research team carried out a number of laboratory studies on three groups of mice specifically bred to demonstrate severe decline in motor neuron function that are commonly used in studies 56 The Cracker • July 2010

of ALS. Each of the three groups was fed a control diet or one of two diets containing differing amounts of pecans ground into their food. Standard testing methods were used to determine how well the mice scored relative to motor neuron functions, both before and after they were provided with one of the three diets.

Mice provided a diet supplemented with pecans displayed a significant delay in decline in motor function compared to mice receiving no pecans. Mice eating the diet with the most pecans (0.05%) fared best. Both pecan groups fared significantly better than those whose diets contained no pecans. The result was based on how the mice performed in highly specific tests, each of which compared mice on the control diet with mice consuming pecanenriched diets.

“Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean eating bland,” said Beth Hubrich, a registered dietitian with the National Pecan Shellers Association. “Pecans are a tasty addition to a healthy diet and scientific research continues to show they’re good for you as well.”

Eating a handful of pecans will also provide you with more than 19 vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and several B vitamins, Hubrich said. Pecans are naturally cholesterol-free and sodium-free.

For more information on the health benefits of pecans, recipes, photos and much more, visit www.ilovepecans.org.

The American Nut

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www.YoungPecan.com July 2010 • The Cracker 57

Pistachio Health & 2010 World Nuts and Dri

China, a Priority Market China, one of the largest and fastest growing individual country markets, is a priority for Paramount Farms and for the California pistachio industry. Since entering the market in 2007, Paramount Farm’s sales have doubled year after year; industry shipments for California pistachios to China New Industry Standards Targeted reached in excess of 54 million pounds by During the recent INC World Nuts & Dried 2009.

Fruits Congress, held in Beijing, members of Paramount Farms’ marketing and sales team gathered with leading health and research experts and Chinese government leaders to address an industry wide issue: new food safety standards to prevent unnecessary bleaching of pistachios in China.

Paramount Farms’ two-hour Pistachio Health & Safety Seminar featured a panel of speakers of key opinion leaders from China’s food & government agencies including Weng Yangyang, secretary-general of the committee for seeds and nuts of the Bleached Pistachios China National Food Industry Association Despite its size, the Chinese marketplace presents a unique challenge to the industry. (CNFIA); Bian Zhenhu, vice chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce Import In China, 90% of pistachios sold are & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce bleached in order to achieve an artificially & Animal By Products (CCCIEFNPABP); all-white appearance, an unnecessary and Dr. Ming Fang of the food science practice that negates the and engineering department at East naturally healthful China University of Science and properties of the Technology. pistachio.

“When we first entered the market, we quickly realized that the healthful properties of

58 The Cracker • March 2010

our all-natural, non-bleached California pistachios were not being fully realized,” said Anita Lam, general manager for Paramount Farms, China. “Despite published research showing that bleaching pistachios destroyed many of the natural nutrients and antioxidants, many Chinese consumers were not fully unaware of the harmful effects of this practice. With the support of health experts and Chinese government, we are calling attention to this issue and to the need for new food safety laws and a national standard for pistachios.”

Chinese Government Supports Regulations Guest speaker Bian Zhenhu of CCIEFNBABP, welcomed attendees and voiced support from the Chinese government. “Experts predict that China will become the word’s largest consumption country for pistachios. Along with that growth, there is an increased concern for pistachio’s food health and safety requirements.”

Safety Seminar: ed Fruit Congress, Beijing

Added Weng Yangyang, secretary-general of CNFIA, “Due to traditional eating habits, bleached pistachios are prevailing in China because of their ‘clean look.’ We are highly appreciative of Paramount Farms’ consistent dedication to increase public awareness of all natural unbleached California pistachios and building up a healthy and standardized pistachio market in China. We appeal to more companies to align together to promote natural and unbleached pistachios to Chinese customers and support a standardized market in China.”

The association plans to address the issue of bleaching pistachios by creating a new set of standards within the year, which will regulate the production of nuts, and which is expected to improve the industry’s product quality and food safety.

Research Supports Pistachio Standard Speaker Dr. Ming Fang, dean of food science and engineering at the East China University of Science and Technology, is a noted food safety and international food regulation expert and has worked closely with Paramount Farms to lead research in this area. Dr. Fang provided an in-depth look into negative effects of bleaching pistachios.

“Bleaching pistachios destroys the healthful properties of pistachios and also hides product flaws and imperfections, a violation of Chinese food safety laws,” said Dr. Fang. “It is designed to appeal to the Chinese consumer who believes that with most foods, ‘white is best.’ Yet because pistachios are a relatively new snack in China, many consumers are unaware of what an untreated pistachio looks like.

Consumers need to be made aware and to be given a choice.”

Published research conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles shows that the chemical bleaching of pistachios reduces their antioxidant properties by destroying the phenol acids in pistachio skins. The phenols family of naturallyoccurring chemicals plays a protective role against anti-oxidative damage diseases such as coronary heart disease, strokes and cancers.

Dr. Fang is spearheading new research, currently in progress, which will further support the view that bleaching negates the nutritional value and destroys beneficial antioxidants.

California Processors Support Standardization California processors in attendance acknowledged the seminar was a positive effort in promoting the health benefits of pistachios and towards raising awareness for the importance of establishing relevant regulations to standardize the Chinese pistachio industry.

Reporters from leading Chinese news outlets, including China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and China Food Industry, attended the seminar and interviewed seminar speakers. China Daily, a national newspaper, first ran a feature article on May 24th which has since been reprinted by international and national media, helping draw local market attention to this important issue. Additional coverage in China Food Industry will be published in July.

For a complete presentation of the speaker presentations, INC members can go to www.nutfruit.org/china-2010. For more information about Paramount Farms visit www.paramountfarms.com; and for the health benefits of pistachios, www.pistachiohealth.com.

www.pistachiohealth.com March 2010 • The Cracker 59

Nucis Germany High

Left to right: Dr. Kai Fischer - Prof. Dr. Gerhard Rechkemmer - Mr. Guido Wolf Mr Helmut Dankert - Chairman

2010 is packed with events and activities for Nucis Germany. At the annual Managing Board and Members’ Meeting of Nucis Germany last November, the activities for 2010 were determined.

The Nucis Board members are: Mr. Helmut Dankert (Max Kiene GmbH)– Chairman, Dr. Kai Fischer (The Lorenz Bahlsen Snack-World GmbH & Co KG Germany) - 1st Vice-chairman, Mr. Guido Wolf (ültje GmbH)- 2nd Vice-chairman and Auditor, Prof. Dr. Gerhard Rechkemmer (MRI Institute) - Academic person responsible Prof. Dr. Rechkemmer informed the board that he included a favourable statement about apples and nuts in the MRI’s Seasons Greeting because both support a healthy diet: “Nuts are not only delicious, but also healthy. As part of a balanced diet, nuts have the potential to positively influence certain illnesses that are partly caused by nutrition. Nuts reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases due to their ability to lower the level of cholesterol. The fat 60 The Cracker • July 2010

composition of nuts is especially responsible for this effect because of their high amount of monounsaturated fats (e.g. oleic acid) and polyunsaturated fats (e.g. linoleic acid).”

In addition, he added, “other nutritional components of nuts, like phytochemicals, vitamin E, folate and fiber, can contribute to the protection from cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore nuts are a good source of B-vitamins and minerals, like magnesium and potassium.”

In 2010 Nucis considered three nutritional fairs. The exhibition year started with the DGE Congress, March 11th – 12th at the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena. That congress is the major congress for scientists in Germany and is targeted at scientists and nutrition advisers. Since Nucis has a research partnership with the university, Jena it is favourable location.

lights Health in 2010 A high demand for details out of the first already finished project “Functional effects of nuts: hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachio nuts, walnuts and almonds on intestinal health” was noticed.

Dr. Daniel Scharlau, who worked on the project and is known from the INC Congress in Monaco was present.

The Joint Federal Conference of Professional Associations of Dieticians (VDD) and Nutritional Physicians (BDEM) 7-8 May 2010 at Congress Park Wolfsburg was the second exhibition. A lecture about the nutritional values of nuts and hints about how to communicate this message to patients was delivered as a highlight.

“Nutrition 2010”, 17 – 19 June 2010 at Congress Centre Leipzig will follow. This event is mainly targeted to nutrition physicians in German- speaking Europe.

At all congresses, Nucis will discuss the nutritional benefits of nuts. Each nut has its specific profile that will be stressed. Samples of hazelnuts, macadamias and pistachios will support this message and demonstrate the excellent taste that nuts contribute to the diet.

Nucis will present its new teaching material and offer it to nutrition advisers for use in their consultations. Schools for dieticians will also be provided with the material.

Two new flyers are available. One is targeted to the professionals

and the other to their patients. So the patients will have a high value and compact summary of what they learned. Nucis learned from nutrition advisers that they like to have a prepared flyer as a give away. Feedback from the nutrition advisers will be integrated into a brochure that fulfils their needs and provides the information Nucis has to offer.

The commentary and bibliography of Nucis’ own booklet “Nuts in Nutrition” was updated at the end of 2009. Professional advisers are also invited to ask Nucis for lectures. The lecture “Health in Nuts” is adapted to the group’s specific interest.

Publications in several professional magazines will be regularly printed.

The major German Magazine “Ernährungsumschau” will feature “Nuts in Nutrition”. The INC brochure “Go Nuts – Go Healthy” (German Version) will also be featured as a supplement.

In cooperation with the Friedrich-Schiller-Universiät Jena, a second research study will be launched in summer 2010. Here the focus will be on the effect of roasted nuts for gut health as the conclusions of the first project suggest that nuts may have beneficial effects on gut health. An event: “Day of Healthy Nutrition” organized by the professional association VFED will be supported as well as the “5-a-day” campaign.

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

To all INC members, advertisers and subscribers: The next publications schedule for Cracker Magazine for 2010 - 2011 will be November 2010 v March 2011 v July 2011 Detailed information will be sent and posted on our website: www.nutfruit.org July 2010 • The Cracker

61

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July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 63

ALMOND ALMENDRA AMANDE MANDORLE MANDEL BADEM AMETLLA

California’s 2010 almond production is forecast at 725,747 MT (1.6 billion pounds), up 17% from the previous season, based on the USDA Objective Measurement Report released on July 8, 2010, less 3% of

MT, due to a greater number of bearing acres. According to the Australia Almond Board, future production increases will occur as young plantings reach full maturity, bringing future productive capacity to greater

inedible and process loss.

The forecast is based on 740 thousand bearing acres.

Australian almond production is expected to increase by 25%, reaching almost 57,600

than 80,000 MT by 2015.

The Spanish 2010 almond crop is expected to decline by 42%, totaling 40,000 MT, due to a major freeze event across most growing areas during the bloom.

Estimated World Almonds Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons 2009 / 2010

COUNTRY USA MM lbs* USA

2010 / 2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

414

1.363

1.777

315

315

1.600

1.915

315

187.787

618.246

806.033

142.881

142.881

725.747

868.629

142.881

AUSTRALIA

0

46.100

46.100

0

0

57.594

57.594

0

SPAIN

0

69.000

69.000

10.000

10.000

40.000

50.000

0

TURKEY

0

13.750

13.750

0

0

16.000

16.000

0

TUNISIA

0

12.000

12.000

0

0

12.000

12.000

0

IRAN

0

10.000

10.000

0

0

10.000

10.000

0

MOROCCO

0

9.000

9.000

0

0

9.000

9.000

0

GREECE

0

8.000

8.000

0

0

8.000

8.000

0

CHILE

0

8.000

8.000

0

0

8.000

8.000

0

ITALY

0

6.000

6.000

0

0

7.000

7.000

0

SYRIA

0

5.000

5.000

0

0

5.000

5.000

0

OTHERS

0

30.000

30.000

0

0

30.000

30.000

0

187.787

835.096

1.022.883

152.881

152.881

928.341

1.081.223

142.881

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

870.002

938.341

*USA 2010 Crop is based on 1,650 million lbs less 3% inedible and process loss.

Source: ABC and other INC sources.

CA Shipments to China. Metric Tons 60.000

54.749

50.000

45.223

40.000 30.000 20.000 10.000

14.651

12.655

11.476

10.659

9.888

7.575

0 2000

2001

2002

21.123

7.756

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009 (9 mos)

Over the past ten years, California almond exports to China increased from 10,000 MT (21 million pounds) in 2001 to almost 55,000 MT (120 million pounds) in just nine months of the 2009 crop year.

Source: ABC

64 The Cracker • July 2010

AMAZONIA (BRAZIL) NUT COQUITO DE BRAZIL NOIX DE VRESIL NOCE DEL BRASILE PARANUSS BREZILYA FINDIGI NOU DE BRASIL

World production of Amazonia (Brazil) nuts in 2010 has been estimated at 21,950 MT (kernel basis), up slightly from last year. Bolivia’s production has

been estimated at 16,000 MT (kernel basis), up 7% from last year, followed by Brazil and Peru which crops might reach 4,000 and 1,950 MT respec-

with almost zero stocks.

tively. At the time of writing this report, the supply situation was tight since demand had been very strong. Demand of Brazil nuts surpassed supply,

The first shipment of the new crop is expected by March 2011, at the earliest.

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nuts Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

Bolivia

6.950

14.900

21.850

500

Brazil

500

4.240

4.740

Peru

800

2.350

8.250

21.490

WORLD TOTAL

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

500

16.000

16.500

300

300

300

4.000

4.300

100

3.150

200

200

1.950

2.150

50

29.740

1.000

1.000

21.950

22.950

450

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

28.740

22.500

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nuts Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons 2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

Bolivia

20.850

44.700

65.550

1.500

Brazil

1.500

12.720

14.220

Peru

2.400

7.050

24.750

64.470

COUNTRY

WORLD TOTAL

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

1.500

48.000

49.500

900

900

900

12.000

12.900

300

9.450

600

600

5.850

6.450

150

89.220

3.000

3.000

65.850

68.850

1.350

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

67.500

86.220

Source: Promueve Bolivia and other INC sources

Exports from Bolivia. Metric Tons 10.000

8.000

7.780

7.701

7.000 6.000

6.914

7.494

7.200

6.428 6.425

6.498 6.094 5.598

5.000 4.000 3.000

8.831

8.653

9.000

3.649

4.906

4.168

2.000 All others

1.000

UK

USA

0 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Source: XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress

July 2010 • The Cracker 65

CASHEW ANACARDO NOIX DE CAJOU ANACARDIO CASHEW CEVIZI ANACARD

World cashew production is forecast at 487,900 MT in 2010/2011, 3% down from the previous season, being India the main producer with 125,000 MT (kernel

basis). The crop in West Africa has been estimated at 146,500 MT, of which 75,000 MT come from Cote d’Ivoire. Vietnam is expected to reach 75,000 MT, up

36% from t he previous season.

over the last months. The global recession clearly had an impact on consumer demand, but the industry is on the road to recovery.

Cashew markets remain highly volatile and prices have continued their upward swing

Estimated World Cashews Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons Brazil converted basis: 4,8 kg RCN = 1 kg kernel, all others: 4,2 kg RCN = 1 kg kernel

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

India Cote BEGINNING d’ivoire STOCK 1ST SEP Vietnam Brazil (*)64.696

0 2006160.000 CROP0 TOTAL 80.000 SUPPLY 0 55.000 93.5770 158.273 57.000

160.000 ENDING 80.000 STOCK 55.000 34.150 57.000

0 BEGINNING 0 STOCK 1ST SEP 0 34.150 0

Guinea-bissau

0

0 46.650 0

25.000 46.650 24.000

25.000 0 24.000

0

0

0 3.500 0

19.000 3.500 18.000

19.000 0 18.000

0

4.9560 0 148.683 0

15.500 4.956 10.000 213.379 14.000

15.500 1.210 10.000 35.360 14.000

Ghana

0

7.500

7.500

0

Senegal

0

4.500

4.500

COUNTRY

Indonesia (*) Tanzania (*) Nigeria

Mozambique (*)0 Cambodia 64.696 Benin

Others (*)

0

13.900

178.019 13.900

WORLD TOTAL

0

503.400

503.400

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

0 2007125.000 CROP TOTAL 0 75.000 SUPPLY 0 75.000 158.376 192.526 0 57.000

125.000 ENDING 75.000 STOCK 75.000 60.980 57.000

0 0 0 0

0

0 68.000 0

30.000 68.000 24.000

30.000 0 24.000

0

0

0 4.050 0

19.000 4.050 18.000

19.000 0 18.000

0

0 1.210* 0 35.360 0

0 1.700 0 232.126 0

15.500 2.910 12.000 267.486 11.500

15.500 545 12.000 61.525 11.500

0

0

7.500

7.500

0

0

0

4.500

4.500

0

0

0

13.900

13.900

0

0

0

487.900

487.900

0

0 0

503.400

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

ENDING STOCK

0 0 0 0

487.900

(*) Forecast consistent with prior year production trends.

Source: INC.

320 Grade Cashew Prices ($ per lb) 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5

00 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 01 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 02 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 03 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 04 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 05 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 06 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 07 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 08 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 09 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct 10 1-apr 1-jul 1-oct

0

Source: Cashew Working Group, 2010 World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress.

66 The Cracker • July 2010

HAZELNUT AVELLANA NOISETTE NOCCIOLA HAZELNUSS FINDIK AVELLANA

World hazelnut production is forecast at 910,750 MT in 2010/2011, 26% up from the previous season. At the time of writing this report, both Turkey and Italy’s orchards were keeping

Association, Turkey exported 190,949 MT of hazelnuts between September 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, down 11% compared with the same period of the previous season.

Italy’ crop is projected at 110,000 MT, up 29% from the previous season. World supply is expected to meet the demand.

According to the Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters’

well. Turkey’s 2010 crop was forecast at 630,000 MT (inshell basis), up 26% from the previous year due to favorable weather conditions, accounting for approximately 70% of world supply.

Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons 2009/2010

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

Turkey BEGINNING Italy STOCK 1ST SEP USA

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

15.000 2006250.000 CROP TOTAL 11.750 39.950 SUPPLY 500 16.900

265.000 ENDING 51.700 STOCK 17.400

5.000 BEGINNING STOCK4.700 1ST SEP 500

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

5.000 2007315.000 CROP TOTAL 4.700 51.700 SUPPLY 500 13.700

320.000 ENDING 56.400 STOCK 14.200

15.000 4.700 600

Azerbaijan

1.200

12.000

13.200

400

400

18.000

18.400

1.600

Georgia

1.200

10.800

12.000

800

800

16.200

17.000

1.400

Spain

900

8.100

9.000

0

0

10.800

10.800

900

Others

0

9.000

9.000

450

450

12.150

12.600

900

30.550

346.750

377.300

11.850

11.850

437.550

WORLD TOTAL

205.961 449.400

25.100

365.450

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

424.300

Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons 2009/2010

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

Turkey BEGINNING Italy STOCK 1ST SEP USA

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

30.000 2006 500.000 (*) CROP TOTAL 25.000 85.000 SUPPLY 1.250 42.250

530.000 ENDING 110.000 STOCK 43.500

10.000 BEGINNING 10.000 STOCK 1ST SEP 1.250

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

10.000(**) 2007630.000 CROP TOTAL 10.000 110.000 SUPPLY 1.250 34.250

640.000 ENDING 120.000 STOCK 35.500

30.000 10.000 1.500

Azerbaijan

3.000

30.000

33.000

1.000

1.000

45.000

46.000

4.000

Georgia

3.000

27.000

30.000

2.000

2.000

40.500

42.500

3.500

Spain

2.000

18.000

20.000

0

0

24.000

24.000

2.000

Others

0

20.000

20.000

1.000

1.000

27.000

28.000

2.000

64.250

722.250

786.500

25.250

25.250

910.750

WORLD TOTAL

205.961 936.000

53.000

761.250

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

883.000

Source: Hazelnut Promotion Group, Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board and other INC sources. (*) Includes TMO sales by approx. 50,000 MT April-July 2010. (**) The assumption is that 402,714 MT inshell TMO carry over (as of 14-05-2010) will not enter into the market in 2010.

Turkish Hazelnut Production and Consumption. 1000 MT. Inshell 1.000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

Production

Consumption (Export + Domestic)

900 825

725 610 500

630

620

612 480

463

629 549

507

587

550 490

450

450

500

400

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

7 of the last 10 seasons supply exceeded demand.

Source: XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress.

July 2010 • The Cracker 67

MACADAMIA MACADAMIA MACADAMIANUb MAKEDEMIA CEVIZI MACADÀMIA

By end June 2010 the Australia Macadamia Society (AMS) revised the forecast for the 2010 Australian macadamia crop at 35,500 MT (nut in shell), which is equivalent to 10,500

MT of kernel, down 5% from the previous season.

Macadamias in South Africa show a steady growth. Its production in 2010 has been

estimated at 29.488 MT (NIS), up 25% from the previous season.

Production in the United States (Hawaii) is projected to

have a flat growth rate with gradual decline. This season’s production has been estimated at 20,900 MT (NIS), down 5% from the previous season.

Estimated World Macadamias Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

3.001

10.500

13.501

976

6.884

7.860

USA

n/a

4.090

4.090

Kenya

300

2.000

2.300

Malawi

0

1.297

Guatemala

0

1.300

Brazil

0

Costa Rica

0 4.277

Australia South Africa

TOTAL

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

0

10.500

10.500

2.203

228

228

6.788

7.016

350

n/a

n/a

3.760

3.760

n/a

n/a

n/a

2.000

2.000

n/a

1.297

0

0

2.094

2.094

n/a

1.300

0

0

1.450

1.450

n/a

510

510

0

0

780

780

n/a

200

200

0

0

200

200

n/a

26.781

31.058

228

228

27.572

27.800

CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

ENDING STOCK

30.830

2.553 25.247

Estimated World Macadamias Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

10.215

37.500

47.715

0

0

35.500

35.500

7.500

1.000

23.500

24.500

0

0

29.488

29.488

1.474

n/a

22.000

22.000

n/a

n/a

20.900

20.900

n/a

Kenya

3.000

11.000

14.000

2.500

2.500

10.000

12.500

3.500

Malawi

0

4.914

4.914

n/a

n/a

7.630

7.630

n/a

Guatemala

0

7.500

7.500

0

0

8.300

8.300

n/a

Brazil

0

2.322

2.322

0

0

3.450

3.450

n/a

Australia South Africa USA

Costa Rica TOTAL

0

1.360

1.360

n/a

n/a

1.360

1.360

n/a

14.215

110.096

124.311

2.500

2.500

116.628

119.128

12.474

CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

121.811

Source: AMS Handlers Group, SAMAC, USDA (HASS), Brazil Macadamia Society and other INC sources.

68 The Cracker • July 2010

106.654

PECAN PECANA NOIX DE PECAN NOCE PECAN PECANNUSS PEKAN CEVIZI PACANA

World’s pecan production is forecast at 201,620 MT (inshell), down 17% from the previous season.

Consumption of pecans remains strong as demand in China con-

tinues to grow and the US market reports strong demand.

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, despite

season, mainly due to a 103% increase in shipments from Mexico.

a bigger than average domestic crop, US pecan imports more than doubled in volume in 2009/10, October through March, from the same period in the previous

Estimated World Pecans Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

22.390

65.250

87.640

20.250

20.250

50.625

70.875

11.250

Mexico

0

45.000

45.000

0

0

40.000

40.000

0

South Africa

0

3.060

3.060

0

0

3.060

3.060

0

Australia

0

1.500

1.500

0

0

1.500

1.500

0

22.390

114.810

137.200

20.250

20.250

95.185

115.435

11.250

USA

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

116.950

104.185

Estimated World Pecans Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

49.756

145.000

194.756

45.000

Mexico

0

90.000

90.000

South Africa

0

6.120

6.120

600

3.000

3.600

50.356

244.120

294.476

USA

Australia WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

45.000

112.500

157.500

25.000

0

0

80.000

80.000

0

0

0

6.120

6.120

0

0

0

3.000

3.000

0

45.000

45.000

201.620

246.620

25.000

249.476

221.620

Source: INC.

US Pecan Exports. Metric Tons 60.000 50.000 40.000 30.000 20.000 10.000 0 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Countries included: China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Inshell (Shelled Converted to Inshell).

Source: USDA.

2009 US Consumption & Exports.

Inshell Basis Exports-Other 13% China / HK / Vietnam 20%

US Market 67%

2009 US Kernel Exports Mexico 4%

Others 7%

China / HK / Vietnam 23%

France 4% Israel 6% UK 8%

Netherlands 12% Canada 23% Source: USDA

Source: USDA

July 2010 • The Cracker 69

PINE NUT PIÑÓN PIGNON PINOLI PINIENKERNE ÇAM FISTIGI PINYÓ

The Chinese pine nut crop was up to 23,250 MT in 2009, which is equivalent to 4,500 MT of pine nut kernels. China imported 9,180 MT of pine seeds from the neighboring countries (about 2,300 MT of pine nut kernels).

The Mediterranean area crop in 2009 was up to 3,900 MT. The 2010 Chinese crop is projected at 30,000 MT, which is equivalent to 7,500 MT of pine nut kernels (up 67% from the previous year). The

Mediterranean crop is forecast at 4,000 MT, kernel basis.

Worldwide demand projections are expected to remain at a high level and over supply possibility. Chinese domestic demand is prevailing.

The China Chamber of Commerce of Imports and Exports of Foodstuffs (CFNA) has renewed the Pine Nut Handbook. The Chinese industry strongly opposes blending of different varieties of pine nuts.

Estimated World Pine Nuts Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

Far East (Pinus Chinensis): China

150

4.500

4.650

160

160

7.500

7.660

300

Pakistan

0

6.000

6.000

0

0

4.000

4.000

0

Russia

0

2.660

2.660

50

50

3.000

3.050

100

0

2.120

2.120

30

30

1.000

1.030

100

150

15.280

15.430

240

240

15.500

15.740

500

Portugal

0

1.800

1.800

0

0

2.000

2.000

0

Spain

0

900

900

0

0

1.000

1.000

0

Turkey

0

1.000

1.000

0

0

750

750

0

Italy

0

200

200

0

0

250

250

0

DPR Korea Total Far East Mediterranean (Pinus Pinea):

Total Mediterranean TOTAL

0

3.900

3.900

0

0

4.000

4.000

0

150

19.180

19.330

240

240

19.500

19.740

500

WORLD CONSUMPTION (TOTAL SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

19.090

19.240

Source: CFNA (China) and other INC sources.

Chinese Pine Nuts Exports. Metric Tons 14.000 12.000 10.000 8.000 6.000 4.000 2.000 0 2000

2001

Source: China Tree Nut Association

70 The Cracker • July 2010

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Mar 2010

PISTACHIO PISTACHO PISTACHE PISTACCHIO PISTAZIE ANTEP FISTIGI FESTUC

IRAN

reach 500,000 hectares within the next decade. However, despite constant development of pistachio cultivation, severe drought and abnormal weather conditions are main problems for pistachio orchards, which are mainly irrigated with deep, infrequent watering, using deep underground water resources.

The Iranian 2010 crop has been estimated at 190,000 MT, up 19% from last year crop, which was estimated at 160,000 MT due to drought in the main harvesting province of Kerman and abnormal weather conditions in the rest of the country. Production is forecast to increase as a result of the increase of orchards, aimed to

Despite dry weather conditions, many growers success-

fully improved their production yields and nut quality through changes in cultural practices and increased input utilization in new pistachio production provinces.

Development of pistachio cultivation in 21 provinces is forecast in the agenda of the Ministry of Jihad-Agriculture. The Fifth Development Plan will increase the current level of 400 thousand hectares of orchards to 440 thousand hectares.

USA 2010 is expected to see a 4% growth in US pistachio production, up to 168,200 MT. According to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios, shipments totaled 137,300 MT crop to date as of May 31st 2010, 30% ahead of the same period for the previous year.

Estimated World Pistachios Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

Iran

2.000

160.000

162.000

5.000

5.000

190.000

195.000

30.000

USA

31.092

161.141

192.233

13.950

13.950

168.200

182.150

26.700

Turkey

23.300

40.000

63.300

2.000

2.000

160.000

162.000

n/a

Syria

5.000

50.000

55.000

n/a

n/a

50.000

50.000

n/a

Afghanistan

1.000

15.000

16.000

n/a

n/a

15.000

15.000

n/a

0

5.000

5.000

n/a

n/a

5.000

5.000

n/a

Italy

100

4.000

4.100

0

0

2.000

2.000

0

Greece

500

9.000

9.500

n/a

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

0

2.000

2.000

n/a

n/a

800

800

n/a

62.992

446.141

509.133

20.950

20.950

592.500

613.450

China

Australia TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

56.700

488.183

556.750

Source: INC

Iranian Exports. Pistachios In Shell. Mar. 21st, 2009 - Mar. 20th, 2010 DESTINATION China/HK

MT

Value (1000 $)

26.807

180.361

MT

Value (1000 $)

Taiwan

2.181

16.495

DESTINATION

UAE (*)

19.324

152.246

Egypt

1.928

16.348

Germany

16.106

137.301

Turkey

1.636

12.667

Russian Fed.

9.361

67.262

Spain

1.336

9.786

Syria

5.917

61.542

Ukraine

1.138

8.534

Iraq

5.754

45.190

Kazakhstan

951

6.930

India

2.878

30.419

Tajikistan

920

6.978

Vietnam

4.670

30.330

Kuwait

732

6.292

Lebanon

2.707

27.513

Afghanistan

804

5.932

Belgium

2.990

22.965

Others

8.298

64.969

Pakistan

2.364

17.849

TOTAL

118.802

927.909

(*) For re-export Source: INC

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 71

WALNUT NUEZ NOIX NOCE WALNUSS CEVIZ NOU

World’s walnut production is forecast at 1,038,000 MT. Chinese in-shell walnut production is forecast at 470,000 MT, down slightly from the previous year. Walnut consumption in China continues to increase at a 15 % growth rate, as incomes rise and more Chinese choose healthier lifestyles. The 2010

California walnut production is forecast at 407,000 MT, up 3% from 2009’s production of 396,000 MT. The Walnut Objective Measurement Report will be released September 3, 2010 at 12:00pm.

Great Change in Chinese Market 20.000

Inshell walnut

Shelled walnut 18.500

15.000 10.000

10.000 5.000

4.000

0

0

Exports 2008 (MT)

Imports 2009 (MT)

Source: XXIX World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress

Estimated World Walnuts Production. Kernel basis. Metric Tons 2009/2010

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

196.000

196.000

0

0

188.000

188.000

0

22.360

170.280

192.640

14.461

14.461

175.010

189.471

15.050

Turkey

1.600

24.800

26.400

1.200

1.200

24.000

25.200

800

Chile

252

10.500

10.752

420

420

12.600

13.020

840

0

13.200

13.200

400

400

11.600

12.000

800

800

8.800

9.600

800

800

10.000

10.800

800

COUNTRY China USA

France India Italy

420

5.460

5.880

420

420

6.720

7.140

420

TOTAL

25.432

429.040

454.472

17.701

17.701

428.330

446.031

18.710

CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

436.771

427.321

Estimated World Walnuts Production. In shell basis. Metric Tons 2009/2010

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

490.000

490.000

0

0

470.000

470.000

0

52.000

396.000

448.000

33.630

33.630

407.000

440.630

35.000

Turkey

4.000

62.000

66.000

3.000

3.000

60.000

63.000

2.000

Chile

600

25.000

25.600

1.000

1.000

30.000

31.000

2.000

0

33.000

33.000

1.000

1.000

30.000

31.000

2.000

2.000

22.000

24.000

2.000

2.000

25.000

27.000

2.000

COUNTRY China USA

France India Italy

1.000

13.000

14.000

1.000

1.000

16.000

17.000

1.000

TOTAL

59.600

1.041.000

1.100.600

41.630

41.630

1.038.000

1.079.630

44.000

CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK) Source: CFNA (China), CWC/CWB and other INC sources.

72 The Cracker • July 2010

1.058.970

1.035.630

PEANUT CACAHUETE CACAHUÈTE ARACHIDE ERDNUSS YER FISTIGI CACAUET

World’s supply of peanuts is forecast at 33.8 million MT in 2010/2011, up 6% from the previous year. Chinese production has been estimated at 14 million MT, up 5% from the previous year, followed by India, the second major

tionwide, 39 percent of the 2010 peanut crop was at or beyond the pegging stage by July 4, eleven percentage points ahead of last year and 7 percentage points ahead of the 5-year average.

from 2009. Area for harvest is forecast at 1.26 million acres, compared with 1.08 million acres a year ago. An increase in planted area is estimated in all States except New Mexico where acreage is unchanged from last year. Na-

producer, with an estimated production of 6 million MT. According to the US Department of Agriculture, area planted to peanuts in 2010 is estimated at 1.29 million acres, up 16 percent

Estimated World Peanuts Production. Oilseeds. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2009/2010

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

China

0

13.300.000

13.300.000

0

India

124.000

5.000.000

5.124.000

54.000

USA

966.000

1.654.000

2.620.000

816.000

0

1.550.000

1.550.000

Indonesia

40.000

1.250.000

Argentina

40.000 0

Brazil Mexico

2010/2011

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

0

13.900.000

13.900.000

0

54.000

6.400.000

6.454.000

54.000

816.000

1.790.000

2.606.000

680.000

0

0

1.550.000

1.550.000

0

1.290.000

0

0

1.250.000

1.250.000

0

770.000

810.000

18.000

18.000

780.000

798.000

20.000

510.000

510.000

0

0

550.000

550.000

0

54.000

300.000

354.000

46.000

46.000

250.000

296.000

46.000

13.000

228.000

241.000

0

0

228.000

228.000

0

Nicaragua

0

120.000

120.000

0

0

120.000

120.000

0

South Africa

0

55.000

55.000

0

0

55.000

55.000

0

Others

0

6.000.000

6.000.000

0

0

6.000.000

6.000.000

0

1.237.000

30.737.000

31.974.000

32.873.000

33.807.000

Nigeria

Vietnam

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

934.000

934.000

31.040.000

ENDING STOCK

800.000 33.007.000

Source: USDA (FAS) and other INC sources..

Distribution of Chinese Peanuts. Farmer Stock Basis. 10,000 MT 1.600 1.400

Total Supply

1.490 1.444

1.442

1.434

Oil Crushing

1.434

1.343

1.200

Domestic Edibles

Export

1.430 1.289

1.303

1.000 800

680

678

715

200

690

675

600 400

695

531

522

104

114

557

502

113

00/01

01/02

02/03

510

548 460

115

03/04

675

629

04/05

484

95 99

103

0

624

05/06

544

85 77

06/07

07/08

08/09

Source: International Peanut Seminar, XXIX World Nut and DriedFruit Congress.

July 2010 • The Cracker 73

DRIED FRUITS

DATES consume around 45% of world dates production.

Iran. If 92% of world’s production is consumed in the producing countries, these three countries

6,599,000 MT. Egypt’s production is forecast at 1.1 million MT, followed very closely by Saudi Arabia and

World dates production is forecast at 6,676,000 MT, slightly up from 2009’s world production of

Estimated World Dates Production. Metric Tons 2009/2010

2010/2011

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

Egypt Saudi Arabia Iran UAE Algeria Pakistan Sudan Iraq Oman Lybia Tunisia China Morocco Israel USA Others

170.000 120.000 35.000 38.000 40.000 15.000 15.000 20.000 18.000 16.000 1.800 8.000 10.000 250 600 20.000

1.100.000 1.070.000 1.030.000 750.000 600.000 440.000 330.000 310.000 250.000 170.000 140.000 125.000 68.000 19.000 15.000 182.000

1.270.000 1.190.000 1.065.000 788.000 640.000 455.000 345.000 330.000 268.000 186.000 141.800 133.000 78.000 19.250 15.600 202.000

150.000 70.000 40.000 40.000 30.000 16.000 18.000 17.000 16.000 12.000 1.200 7.000 6.000 300 500 22.000

150.000 70.000 40.000 40.000 30.000 16.000 18.000 17.000 16.000 12.000 1.200 7.000 6.000 300 500 22.000

1.100.000 1.090.000 1.045.000 780.000 620.000 430.000 320.000 310.000 260.000 180.000 142.000 125.000 80.000 19.000 15.000 160.000

1.250.000 1.160.000 1.085.000 820.000 650.000 446.000 338.000 327.000 276.000 192.000 143.200 132.000 86.000 19.300 15.500 182.000

125.000 80.000 45.000 35.000 10.000 8.000 14.000 16.000 12.000 8.000 2.000 7.000 4.000 200 600 25.000

WORLD TOTAL

527.650

6.599.000

7.126.650

446.000

446.000

6.676.000

7.122.000

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

6.680.650

391.800 6.730.200

Source: INC.

DRIED APRICOTS World’s production of dried apricots in 2010/2011 is forecast at 134,100 MT, down 18% from the previous season. The reduction is mainly due to lower production forecast in

Turkey. Temperature variations in March damaged the crop in the production area of Malatya. By end May 2010, Turkish producers expected the crop to be around 70,000 MT,

down 30% from the previous season.

By end April 2010, Turkish exports of the 2009 crop had reached 81,887 MT, up 6% compared to the same

period last year. Major exports markets are Russia (17%), the United States (15%), Germany (9%), the United Kingdom and France (7% both).

Estimated World Dried Apricots Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY Turkey (*)

2009/2010

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

17.500

100.000

117.500

0

0

70.000

70.000

0

Iran

n/a

25.000

25.000

n/a

n/a

24.000

24.000

n/a

China

n/a

5.000

5.000

n/a

n/a

5.500

5.500

n/a

USA

n/a

2.500

2.500

n/a

n/a

2.500

2.500

n/a

South Africa

n/a

1.400

1.400

n/a

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

Australia

n/a

450

450

0

0

600

600

n/a

Tajikistan TOTAL

n/a 17.500

30.000 164.350

30.000 181.850

n/a n/a

n/a n/a

30.000 134.100

30.000 134.100

n/a n/a

CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

181.850

(*) Turkish estimate crop under normal weather conditions. 2010 Turkish crop may change ± 10 %.

Source: Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

74 The Cracker • July 2010

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 75

DRIED FRUITS

RAISINS/ SULTANAS/ CURRANTS Production in the United States is forecast at 275,000 MT, followed by Turkey with 250,000 MT. Frost damage was observed in some Turkish production

World’s production of raisins, sultanas and currants in 2010/2011 is forecast at 1,020,000 MT, slightly down from the previous season.

areas last March but had limited effects.

The 2010 International Seedless Dried Grapes Produc-

ing Countries Conference has been announced to be held in October 11-14, 2010, in Izmir, Turkey.

Estimated World Raisins, Sultanas & Currants Production. Metric Tons 2009/2010

COUNTRY

2010/2011

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

137.000

275.000

412.000

90.000

90.000

275.000

365.000

80.000

Turkey (*)

28.000

270.000

298.000

25.000

25.000

250.000

275.000

0

China

25.000

150.000

175.000

25.000

25.000

150.000

175.000

25.000

Iran

8.000

125.000

133.000

10.000

10.000

125.000

135.000

10.000

Chile

5.000

70.000

75.000

5.000

5.000

55.000

60.000

5.000

South Africa

5.600

32.600

38.200

0

0

50.000

50.000

6.000

Greece

2.000

28.000

30.000

2.000

2.000

20.000

22.000

2.000

Argentina

1.800

28.000

29.800

2.000

2.000

20.000

22.000

2.000

Australia

500

16.500

17.000

500

500

10.000

10.500

500

Uzbekistan

0

35.000

35.000

0

0

35.000

35.000

0

Others

0

USA

TOTAL

212.900 CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

30.000

30.000

0

0

30.000

30.000

0

1.060.100

1.273.000

159.500 1.113.500

159.500

1.020.000

1.179.500

130.500 1.049.000

(*) Turkish estimate crop under normal weather conditions. 2010 Turkish crop may change ± 10 %.

Source: International Dried Grape Conference, Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

Turkish Sultanas/Raisins. Metric Tons Production

Exports

348.000 290.000

282.065

267.180

208.252

Russia New Zealand 2% 2% Canada 2%

Others 13%

UK 24%

Belgium 4%

270.000

240.000

225.000

2009 Crop · Turkish Exports Sultanas/Raisins

Australia 6%

197.133

Germany 17%

143.603 France 7% Italy 9%

2005

2006

2007

(*) As of May 1, 2010.

Source: Aegean Exporters Association.

76 The Cracker • July 2010

2008

2009 (*) As of May 1, 2010.

Source: Aegean Exporters Association

Netherlands 14%

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 77

78 The Cracker â&#x20AC;˘ July 2010

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Throughout the 3-day congress, there were 140 oral and 332 poster presentations, covering topics such as Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Control of Micronutrients Deficiencies, Food Fortification, Obesity, Food Safety, Organic Foods, Innovation and New Trends.

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The Cracker

July 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ The Cracker 79

Western Pistachio Association Launches N

By Richard Matoian, Exexutive Director DOMESTIC MARKETING This has been an exciting year for the Western Pistachio Association (WPA), one full of change and growth. In October 2009, a new, domestic and international consumer awareness campaign was launched, which included developing a consumer-focused Web site; establishing a social media presence; securing credible ambassadors to serve as spokespeople; and managing an ongoing media relations campaign to “THE GREEN NUT” CAMPAIGN promote pistachios – the only green nut.

Since many of the tree nut commodity groups focus on health benefits of their BASELINE RESEARCH nuts, we knew the PR campaign would Before embarking on the new campaign, also need to emphasize its major points of the WPA conducted research directly with difference – pistachios are the only green our target consumers – women 29-54, the nut; pistachios contain the lowest amount primary household grocery shoppers – to learn their purchase behaviors and attitudes of fat among nuts; and you can eat more pistachios (49) per serving than any other about pistachios. Our research found there tree nut. The WPA is also funding some of is tremendous potential to build awareness the most promising nutrition research in the through a new consumer-focused Web country focusing on cardiovascular benefits site, with 95 percent of women stating of consuming pistachios, lowering risk for they regularly go online for healthy living diabetes, increasing satiety and prevention information. Three out of four respondents of chronic diseases due to pistachios’ high polled associated pistachios with green, reinforcing our new “green nut” positioning antioxidant content. All of these areas were an important focus for our research and our strategy. All of the tested pistachio health new promotion campaign. A fresh, easy-tobenefits (heart disease prevention, diabetes remember nutrition awareness campaign prevention, weight control and chronic concept was developed – Go Green with disease prevention) were perceived by Pistachios for Better Health – to reinforce participants as having significant value. our health positioning and pistachios’ most Pistachios’ nutrient content, heart health relevant and distinctive point of difference – and chronic disease prevention properties, their green color. along with the ability to help women The Green Nut campaign has thus far maintain their weight, were the qualities proven to be highly successful in creating that most resonated with participants. The a fresh and approachable new look value of pistachios’ diabetes related health for pistachios that is capturing benefits improved as survey respondents’ the imagination of consumers ages increased. and the media. It is this Forty percent of women participating in foundation that will provide the study stated that knowing pistachios a solid base for credible were U.S. grown influenced their purchase decision. The research also showed that 79 consumer education ultimately making percent of pistachio purchases were made pistachios a regular on impulse. This number has increased part of the diet for considerably from past research, but it Americans. still shows we need to continue to remind women to place pistachios on their weekly shopping lists.

80 The Cracker • July 2010

NEW RESEARCH PUBLISHED A new tree nut health study, published on May 10, 2010 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is also bringing further attention to the nutritional benefits of nuts, including pistachios. The study “Nut consumption and blood lipids: A pooled analysis of 25 intervention trials” is garnering extensive media coverage in the US and the EU. Articles touting the results have appeared around the world including, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, BBC News, and WebMD to name a few.

People who ate about 2.4 ounces of nuts, such as pistachios, per day had an average drop in total cholesterol and LDL (bad)cholesterol of 5.1% and 7.4%, respectively. A 7.4% reduction in bad cholesterol may help lower the risk of heart disease by a similar amount (7.4%). Importantly, the effect of nuts was dose-related, e.g., the more nuts, including pistachios, that were eaten the larger the effect on blood lipids.

Furthermore, the LDL/HDL ratio and total cholesterol/HDL ratio also were lowered significantly, 8.3% and 5.6%, respectively.

(HDL is good cholesterol.) The relationships of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol may be more powerful predictors of cardiovascular risk.

ew Domestic and International Programs.

INTERNATIONAL MARKETING With over 65 percent of pistachio industry shipments now being exported, the importance of developing international markets for increased growth is now more important than ever. Due to differences in languages and cultures, we know that unlike the domestic U.S. market, international markets are not “one size fits all.” This means flexibility becomes the most important factor when developing an International Marketing Program.

With almost 40 percent of all industry shipments destined for Europe, the WPA retained George Smith, who has served the pistachio industry for almost 20 years as a marketing trade specialist in Europe to work with the pistachio trade throughout the EU in developing promotional programs unique to their own markets and customer preferences. The Green Nut campaign was presented to several key importers throughout Europe and was met with overwhelming positive responses. The Green Nut logo has been translated into several European languages and will be utilized in all future WPA sponsored promotional programs. This means “Going Green with Pistachio for Better Health” is also going international. Our trade partners will be able to utilize elements of the U.S. Green Nut campaign as appropriate in their own marketing plans.

A current and more detailed understanding of the European consumer and benchmarks for gauging the effectiveness of future promotional programs was also considered a first step in developing a strategy for the international program. The WPA conducted a pan-European consumer research project. This comprehensive study was conducted in December 2009 in the top eight EU countries for pistachio exports: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. The results revealed consumer attitudes and preferences for pistachio usage and purchase intent. The study results will be of great value to the trade as they are utilized in formulating their marketing strategies in their respective markets. An additional market audit to collect data on all retail packaging currently available in these same eight markets was also conducted. The information gathered provided a benchmark on European retail pricing and package sizing.

The increasing trend in positive nutritional benefits of pistachios is good news in any market, yet compliance with differing laws regulating nutritional claims and how health benefits can be promoted is a factor. EU health claims, similar to those approved in the U.S., are based on the body of evidence supporting each claim. This does not mean studies necessarily need to be conducted within the confines of the European community to be accepted, but it does mandate a comprehensive body of research. The U.S. pistachio industry’s clinical research program continues to garner more credibility within the nutrition community, and it is hopeful that future positive health claims about pistachios will be accepted in many other countries beyond the U.S.

It is a fact that the top three health concerns in the U.S.–heart disease, diabetes and obesity –are also the primary European concerns today.

Clinical research demonstrating the positive effects of pistachio consumption on these conditions will undoubtedly be helpful in crafting appropriate consumer messages for the European market. Beyond Europe, there are other countries that will benefit from the newly implemented WPA International Marketing Program, including Japan, China and Israel. As the program expands, other countries may be considered as well.

In 2010, the WPA has agreed to take over the administration of Market Access Program (MAP) on behalf of the California Pistachio Export Council. This is an appropriate and logical next step that will facilitate a more robust and cohesive generic international promotion program. The pistachio industry also conducts a MAP supported international branded program that is administered through Cal-Pure Cooperative. International markets will continue to offer the greatest opportunities for long-term growth and distribution expansion for the U.S. pistachio industry.

And it is the commitment of the WPA membership to marketing beyond their U.S. borders that will ensure ready markets for the expected increases in production.

July 2010 • The Cracker 81

INDIA’S RETAIL MARKETS CONTINUE TO EXPAND

A

ccording to the Grocery Manufacturing Association in a retail marketing report: “Today’s India is a massive, complex marketplace with the world’s second-largest population (1.2 billion) crowded into an area slightly more than one-third the size of the United States. A large part of this South Asian democracy’s appeal is its burgeoning middle class, plus the sheer size of its population – more than 1 billion consumers spending approximately $600 billion a year.

India’s phenomenal growth was slowed dramatically by the economic recession that hit the end of 2008. Today, however, the nation’s dynamic economy appears to be on the move again with Indian retailers announcing plans for expansion.

82 The Cracker • July 2010

Last year proved to be a reality check and learning phase for Indian retailers. Corrections were made in the numbers of store openings, retail rentals and consolidation. Many retailers tweaked their formats and product offerings to retain their leading positions in a retail environment that, by modern grocery standards, is still in its infancy.

Modern Indian grocery retailers are making a strong recovery from the economic doldrums that began in 2008. Future Group, RPG Group-owned Spencer’s Retail, and K Raheja-owned Shoppers’ Stop plan to invest a combined total of approximately U.S. $123 million in 2010. Also Future Value Retail Group, which includes Big Bazaar hypermarkets and Food Bazaar supermarkets, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Future Group-owned Pantaloon Retail earlier this year.

Pantaloon Retail’s Managing Director and Group CEO of Future Value Group Kishore Biyani said they plan to spend nearly U.S. $82 million on expanding various retail formats by June. “We have raised INR500 crore (U.S. $102.4 million) in November through qualified institutional placement and are looking to raise some of the money for expansion. Pantaloon for us is one of the best performing formats showing same-store-sales growth in excess of 25 percent. We are looking at opening 10-12 Pantaloon stores in 2010.” Biyani began his career selling fabric to small stores in Mumbai and went on to launch Pantaloon. He was named International Retailer of the Year by the U.S. National Retail Federation in 2007.

Additionally, Spencer’s Retail has already shortlisted cities targeted for hypermarkets. Spencer’s Retail President Vineet Kapila said: “We expect to open at least 12 large-sized stores in 2010.”

Spencer’s currently has about 220 stores and invests U.S. $0.8-1.6 million per store. Spencer’s Retail also plans to introduce new standalone pilot outlets offering fish, meat and gourmet foods catering to local tastes and preferences. While 80 percent of the merchandise in these stores would be the same across India, 20 percent is expected to cater to local tastes.

India’s modern food and grocery retail is growing and includes hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores and cash-andcarry wholesale, where India allows 100 percent foreign direct investments to sell only to other retailers or businesses. However, the market is highly fragmented, and many Indians still shop the

mom-and-pop stores (“kiranas”), hand-carts, street vendors and wet markets.

During the recent recession, some retailers went bankrupt while others had to restructure their corporate debt. Still others – such as Reliance Retail and Pantaloon – slowed their expansion plans or downsized operations. Today’s India appears to have made a strong recovery, and retailers are seeing increasing sales growth. Key retailers, including Future Group, Tata Group, Reliance Retail, RPG Group and K Raheja, have announced more optimistic investment plans to expand their existing networks across India.

With the rise of consumer spending and a relative fall in property rentals, retailers have a generally optimistic view of the overall Indian retail market and are positive about their expansion plans.

The average monthly rent is still around 25 percent lower than what Pantaloon was paying two years ago. The year-end surge in sales without a rise in costs could mark a new beginning for the Indian retail industry. Value or discount retail has emerged as an important format in the Indian retail sector. Players like Reliance Retail are converting some of their existing small format stores to Reliance Value, aiming to lure in more price-conscious consumers.

Leading international players are joining the Indian retail bandwagon, even though foreign direct investment is a highly sensitive political issue. Last year saw Walmart launch its first cash-and-carry in Amritsar, Punjab. UK-based Marks & Spencer inked a joint venture with RRL to set up clothing stores across India. UK-based Tesco and Francebased Carrefour are still considering setting up wholesale outlets across the country.

As newly downsized food and grocery retailers welcome the growing demand – not only from urban centers such as Delhi and Mumbai but from consumers with growing disposable incomes in second- and third-tier cities – they are poised to embark on a long-term growth trajectory.”

July 2010 • The Cracker 83

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BELGIUM

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Best N.V...........................................................53

Borges..............................................................33

Visys NV Sorting Systems...............................45

Jose Borrell............................Front Inside Cover

CANADA

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Atoka Cranberries, Inc. . ...............................41

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Exportadora Anakena . .................................91

Hazelnut Promotion Group..............................6

ChiNA Sino Jet International Limited......................50 FRANCE Eurobroker.....................................................79 Somercom......................................................90

UK Bühler Sortex Ltd............................................47 Kenkko............................................................51 USA Blue Diamond Growers....................................5 Cablevey Conveyors.........................................94

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Campos Brothers.............................................15

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Chico Nut Company.......................................17

Palm Nuts & More KG...................................94

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Tanto Corporation.........................................79

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Vicam..............................................................55 Young Pecan Company..................................57

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July 2010 • The Cracker 85

NEWS FROM THE INC NUTRITION RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION (INC NREF)

By Maureen Ternus, M.S., R.D. INC NREF Executive Director

The recent

publication of the tree nut and heart disease pooled analysis in the Archives of Internal Medicine resulted in worldwide publicity. The press alert on this page released by INC NREF garnered stories in the U.S. in a variety of media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, on Reuters and UPI wire services, in online articles on WebMD and Yahoo! News, and on a number of television and radio news programs.

Mounting Evidence Underscores Nuts for Heart Health.

New Findings from a Pooled Analysis Published in Archives of Internal Medicine DAVIS, CA, May 10, 2010 –The most comprehensive study to date on nuts and blood lipids was published today in Archives of Internal Medicine, further supporting the evidence that regular nut consumption can lower the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Those who consumed an average of 67 grams (or 2.4 ounces) of nuts per day had a mean estimated reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL ratio and total cholesterol/HDL ratio of 5.1%, 7.4%, 8.3% and 5.6% respectively. The effect of nuts was dose-related and different types of nuts had similar effects on blood lipids.

“This analysis shows clear evidence that regular nut consumption can decrease LDL cholesterol and improve blood lipid profiles,” states Dr. Joan Sabaté, lead researcher of the study and one of the pioneers in nut research. Studies have shown that nuts help reduce the risk of CHD not only by lowering cholesterol levels but through their beneficial effects on improving endothelial function, lowering oxidative stress and reducing lipoprotein(a) levels (a type of cholesterol that increases risk for heart disease.)

Dr. Sabaté and colleagues at Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, looked at 25 studies conducted in seven countries with 583 normo- and hypercholesterolemic men and women who were not on cholesterol-lowering medication. In addition to the lipid-lowering effects mentioned above, for those Individuals with high triglyceride levels, nut intake did have a significant positive effect on both HDL- cholesterol and triglyceride levels. And, the cholesterol lowering effect of nuts was more pronounced in individuals with a higher LDL-cholesterol or lower body mass index (BMI).

According to Dr. Sabaté, nuts have unique nutritional attributes. Tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) are rich in plant protein and unsaturated fats and contain a number of important nutrients such as vitamins (i.e., folate, niacin, vitamin E), minerals (i.e., copper, phosphorus, magnesium) and a variety phytonutrients.

The findings in this analysis support those from epidemiological studies which have consistently shown that nut consumption reduces the risk of heart disease. In 2003 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on all of the evidence, issued a qualified health claim that states: “Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Interestingly, while the FDA recommends 1.5 ounces (about 1/3 cup) of nuts per day, recent consumption data show that most people in the U.S. consume far less (mean intake of 1.19 ounces/ day for nut consumers). “We need to continue educating people on the importance of adding nuts to their diet,” suggests Maureen Ternus, M.S., R.D., and Executive Director of the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation (INC NREF). “More and more research is showing that eating just a handful of tree nuts a day can result in numerous health benefits.”

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Internationally, the story ran on BBC and France-2 TV, as well as in El Mundo—a leading Spanish newspaper. The study also made news in over 50 online articles in Australia, Canada, China, Dubai, Ghana, India, Iran, Ireland, Islamabad, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Singapore and the UK. The lead researcher on the paper, Dr. Joan Sabaté of Loma Linda University in California, has conducted numerous interviews over the past month with the publications listed above, and continues to talk to editors at a number of magazines and other media outlets.

This study, along with all of the other great tree nut research, will be showcased on the new INC NREF website.

Our new logo was developed to highlight and coordinate with the new website which should be ready to go live in July 2010. The new site will be more interactive and will focus on tree nut research. It will also feature individual tree nuts with photos, recipes and links to the respective nut board/organization sites. The new website will be promoted to health professionals, consumers and the media as the credible source of information on mixed tree nuts.

For more information on any INC NREF project please contact Maureen Ternus at maureen.ternus@gmail.com.

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Nut Walnuts and Almonds Good for Diabetics

88 The Cracker • July 2010

rition Research Update

The daily consumption of walnuts has the potential to improve endothelium function and plasma lipids in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study presented at Preventive Medicine 2010: the Annual Meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine.

With a high polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat content, many types of nuts have gained favor as a healthy addition to any diet, and walnuts, in particular, have a high level of omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, theorized that the addition of walnuts could provide cardiovascular benefits to diabetics.

“We know nuts are rich in fiber, and have a variety of micronutrients, minerals, B vitamins, magnesium, and a number of properties that make them a likely candidate for benefits in people with cardiovascular risk,” said David L. Katz, MD, a coauthor on the study and director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. “We asked if this could prove a vascular benefit in an at-risk population — adults with type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Katz explained.

The randomized controlled crossover trial involved 24 subjects (14 women and 10 men) with type 2 diabetes with a mean age of 58 years. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive an ad libitum diet enriched with 56 g of walnuts per day or an ad libitum diet without walnut supplementation. The study involved an 8-week washout period between each 8-week treatment phase. Before and after each phase, participants underwent endothelial function testing and assessment of cardiovascular biomarkers.

The primary outcome measure for the study was a change in flowmediated dilatation (FMD) after 8 weeks, and secondary outcome measures included changes in plasma lipids, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, insulin sensitivity, and anthropometric measures. There was a significant improvement in FMD among the participants consuming the walnut-enriched diet, compared with those not consuming diets with walnuts.

Although the subjects consuming walnuts showed reductions from baseline values in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the reductions were not significant compared with those on the diet without walnuts. The study also did not find any significant differences in anthropometric measures, fasting blood glucose, or insulin sensitivity between the 2 diets. However, Dr. Katz said, the endothelial function findings were key.

“We did not see significant improvement compared with placebo in a variety of the other cardiac risk factors we measured as secondary outcomes, but when it comes to endothelial function, I’m reminded of The Lord of the Rings. It’s the 1 ring to rule them all,” he said. “What it tells us is how the blood vessels are feeling in light of everything that is flowing by. You can measure everything you can think of that is flowing by, such as LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, or stress hormones, or you can simply ask the blood vessels, in essence: ‘Given everything that is floating by, how are you feeling today?’ And the blood vessels in this study said, ‘we feel better after we’ve been fed walnuts daily.’”

The study also evaluated whether the supplementation of walnuts, representing about 365 calories per day, would cause weight gain in a patient population that is already prone to obesity. The results showed no significant weight gain among subjects receiving walnut supplementation. “If you’re adding a nutritious food to the diet, the benefits of the food might sometimes be offset if weight gain occurs, and obviously, with diabetics, the last thing you want to do is cause weight gain,” Dr. Katz explained. “But our study suggests you can make room for a highly nutritious food in your diet, particularly if it tends to fill you up, as nuts do.”

Although the study focused on diabetics, Dr. Katz said his team has the more ambitious goal of showing the benefits of walnuts in healthy individuals. “To prove something works, you often have to begin with something that is broken and show that you can fix it,” he said. “So we’re working with diabetes first, then prediabetes, then pre-prediabetes, and then hopefully we can make the convincing argument that this should be incorporated in everyone’s diet.”

Almonds have also shown important benefits, and diabetics may better benefit from a mix of nuts, said Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology and chief of the Division of Global Health at the University of California, San Diego. “A combination of different nuts is always healthy and should be recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle, since each nut has certain unique components,” he said.

“That being said, walnuts and almonds do stand out with significant benefits because of the type of fats they contain. Almonds, too, appear to have their own unique benefits for diabetes.”

“Omega-3 fatty acids that are mostly in walnuts are very good for nerve development and the brain, and also the heart, but some research suggests that almonds have specific sugar-control qualities.” Dr. Al-Delaimy noted that the walnut study did not show any similar benefits. “The dose of the walnuts in this study is double the daily required value, yet it still did not control the glucose-related measures in participants,” he pointed out.

Dr. Katz concurred that almonds are highly nutritious and likely offer benefits as well. “On the NuVal scale of overall nutritional quality from 1 to 100, both walnuts (at 82) and almonds (at 79) stand out as nutrition superstars.”

In the meantime. Dr. Katz and his team are moving ahead to the next step of evaluating the benefit of walnuts in prediabetics. “We just received funding to study a larger cohort of prediabetics as we pursue this notion of food as medicine. Then the question is, ‘Who should take this medicine?’, and we don’t think the answer is just diabetics.”

Good Prebiotic Potential of Almond Skins

Using the Model Gut Platform at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in Norwich, England, researchers led by IFR’s Giuseppina Mandalari report that both natural and blanched almond skins produced significant increases in the population of various gut microbes, including bifidobacteria, according to findings published in the journal of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS), Microbiology Letters. Increases in the populations of Clostridium coccoides and Eubacterium rectale strains were also reported, and the almond skins were attributed a a prebiotic index of about 3.2, which the researchers said “compared well” with a prebiotic index of 4.2 observed for commercial fructooligosaccharides.

“Almond skins contain a high amount of dietary fibre, which is made of plant cell wall polysaccharides able to provide the body with energy through fermentation and absorption of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs),” wrote Mandalari and her co-workers. “Pectic substances encasing the cellulose microfibrils are the major component of almond skin cell walls, with small amounts of hemicelluloses such as xyloglucan and alpha-glucans. “We believe that the beneficial effects on colonic microbiota observed in this work were produced by fermentation of the nonglycaemic carbohydrates, mainly pectin, present in almond skins,” they added.

Commenting independently on the research, Professor Glenn Gibson, a prebiotic expert from the University of Reading said that the new studies tap into the growing trend for developing new fibres with potential prebiotic activity. “There is a need for more prebiotics as there are only a few in existence,” said Prof Gibson. “Almonds have a health image and this seems to contribute further to that,” he added. Despite the reported prebiotic activity in vitro, Prof Gibson said that, in order to confirm the prebiotic activity, “well controlled and designed human studies would be necessary”.

Mandalari and her co-workers investigated the effects of the almond skins in the model gut – a model of the gastrointestinal tract that includes in vitro gastric and duodenal digestion, followed by colonic fermentation with mixed bacterial cultures obtained from faeces. Blanched skins are a by-product of the almond-processing industry.

Results showed that both almond skins significantly increased levels of bifidobacteria and Clostridium coccoides/ Eubacterium rectale group, said the researchers. “No significant differences in the proportion of gut bacteria groups and in short-chain fatty acid production were detected between natural and blanched skins, showing that polyphenols present in almond skins did not affect bacterial fermentation,” wrote the researchers.

A separate study, performed by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and published in Food and Chemical Toxicology, found that the almond skins were also safe, with no toxic effects observed up to a dietary concentration of 10 per cent.

July 2010 • The Cracker 89

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Study Shows Heart Health Benefits of Pistachios

90 The Cracker • July 2010

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A diet that includes pistachios could help improve heart health, according to a new study, which suggests that regular servings of the nuts reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers found that a pistachio-enriched diet resulted in increases in serum antioxidants and decreases in oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol, when compared to a diet without pistachios. The study, conducted by researchers at The Pennsylvania State University, is published in the June 2010 issue of The Journal of Nutrition. It adds to a growing body of science supporting the health benefits, and the heart benefits in particular, of increased consumption of nuts, such as almonds, macadamia, and walnuts. However, pistachios have one of the highest antioxidant capacities of all nuts and contain more b-carotene, g-tocopherol and lutein - an antioxidant also found in dark green leafy vegetables.

This latest study was completed by 10 males and 18 females who were healthy and nonsmoking, aged 35–61 and with moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol. Participants consumed a typical Western diet for two weeks as a baseline diet. They were then randomized to each of the three experimental diets for four weeks - a lower-fat control diet without pistachios, a diet with one serving of pistachios (ie 32–63 g/d) and a diet with two servings of pistachios (63–126g/d).

The results suggest that consumption of pistachios in the context of a heart-healthy diet confers cardioprotective benefits “beyond established lipid-lowering effects, including a decrease in oxidized-LDL”. This, the researchers believe, is the result of both a decrease in LDL cholesterol concentrations and an increase in serum antioxidants, such as lutein and g-tocopherol. The authors concluded: “The consumption of the pistachio-enriched diets resulted in increases in serum antioxidants and decreases in oxidized-LDL relative to the control diet.

“These data suggest that a heart-healthy diet rich in pistachios has a beneficial effect on serum antioxidants, as well as oxidized-LDL. Beneficial effects on multiple CVD risk factors would be expected to reduce overall CVD risk beyond that achieved by decreases in LDL-cholesterol alone through lowering cholesterol and the benefits of the antioxidants in the nuts.”

The market potential of heart health benefits has been highlighted by America’s Western Pistachio Association (WPA), which has worked with Penn State University regarding the potential health benefits of the nuts. In 2008 research carried out at the university and funded by the WPA found that pistachios significantly reduced inflammation at a cellular level – a recognised risk factor for heart disease – as well as reducing cholesterol and blood pressure.

WPA executive director, Richard Matoian, said such studies “give manufacturers a good reason to think about including pistachios in their products, to give their products a nutritional profile that they might not find anywhere else”.

The authors of the latest research said that previous studies were conducted in free-living individuals and none controlled for SFA or antioxidant content of the background diets. They added that their study of the antioxidant effects of pistachios was “unique” because it “utilized a controlledfeeding crossover design and two doses of pistachios and controlled for saturated fat intake”.

Food Allergies May be Overdiagnosed

Many Americans who think they have food allergies are misdiagnosed, according to a research review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers from Stanford University examined 72 studies of food allergies, but noted that although there is much interest in food allergies, there is no clear consensus on the most effective diagnostic approaches. They also said there is no conclusive evidence to show that the prevalence of food allergies is increasing, but that they likely affect more than 1 to 2 percent of the population, but less than 10 percent.

One major problem, they found, is that it is difficult to diagnose food allergies, as there is no clear dividing line between ‘true’ allergy and food intolerance. “The evidence for the prevalence and management of food allergy is greatly limited by a lack of uniformity for criteria for making a diagnosis,” they wrote, adding that overdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of food allergies also “serves to perpetuate some public misperceptions that food allergy is a trivial medical condition.”

They said that this lack of uniform criteria, as well as limited sensitivity of the most common allergy tests, such as the skin test and blood serum test, which looks for antibodies in the blood for certain foods, means that food allergies are overdiagnosed. In fact, less than 50 percent of those with unclear symptoms who test positive for food allergies actually suffer from a food allergy, they wrote. And while avoiding certain foods may be less dangerous than risking a severe allergic reaction, the authors warn that inappropriate diagnosis could lead to unnecessary nutritional and social difficulties.

They wrote: “Patients with nonspecific symptoms (rash, abdominal complaints) who have positive SPT or serum food-specific IgE studies to foods have less than a 50% likelihood of actually having a food allergy (given the sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence).

“Inappropriately diagnosing such individuals with food allergy may unnecessarily subject them to broad dietary restrictions, the risk of nutritional problems from elimination diets (eg, milk or egg elimination in children), significant anxiety and worry, and the social challenges food allergies cause.”

The researchers concluded that more research in the form of randomized controlled trials is necessary to determine the effectiveness of food elimination diets for the treatment of non-anaphylactic allergies.

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B-6 Vitamin in Nuts Good for Health

Researchers at the Center on Aging at Tufts University looked at how much vitamin B6 was in the blood of 1,205 people in a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. What they found is less inflammation and oxidative stress (which lead to cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes). Other studies have shown a strong relationship between intake of fruit, vegetables and whole grains and improved cardiovascular and diabetes status.

Researchers say that while nutritional content is a very important, they are not sure exactly that the B6 or any single nutrient is responsible for the improved health status. Having a higher level of the active form of vitamin B-6 has also been shown to be related to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods. Plant foods lose the least vitamin B6 during processing. Vegetables, nuts and whole grains (including both the bran and germ portions of the grain) are among the best sources of vitamin B6.

Study Shows Benefits for Med Diet

Scientists from Columbia University report that a diet rich in salad dressing, tomatoes, nuts, fish, cruciferous vegetables, dark and green leafy vegetables, fruits, and poultry may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by about 40 per cent. “Our findings provide support for further exploration of food combination-based dietary behaviour for the prevention of this important public health problem,” write the researchers in the Archives of Neurology.

The Mediterranean diet is rich in cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil.

Although it is the traditional diet of the Mediterranean region, it has garnered interest all over the world in recent times as a scientific spotlight has been trained on the health benefits it can confer. For instance, recent research has indicated that the diet may have benefits for arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, hearth health and blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, lung disease, and allergies.

Dr Yian Gu and New York-based colleagues analysed data from 2,148 adults over the age of 65 who did not have dementia at the start of the study. Information about diets was assessed every 18 months for an average of four years. During this time 253 people developed Alzheimer’s disease. At the end of the study, consuming a Mediterranean-style diet was associated with a 38 per cent reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Looking at the specific nutrients, the researchers noted the dietary pattern was rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E and folate, but low in saturated fats and vitamin B12. Commenting on their potential mechanisms, the researchers noted: “For example, vitamin B12 and folate are homocysteinerelated vitamins that may have an impact on Alzheimer’s disease via their ability of reducing circulating homocysteine levels, vitamin E might prevent Alzheimer’s disease via its strong antioxidant effect and fatty acids may be related to dementia and cognitive function through atherosclerosis, thrombosis or inflammation via an effect on brain development and membrane functioning or via accumulation of betaamyloid.”

The build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits is associated with an increase in brain cell damage and death from oxidative stress. This is related to a loss of cognitive function and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 13 million people worldwide.

The direct and indirect cost of Alzheimer care is over $100 bn (€81 bn) in the US, while direct costs in the UK are estimated at £15 bn (€22 bn).

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Dark Chocolate Could Guard Against Stroke

Something in dark chocolate seems to help protect the heart, and now researchers say they have identified the molecular mechanism by which a compound found in cocoa can guard against the damage of a stroke.

The compound, a flavanol called epicatechin, triggers two built-in protective pathways in the brain, according to a report published online last week in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism. The research team was led by Sylvain Dore, an associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine and pharmacology and molecular sciences at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Animal studies raise the possibility that epicatechin may someday be used to treat strokes in humans, since its protective effect can be seen more than three hours after a stroke. Existing stroke treatments typically have a shorter window of activity. While the cardioprotective effect of dark chocolate seen in several human studies appears to open the possibility that eating lots of chocolate is healthy, “I prefer to focus on cocoa,” Dore said. “Cocoa is not like chocolate, which is high in saturated fat and calories. Cocoa can be part of a healthy diet, combined with fruits and vegetables.”

It was a study of the cocoa-drinking Kuna Indians, living on islands off the coast of Panama, that led researchers to study epicatechin. An unusually low incidence of stroke and other cardiovascular disease in that population could not be explained by genetic studies, and eventually was attributed to consumption of a very bitter cocoa drink. Studies by a number of scientists, including Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg of Harvard Medical School, identified epicatechin as the protective ingredient in dark chocolate and cocoa.

The latest research looked at the mechanism of protection in mice who were induced to have strokes.

“We gave different doses of epicatechin in mice 90 minutes before a stroke and found that it reduced infarct [stroke damage] size,” Dore explained. “When we gave epicatechin after a stroke, it had a protective effect up to 3.5 hours later, but not after six hours.”

Detailed studies showed that the flavanol activated two well-known pathways that shield nerve cells in the brain from damage, the Nrf2 and heme oxygenase pathways, Dore said. Epicatechin had no protective effect in mice bred to lack those pathways. The possibility of using epicatechin to limit human stroke damage is distant, Dore said. “We have to be very careful,” he said. “There are a lot of steps before going to human trials, potential risks and side effects. We need more work and more funding.” Dore’s long-term plan calls for studies of epicatechin metabolites and derivatives, in cardiac disease as well as stroke. “At this point, we are using only the pure compound,” he said.

Dr. Martin Lajous, a doctoral candidate at the Harvard School of Public Health who took part in one study that showed a reduced incidence of stroke in people who ate dark chocolate regularly, agreed with Dore in saying that eating a lot of chocolate is not a healthy dietary move. Not all chocolate is created equal, Lajous said. “That’s why we did the study in France, where they eat dark chocolate that is rich in flavanols,” he said. “Chocolate comes with a lot of calories.

I would talk about small amounts of dark chocolate rather than chocolate in general.” And the protective mechanism by which chocolate might prevent stroke isn’t yet clear, Lajous added. The main effect appears to be the lowering of blood pressure, he said. “Flavanols are hypothesized to affect relaxation of smooth vascular muscle, such as the endothelial lining of blood vessels,” Lajous said.

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Dark Chocolate Helps Lower Blood Pressure

Dark chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered for patients with damaged livers. A Spanish study found chocolate can help lower blood pressure in the liver and reduce damage to blood vessels in people with cirrhosis, a potentially fatal scarring of the liver that can lead to organ failure and cancer. Only antioxidant-rich dark chocolate is helpful, researchers said in a study presented today at the International Liver Conference in Vienna.

Doctors compared white with dark chocolate as part of liquid meals given to a group of 21 patients with end-stage liver disease. They recorded a much smaller increase in blood pressure after meals for the group that ate dark chocolate. Cocoa is packed with flavonoids, plant pigments that act as potent antioxidants, which are credited in other studies with improving circulation in obese people and warding off heart disease in smokers.

The findings aren’t a license to indulge, especially in candies that are high in sugar, said Heiner Wedemeyer, secretary general of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, which hosts the meeting. The researchers used chocolate that was 85 percent cocoa. “Sugar is not good for the liver,” he said. “You have to get the good-quality chocolate.”

The link between eating dark chocolate and blood pressure in the liver is clear in the study, said Mark Thursz, professor of hepatology at Imperial College London and EASL vicesecretary. “It’s important to explore the potential of alternative sources which can contribute to the overall wellbeing of a patient,” Thursz said in a statement.

Ruptured blood vessels after eating are a risk for liver cirrhosis patients, whose damaged veins and arteries must cope with blood-pressure spikes after eating on top of existing hypertension in the liver and elsewhere in their bodies, the researchers said. Some 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, the final stage of alcoholic liver disease, according to EASL. The damage can’t be reversed, though stopping drinking can prevent the condition from worsening, the association said.

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July 2010 • The Cracker 95