Nutfruit magazine, March 2017

Edition 70. Nº 1 MARCH 2017

THE ENTIRE NUT AND DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY MEETS IN CHENNAI XXXVI INC CONGRESS. MAY 19 – 21, 2017 Page 46

CHENNAI India

HOW BIG DATA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE FOOD INDUSTRY Page 24

INNOVATIONS IN FOOD PACKAGING

Page 28

PRE- AND POSTHARVEST FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF SUN-DRIED FRUITS Page 32

www.nutfruit.org

INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mark Mariani - Chairman Mariani Packing Company, USA Pino Calcagni - Vice Chairman V. Besana S.P.A., Italy Michael Waring - Vice Chairman MWT Foods, Australia Jordi Martí - Treasurer and General Secretary Borges S.A.U., Spain Asadollah Asgaroladi Hassas Export Co. Ltd., Iran Karsten Dankert Max Kiene GmbH, Germany Giles Hacking CG Hacking & Sons Limited, UK Cheng Hung Kay CHK Trading Co. Ltd., China, Hong Kong Mark Jansen Blue Diamond Growers, USA Zhou Jinkui Fenzhou Yuyuan Native Produce, China Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California, USA Ashok Krishen Olam International Limited, Singapore Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company, USA Stephen Meltzer Balcorp Ltd., Canada Pratap Nair Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company, India Osman Oz Aegean Exporters Associations, Turkey Antonio Pont - Honorary President Borges S.A.U., Spain Sabit Sabir Sabirlar Findik Ihracat Ltd. Sti., Turkey Berton Steir The Wonderful Company, USA Dick Walden The Green Valley Pecan, USA Chen Ying China Chamber of Commerce, China Cuneyd Zapsu Balsu A.S., Turkey EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mark Mariani Pino Calcagni Michael Waring Giles Hacking Ashok Krishen Jack Mariani Antonio Pont Berton Steir Cuneyd Zapsu Goretti Guasch

Chairman Vice Chairman Vice Chairman Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Executive Director

NUTFRUIT MAGAZINE TEAM Goretti Guasch Executive Director goretti.guasch@nutfruit.org Xavier Puchades Production Editor xavier.puchades@nutfruit.org Irene Gironès Technical and Statistical Editor irene.girones@nutfruit.org Marc Centelles Advertising and Subscription Sales marc.centelles@nutfruit.org

INC HEADQUARTERS

Carrer de la Fruita Seca, 4 Polígon Tecnoparc, 43204 Reus, Spain Tel: +34 977 331 416 Email: inc@nutfruit.org

www.nutfruit.org

Edition 70. Nº 1

MARCH 2017

BUSINESS NEWS

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• Noberasco, new nutrition partner of Juventus FC. • Mondelez sells most of its grocery business in Australia.

• Snyder’s-Lance divests Diamond of California nut business.

• Kellogg unveils new products incorporating nuts as ingredients.

• Coalition of 12 organizations launch an online hub for information and solutions to cut food waste.

• Cocoa farmers organizations merge to create a unified voice.

GOURMET 16 • Enrico Crippa: 3 Michelin Star - Executive Chef at Piazza Duomo.

FEATURE ARTICLES

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• How big data could revolutionize the food industry.

• Indian consumer: attitudes and behavior towards consumption of nuts and dried fruits.

• Innovations in food packaging.

• Prospects of the development of the pecan in Italy.

• Pre- and post-harvest factors affecting quality of sun-dried fruits.

HEALTH NEWS

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• A handful of nuts every day to modulate the activity and function of microRNAs.

INC CONGRESS

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• The entire nut and dried fruit industry meets in Chennai.

• A stimulating three-day program to share knowledge and ideas.

• INC Awards to highlight the best contributions to the nut and dried fruit industry.

• Exploring the enticingly vibrant India with INC Tours.

• Enhance your experience with the INC Online Meeting Point and the Congress app.

INC NEWS

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• Nuts for Gifts.

• GulFood 2017 sees the 1st edition of the INC Pavilion in the Middle East.

• INC to grant €350,000 in 2017 to nut and dried fruit research and dissemination.

• 2016 EU RASFF alerts for nuts and dried fruits.

• INC launches social media campaigns to promote the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits.

INDUSTRY NEWS

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• Researchers find whole and chopped almonds provide fewer calories than thought when accounting for digestibility.

• California Walnuts reports on advertising, marketing and promotion campaigns.

• American Pistachio Growers debuts at SIGEP in Italy.

• Workshop and culinary demonstration keeps pistachios top of mind with supermarket dietitians.

• INC-NREF provides comments on labelling to Health Canada and FDA. • FDA’s produce safety rule training.

• California Prune Board promotes prunes in Korea.

• The global macadamia industry funds research to unearth macadamia health benefits.

• Italians and dried fruit: a growing passion.

• The role of Nucis Germany’s newsletters in nutrition and medicine.

• Chilean nut trade unions unite to reorganize the industry.

Legal Update

19 Advertisers list

Statistical 98 Global Review

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The Nutfruit magazine is published three times a year by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council - INC (Fundació Privada International Nut and Dried Fruit 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.

All the 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 Nutfruit magazine.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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INC Foreword

CHENNAI AWAITS US ALL Mark A. Mariani INC Chairman

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e are looking forward to seeing you in Chennai, India, for our annual Congress. Our Congress is packed with round tables, seminars, worldclass speakers, and social events. It will be held at the world-class ITC Grand Chola hotel, including a comprehensive business program, while your family can take advantage of tours in Chennai and discover its rich traditions and diversity.

Please read the most recent Nutfruit and check our INC website for more details of our exciting panel of speakers, which will include Mr. Gopi Kallayil, The Chief Evangelist, Brand Marketing at Google. Mr. Kallayil will share with us the principles of innovation at Google. Since its founding, Google has amazed us with products that have at least a billion users every month. In addition, Mr. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a universally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader, will present to us his vision of a violence-free, stress-free society through the reawakening of human values that has inspired millions.

He is engaged in peace negotiations and counselling in conflict zones around the world, and has reached 370 million people worldwide.

The INC will exhibit at the Gulfood Dubai, which is the biggest food show in the Middle East region.

With the uncertainty of trade agreements, the INC will monitor any potential issues that might affect the global nut and dried fruit industry. We are following up closely the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and potential impact on the current duty suspension for cranberry products. Likewise, the INC has taken action against the reclassification of blanched peanuts as processed by the World Customs Organization, in order to avoid severe market disruptions and costly consequences to millions of European consumers.

We are very excited about the INC Academia and the Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits, an education program of basics of the nut and dried fruit industry. The first course will be launched at the end of this year and it will include online programs and videos, combined with visits to factories and orchards.

Finally, the INC will soon launch "Nuts for Gifts", an international dissemination program to position nuts and dried fruits as a top of mind gift. This is a global initiative to encourage, support and inspire people to think about nuts and dried fruits not only as a healthy snack, but also as a prized gift for special occasions. The program will be promoted via social media. Be sure you're following us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

I wish you good harvests, good selling, and a continuing dedication to improving people’s lives!

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Business News

NOBERASCO, NEW NUTRITION PARTNER OF JUVENTUS FC

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UVENTUS FOOTBALL CLUB has signed a three-year agreement with Noberasco, one of the Italian industry-leading dried and dehydrated fruits brand, who become the club’s official partner.

The idea of ‘Healthy body, healthy mind’ lies at the heart of both sporting success and for Noberasco the slogan acts as a benchmark for research and development in the latter. According to the dried and dehydrated fruit brand’s Managing Director, Mattia Noberasco, “becoming Juventus’ nutrition partner was a natural move in line with our strategic goals: our products are in perfect harmony with the sporting world and this agreement allows us to establish ourselves further as a key player in the healthy-eating sector”.

Noberasco’s philosophy will be exported to over 130 countries around the world thanks to the global pull of the Bianconeri. The Italian company’s logo will take pride of place at all club media events as well as appearing in a range of promotional material and experiences.

Juventus Co-Chief Revenue Officer and Head of Global Partnerships and Corporate Revenues, Giorgio Ricci, said “this partnership shows just

how much importance the club is placing on the collaboration between leading Italian names in their respective industries, in tandem with those abroad, with a mutual ambition for growth. The same values can be found at Noberasco, who share our focus and innovation in wellbeing and healthy eating".

MONDELĒZ SELLS MOST OF ITS GROCERY BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA

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ONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL has reached an agreement to sell most of its grocery business in Australia and New Zealand to Bega Cheese Limited for $460 million AUD (approximately $348 million USD). The transaction adds the Vegemite brand and other well established grocery brands to Bega's portfolio. The move enables Mondelez International to further focus its portfolio and drive profitable growth by investing in its core

snacks categories and Power Brands, including Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate and Oreo biscuits.

Included in the sale are Mondelez International owned brands — Vegemite, ZoOsh, Bonox — and other products which use the Kraft brand under license, such as peanut butter, nut spreads, processed cheese slices, ambient cheese spread, mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, KraftEasy Mac and Kraft Mac & Cheese.

Bega receives a license to the Dairylea brand

for use in Australia and New Zealand. The Philadelphia business is not included in the deal as it is a Mondelez International Power Brand.

The Port Melbourne manufacturing site will transfer to Bega as part of this agreement and approximately 200 colleagues who spend most of their time working on this part of the business will be offered roles on comparable terms with Bega.

SNYDER’S-LANCE DIVESTS DIAMOND OF CALIFORNIA NUT BUSINESS

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NYDER'S-LANCE has completed the divestiture of its Diamond of California culinary nut business. The sale of Diamond of California aligns with the company's strategy to focus more resources on the growth opportunities for its core brands.

The transaction also reflects the company's commitment to improving capital efficiency, and is anticipated to be accretive to both returns on invested capital and operating margins. The transaction closed on December 31, 2016.

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When it was announced at the end of November 2016, Carl E. Lee, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer at Snyder's-Lance, said that this strategic transaction would allow the company to concentrate on its core business of “providing our consumers and retail partners with our premium portfolio of snack brands focused on better ingredients, quality and taste".

Snyder's-Lance entered the culinary nuts business as a result of the Company's acquisition of Diamond Foods in February 2016.

Business News

CARGILL OPENS INNOVATION CENTERS TO RESEARCH THE FOOD OF THE FUTURE

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ARGILL has opened two major R&D facilities — one in North America and one in China — focused on continuous improvement and investment in the future of food to meet shifting consumer expectations.

“Consumers are voting with their values on a wide range of quickly emerging food issues,” said Ruth Kimmelshue, corporate senior vice president for Business Operations and Supply Chain at Cargill. “We have to anticipate what the world wants to eat and what the future of nutrition is going to look like to help our customers succeed and meet consumer demand. These new R&D facilities will help us do just that.”

The Minneapolis Research and Development Center, located in Plymouth, Minn., is a 100,000-square-foot facility featuring molecular biology labs, advanced analytical and materials research laboratories,

test kitchens and a pilot production plant. The center is home to around 200 scientists working on projects to transform the marketplace, from improving food safety to developing new food ingredients which meet consumer expectations for simple, nutritious options.

The Cargill ONE Innovation Center, located in Shanghai, is a 22,000-square-foot facility with a sensory lab, demonstration kitchen and capabilities for dairy, beverage, bakery, convenience food and culinary applications. More than 25 scientists on site will create innovative menu solutions which combine consumer insights, trend forecasts and culinary expertise to serve as the incubator for future tastes. The location will also be used as a platform to educate the public on nutrition and food safety.

KELLOGG UNVEILS NEW PRODUCTS INCORPORATING NUTS AS INGREDIENTS

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ELLOGG COMPANY is launching more than 50 new products with innovations from its cereals, groundbreaking new snacks and gourmet frozen food options. These new products include Special K Nourish granola, Kellogg's Cinnamon Frosted Flakes and Pop-Tarts coffee-inspired toaster pastries. Snack highlights include Cheez-it Duoz Bacon & Cheddar crackers and five bold flavors of Pringles LOUD crisps.

Within the snacks category, the new products include Special K Nourish Bites.

These are poppable snack bites with premium ingredients including dark chocolate, pistachios, almonds and blueberries. They are free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.

Special K Protein Bites provide 9 grams of protein per serving and come in two varieties: peanut butter chocolate and caramel nut. Also, the Special K Nourish bars debut two new

delicious and satisfying flavors: caramel almond sea salt, and chocolate coconut cashew.

"We know that people are looking for a variety of things when they choose food for themselves and for their families. They want food that is fun and exciting, wholesome and nutritious, convenient and, of course, delicious," said Paul Norman, president of Kellogg North America.

GENERAL MILLS DEBUTS NEW SNACKING PRODUCTS

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ENERAL MILLS has unveiled a host of new products addressing a range of snacking trends around the world. The latest additions to the General Mills portfolio address this demand for harder-working calories include Yoplait Greek 100 yogurt with at least 14 grams of protein per serving, a super-sized version of Nature Valley Sweet & Salty bars, and Fiber One layered chewy bars.

General Mills’ new snacking products include some nuts among their ingredients. This is the case of Nature Valley Granola Cups. They combine flavors such as peanut butter chocolate and almond butter with harderworking, wholesome ingredients like oats.

Nature Valley XL Bars. These sweet and salty XL bars from Nature Valley come in pretzel, peanut and chocolate, peanut, chocolate nut, and seed varieties. Made with satisfying ingredients like almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pretzels, and chocolate chunks.

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© General Mills Inc.

New products also include LÄRABAR Fruit and Greens bar: each bar has 1/4 cup of kale or spinach plus delicious fruits and nuts. It is available in strawberry spinach cashew, pineapple kale cashew, and mango spinach cashew varieties.

When it comes to Fiber One Layered Chewy Bars, they combine layers of crisped grains, drizzled caramel, crunchy almond toppings, and chocolate. They are available in double chocolate almond and salted caramel, and dark chocolate flavors.

Business News

COALITION OF 12 ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH AN ONLINE HUB FOR INFORMATION AND SOLUTIONS TO CUT FOOD WASTE

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HE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION, together with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a partnership of 10 private sector and nonprofit organizations, have created ‘Further With Food: Center for Food Loss and Waste Solutions’, an online hub for the exchange of information and solutions that can help realize the national goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030.

Further With Food (furtherwithfood.org) is an online destination for stakeholders such as businesses, government entities, investors, NGOs, academics, and individuals, seeking to learn more about their role in meeting the national food waste reduction target, announced by USDA and EPA in September, 2015. In addition to stimulating the widespread adoption of proven solutions, Further With Food will enable coordination among stakeholders and will reduce the duplication of efforts.

"Curbing the enormous amount of food loss and waste in this country would help put food on the table for people in need, conserve natural resources, and make space in families' food budgets for healthier choices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "The good news is that partners across the country are joining the effort to reduce food loss and waste. As these efforts expand, there is a need for a common place for

these diverse groups to share and learn from one another. Thanks to the leadership of this partnership, Further With Food is a timely solution that will provide the country with a single portal to share information and stimulate ideas for new projects."

The participants in the Further With Food collaboration include The Rockefeller Foundation and a public-private partnership composed of USDA, EPA, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, Feeding America, the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Consumers League, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Restaurant Association, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund. Keystone Policy Center provided technical assistance to the coalition.

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Business News

HAIN CELESTIAL ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH FUTURE CONSUMER LIMITED IN INDIA

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HE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India, has announced the establishment of a strategic joint venture between Future Consumer Limited (FCL) and Hain Tilda India Private Limited. The objective to pursue joint interests in food marketing and development in India. FCL is the food and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) arm of Future Group, one of India's retail pioneers with multiple retail formats, who aim to build quality

consumer products for the next generation of Indian consumers.

"We are pleased to expand our presence in India with Future Group," commented Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial. "Hain Celestial is one of the most respected companies in the organic and natural segment, and we are excited to establish this partnership with Hain Tilda in India. Together, we will be able to provide Indian consumers with products that set the standards for good taste and are healthful

too," said Kishore Biyani, Group Chief Executive Officer, Future Group.

The purpose of the joint venture is to manufacture, market, and distribute betterfor-you natural and organic products in various categories including snacks and plant-based beverages as well as toddler and child food products under various Hain Celestial brands including Terra, Garden of Eatin’, Sensible Portions, Dream, and Earth’s Best. Hain Tilda will continue to market and distribute products under the Tilda brand.

HERSHEY APPOINTS MICHELE BUCK AS CEO AND PRESIDENT

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ERSHEY has announced that its board of directors has appointed Michele Buck, former company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as Hershey’s President and Chief Executive Officer. She succeeds John P. Bilbrey, who previously announced his intention to retire from the company. Bilbrey will continue as non-Executive Chairman of Hershey’s Board of Directors following his retirement.

“Michele is a proven leader who, during 11 years at Hershey and more than 25 years as an executive in the consumer packaged goods industry, has a demonstrated track record of

building brands consumers love while bringing out the best in employees amid a rapidly changing business environment,” said Bilbrey.

Since joining the company in 2005, Buck has spearheaded the development and execution of many successful growth initiatives and strategic shifts at the company, most notably Hershey’s growth in its core confection portfolio as it moved from a supply- to demanddriven business model. She was the architect of the company’s strategy to expand into broader snacking categories and oversaw the acquisitions of Krave and barkThins brands.

Michele Buck

EUROFINS ANNOUNCES NEW PRESIDENT AND LEADER OF US FOOD DIVISION

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UROFINS announces the appointment of Sean Murray as national division leader for U.S. Food and president of Eurofins Scientific. As the national division leader, Murray will foster growth in the United States food testing market to uphold Eurofins’ status as the global leader in bio-analytical testing services.

Before joining Eurofins, Mr. Murray led numerous organizations in innovation, business development, and as a GM. His various experiences

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include R&D at Stryker Instruments and strategy consulting for McKinsey & Company. Most recently, Murray led a startup business unit at Worthington Industries, which he grew from 1 employee to over 300.

There, he spent time as Managing Director of the business’s European joint venture while living in Istanbul, later becoming General Manager of the global business unit.

Business News

MUHTAR KENT TO RETIRE AS COCA-COLA CEO

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AMES QUINCEY, Coca-Cola President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Muhtar Kent as CEO, effective May 1, 2017. Kent will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Coca-Cola Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved unanimously the recommendation of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Muhtar Kent for an evolution of the company’s senior leadership structure.

“One of our Board’s key priorities is developing the next generation of leaders and James is a perfect example of our talent pipeline in action,” said Muhtar Kent. “Having worked closely with James during the past 10 years of his 20-year career with our company, I know that his vast industry knowledge, expertise with our brands, values and system, coupled with an acute understanding of evolving consumer tastes, make him the ideal candidate to effectively lead our company and bottling system. James has the strategic vision and inspirational leadership to usher in the next phase of growth for our great business.

Muhtar Kent joined the INC Congress in Antalya in 2015 as a keynote speaker. He shared his thoughts about consumer insights and the macro trends that are shaping today’s consumers.

James Quincey and Muhtar Kent

PATRICK DE MAESENEIRE ELECTED NEW CHAIRMAN AT BARRY CALLEBAUT

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S PROPOSED by the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2016 of Barry Callebaut AG, Patrick De Maeseneire has been elected Chairman, replacing Andreas Jacobs. The Board of Directors honored the legacy of Andreas Jacobs, who had decided to step down after 13 years on the Board, 11 of

which he spent as Chairman, and thanked him warmly for his long and successful tenure.

All other Board members, namely Patrick De Maeseneire, Fernando Aguirre, Jakob Baer, James L. Donald, Nicolas Jacobs, Wai Ling Liu, Timothy E. Minges, Andreas Schmid and Juergen B. Steinemann were reelected for another term of office of one year.

Patrick De Maeseneire (left) and Andreas Jacobs

FERRERO NAMES JEROME GREGOIRE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NEWLY ACQUIRED DELACRE BISCUITS

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ERRERO has appointed Jerome Gregoire as Managing Director at Delacre, the biscuit maker recently bought by the Italian firm.

Gregoire had been working as the head of the company's operations in Greece, Cyprus and Malta.

It was the Belgium-based Delacre who announced that Ferrero had completed the acquisition of the Delacre and Delichoc biscuit brands from United Biscuits. As part of the transaction, Ferrero takes over all production facilities as well as retaining the management and the employees of the businesses.

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Business News

COCOA FARMERS ORGANIZATIONS MERGE TO CREATE A UNIFIED VOICE

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HE WORLD COCOA FARMERS Organization (WCFO) and International Cocoa Farmers Organization (ICCFO) have merged to form a single, unified voice within the cocoa sector.

An agreement was reached at the last World Cocoa Foundation sustainability partnership meeting, which took place in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

The merged organization adopts the name of the former. The agreement brings together more than 750,000 cocoa farmer members. This operation will allow the two organizations to work to promote sustainability in the sector while assisting farmers in the task of producing better crops.

“Through this merger, cocoa farmers globally will become stronger, which will enable them to take necessary steps to solve their many challenges. Cocoa farmers globally will be able to share their experiences and knowledge from one growing region to the other,” said the WCFO. An estimated 95 per cent of the world’s cocoa supply comes from smallholder cocoa farmers, many of them dealing with poor living conditions. The WCFO hope this agreement will serve to raise standards and to have the voices of farmers heard.

BÜHLER’S PET SORTING SOLUTION HELPS PLASTICS RECYCLERS INCREASE YIELDS

BY MORE THAN 30%

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ASTE PLASTIC is an enormous challenge worldwide. Yet, as production continues to increase, just 5% of waste plastic is recycled effectively. Bühler is addressing this global challenge with a tailored PET recycling solution, capable of improving yields by more than 30%, according to the firm. A strategic partnership with US-based National Recovery Technologies (NRT) allows the company to offer plastics recyclers a solution for plastic bottle and flake sorting.

Collecting and recycling PET plastic has the potential to reduce millions of tonnes of waste each year. It can be reused to manufacture a wide range of consumer products as well as food and drink packaging. Bühler is already a leader in the PET recycling industry, accounting for 25% of the recycled PET (rPET) recycled stream in Europe and approximately 10% of the global market.

The company is now helping PET recyclers with an innovative, two-machine process solution that delivers bottle-to-bottle grade rPET flakes at the highest yield currently possible in the market. The process is based on two technologies, offering superior color sorting as well as sorting by chemical signatures, that can identify invisible and same-color polymers. The result is high grade rPET flakes for bottle production, plus a significant increase in yield. Furthermore, Bühler’s partnership with NRT establishes the two companies as first-choice technology partners for plastics recyclers.

Together, they offer plastics recyclers a complete solution for plastic bottle and flake sorting, with NRT specialising in bottle sorting, combined with Bühler’s expertise in flake sorting.

Bühler’s PET recycling solution also reinforces its sustainability strategy. Bernhard Gabauer, Segment Development Manager for Plastics at Bühler said, “Sustainability is increasingly vital in the food industry. Our new flake sorting technology enables our customers to recycle more plastic, more efficiently and to a higher grade. It is a perfect fit with Bühler’s environmental goal of a 30% reduction in energy, water, and resources in all core processes by 2020.”.

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Source: buhlergroup.com

Gourmet Gourmet

“ are among the ingredients that we use most NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS, in our kitchen”

ENRICO CRIPPA, EXECUTIVE CHEF AT PIAZZA DUOMO

Enrico Crippa trained under some of the most renowned chefs in Europe. Christian Willer, Ghislaine Arabian, Antoine Westermann, Michel Bras and Ferran Adrià are among the masters who have inspired his career. He started in the restaurant business when he was 16 and, at the age of 25, left for Japan to work for three years as Executive Chef in restaurants in Kobe and Osaka. It

was there he learnt to appreciate the elegance and simplicity of Japanese cuisine. Back in Europe, in 2003, he began working at Ristorante Piazza Duomo, where he displayed and developed his distinctive and imaginative style and during which time, 2012 to be precise, he added a third Michelin star to those he was awarded in 2006 and 2009.

He takes pride in his personal relationship with all his suppliers.

The products used in his cooking are as local as it gets, everything is sourced from within 50 kilometers of the restaurant, which is why his dishes have the distinctive taste Langhe and Piedmont at their heart.

© Photos by Lido Vannucchi, Stefania Spadoni, Fabrizio Marchesi.

How would you define your style?

Green: My style of cooking is based around vegetables, sprouts, salad and flowers. My aim is to make the vegetables the centre of the dish.

I love to create new dishes and get inspiration from our own garden.

meat, good wines, good cheese and local products that are very important to our kitchen.

We are really keen on finding new, small local producers. My cooking is innovative, but it is improved by local ingredients.

How has Piazza Duomo evolved since it was opened in 2005?

Piazza Duomo is always growing and evolving. I can feel the evolution day by day; what we did yesterday is completely different today, a sort of daily evolution.

What does perfection mean to you?

Does a Michelin Star chef need to be obsessed with perfection?

Most of what you use in the kitchen comes from within a radius of 50 kilometers. What is the relationship with your suppliers?

France and Japan have been part of your career as a chef. How do these elements feature in your cooking?

I am a very meticulous person and I think my dishes should all be well defined and precise.

For me, it’s not about being obsessed, it is the natural path of my own work.

The relationship with our suppliers is very familiar and respectful. We respect the work they do for always being of the highest standard and they respect our dedication to our work.

Both cultures have a great respect for ingredients, the painstaking attention to detail and color. These are the elements you can find in my cooking.

Working so many hours a week, for so many customers coming from such different places, how do you manage to personalize your dishes?

Where can we notice the regional influence that Langhe and Piedmont have in your work?

Tell us a little bit more about Japan. You describe those 3 years as fundamental to your cooking experience. Why?

I work. All the time I spend in the kitchen with my team is dedicated to personalizing the dishes. Over the years, we’ve learned how to better understand our customers and it’s very important to think and to be able to personalize dishes for them.

How important are local ingredients in your culinary creations?

We are in a very lucky region; we have all the best raw material of Piedmont. We have special

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There is always a regional signature in my work and in my dishes. It could be just one ingredient or my interpretation of a classic regional dish.

This region treasures a very rich food culture. What is new that Enrico Crippa and Piazza Duomo have brought to a cuisine with such a long-standing tradition?

I think that I’ve brought my creativity and my experiences from all around the world to create a special combination of tradition and innovation.

My experience in Japan was fundamental for me because it was there where I discovered an extraordinary cuisine where you can see great respect for the taste of the ingredients - full of tradition. I think that in Europe we’re probably only able to sample about 5% of Japanese cuisine.

Gourmet Antoine Westermann, Michel Bras, Ferran Adrià and Gualtiero Marchesi are among your mentors.

How have they inspired you?

All the chefs that I’ve met in my life have inspired me, with their creativity and ideas. They are always an example for me.

How much do nuts and dried fruits feature in your cooking?

They are among the ingredients that we use most in our kitchen, I can’t forget that Piazza Duomo is in the heart of the hazelnut region!

You like to combine them with…?

I love to combine hazelnuts with cardoon, as I do in my signature salad (Salad 21…31…41…) and with chocolate.

Salad 21…31…41…

Ingredients. For the salad: 160 gr of mixed salad, composed of: Hazelnuts Gentilina lettuce leaves Butterhead lettuce leaves Valerian Watercress Poppy Dandelion Primrose leaves Spinach Trevisano chicory Trusset (insalata dei campi) Red beetroot leaves Beetroot leaves Tarragon Salad Burnet Sorrel Summer savory Marjoram Red mizuna Green mizuna Chinese mustard Chervil Red chickweed Celery Lovage Good King Henry Green shiso Red shiso Dill Raw fennel Nasturtium For the flowers Marigolds: Red White Purple Orange Yellow Violet flowers Primrose flowers Borage flowers Bluebottle Chive flowers and garlic flowers

For the dressing: Herb flavoured oil Barolo vinegar White and black sesame Nori algae finely chopped Katsobushi Candied ginger and its juice For the herb flavoured oil (large quantity): 500 gr tarragon 1 litre Occhipinti olive oil For the amaranth chips: 200 gr amaranth seeds 13 gr instant dasci 1,200 ml water Oil to fry For cooked bamboo: 2 pieces of bamboo cooked in oven and cut into thin slices.

Preparation. For the amaranth: 1. Cook the amaranth as a risotto with water and instant dashi for about 40 minutes without adding salt.

2. Once cooked, spread it out between two sheets of baking paper and let it dry.

When dried, break it into irregular parts and fry in hot oil.

For the herb-flavoured oil: 1. Boil the aromatic herbs in the oil for less than a minute, wring them out and whirl them in a salad dryer.

2. Filter the oil with a colander and paper.

For the salad and the garnish: 1. Clean and wash all the herbs and leaves well.

2. Combine the salad and the dressing and present it on a plate.

3. Garnish with flowers and bamboo seasoned with sesame.

© Picture made by Lido Vannucchi.

Growers & Exporters

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

17

Legal Update

LEGAL UPDATE PESTICIDES CANADA: MRLs UPDATE

CHINA: MRLs UPDATE

Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has adopted the following proposed maximum residue limits:

The Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C.: Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods. According to an unofficial translation of the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the following MRLs in nuts and dried fruits have been proposed.

Pesticide

Product

MRL (ppm)

dates Hexythiazox

Spinosad Sulfuryl fluoride Tolfenpyrad

Adoption date

2.0

dried plums

2.0

tree nuts (including pistachios)

0.02

Japanese apricots, jujubes, American plums, Beach plums, Canada plums, cherry plums, Chickasaw plums, Damson plums, Japanese plums, Klamath plums

0.2

tree nuts (except almond, pistachio nuts)

3.0

peanuts

0.5

dried prune plums

3.0

tree nuts

0.05

24-10-2016

09-11-2016

29-12-2016 02-01-2017

Pesticide

Product

MRL (ppm)

Flumioxazin

peanut kernel

Zineb

peanut kernel

0.02 0.1

Fludioxonil

peanut kernel

0.05

Chloropicrin

peanut kernel

0.05

Malathion

peanut kernel

0.05

Bentazon

peanut kernel

0.05

USA: MRLs UPDATE The US Environmental Protection Agency has established the following MRLs in nuts and fruits: Pesticide Mandestrobin Pyridaben

Product

MRL (ppm)

Adoption date

grape, raisin

7.0

11-10-2016

fruit, stone, group 12-12

3.0

nut, tree, group 14-12

0.05

Flumioxazin

fruit, stone, group 12-12 nut, tree, group 14-12

0.02

Acequinocyl

nut, tree, group 14-12

0.02

14-10-2016

CHINA, TAIWAN: MRLs UPDATE The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has notified the WTO of the Draft Standards for certain Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods. The draft includes the following MRLs. Pesticide

Product

MRL(ppm)

Date

19-12-2016

Fenpyrazamine

raisins

3.0

Entered into force on: 12-12-2016

18-01-2017

Spiromesifen

prune

2.0

Deadline for comments: 11-02-2017

EU: MRLs UPDATE The European Commission has issued the following regulations amending MRLs of pesticides in nuts and fruits.

Pesticide Cymoxanil

Product tree nuts, apricots, plums, dates, figs, peanuts grapes tree nuts (except pistachios)

Phosphane and phosphide salts

pistachios apricots, plums, grapes, dates, figs peanuts

Sodium 5-nitroguaiacolate

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, dates, figs, peanuts

MRL (ppm)

Adoption date

0.3 0.09 0.1 0.01*

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, dates, figs, peanuts

0.03*

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, dates, figs, peanuts

0.03*

Aclonifen

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, peanuts

0.01*

Fluazinam

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, peanuts

0.01*

apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs

0.01*

tree nuts, peanuts

0.02*

apricots

0.15

plums

0.07

cranberries dates, figs tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, peanuts

0.01*

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, peanuts

0.01*

Hexachlorobenzene

peanuts

0.02*

3-decen-2-one

tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, peanuts

0.01*

Fluxapyroxad Spirodiclofen

grapes grapes cranberries

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1822 of 13 October 2016

10-05-2017

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1866 of 17 October 2016

23-11-2016

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1902 of 27 October 2016

0.6

Methomyl

almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts

7-05-2017

0.01*

Thiodicarb

Azoxystrobin

Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1785 of 7 October 2016

0.05

Sodium o-nitrophenolate

Deltamethrin

28-04-2017

0.03*

Sodium p-nitrophenolate

Sulcotrione

Regulation

0.01*

3.0 0.04 2 0.8

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

19

Legal Update JAPAN: MRLs UPDATE The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has notified the WTO of the “Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue standards)�, which includes the following MRLs in nuts and dried fruits.

Pesticide Abamectin

Chinomethionat

Product

Mepanipyrim Prohexadione-calcium

Date

prune, apricot

0.09

grape

0.05

pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

prune, apricot grape, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts prune

Cyflumetofen

MRL (ppm)

apricot

0.5 0.01 1.0 Deadline for comments: 10 12-12-2016

pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

apricot, prune, date

0.01

grape

15

peanuts

1.0

prune, apricot, date, grape, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

Bromacil

apricot, plum, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

Cymoxanil

grape

0.1

apricot

0.1

Etoxazole

Hexaconazole

plum, grape

0.01

peanut, cranberry, date, grape, almond, pecan, walnut, other nuts

0.01

apricot plum

Hexythiazox

0.5

pecan, almond, walnuts, other nuts

0.2 0.3

peanuts

0.01

apricot

0.3

pecan, almond, walnuts, other nuts

0.05

plums

1

grape, date

2

Isouron

peanuts, apricot, plum, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnuts, other nuts

0.01

Prometryn

peanuts

0.02

Profenofos

peanuts, apricot, plum, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnuts, other nuts

0.01

Prohydrojasmon

grape

0.01

Simeconazole

Spirotetramat

plum, grape

0.2

apricot

1

apricot

3

plum

5

grape

2

pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.05

plum dried, raisin

0.01

Thifensulfuron

peanut

0.01

Chlorpropham

apricot, cranberry, grape, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

Dazomet

apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

Metam

apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

Methyl isothiocyanate

apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut, other nuts

0.01

20

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

Deadline for comments: 17-12-2017

Deadline for comments: 28-03-2017

Legal Update

CONTAMINANTS EU: INCREASED LEVEL OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS On 2 December 2016, the European Union published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2107 of 1 December 2016 amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 as regards the list of feed and food of non-animal origin subject to an increased level of official controls on imports (in force since January 1, 2017).

Peanuts from Bolivia (50% of control frequency for aflatoxins) was added to the list and the control frequency in pistachios from USA was

reduced (from 20% to 10% for aflatoxins). In addition, EU importers of newly added products such as Bolivian peanuts will have to prior notify the estimated date and time of physical arrival of the consignment at the designated point of entry, and the nature of the consignment.

After the modifications, the control frequency for nuts and dried fruits is the following:

Country of origin

Hazard

Frequency of physical and identity checks (%)

Bolivia

Aflatoxins

50

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter

Gambia

Aflatoxins

50

Hazelnuts, in shell or shelled

Georgia

Aflatoxins

20

Madagascar

Aflatoxins

50

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter

Sudan

Aflatoxins

50

Dried apricots and apricots otherwise prepared or preserved

Turkey

Sulphites

10

United States

Aflatoxins

10

Uzbekistan

Sulphites

50

Feed and food Groundnuts (peanuts), in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter

Pistachios in shell or shelled Dried apricots and apricots otherwise prepared or preserved

EU: CHANGES ON AFLATOXIN CONTROLS On 2 December 2016, the European Union issued the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/2106 of 1 December 2016 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 884/2014, which imposes special conditions on the import of certain feed and food from certain third countries due to contamination risk by aflatoxins (in force since December 22, 2016)

Peanuts from Argentina and hazelnuts from Azerbaijan were added to the list. The sampling frequency for dried figs from Turkey and peanuts form India is reduced from 20% to 10%, while the sampling frequency of hazelnuts from Turkey is increased from random to 5%.

After the modifications, the control frequency for nuts and dried fruits is the following: Country of origin

Frequency of physical and identity checks (%)

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

Argentina

5

Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) in shell, shelled, cut/sliced/broken, flour/meal/powder, mixtures containing hazelnuts, otherwise prepared or preserved including mixtures, hazelnut paste or hazelnut oil (Food)

Azerbaijan

20

Brazil nuts in shell, mixtures containing Brazil nuts in shell (Food)

Brazil

Random

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

Brazil

10

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

China

20

Feed and food (intended use)

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

Egypt

20

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

Ghana

50

Groundnuts (peanuts) in shell, shelled, otherwise prepared or preserved, or peanut butter (Feed and Food)

India

10

Pistachios in shell, shelled, flour/meal/powder, mixtures containing pistachios, prepared or preserved including mixtures (Food)

Iran

50

Dried figs, mixtures containing figs, prepared or preserved including mixtures and fig paste (Food)

Turkey

10

Hazelnuts (Corylus sp.) in shell, shelled, cut/sliced/broken, flour/meal/powder, mixtures containing hazelnuts, otherwise prepared or preserved including mixtures, hazelnut paste or hazelnut oil (Food)

Turkey

5

Pistachios in shell, shelled, flour/meal/powder, mixtures containing pistachios, prepared or preserved including mixtures (Food)

Turkey

50

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

21

Legal Update JECFA: MLs OF AFLATOXINS FOR RTE PEANUTS On November 23, 2016 the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) issued the Summary Report of its 83rd Meeting. JECFA performed an impact assessment of different maximum levels for aflatoxins (4, 8, 10 and 15 µg/kg) for ready-to-eat peanuts concluding that “enforcing a maximum limit (ML) of 10, 8 or 4 μg/kg for ready to-eat peanuts would have little further impact on dietary exposure to AFT for the general population, compared with setting an ML of 15 μg/kg. At an ML of 4 μg/ kg, the proportion of the world market of ready-to-eat peanuts rejected

would be approximately double the proportion rejected at an ML of 15 μg/ kg (about 20% versus 10%).”

JECFA’s evaluation will be considered in the next session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food, in April 2017, to review the Proposed Draft Maximum Level for Total Aflatoxins in Ready-To-Eat Peanuts. The draft recommends considering the level of 10 μg/kg for total aflatoxins in ready-to-eat peanuts.

EU: MINERAL OIL HYDROCARBONS IN FOOD On January 17, 2017 the European Commission issued the Recommendation 2017/84 of 16 January 2017 on the monitoring of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food and in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food in order to better understand the relative presence of these mineral oils in food commodities. Tree nuts are included among the products covered by the recommendation.

As reported in the Recommendation, MOH are chemical compounds derived mainly from crude oil, but also produced synthetically from

coal, natural gas and biomass. They can be present in food through environmental contamination, lubricants for machinery used during harvesting and food production, processing aids, food additives and food contact materials. According to the European Food Safety Authority, MOH may act as genotoxic carcinogens while some others may accumulate in human tissue and may cause adverse effects in the liver.

QUALITY STANDARDS USA: STANDARDS FOR WALNUTS On November 25, 2016 the Agricultural Marketing Service of the US Department of Agriculture revised the US Standards for Grades of Shelled Walnuts and Walnuts in the Shell including red colored walnuts and removing the “Unclassified” section.

USA: ALMOND QUALITY CONTROL The US Agricultural Marketing Service adopted a final rule relaxing the quality control requirements prescribed under the California almond marketing order. The inedible kernel tolerance increased from 0.50% to 2%. This rule is effective since January 20, 2017.

PUBLI

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

PUBLI

Feature Articles

HOW BIG DATA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE FOOD INDUSTRY Big data has become a potent weapon in the management toolkit of businesses across the globe. But to what extent is the food and beverage sector taking advantage of the opportunities?

Kathleen Wybourn,

Director Food & Beverages, DNV GL US & Canada, is a recognized leader in global food safety. Kathleen held a variety of roles in food manufacturing before moving into food safety solutions and auditing.

B

ig data is simply an amount of data too big to be processed by conventional software systems and databases. The practice of big data is about capturing volumes of internal and external data from all parts of the supply chain and putting it to work on your behalf.

Given that we’re now generating 2.5 quintillion bytes of data a day (everything from social media posts to the data gathered by sensors in the rapidly expanding Internet of Things) it’s no wonder that the desire to derive value from these vast oceans of information has emerged.

The end game should be better insights and improved decision making which increases efficiency, productivity and profits. But how is that playing out in the food and beverage sector so far; what are the potential benefits and pitfalls; and is the sector ready to seize the advantage?

Big Data Is with Us Now The first thing to say is that big data is already very much with us – DNV GL conducted a viewpoint survey1 and found that out of 1,200 interviewees globally, half had already undertaken at least one action related to big data.

Moreover, focusing on the food and beverage sector only, the survey shows that food and beverage organizations have a higher than average propensity to embrace big data, and see it as an opportunity and not a threat.

More than 25 per cent of food and beverage respondents indicate that a big data application has already boosted their productivity and value creation, and the same number already have a clear big-data strategy.

Almost half of them think that big data will impact their company in the next 2-3 years, although for many, exactly how still remains to be seen. Nevertheless there seems to be optimism about the potential of big data, and food and beverage companies also foresee fewer barriers to taking advantage of big data than other industries.

Uses and Applications in Food So how can food and beverage organizations use big data and what are its applications? In the survey, actions seems to focus on efficiency and financial savings, brand reputation and supply chain management. This could indicate that the companies surveyed felt that big data could help

How do you foresee that Big Data will affect your business in the next 2-3 years High/Fairly high degree

Are you able to leverage big data to boost your productivity and value creation? Conducted by DNV GL - Business Assurance and GFK Eurisko on close to 1,200 professionals in different sectors in Europe, the Americas and Asia. For more see: https://www.dnvgl. com/ph/news/companies-are-eyeing-big-data-opportunities-butfew-are-able-to-tap-the-potential-63067

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© DNV / GL

Market (1,189)

Food & Beverage Companies (77)

37,8%

49,4%

Feature Articles

them address tight margins while managing their brand reputation and an ever growing complex risk picture.

Big data can be used for things like internal benchmarking – for example between plants. Perhaps even more valuable is the benchmarking done against other companies or businesses that are similar. Big data also gives you the opportunity to identify continuous improvement areas, threats and opportunities.

Of course big data is about insight – giving visibility to help organizations become more efficient and strip out waste. It can provide help with product development, supply chain management and risk management.

Maybe even more importantly, it’s about foresight. For example, crunching market data to indicate trends which give organizations a firstmover advantage when they anticipate shifts in the market ahead of the competition.

Another application of big data is data sharing. The food and beverage industry is recognized for being a collaborative industry, especially on topics such as food safety. The Global Food Safety Initiative demonstrated what can be done, and everybody wins. Greater transparency along the supply chain will help build supply chain and customer confidence while improvements in traceability and better sourcing decisions will decrease food safety risks to consumers. It will be interesting to see, given the progressive nature of food and beverage companies, if big data can take collaborations into related or new areas which, for instance, tackle food fraud.

Indeed, opportunities for big data in the sector are probably infinite.

IBM, for example, has already used big data to create novel recipes.2 In an effort to show how computers can be creative, Big Blue programmed a supercomputer to analyse vast quantities of data on everything from existing recipes and the molecular and chemical compounds of ingredients, to known human flavour preferences. Ideas such as an apple and pork kebab cooked with mushrooms, strawberries and curry powder; or a dessert made from bacon, porcini mushrooms, walnut meal and dried figs are the result. On a serious note, it does illustrate that big data even has the potential to revolutionize how food manufacturers create recipes.

Realizing the Opportunity To get the most from big data, food and beverage companies first need to put a big data strategy in place. This might involve an education piece across the organization, alerting everyone to a new frontier and gaining genuine engagement.

1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1

1 0 0 1 0 0 1

Organizations should also know from the off what they want to get out of big data, focussing on what’s important to them. Taking the organization’s overarching mission and vision as a starting point might help determine what the big data priorities should be.

Organizations need to be aware of the pitfalls and challenges of big data. They need to take account of issues around data privacy and confidentiality, and legislation around data protection. They need to think about data validation and who owns data; about motivations for sharing data; and about where and how to develop common platforms, and with whom.

Big data is unruly. Systems need to be robust. They need the capacity to deal not only with the volume of big data but the speed that it can come in at. Thought needs to be given to capture, curation, search and storage.

And to how the organization can get real-time or near real-time value from the information.

Remember that big data is pointless if you can’t do anything with it.

Organizations need to think about how to present the findings from big data – creating the dashboards, scorecards and reporting that make sense of big data and make it actionable. This should include reporting and alerts which pick up deviations from the norm as well as patterns and trends.

These are often the points at which something can be done – after all, reacting to change and creating opportunity is the point of big data.

Finally, food organizations should adopt big data now or risk being left behind. We are entering a new era of digitization and complexity in which big data will become a strong asset. Early adopters in the food industry will have a competitive advantage over the organizations that drag their feet.

See: Cognitive Cooking with Chef Watson: Recipes for Innovation from IBM & the Institute of Culinary Education

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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Feature Articles

INDIAN CONSUMER: ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR TOWARDS CONSUMPTION OF NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS Nuts and dried fruits in India offer a unique opportunity to meet the needs of a consumer who is looking to adopt a new wellness lifestyle without having to forego traditional values -a consumer who is increasingly concerned with health but is not willing to compromise on taste.

Lopamudra Roy

is a market research professional from India, specializing in Consumer Behavior. A management graduate, she has spent over 10 years studying the Indian market, understanding key motivators of consumer choice. She works for a qualitative research organization named The Third Eye. Prior to joining The Third Eye, Lopamudra was employed by Nielsen and Unilever.

Heritage of Nuts and Dried Fruits in India A demure woman, married just hours ago, carries a glass of creamy milk enriched with almonds to the chamber of her beloved husband. This is a scene from a traditional Indian household, often seen in regional Hindi movies. The almond in the milk serves to give energy and vitality after a tiring day packed with rituals, while the milk acts as an aphrodisiac.

With an eclectic mix of uses, dried fruits and nuts in India date as far back as the prehistoric times of Hindu wisdom captured in the Charaka Samhita, an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine). In Ayurveda, the following description appears: “Shuska Phal Va Tilahan (Dried Fruits and Oil Seeds): almond, cashew nut, chestnut, coconut, groundnut, peanut, pistachio, etc. are very rich in proteins. The oils inside these provide natural lubricants and fats necessary for the body’s mechanical and other functions.”

Subsequently, nuts and dried fruits were made more popular by the Mughals of medieval India to demonstrate their rich heritage. Hence, nuts and dried fruits in India have traditionally stood for prestige, richness and exclusivity the privilege of a select few. But now we see these traditional ideas infusing with modernity to create an exciting space for this popular symbol of Indian heritage.

Current Standing The nut and dried fruit industry in India is currently pegged at INR 15,000 crores (~ USD 2 billion) and is estimated to grow to INR 30,000 crores (~ USD 4 billion) by 2020, according to the Chairman of Royal Dried Fruits Range, a city-based dried fruits retailer. (Source: Business Standard, October 20161).

While the consumption of nuts and dried fruits may be much more widespread today, the medieval values of heritage and exclusivity continue to rest with this premium category. Other than spices, they are the only other category that reflects the quintessential exoticism of ancient India. Even until a few decades ago, the use of nuts and dried fruits was restricted to special occasions, where their primary use would be as a food “enricher” – adding richness to the taste as well as nutritional value. Dried fruits and nuts have been a part of celebratory food items such as spicy Indian gravies “enriched” with cashew paste or pulav (Indian rice) containing roasted almonds, cashews and raisins or kheer, and payasam (different kinds of Indian dessert) garnished with various dried fruits and nuts.

While the custom of using dried fruits and nuts as a “food enricher” continues, the same category has also made inroads into other meal occasions, as a natural consequence to some of the larger movements taking place in the country.

The Newly-charted Health Discourse in India These movements can be better appreciated against the backdrop of the rapidly changing socio-economic-cultural landscape of India, with enhanced opportunities, optimism and ambition.

We see new discourses emerging in the consumer lifestyle and parlance, one of which is the increase in health consciousness. In this conversation, both energy and endurance are

Business Standard is India’s leading business newspaper: www.business-standard.com.

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becoming key, not just to stay active in the shortterm but to also build strength for endurance to stay ahead in the long run. Lifestyle changes, limited control over diet, the degraded quality of basic foods due to the rampant use of pesticides and chemicals and increasing pollution have triggered concern.

To offset the cumulative ill-effects of some of the aforementioned changes affecting the country’s health, some meta trends are being seen to surface, such as the moderation of unhealthy foods and bad lifestyle habits, compensation for bingeing by slowing down for a day or two, and the substitution of less healthy meal options with healthier ones. All this, without compromising on taste.

The occasions that are now becoming more about health and energy are breakfast and evening snacks. The health dialogue has influenced the strong pre-existing culture of snacking in India to introduce ‘healthy snacking’.

To this effect, consumers are now cleverly adding nuts and dried fruits as a new inclusion in their eating regime. The availability of the snack in multiple formats such as salty snacks and dried fruit mixtures (where the nuts and fruits are sometimes broken and mixed) aid variety and make it more palatable for snacking occasions. Cereals such as corn flakes, oats and muesli, themselves making a relatively new breakfast format, have now introduced new flavours such as honey coated almonds, dried fruits and other nuts.

Feature Articles

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Wellness experts such as yoga teachers, gym instructors, dieticians, doctors and beauty consultants act as the catalysts to stimulate this health discourse by finding new ways of introducing this category in consumers’ daily lives.

Consumer Perception on the Benefits of Nuts and Dried Fruits While nuts and dried fruits carry an overall healthy image, knowledge of the distinct benefits of individual nuts and dried fruits is sketchy, with almonds being the only exception. Awareness around the distinct benefits of almonds as being good for memory power, energy and skin glow, seem to be prevalent almost universally. There are entrenched beliefs associated with consumption practices as well. Many consumers soak almonds before consuming them as they believe that this makes them more easily digestible and so the nutrients in the nuts lend themselves more readily to absorption by the body. There is also a popular perception that unsoaked almonds produce heat in the body, which is not good in summer.

Interestingly, consumers also seem to have distinct perceptions of the benefits of other

dehydrated fruit dried fruit

sales@kenkko.com

hazelnuts

WWW.KENKKO.COM

macadamia nuts

nuts and dried fruits, however, these tend to be more inconsistent. The Indian consumer today is far more information-seeking and tends to form opinions on their own in the absence of a reliable source.

In addition to the functional benefits, nuts and dried fruits also carry rich emotional associations, making them one of the most popular choices for gifting in India. India is a land of many festivals and each festival usually involves gifts to friends and relatives as a mark of auspice. To celebrate the traditional heritage, these festivals act as a pretext to mark cultural rootedness. Indian sweets (mithai), nuts and dried fruits are by far the most popular choice for gifting during festivals and weddings.

This category is mostly sold loose in India and the branded products are mostly imported.

More recently, with the advent of malls and retailer brands, there are fragmented players in the market selling dried fruits and nuts in the packaged format. Interestingly, this is the only category that is seen in both separate dried fruits and nuts counters where they are sold in bulk as well as in premium, packaged formats

pecans

closer to the cash counter. Thus, a category that was once restricted to reflect opulence and exclusivity in Indian cuisine may soon be making inroads into impulse counters and in small pouch formats, thus encouraging the “small eats” occasions even further.

Conclusion Standing at the crossroads of somewhat tumultuous shifts in lifestyles and increasing incomes, the Indian consumer today is willing to go the extra mile to maintain healthy eating habits, even more so if they are rooted in culture and tradition. Dried fruits and nuts fit the bill.

With their cultural origins in lavish opulence, the category is fast expanding its ‘foodprint’, making its way into the snacking tiffin box, onthe-go small pack in the bag and in breakfast cereals while retaining its dominance in traditional cooked food and as a garnish in sweets and kulfis. All this, while still reflecting the quintessential exotic India. It’s not surprising, therefore, to see the consequent steady growth in the category.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

27

Feature Articles

INNOVATIONS IN FOOD PACKAGING Antioxidant packaging is one of the most attractive and innovative developments to extend the shelf life of nuts while maintaining their quality.

These new materials burst onto the market and can successfully compete with the well known oxygen scavengers. Some examples are hereby described.

I

n the last 15 years, food packaging has changed considerably, from its original purpose of simply containing food to employing the most demanding and sophisticated materials which are currently available. Consumers are looking for better quality, fresh and convenient food products 7 and the food industry is looking for ways to extend the shelf life of packaged food while maintaining

Then, the incorporation of active ingredients into the packaging material, which depends on the material, the active compounds and the food.

Packaging lines, the storage period required before it can be used, the shelf life intended for the food and the cost of the final solution are also parameters which must be optimised, defined and established before launching the new material onto the market. The efficiency of

Source: goglio.it

quality. Among the major innovations, the socalled active packaging systems are probably the most attractive to the nut sector.

Active packaging materials are those that directly interact with the packaged food, affecting its quality and extending its shelf life.

These systems are constantly acting on the packaged food without requiring a change or trigger to occur in the food itself. Some good examples are moisture scavengers, antimicrobial and antioxidant packaging, where the protective agents are incorporated into the packaging materials instead of being added to the food. This is very important in the nut sector as most of the protecting agents cannot be applied directly to the food.

One might think: what a great idea! Why it is not applied to any packaging material on the market? But the answer is not simple. To produce an “active� material, several steps are required. The first one is the correct selection of active agents, which depends on the target food.

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the new material has to be demonstrated not only on a laboratory scale, but also at industrial levels with real food.

Fortunately, many researchers from different groups have been working on this subject and some new packaging materials have been successfully developed. The two main risks of nut deterioration are oxidation and the growth of molds, which can lead to the presence of mycotoxins. Oxidation can be prevented by removing oxygen or using antioxidants inserted in the packaging material. However, a different concept of antioxidants, in which free radical scavengers are inserted into the packaging material, without requiring the removal of oxygen, has been successfully developed6. I will explain here two different approaches3, 10 in which different free radical scavengers were employed in multilayer packaging materials. In both cases the new materials have been tested at an industrial scale with real food and are now available on the market.

Cristina Nerin.

Full professor at the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

Degree in Chemistry, master’s in Science (Analytical Chemistry) and PhD in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

Email: cnerin@unizar.es

To eliminate the risk of mold growth and the production of mycotoxins, antimicrobial packaging material can be applied. Our research group also investigated this problem.

As result of the research carried out, several approaches have been developed in which the antimicrobial incorporated into the packaging material demonstrated the inhibition of molds and the total inhibition of mycotoxins5, 1. In this case, more tests at the industrial scale would be required before marketing the new material.

Antioxidant Multilayer Based on Green Tea for Nuts Most nuts are packaged in high barrier multilayer flexible materials to avoid the permeation of oxygen. These multilayers are commonly produced by lamination, which is the combination of different materials in adhesive layers, the most common internal layer being low density polyethylene (LDPE). In our approach, green tea as free radical scavenger was anchored in the adhesive layer behind the LDPE. The major components of green tea are catechins, which are well known as strong antioxidants2, 3. It is also well known that free radicals derived from oxygen are responsible for the oxidation processes, as they initiate the oxidation. Only a few radicals are required to initiate the oxidation, however, without them there is no oxidation and removing free radicals is much easier than removing the oxygen.

In this approach, free radicals have to cross the LDPE layer and reach the adhesive behind it, where catechins from green tea are incorporated. The experimental tests carried out and the quantitative measurements of both free radicals, oxidation performance and shelf life of packaged food, demonstrated that this approach is successful. Significant extension of shelf life was found between the controls,

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which did not contain green tea, and the active multilayers.

The new material has been tested with coffee beans, chocolate and nut derivatives at industrial scale for 16 months. The results obtained demonstrated that the current shelf life of 10 months for non-active increased to 15 months when packaged with the active material4. 1Kg packages of food with the same multilayer composition as that of the company were tested.

Highlighted advantages of this new material are as follows: • There is no migration as green tea is chemically anchored in the adhesive behind LDPE layer.

• There are no organoleptic issues either in the material or in the packaged food.

• The same packaging lines as for non-active materials can be used.

• Optical properties are the same as those of non-active materials.

Antioxidant Multilayer Based on Selenium Nanoparticles This is another approach developed in our research group under a Spanish Research Project (Project IPT-2012-0261-420000).

Selenium nanoparticles have been proposed and measured as good antioxidants. We demonstrated that these nanoparticles act as free radical scavengers and we have incorporated them into a multilayer system.

Similar technology to that of green tea was used but the formula, composition and final multilayer were different. Again, oxygen-derived free radicals such as oxo, hydroxo and peroxo were able to cross the LDPE layer and reach the adhesive, where SeNPs were inserted. The new packaging has been successfully tested with walnuts and hazelnuts packed in transparent multilayers containing the SeNPs. No modified atmosphere or vacuum were applied, only standard atmosphere containing oxygen.

Some important features of the new material are as follows: • No effect on the optical properties of the multilayer.

• No migration of Se. This was tested by ICPMS using Se 77 to produce SeNPs which were incorporated into the multilayer.

• No migration of nanoparticles as they are not in direct contact with the food.

• Packaging lines are not affected.

• Activation is not required.

• The active material is stable and keeps the properties for three months after multilayer production.

Conclusions Although many patents have been published, only a few materials are available, and among them, the two approaches described here are probably among the most appropriate for the nut sector. Of course, these approaches are produced by industrial companies, who are the holders of the patents. GOGLIO and SAMTACK are now producing these solutions for the green tea and SeNPs approaches respectively. We hope that in the near future, other advanced solutions which are able to overtake other decay processes will be proposed.

References. 1. Clemente, Isabel; Aznar, Margarita; Nerin, Cristina. Anal. Chem. 2016. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00116. 2. Colón, M. and Nerín, C. J. Agric. Food Chem., 2012, 60 (39), 9842–9849. DOI: 10.1021/jf302477y - 2012. 3. Carrizo, D.;Gullo, G.;Bosetti,O.; Nerin,C. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 2014, 31, 3, 364-373. DOI:10.1080/19440049.2013.869361 – 2014. 4. Carrizo, D., Taborda,G., Nerin,C. and Bosetti,O. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. 33 (2016) 534–541. DOI:10.1016/j.ifset.2015.10.018. 2015. 5. Manso, S.; Pezo, D.; Gómez-Lus, R; Nerín, C. Food Control 45, 101108 - DOI:10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.04.031 – 2014. 6. Nerín, C. Antioxidant active packaging and antioxidant edible films Chapter 31 in the book “Oxidation in foods and beverages and antioxidant applications”, Decker E.A., Elias R.J., McClements D.J. (Eds.) Oxidation in Foods and Beverages and Antioxidant Applications, vol. 2 – Management in Different Industry Sectors, 1st edition, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp. 496-515, 2010. 7. Ozdemir, M., and J. D. Floros. 2004. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 44 (3):185-193. doi: 10.1080/10408690490441578. 8. Pezo, D., Salafranca, J., Nerín,C. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 385, 1241-1246. 2006. 9. Pezo, D; Salafranca, J; Nerín, C. J. of Chromatography A, 1178, 1-2, 18, 126-133, 2008. 10. Vera, Paula; Echegoyen, Yolanda; Canellas, Elena; Nerin, Cristina; Palomo-Siguero, Maria; Madrid-Albarrán, Yolanda; Camara, Carmen; Anal & Bioanal. Chem. Aceptado. 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9780-9.

Acknowledgement The research here described has been financed by the Projects SAFEMTECH (IAPP, Marie Curie, GA 251382) and Project NANOFLEXIPACK IPT-2012-0261-420000

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PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PECAN IN ITALY The need to diversify fruit crops and the ongoing issue of climate change are convincing more and more farmers to seek alternatives to traditional crops. In Italy, pecans, which have been tested in central and southern Italy over several decades, are attracting the interest of many farmers, including some from northern Italy where they are, as yet, untried.

Damiano Avanzato

Former Researcher at CREA-Centro di Frutticoltura di Roma. Email: dam.avan@libero.it

T

he Pecan (Pecan illinoensis L.) has been present in Italy for at least 100 years, but it has historically been relegated to a species grown only in botanical gardens, and later planted as scattered trees propagated from seeds. In Italy, there are few orchards made up of grafted trees. In 1976, the “Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura di Roma” began a research program and established a varietal collection in Rome. More recently, in the frame activity of the research project “Tropical and Subtropical Fruit-bearing”, several demonstration field plots were established in southern regions of the peninsula, in Sicily and Sardinia.

That experience occurred at a time when investments were being made mainly in stone and apple orchards and table grapes. Only a few farmers were brave enough to try the cultivation of an “unknown” pecan crop, and one of them, in 1987, created a plantation in the Apulia region. Today, he reaps the fruits of his far-sighted choice by marketing the brand “Pecans of Sirgole”. A few years earlier in 1985 in the mountains of Tolfa, in the Latium region, which has climatic conditions considered “non-ideal” for growing pecans, a daredevil farmer without any specific experience and with the help of the author of this article, planted about fifty pecan trees of different varieties imported from abroad.

The pecan tree is very vigorous, capable of reaching 15 meters in height and, because of its deep root system, capable of exploring the terrain in depth, finding nutrients and water in different climate conditions.

The tree prefers light and deep soils with medium texture but it can also grow in relatively clayey soils with a pH subacid of up to 7.5. It is sensitive to a lack of zinc, nickel and boron, but not to salinity. The grafted trees come into bearing very early (the third year) and do not need special pruning. The branches are very elastic and, in some varieties, can break easily in the event of excessive production. Bud sprouting takes place in late spring, a useful aspect which helps to avoid damage from spring frosts. The pecan tree is a monoecious species, with male and female flowers carried on separate inflorescences. Some varieties (proterandrous) release pollen before female flower receptivity and some release the pollen

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later (protogine). There are at least 500 varieties, which provides a huge number of options in order to be able to adapt the cultivation of pecans to various climate conditions. Depending on the variety, pecans perform well in both dry and humid climates: as a rule, the varieties suitable for arid areas are not recommended in wet areas, while the reverse is possible. For example, in Georgia, a US state with a rainfall of about 1,000 mm, some recommended varieties are Caddo, Cape Fear, Creek, Desirable, Elliott, Excel, Forkert, Lakota, Kanza, Kiowa, Mandan, Oconee, Pawnee, Stuart Sumner, Zinner and Success. In New Mexico, where the rainfall is about 250 mm, recommended varieties are Apache, Burkett, Cheyenne, Mohawk,

«Depending on the variety, pecans perform well in both dry and humid climates: as a rule, the varieties suitable for arid areas are not recommended in wet areas, while the reverse is possible».

Pawnee, Western Schley, Wichita, Shoshoni and Shawnee. In Italy, some varieties have been tested at CREA (Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura) and some of them are propagated by the “Exoticplant” nursery of Cisterna di Latina. The planting distance is wide: 10x10 m or 12x12 m, although some orchards have been established with closer distances (12x6 m and also 10x5 m), with the idea of removing alternate trees on each row when the canopies begin to shadow each other. The species need long summers to complete fruit ripening, which occurs from September to December, depending on the variety. At maturity, one hectare produces 2-3 tons or more of fruits in the shell.

The main pecan orchards are in the USA and Mexico, but the plant grows very well even in some North African countries (Egypt and Morocco), as well as in Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus on the Caspian Sea (rainfall greater than 2,000 mm). World production in shell basis is about 250,000 tons, but the marketing is based mainly around the shelled form, which amounts to around 120,000 tons. Recent data reports a trade

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volume of about 100,000 tons of shelled nuts, out of which more than 60% are produced in the USA, 34% in Mexico, 3% in South Africa and the rest in Australia, Argentina and other countries. Some researchers have defined the pecan as “the queen of nuts” for the peculiar chemical characteristics of the fruit, which is a source of energy (690 calories/100‌ g), nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins, essential for the wellbeing of the human body. Regular consumption of pecans helps to reduce so-called “bad” cholesterol and raises levels of “good cholesterol” in the blood.

Pecans are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid, which is an excellent source of phenolic antioxidants. They contain ellagic acid,

«The main pecan orchards are in the USA and Mexico, but the plant grows very well even in some North African countries (Egypt and Morocco), as well as in Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus on the Caspian Sea». which has well known antioxidant-function, vitamin E, beta-carotene and lutein, all compounds that help the body to remove free radicals and thus to protect it from diseases, tumors and infections. Pecans are also rich in riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, and folate, which function as cofactors for the enzyme metabolism within the human body. Finally, they are also rich in manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Because of the low volumes traded and high selling prices, pecan nuts are still not well known in Italy and rarely reach consumers’ tables, but the current production is quickly sold in the market and traders are requesting a larger quantity than that which is harvested. The positive agronomic performance of the previous established orchards and the good response of nut demand in the market seem to suggest a bright future for pecans in Italy. Climate changes in progress also encourage the farmers from North to South (Figs. 1, 2, 3) to plant pecans as an alternative crop.

Fig. 1. Four years old orchard in South Italy (Sicily). Source Vassallo farm.

Fig. 2. One year old orchard in Centre Italy (Lazio region). Source Maule farm.

Fig. 3. One year old orchard in North Italy (Veneto region). Source Zingales farm.

References. 1. Avanzato D. 1987. Il Pecan in Georgia. L’Informatore Agrario, 20: 69-72. 2. Avanzato D., 2015. Vecchie e nuove specie per fronteggiare i cambiamenti climatici nel Meridione. Frutticoltura 12:40-44.

3. Avanzato D. , 2016. La coltivazione del Pecan: prospettive di sviluppo in Italia. Kiwi Informa 19: 62-66. 4. CRA-UCEA, 2005. Progetto CLIMAGRI. Cambiamenti climatici e Agricoltura. Monitoraggio permanente della siccità in agricoltura ed evidenziazione dei processi di desertificazione nel sud Italia. Relazione finale Pp 109. 5. De Salvador F.R., Engel P., Proietti G., Puleo P., 2015. La coltivazione del noce pecan presso il CREA di Roma (Centro di ricerca per la frutticoltura). Kiwi informa, 19: 54-60. 6. Tamponi G., 1987. Il programma sul pecan dell’Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura di Roma. In “Il Pecan in Georgia” L’Informatore Agrario pag. 69. 7. McMinn D., 2005. Pecan: the queen of nuts. The Nimbin Good Times. Pp 5. 8. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pecans.html. Health benefits of Pecans. 9. https://cdn.shopify.com. Pecan varieties: a guide from PlantMeGreen. 10. www.agriturismi.it/it/sicilia/licata/agriturismo_fattoria_vassallo.html. 11. www.nutfruit.org. International Nut Council. Global statistical Review 2007-2012.

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PRE- AND POST-HARVEST FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF SUN-DRIED FRUITS

Prof. Dr. Uygun Aksoy

Worked as a senior researcher at the Department of Horticulture, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey until April 2016. She is now retired and works as a short-term consultant.

The worldwide trade of dried fruits is increasing as their health benefits are revealed through scientific studies, driving the industry towards a common understanding of quality throughout the value chain.

S

un-drying is one of the oldest methods of preservation that mankind learned by mimicking nature. Today, almost all fruit can be dried by being placed directly under the sun or by using different drying systems and methods powered by renewable or non-renewable energy sources. In parallel to the increasing worldwide trade, the quality of sun-dried fruit has become a mark of competitiveness. Quality is defined as the “degree of excellence of a product or its suitability for a particular use”1. That is to say, a set of criteria established by the person of interest, a trader, researcher or a consumer required in order to fulfill their expectations. However, it is not that simple. Due to new import and export markets,

«Major pre-harvest factors are the variety, adaptation to soil and climate, soil fertility and cultural practices». more complex supply chains dictating specific quality schemes and consumer concerns about the origin, safety, quality and waste of the product, assessing quality has become more complex than ever2. Consumers are increasingly attracted to sun-dried fruits because of their minimal processing and energy requirements, health benefits and reduced mass, which makes them suitable for long-distance transportation in ambient conditions.

The quality of dried fruit is evaluated on many characteristics including its organoleptic, physical-chemical, and microbiological properties and defects, which may be common to many or specific to a certain species or variety. The basic common features (subject to the special provisions for each quality class and the tolerances allowed) of dried produce are described as being: intact; sound; clean;

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practically free of any visible foreign matter; sufficiently developed; free from living pests and damage caused by pests, whatever their stage of development; free from blemishes; areas of discoloration or spread stains; free from mold and fermentation; and free of abnormal external moisture, foreign smell and/ or taste6. These basic quality aspects depend on how the fruit is handled throughout the value chain. Major pre-harvest factors are the variety, adaptation to soil and climate, soil fertility and cultural practices. The physical and chemical properties of the fruit determined by genetics (variety), cultural practices or environmental factors affect the drying process and the final dried fruit quality. The significant aspects of physical fruit-quality are: fruit size (smaller fruit dries faster due to larger surface area), shape, skin properties (number of stomata or lenticels, wax composition and thickness, natural skin cracks, presence and density of hairs), skin, flesh and inner cavity color, and pit properties (flesh to pit ratio, size, free or cling stone). The main chemical or compositional properties that play a crucial role are: the water (or total dry matter) content; soluble solids and their molecular sizes i.e. sugar and organic acid content, composition and their ratios; and the location and content of phenolic compounds.

Fruit with higher dry matter and lower moisture content shorten the drying period under suitable drying conditions and result in higher quality. Fruit with high soluble solid contents composed of smaller molecules, like sugars, require longer drying period compared to those with lower solute concentrations. If the fruit composition is high in starch or pectin, which absorb water molecules, water loss becomes harder. The water molecules lost first during drying are those of the free water present in

A fig crop composing of mixed quality and dried stages.

or between the cells. The two remaining layers display two different attitudes. The multiple layer is more flexible and a minute change in its concentration may affect the water activity levels of the dried fruit. The remaining bound water is a monolayer of water molecules that surround the surface and do not have any solubility. The water molecules are strongly bound to hydroxyl groups of polysaccharides, carbonyl and amino groups of proteins through hydrogen or ionic dipolar bonds4. Major fruit varieties for commercial drying have high dry matter and sugar contents and in most cases considerably lower acidity levels, giving the sweet taste. Other factors, such as the age and vigor of the tree, rootstock used, cultural practices implemented and the prevailing orchard conditions, exert a substantial effect on these properties. The varietal properties also determine the pre-treatments applied to quicken drying or increase produce quality (e.g. suppressing enzymatic and nonenzymatic browning) or safety. The decision on the fruit variety should take into account the optimum soil and climate requirements

Feature Articles prevailing in the location, specifically, chilling requirements and heat summation during fruit development and maturation. For sun-drying in the open air, ripening time and harvest period need to be studied to prevent damage from the rain and minimize high moisture risks.

The main practices that affect fruit size (e.g. irrigation, fertilization, pruning, thinning), shape (e.g. pollination and pest management), color (e.g. pruning, fertilization, disease and pest management), composition (e.g. irrigation, fertilization), physiological disorders such as cracks, sunscald (e.g. trellising, pruning, fertilization, irrigation) and insect infestation and damage should be applied in a timely fashion and be based upon expert recommendation in order to prevent adverse effects.

Harvest and post-harvest practices exert an additional impact on dried fruit quality.

Harvest maturity is the most important parameter and varies from one crop to another.

It affects the drying ratio as well as the final quality of the product. In apricot drying (cv.

Sekerpare), a fully ripe fruit yields 30 % more dried weight compared to a sample with less soluble solids. During Sulphur treatment, the

«Harvest maturity is the most important parameter and varies from one crop to another. It affects the drying ratio as well as the final quality of the product». intake rates also vary according to the maturity including between the mature and immature parts of the same apricot fruit3. Similarly, drying overripe fruit will cause lower quality and more waste. There are exceptional cases where the fruit overripens on the tree (figs) or dries on the trellis (grapes). Care at harvest is of the utmost importance to reduce physical damage and microbial contamination. The training of all workers on the quality management plan is crucial in order to avoid possible sources of contamination and bruising. Harvest bags,

Seedless grape vineyard; sun-drying of grapes on racks.

boxes, bins, drying trays and surfaces in the yard should receive special attention.

In the open air, drying conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed (especially during the early phases of drying) and their diurnal variation influence the drying rate and the quality of the final product. If the initial temperatures are high then the water loss at the outer layer may be so fast that instead of shriveling, a hard layer that hinders further water loss may form. In overripe fruit, the fluids can flow out leaving a drier flesh, which exerts pressure on the lower layers where cell fluids flow out. Pre-treatments with water, acids, bases or blanching all aim to remove the physical barriers and enhance water loss from the fruit. Once the water content of the dried fruit is within the limits, and the conditions allow a water activity level below 0.65, the microbial contamination and toxin formation risks are minimized.

Post-harvest practices that affect quality include storage, transportation, processing and retail stages. Even if the significance varies from one dried fruit to the other, storage pests, fermentation and mycotoxins may pose a threat.

Most dried fruit such as dates, apricots, grapes and prunes have stock surpluses from year to

year. In some cases, allowed additives such as sorbate or sulphur may contribute to extended storage. The ideal storage conditions for sundried fruit are 4-5 oC and 55-65 % relative humidity5. Due to the hygroscopic nature of sun-dried fruit, the water content of the product, water vapor permeability of the packaging material and the storage conditions should be closely monitored to prevent fermentation and microbial growth. Good storage, transportation and display practices under controlled conditions, hindering any external storage pest infestation (most species are polyphagous), will prevent insect infestation and damage.

Good management of the value chain based on local knowledge will help to reduce waste and enhance market quality and quantity.

References. 1. Abbott, J.A. 1999. Quality measurement of fruits and vegetables Postharvest Biology and Technology 15: 207–225. 2. Annovazzi-Jakab, L. 2014. UNECE: Commercial quality standards and more; OECD Heads of Inspection Services Meeting Warsaw, Poland May 2014. 3. Asma, B. 2000. Apricot Production, Inönü University, Malatya, Turkey. 4. Özkan, M. and Cemeroglu, B. 2004. Drying technology in Fruit and Vegetable Processing Technology. Ed. by B. Cemeroglu, Vol. 2, pp. 479-550. 5. Sen, F., Karaçalı I. and Turantas, F. Effect of cold and fluctuating storage conditions on quality of dried apricot, Hort. Environ. Biotechnol.

50(3):1-6. 2009. 6. UN/ECE, 2011. Standard layout for UNECE Standards on dry and dried produce. http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trade/agr/standard/dry/StandardLayout/DDP_e.pdf.

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Health News

A HANDFUL OF NUTS EVERY DAY TO MODULATE THE ACTIVITY AND FUNCTION OF microRNAs Some of the health effects of nuts may be explained by the modulation of the activity of miRNAs, small regulatory RNA molecules which control several molecular processes at the cellular level.

Simona Giardina (PhD student), Dr. Mònica Bulló and Prof. Jordi SalasSalvadó Human Nutrition Unit from the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan de Reus, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, IISPV (Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus (Spain). CIBERobn (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid (Spain).

T

he discovery in 1993 of small regulatory RNA molecules, called microRNAs (miRNAs), represented a break with the central dogma of molecular biology. From that moment on, RNA would not be considered simply a messenger between DNA and protein, but an active regulator of gene expression.

MiRNAs are a conserved family of 18-25 nucleotide small RNA molecules which are involved in posttranscriptional gene repression. There is evidence to suggest miRNAs play a key role in almost every cellular process, such as cell cycle control, development, immune response and metabolism.

Due to their pivotal role in cell biology, miRNA deficiencies and excesses have been linked to a number of clinically important diseases and chronic conditions. In fact, miRNA profiling studies have demonstrated that aberrant miRNA expression patterns, detected in biofluids and/or tissues, were specific to various types of cancers, cardiometabolic diseases, obesity and diabetes1.

Changes in miRNA expression and/or in their mechanisms of action show a great plasticity and respond to environmental signals, including dietary factors. The description of the interplay between genes and diets has its roots in the last century, however it has recently been discovered that nutrients can exert their beneficial effects by acting on the biogenesis, processing and action of miRNAs2.

The scientific community has come to a global consensus regarding the health properties of nuts. A growing body of scientific evidence, from epidemiological observations to several clinical trials, both in animal models and in humans, has established the inverse associations between nut consumption and the risk of

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developing coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and, more generally, with reduced risk of mortality3.

The beneficial effects of nuts are ascribed to their unique nutrient profile, which is high in unsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, high-quality vegetable proteins, vitamins, minerals, fibers, plant sterols and phytochemicals. This profile makes nuts a source of bioactive molecules.

Owing to their complex matrices of fats and non-fatty constituents, recent scientific evidence has demonstrated that, behind the control of gene expression observed related to nut consumption, the regulation of miRNAs plays an important role.

There is evidence to suggest miRNAs play a key role in almost every cellular process, such as cell cycle control, development, immune response and metabolism.

In this context, the recently published study of Tsoukas et al. found that a diet enriched with walnut significantly changed the miRNA expression profile in localized colorectal cancer tissue in a mouse model4.

As for human beings, in the frame of the PREDIMED study, we found an association between an miRNA target site variant in the miR-410 and stroke incidence, observing

Health News that the association was modulated by monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fat intake, nutrients which are found in high quantities in extra-virgin olive oil and nuts5. In 2015, Ortega et al. reported for the first time the modulation of 11 plasma miRNAs in healthy subjects following 8 weeks of a 30 g nut-enriched normocaloric diet. Furthermore, the changes observed mirrored the improvement of the lipid and inflammatory profile6.

Even more specific is the study published in 2016 by HernándezAlonso of our research group. Following the results obtained in the EPIRDEM study where we demonstrated how in pre-diabetic patients chronic pistachio consumption led to improved glucose and insulin metabolism as well as cardiovascular risk markers, we also demonstrated a shift towards a healthier profile in circulating

miRNAs which have been linked to diabetes as well as glucose and insulin metabolism7.

Taken together, the results of the few studies published so far settle the critical issue of understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the beneficial health effects of nut consumption. Walnuts, pistachios, almonds and other tree nuts can control biogenesis, processing and activity of the miRNAs which play a pivotal role in the definition of the physiological nature of the cell.

References 1. Li Y, Kowdley KV. MicroRNAs in common human diseases. Genomics Proteomics Bioinformatics. 2012 Oct;10(5):246-53. 2. Ross SA, Davis CD. The emerging role of microRNAs and nutrition in modulating health and disease. Annu Rev Nutr. 2014;34:305-36. 3. Aune D, Keum N, Giovannucci E, Fadnes LT, Boffetta P, Greenwood DC, Tonstad S, Vatten LJ, Riboli E, Norat T. Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMC Med. 2016 Dec 5;14(1):207. 4. Tsoukas MA, Ko BJ, Witte TR, Dincer F, Hardman WE, Mantzoros CS. Dietary walnut suppression of colorectal cancer in mice: Mediation by miRNA patterns and fatty acid incorporation. J Nutr Biochem. 2015 Jul;26(7):776-83. 5. Corella D, Sorlí JV, Estruch R, Coltell O, Ortega-Azorín C, Portolés O, Martínez-González MÁ, Bulló M, Fitó M, Arós F, Lapetra J, Asensio EM, Sáez GT, Serra-Majem L, Muñoz-Bravo C, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, Fiol M, Vinyoles E, Pintó X, Richardson K, Ros E, Ordovás JM. MicroRNA-410 regulated lipoprotein lipase variant rs13702 is associated with stroke incidence and modulated by diet in the randomized controlled PREDIMED trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Aug;100(2):719-31. 6. Ortega FJ, Cardona-Alvarado MI, Mercader JM, Moreno-Navarrete JM, Moreno M, Sabater M, Fuentes-Batllevell N, Ramírez-Chávez E, Ricart W, Molina-Torres J, Pérez-Luque EL, Fernández-Real JM. Circulating profiling reveals the effect of a polyunsaturated fatty acid-enriched diet on common microRNAs. J Nutr Biochem. 2015 Oct;26(10):1095-101. 7. Hernández-Alonso P, Giardina S, Salas-Salvadó J, Arcelin P, Bulló M. Chronic pistachio intake modulates circulating microRNAs related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in prediabetic subjects. Eur J Nutr. 2016 Jul 6.

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Health News

NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDIES Aune, D., Keum, N., Giovannucci, E., Fadnes, L. T., Boffetta, P., Greenwood, D. C., ... & Norat, T. (2016).

Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and dose-response metaanalysis of prospective studies.

BACKGROUND. Although nut consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

BMC Medicine.

analysis. The summary RRs per 28 grams/day increase in nut intake was for coronary heart disease, 0.71 (95%

and all-cause mortality, data on less common causes of death has not been systematically assessed. Previous reviews missed several studies and additional studies have since been published. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. METHODS. PubMed and Embase were searched for prospective studies of nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in adult populations published up to July 19, 2016. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. The burden of mortality attributable to low nut consumption was calculated for selected regions. RESULTS. Twenty studies (29 publications) were included in the metaCI: 0.63–0.80, I2 = 47%, n = 11), stroke, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.83–1.05, I2 = 14%, n = 11), cardiovascular disease, 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70–0.88, I2 = 60%, n = 12), total cancer, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76–0.94, I2 = 42%, n = 8), all-cause mortality, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.72–0.84, I2 = 66%, n = 15), and for mortality from respiratory disease, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.26–0.89, I2 = 61%, n = 3), diabetes, 0.61 (95% CI: 0.43–0.88, I2 = 0%, n = 4), neurodegenerative disease, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.40–1.08, I2 = 5.9%, n = 3), infectious disease, 0.25 (95% CI: 0.07–0.85, I2 = 54%, n = 2), and kidney disease, 0.27 (95% CI: 0.04–1.91, I2 = 61%, n = 2). The results were similar for tree nuts and peanuts. If the associations are causal, an estimated 4.4 million premature deaths in the America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific would be attributable to a nut intake below 20 grams per day in 2013. CONCLUSIONS. Higher nut intake is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality, and mortality from respiratory disease, diabetes, and infections.

Choi, Y., Abdelmegeed, M. A., & Song, B. J. (2016).

Preventive effects of dietary walnuts on high-fat-induced hepatic fat accumulation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in mice.

We hypothesized that dietary walnut would prevent high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hepatic apoptosis based on its

The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 38, 70-80.

the hepatic levels of cytochrome P450-2E1, nitrated proteins and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, walnut

antioxidant properties. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a rodent chow or HFD (45% energy-derived)±walnuts (21.5% energy-derived) for 6 weeks. Liver histological and biochemical analyses revealed significantly elevated fat accumulation in mice fed HFD compared to mice fed the chow or HFD±walnuts. Walnut supplementation prevented HFD-mediated alteration of the levels of key proteins in lipid homeostasis such as Sirt1, AMPK and FAS, leading to decreased fat accumulation. In addition, walnut supplementation to HFD significantly decreased supplementation decreased the activated cell-death-associated p-JNK and p-p38K accompanied with increased hepatocyte apoptosis in HFD group. The beneficial effects of dietary walnut likely result, at least partially, from its antioxidant ingredients and attenuating HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, nitroxidative stress and apoptosis.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

Feature Articles

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

37

Health News Dhillon, J., Tan, S. Y., & Mattes, R. D. (2016).

Almond Consumption during Energy Restriction Lowers Truncal Fat and Blood Pressure in Compliant Overweight or Obese Adults.

BACKGROUND: Inclusion of almonds in an energy-restricted diet has been reported both to enhance or to have

The Journal of Nutrition, jn238444.

METHODS: A randomized controlled 12-wk clinical trial of 86 healthy adults [body mass index (in kg/m2): 25-40]

no effect on weight loss. Their effects specifically on visceral body fat stores during energy restriction have not been widely examined. In addition, almond consumption has been associated with reduced blood pressure (BP), but whether this is linked to or independent of changes in body composition has to our knowledge not been examined. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effects of consuming almonds as part of an energy-restricted diet on body composition, specifically visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and BP, compared to a nut-free energy-restricted diet. was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 energy-restricted (500-kcal deficit/d) diets: an almond-enriched diet (AED) (15% energy from almonds) or a nut-free diet (NFD). A linear mixed-model analysis on primary outcomes such as body weight, body fat, VAT, and BP was performed on all participants [intention-totreat (ITT) analysis] and compliant participants (complier analysis).RESULTS: Body weight, truncal and total fat percentage, VAT, and systolic BP decreased after 12 wk of energy restriction in both the ITT and complier analyses (P < 0.05). The complier analysis (but not the ITT analysis) indicated a greater mean ± SEM reduction in truncal fat (AED: -1.21% ± 0.26%; NFD: -0.48% ± 0.24%; P = 0.025), total fat (AED: -1.79% ± 0.36%; NFD: -0.74% ± 0.33%; P = 0.035), and diastolic BP (AED: -2.71 ± 1.2 mm Hg; NFD: 0.815 ± 1.1 mm Hg; P = 0.029), and a greater tendency for VAT loss (AED: -8.19 ± 1.8 cm2; NFD: -3.99 ± 1.7 cm2; P = 0.09) over time in the AED group than the NFD group. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate almond consumption by compliant overweight and obese individuals during energy restriction results in greater proportional reductions of truncal and total body fat as well as diastolic BP and hence may help to reduce metabolic disease risk in obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02360787.

Duarte, F. N. D., Rodrigues, J. B., da Costa Lima, M., Lima, M. D. S., Pacheco, M. T. B., Pintado, M. M. E., ... & de Souza, E. L. (2017).

Potential prebiotic properties of cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro-industrial byproduct on Lactobacillus species.

BACKGROUND: The prebiotic effects of a cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) agro-industrial byproduct

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

Lactobacillus strains in broth containing glucose, FOS or CAP resulted in high viable cell counts, decreased pH,

powder (CAP) on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains, namely L. acidophilus LA-05, L. casei L-26 and L. paracasei L-10, was assessed using in vitro experimental models. For this, the growth of the Lactobacillus strains when cultivated in a broth containing CAP (20 or 30 g L-1 ), glucose (20 g L-1 ) or fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (20 g L-1 ) were monitored during 48 h; the prebiotic activity scores of CAP were determined; and the changes in pH values, production of organic acids and consumption of sugars in growth media were verified.

RESULTS: During the 48 h-cultivation, similar viable cell counts were observed for the Lactobacillus strains grown in the different tested media. The CAP presented positive prebiotic activity scores toward all the tested Lactobacillus strains, indicating a desirable selective fermentable activity relative to enteric organisms. The cultivation of the production of organic acids and consumption of sugars over time, revealing intense bacterial metabolic activity.

CONCLUSION: The CAP exert potential prebiotic effects on different potentially probiotic Lactobacillus strains, and should be an added-value ingredient for food industry.

Coffua, L. S., & MartinDeLeon, P. A. (2017).

Effectiveness of a walnutenriched diet on murine sperm: involvement of reduced peroxidative damage.

Heliyon, 3(2), e00250.

A walnut supplement for a Western-style diet in men was shown to improve sperm motility, vitality, and morphology.

To gain further insights into factors underlying this improvement, we administered a parallel walnut-enriched diet to mice [including those with a defect in sperm motility due to deletion of Plasma Membrane Ca2+-ATPase 4 (Pmca4-/- )] to determine if there is a similar improvement that is accompanied by reduced sperm membrane peroxidative damage. Although sperm vitality and acrosome reaction rate were unaffected, the diet led to a significant improvement in motility (P < 0.05) and morphology (P < 0.04) in wild-type sperm and in morphology (P < 0.01) in Pmca4-/- , confirming the diet's efficacy, which appeared to be more modest in mice than in humans.

In both strains of mice, the diet resulted in a significant decrease in sperm lipid peroxidation (oxidative stress) levels, but did not rescue the significantly increased apoptotic levels seen in the testis and epididymis of Pmca4 nulls. Our findings support the effectiveness of walnuts on sperm quality, associated with reduced peroxidative damage; and suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism(s) underlying male reproductive defects in Pmca4-/-.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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Health News Gulati Seema, Misra Anoop, and Pandey Ravindra M. (2017).

Effect of Almond Supplementation on Glycemia and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Asian Indians in North India with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 24-Week Study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) statistics have reached menacing proportions in India. Appropriate dietary

Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, January 2017, ahead of print.

wave velocity), and marker of inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) at baseline and after the

intervention, as part of healthy lifestyle, is imperative to curb further spread of this disease. OBJECTIVES: This prepost intervention study was conducted in New Delhi, India, to investigate the effects of daily consumption of almonds for 24 weeks in T2D subjects, specifically on measures of glycemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In this study, the 24-week intervention period was preceded by a control diet and exercise run-in period of 3 weeks. Raw almonds (20% of energy intake) were provided to the patients for consumption along with diet and physical activity counseling. Patients were assessed for anthropometry, blood pressure, measures of glycemia (fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin), lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a)], surrogate marker of atherosclerosis (Pulse intervention period. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvement in mean values for various parameters post intervention was as follows: waist circumference (P < 0.03), waist-to-height ratio (P < 0.005), TC (P < 0.002), serum triglycerides (P < 0.004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin (P < 0.04), and hsCRP (P < 0.01). A trend toward improvement in pulse wave velocity (P < 0.06) was also observed. CONCLUSION: The study findings illustrate that incorporation of almonds in a well-balanced healthy diet leads to multiple beneficial effects on glycemic and CVDs risk factors in Asian Indian patients with T2D.

Hu, Y., McIntosh, G. H., Le Leu, R. K., Somashekar, R., Meng, X. Q., Gopalsamy, G., ... & Young, G. P. (2016).

Supplementation with Brazil nuts and green tea extract regulates targeted biomarkers related to colorectal cancer risk in humans.

British Journal of Nutrition, 116(11), 1901-1911.

Kaliora, A. C., Kokkinos, A., Diolintzi, A., Stoupaki, M., Gioxari, A., Kanellos, P. T., ... & Karathanos, V. T. (2016).

The effect of minimal dietary changes with raisins in NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis: a randomized controlled intervention.

Food & Function.

Se and green tea have been shown in epidemiological, observational and preclinical studies to be inversely related to the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there are limited studies to evaluate their regulatory effects on genes/proteins that relate to CRC oncogenesis in human subjects, such as selenoproteins, WNT signalling pathway, inflammation and methylation. This study examined the effects of supplementation of Se using Brazil nuts and green tea extract (GTE) capsules, alone and in combination, on targeted biomarkers.

In total, thirty-two volunteers (>50 years of age) with plasma Se≤1·36 µmol/l were randomised to one of three treatment groups: nine to Se (approximately 48 µg/d) as six Brazil nuts, eleven to four GTE capsules (800 mg (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate) and twelve to a combination of Brazil nuts and GTE. Blood and rectal biopsies were obtained before and after each intervention. Plasma Se levels, rectal selenoprotein P (SePP) and β-catenin mRNA increased significantly in subjects consuming Brazil nuts alone or in combination, whereas rectal DNA methyltransferase (DNMT1) and NF-κB mRNA were reduced significantly in subjects consuming GTE alone or in combination. None of the interventions significantly affected rectal acetylated histone H3 or Ki-67 expression at the protein level or plasma C-reactive protein. Effects of the combination of Brazil nuts and GTE did not differ from what would be expected from either agent alone. In conclusion, supplementation of Brazil nuts and/or GTE regulates targeted biomarkers related to CRC oncogenesis, specifically genes associated with selenoproteins (SePP), WNT signalling (β-catenin), inflammation (NF-κB) and methylation (DNMT1). Their combination does not appear to provide additional effects compared with either agent alone.

Aiming at investigating the potential effect of minimal dietary changes in NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis, 55 patients with NAFLD were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were assigned into two isocaloric dietary treatment groups for 24 weeks: (a) nutritional counseling (Control arm, N = 27), (b) nutritional counseling with currants included (two fruit servings, 36 g per day), substituting snacks of similar caloric content (Currant arm, N = 28). Clinical tests, anthropometrics, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were conducted pre- and post-intervention. A total of 50 patients completed the trial. Significant differences between the two arms post-intervention were observed in fasting glucose and in IL-6 levels, these being significantly decreased only in Currant patients. Body weight, BMI, HbA1c, CRP and EUS values decreased in both arms, differences being insignificant between the two arms post-intervention. Participants in the Currant arm had significantly reduced total body fat, WC and trunk fat. Ultrasound scanning improved significantly in patients snacking currants daily. Also, volunteers enrolled in the Currant arm showed a reduced intake of saturated fatty acids. Because BW regulation has been officially recognised as a treatment approach in NAFLD an additional analysis was repeated in patients adhering to this. Post-intervention, the decrease in IL-6 and in fasting glucose was significantly higher in Currant patients who lost BW compared to their counterparts in the Control arm. Conclusively, minimal modifications in snacking choices, such as the inclusion of dried grapes in diet, are beneficial in NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

Health News Mazidi, M., Rezaie, P., Ferns, G. A., & Gao, H. K. (2016).

BACKGROUND: The effects of different types of tree nut, peanut, and soy nut consumption on serum C - reactive

Impact of different types of tree nut, peanut, and soy nut consumption on serum C-reactive protein (CRP): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

studies to determine the effect of nut consumption (tree nuts, peanuts, and soy nuts) on serum CRP. METHOD:

Medicine, 95(44), e5165.

20 studies were included in the final selection. The meta-analysis indicated a nonsignificant increase in serum

protein (CRP) are not well established. We aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective PubMed-Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar databases were searched (up until April 20 2016) to identify prospective studies evaluating the impact of tree nut, peanut, and soy nut consumption on serum CRP. Random effects models meta-analysis was used for quantitative data synthesis. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out method. Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the I index.

Systematic review registration: CRD42016038044. RESULTS: From a total of 844 entries identified via searches, CRP concentrations following nut consumption (weighted mean difference [WMD] 0.17 mg/L, (95% CI -0.67 to 0.33, I 52.1%). The WMDs for IL6 was -0.06(ng/dL), (95% CI -0.69 to 0.56, I 9.6%), -0.71(mg/dL), (95% CI -1.11 to -0.30, I 6.3%), for leptin, and -0.60(mg/dL), (95% CI -1.88 to 0.68, I 5.6%) for adiponectin, and -0.18(mg/ dL), (95% CI -1.24 to 0.88, I 9.3%) for IL10 and -0.37 (pg/mL), (95% CI -0.90 to 0.16, I 7.9%) for TNF-α. These findings were robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that nut consumption significantly decrease leptin while have no significant effect on CRP, IL6, adiponectin, IL10, and TNF-α.

Njike, V. Y., Yarandi, N., Petraro, P., Ayettey, R. G., Treu, J. A., & Katz, D. L. (2016).

BACKGROUND: In our recently published study, including walnuts in the diets of adults with prediabetes led to

Inclusion of walnut in the diets of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes and their dietary pattern changes: a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial.

Latin square parallel design with 2 treatment arms. The 112 participants (31 men, 81 women) were randomly

BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 4(1), e000293.

overall improvement in diet quality. This report adds to those study findings by examining the food groups displaced during walnut inclusion in the diets of those adults with prediabetes. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, modified assigned to a diet with or without dietary counseling to regulate calorie intake in a 1:1 ratio. Within each treatment arm, participants were further randomized to 1 of 2 sequence permutations to receive a walnut-included diet with 56 g (366 kcal) of walnuts per day and a walnut-excluded diet. Participants in the calorie-regulated arm received advice from a dietitian to preserve an isocaloric condition while including walnuts. We analyzed the 12 components of the 2010 Healthy Eating Index to examine dietary pattern changes of study participants. RESULTS: Seafood and plant protein foods intake significantly increased with walnut inclusion, compared with their exclusion (2.14±2.06 vs -0.49±2.33; p=0.003). The ingestion of healthful fatty acids also significantly increased with walnut inclusion, compared with their exclusion (1.43±4.53 vs -1.76±4.80; p=0.02). Dairy ingestion increased with walnut inclusion in the calorie-regulated phase, compared with walnut inclusion without calorie regulation (1.06±4.42 vs -2.15±3.64; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that walnut inclusion in the diets of adults at risk for diabetes led to an increase in intake of other healthful foods.

Pribis, P. (2016).

Effects of Walnut Consumption on Mood in Young Adults-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, folate, melatonin, several

Nutrients, 8(11), 668.

using Profiles of Mood States (POMS). Data was collected again after eight weeks of intervention. After six-weeks

antioxidative polyphenols and significant amounts of ω-3 fatty acids. The present study sought to determine the effect of walnuts on mood in healthy volunteers. Sixty-four college students were randomly assigned to two treatment sequences in a crossover fashion: walnut-placebo or placebo-walnut. At baseline mood was assessed of washout, the intervention groups followed the diets in reverse order. Data was collected once more at the end of the eight-week intervention period. No significant changes in mood were observed in the analyses with both genders combined and in females. However, we have observed a significant medium effect size improvement in the Total Mood Disturbance score (-27.49%, p = 0.043, Cohen's d = 0.708) in males. In non-depressed healthy young males, walnuts seem to have the ability to improve mood.

Palmer, D. J., & Prescott, S. L. (2016).

Over the past two decades we have been debating the question of whether the age of commencement of complementary feeding affects the risk of developing food allergy. We ate up the notion that delayed introduction

Early introduction of food reduces food allergy–Pro.

of more allergenic foods in early childhood, would help overcome the increasing rates of food allergy, then we

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

has given us the confidence to swallow the concept that allergenic foods, like egg and peanut, should be given

promptly spat it out again despite limited evidence. Recently high-quality randomised controlled trial evidence to infants. We now need to recommend that when an infant is developmentally ready, a variety of nutritious foods should be introduced to ensure high diet diversity, including the 'more allergenic' foods during infancy.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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Health News Rajaram, S., Valls-Pedret, C., Cofan, M., Sabaté, J., Serra-Mir, M., Pérez-Heras, A. M., ... & Doménech, M. (2016).

The Walnuts and Healthy Aging study (WAHA): Protocol for a Nutritional Intervention Trial with Walnuts on Brain Aging.

INTRODUCTION: An unwanted consequence of population aging is the growing number of elderly at risk of

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 8, 333.

walnuts daily for 2 years on cognitive function and retinal health, assessed with a battery of neuropsychological

neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia and macular degeneration. As nutritional and behavioral changes can delay disease progression, we designed the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) study, a twocenter, randomized, 2-year clinical trial conducted in free-living, cognitively healthy elderly men and women. Our interest in exploring the role of walnuts in maintaining cognitive and retinal health is based on extensive evidence supporting their cardio-protective and vascular health effects, which are linked to bioactive components, such as n-3 fatty acids and polyphenols. METHODS: The primary aim of WAHA is to examine the effects of ingesting tests and optical coherence tomography, respectively. All participants followed their habitual diet, adding walnuts at 15% of energy (≈30-60 g/day) (walnut group) or abstaining from walnuts (control group). Secondary outcomes include changes in adiposity, blood pressure, and serum and urinary biomarkers in all participants and brain magnetic resonance imaging in a subset. RESULTS: From May 2012 to May 2014, 708 participants (mean age 69 years, 68% women) were randomized. The study ended in May 2016 with a 90% retention rate. DISCUSSION: The results of WAHA might provide high-level evidence of the benefit of regular walnut consumption in delaying the onset of age-related cognitive impairment and retinal pathology. The findings should translate into public health policy and sound recommendations to the general population (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01634841).

Yang, R., Li, X., Lin, S., Zhang, Z., & Chen, F. (2017).

Identification of novel peptides from 3 to 10kDa pine nut (Pinus koraiensis) meal protein, with an exploration of the relationship between their antioxidant activities and secondary structure.

Food Chemistry, 219, 311-320.

In the present study, two novel peptides Lys-Trp-Phe-Cys-Thr (KWFCT) and Gln-Trp-Phe-Cys-Thr (QWFCT) were purified and identified from 3 to 10kDa pine nut (Pinus koraiensis) meal protein. Their cytotoxicity and antioxidant activities in vitro were determined. Additionally, pulsed electric field technology, antioxidant activities, and circular dichroism were used together to investigate the relationship between antioxidant activities and secondary structure. The results showed that neither peptide demonstrated cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. KWFCT had higher values for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition (67.43%±1.33%) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (67.86±1.03mM Fe2+/mg), and Ac-QWFCT had higher values for 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) inhibition (74.9%±1.19%) and cellular antioxidant activity (916.32μmol of QE/100g) (P<0.05). The antioxidant activities reached their highest values when parameters of PEF were 5kV/ cm and 2400Hz. An increase in antioxidant activities of Ac-QWFCT was correlated with a decrease in random coil content.

Moreno, M. A. (2017).

The number of children with peanut allergy has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. Parents may

Guidelines for Children With Peanut Allergy.

be particularly concerned about peanut allergy because most food-related serious allergic reactions, such as

JAMA pediatrics, 171(1), 100-100.

associated with peanuts. Because peanut allergy is common and can be quite serious, many parents want

anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that includes breathing difficulties as well as fatal allergic reactions, are guidelines for how to best prevent allergies to peanuts. Many research studies over the past 20 years have focused on peanut allergy and how best to prevent it. This research has been translated into guidelines for families that are mostly focused on what time in a child’s life is safest to introduce peanuts into the diet. With new research emerging, these guidelines have been updated to represent the best available evidence from research. An article in this month’s JAMA Pediatrics reviews these guidelines and the research studies that informed the guidelines.

Bowen, P. E. (2017).

Food and agriculture commodity boards have become important funders of nutrition research. There are benefits

Role of Commodity Boards in Advancing the Understanding of the Health Benefits of Whole Foods: California Dried Plums.

and cautions (biases toward health benefits, failure to publish negative results, and aggressive promotion of single

Nutrition Today, 52(1), 19.

and juice to maintain bowel health and opened up a surprising new function for dried plum in the prevention of

studies) for this activity. The California Dried Plum Board, along with other commodity boards, have developed independent Scientific Nutrition Advisory Panels to guide and evaluate the research they fund. In the case of the California Dried Plum Board, this has resulted in research that has distinguished the nature and dose of dried plum age-related bone loss.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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7:30 AM - 6:00 PM Congress Registration > Hibiscus Lounge

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8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Booth Exhibition > Prefunction Area

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7:00 PM - 10:00 PM BUFFET CASUAL DINNER Sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds > Leela Palace Hotel

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM GALA COCKTAIL > Hibiscus Lounge, Lotus Lounge and Prefunction Area

2:15 PM - 3:45 PM MACADAMIA WORKING GROUP MEETING AND PANEL DISCUSSION > Rajendra Ballroom 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM GLOBAL INTER-BOARD COOPERATION SUMMIT > Rajendra Ballroom 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM WELCOME COCKTAIL Sponsored by Rajkumar Impex Pvt Ltd. > Rajendra Ballroom

*Morning coffee will be served continuosly from 8:30 am to 12 pm. Buffet Working Lunch from 12 pm to 2 pm.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

7:30 PM - 11:00 PM GALA DINNER AND BALL Sponsored by Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company > Prefunction Area & Rajendra Ballroom

INC Congress

INC AWARDS TO HIGHLIGHT THE BEST CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NUT AND DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY

The INC Awards are aimed at recognizing those individuals, companies and organizations which have made significant achievements to the progress of the nut and dried fruit business. Over the years, the INC Awards have become a classic celebration to share and show the most jovial spirit of the industry.

The Individual Golden Nut Award will be given to Mr. K. Ravindranathan Nair, Ravi, for his indefatigable dedication to the cashew business for more than 40 years and his pivotal role in accelerating the distribution of nuts worldwide.

It was in 1957 when Mr. K. Ravindranathan Nair, Ravi, founded the Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company (VLC). What started as a family business has turned into a premier trading house in the cashew industry, having earned an international reputation for quality products.

Besides his key role in the nut industry, Mr. Ravi has always been at the forefront of undertaking activities for the benefit of society. Mr. Ravi has constructed and donated the building, furniture and books for the Quilon Public Library and Research Centre, one of the largest and most popular libraries in Kerala. He has also donated and constructed a building to house the Pediatric Ward at Kollam District Hospital. While improving the lives of those around him, Mr. Ravi has also bestowed many school libraries, kindergartens and sports clubs on the community.

The Award for Excellence in Research will be presented to Dr. Richard Mattes for his active role as a researcher in nuts and health. He is a Distinguished Professor of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and Affiliated Scientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center. At Purdue University, Dr. Mattes is the Director of the University Public Health Program and the Ingestive Behavior Research Center.

He has been an active researcher in the area of nuts and health for over 20 years. Most notably, he has helped to characterize the mechanisms which account for the neutrality of nut consumption with respect to energy balance and body weight. He has also conducted work documenting the beneficial effects of nut consumption on cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors.

Bukhara’s chef, JP Singh.

The Award for Excellence in Gastronomy will go to Bukhara Restaurant for its contribution to the preservation, improvement and dissemination of Indian cuisine worldwide. Bukhara is ITC Maurya's most wellknown specialty restaurant.

A unique concept, Bukhara offers a sophisticated yet totally ethnic experience, in which the kitchen is part of the restaurant. The food is cooked entirely in clay tandoors in the traditional style of the North West Frontier region. This style of cooking requires great expertise on the part of the chefs, since the meat is not accompanied by sauces or gravies, but only marinated and cooked before serving.

It takes a chef years to get his hand "set" before he masters the art of making the breads that are such an integral part of the cuisine, or to acquire the ability to gauge spices, mix marinades, and the most vital of all, to judge the heat and the time necessary for each dish to be perfectly cooked in the special ovens.

Bukhara has been rated Best Restaurant in India and No. 27 in Asia by S.Pellegrino’s Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2014 and, more recently, Favourite Restaurant in an Indian hotel 2016 by Condé Nast.

INNOVATION AWARD The INC Innovation Award celebrates the creative spirit of the nut and dried fruit industry by focusing attention on the most significant new product/service introduced in the market.

Open only to INC members attending the Congress, this is a unique opportunity to: • Reach 1000+ participants from 60+ countries.

• Highlight your new products or services.

• Enhance your company’s reputation for innovation.

The deadline to submit the information is April 10, 2017 (only one product or service per applicant). Entrants should e-mail inc@nutfruit.org, enclosing high-quality product shots and the company logo.

Mark Jansen, CEO and President of Blue Diamond Growers, receives the Innovation Award 2016

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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INC Congress

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Renowned experts in different fields of knowledge will show their expertise in the INC Congress May 19, 2017. 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM. Rajendra Ballroom Gopi Kallayil, Chief Evangelist, Brand Marketing at Google, will feature a master session focused on the ‘9 principles of innovation at Google’.

Gopi Kallayil works with Google’s sales teams and customers to help grow customer brands through digital marketing. In his prior roles, he led the marketing team for the Company's flagship advertising product, AdWords, in the Americas and Asia Pacific, and the marketing team for AdSense, Google's publisher-facing product.

He is an avid yoga practitioner, triathlete, public speaker, global traveler and Burning Man devotee. He has spoken at TEDx, Renaissance Weekend, The World Peace Festival and Wisdom 2.0. He hosts a TV program on cable and YouTube called Change Makers. He is the author of The Internet to the Inner-net, recently published by Hay House.

May 20, 2017. 09:30 AM - 10:15 AM. Rajendra Ballroom Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a universally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader. His vision of a violencefree and stress-free society through the reawakening of human values has inspired millions to broaden their spheres of responsibility and work towards the betterment of the world.

Gurudev is a multi-faceted social activist whose initiatives include conflict resolution, disaster and trauma relief, poverty alleviation, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all and campaigns against female foeticide and child labor. He is engaged in peace negotiations and counselling in conflict zones around the world. His expertise in bringing opposing parties to the negotiating table in areas such as Colombia, Sri Lanka, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Kashmir and Bihar is widely acknowledged.

ACCOMPANYING PERSONS TOURS Chennai sets an excellent example of how several religions have coexisted for centuries. The following city tours will provide accompanying persons with an opportunity to visit the most emblematic temples and city landmarks through an enriching sensorial experience.

Kapaleeswarar Temple

Bollywood dance

CITY TOUR 1 (May 20, 2017): San Thome Basilica, Kapaleeswarar Temple and shopping at T-Nagar.

CITY TOUR 2 (May 21, 2017): Workshops to discover the traditions of India.

Visit to San Thome Basilica, a relic from the martyr, followed by a tour to Kapaleeswarar Temple, the most beloved Hindu shrine from the 16th century. The tour will end with a visit to Kumaran Stores for silks and jewellery shopping. Lunch at a local vegetarian restaurant.

Talk on Yoga with a short demonstration session, flower Rangoli old art of decorating the floors with flowers, saree traditional dress in India and Bollywood dance. Lunch at an Indian restaurant in Crowne Plaza.

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INC Congress

EXPLORING THE ENTICINGLY VIBRANT INDIA WITH INC TOURS Pre- and post-Congress Tours offer participants an opportunity to discover new scenarios while learning and sharing new vital experiences. From Delhi to Kerala, from Bhutan to Sri Lanka, the INC Congress Tour program promises to unveil a culturally rich and often hidden perspective.

TOUR 1: THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE Day 1: from Delhi to Agra (by road). Visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Day 2: from Agra to Jaipur (by road). Visit City Palace & Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal. Day 3: sightseeing in Jaipur. Visit Amber Fort and Jaigarh Fort. Visit to a local bazaar / shopping. Day 4: from Jaipur to Delhi (by road). Visit Qutub Minar.

TOUR 2: KERALA BACKWATERS AND AYURVEDA Day 1: arrive in Kochi (by plane). Kochi - Alleppey. Check into the houseboat. Day 2: on the houseboat. Day 3: alleppey - Kochi. Visit on a half-day city tour of Kochi: Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry, Chinese fishing nets operating. Local theatre to see Kerala’s dance performances. Day 4: early departure.

TOUR 3: GOA Day 1: Chennai - Goa (by plane). Day 2: Goa. Visit to the Church of Our Lady of Rosary on Monte Santo, Basilica of Bom Jesus and the Se Cathedral. Day 3: Goa. Visit the Chapora fort, shopping on a famous beach and visit to Hindu Temples. Day 4: Goa to destination.

TOUR 4: SRI LANKA Day 1: arrive in Negombo (by plane). Visit old churches, Dutch Canals, fishing port and fishing market. See the sunset on the Indian ocean. Day 2: Negombo / Pinnawala / Kandy. Visit the Elephant orphanage on the way to Pinnawala. In Kandy, visit the city and the Tooth Relic Temple (evening rituals). Day 3: Kandy / Bentota. Visit the Royal Botanical Garden and drive to Bentota. Day 4: Bentota / Colombo / Bandaranaike Int. Airport. Boat safari on Bentota Ganga. Drive to Colombo and short sightseeing tour. After dinner transfer to the Int. Airport.

TOUR 5: BHUTAN Day 1: arrive in Paro and transfer to Thimphu. Stop at Chuzom and Tschogang Lhakhang. Evening walk around Thimphu Main Street and visit Local Crafts Bazaar. Day 2: Thimphu - Paro. The National Library, Institute for Zorig Chusum, Textile Museum and Simply Bhutan museum. After lunch visit Simtokha Dzong and Ta Dzong. Day 3: Paro.

Visit Taktsang or ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery (5 hours walk) and drive to Drukgyel Dzong. Evening visit to Kyichu Lhakhang temple. Day 4: depart Paro by air.

TOUR 6. ONE DAY TOUR: MAHABALIPURAM Drive from Chennai to Mahabalipuram and visit the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. Drive to the Shore Temple and visit the Temple Complex. Lunch in Radisson Blu Temple Bay. Drive back to ITC Grand Chola via Dakshinachitra.

All tours are offered on the dates prior to the Congress (May 15-18, 2017) and on the dates after the Congress (May 22-25, 2017) except the one-day tour: Mahabalipuram, which is scheduled only on May 18, 2017.

TECHNICAL TOUR CASHEW PLANT VISIT NEAR VISAKHAPATNAM (MAY 22, 2017) Visakhapatnam is on the east coast of India and is about 75 minutes from Chennai by air. The cashew plant visit includes picking up participants in Visakhapatnam Airport and driving them to a cashew nut processing plant in Narasingapalli. Then attendants will tour the facilities to study the way cashew nuts are received and processed in the plant. After an early lunch at the plant, depart by coach to Visakhapatnam Airport.

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INC Congress

NETWORK WITH 1,000+ INDUSTRY LEADERS THROUGH THE ONLINE MEETING POINT INC provides you with a digital tool to connect participants before, during and after the event

A

ttending the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress provides participants with additional opportunities to interact with other industry members such as manufacturers, importers, exporters, processors and suppliers.

Networking with the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best results is a pivotal benefit for those participating in the event.

The Online Meeting Point is not only a useful but also a precise digital tool to connect with other attendees and exhibitors before, during and after the event.

Participants can enhance their experience by looking for specific companies by product, country or activity. Features have been activated to allow participants to exchange internal messages and to hold private conversations. In addition, attendees can create a personalized schedule including conference sessions and meetings.

Sponsored by Crain Walnut Shelling, Inc. and Crisol de Frutos Secos, SAT.

DOWNLOAD THE CONGRESS PRESENTATIONS WITH THE OFFICIAL CONGRESS APP Take the INC Congress in Chennai with you on your smartphone

T

he INC Congress is mobile. The official app contains a complete set of information including the business program, evening social events, speakers, awards, list of participants, exhibitors and sponsors. New features have been implemented which will allow attendees to download the presentations delivered at the round tables, seminars and keynote speaker sessions as a live stream.

In addition, the Online Meeting Point will also be available through the official app providing delegates with a better experience in terms of usability and sociability.

The INC Congress app is available from Google Play (for Android) or the App Store (for Apple).

Sponsored by C.G Hacking & Sons

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INC Congress

SPONSORS Enhance your brand, increase your reputation and take advantage of an environment fully oriented to the nut and dried fruit business. Take a sponsorship opportunity and ensure your brand is seen by 1,000+ world class industry leaders and professionals.

PREMIUM TREE NUTS

UT MANUFACT WN UR HE E AS

IATION SOC AS RS

SOUTH IN DIA C

S W I S S

SICMA ESTD 1940

We thank our sponsors for their ongoing support. www.nutfruitcongress.org

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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INC News

INC News NUTS FOR GIFTS INC launches a global dissemination program to promote nuts and dried fruits worldwide under a new concept

L

ife is full of opportunities to show that beloved person how much they mean to you: a family celebration, a meeting with friends, a special anniversary or a birthday marked in the calendar. These

events often mark important milestones and are usually celebrated by the giving of a present. Leaving aside of the debate around materialism, giving presents is a question of finding something which is both fitting and original. In short, it means matching the right present with the right person.

Have you ever thought of giving your partner nuts and dried fruits for their birthday? Widely esteemed for their health benefits, they are also a premium product able to be positioned as a top-of-mind gift. Just as chocolates have historically been considered a symbol of distinction, why can we not elevate nuts and dried fruits to top-of-mind status, a category they definitely deserve to be in considering their health benefits, elegance in presentation and deep-rooted tradition in societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eating habits?

The answer to this question encapsulates the concept inspiring Nuts

Data reveal that social media networks showing higher levels of

for Gifts, a global dissemination program launched by INC to promote nuts

engagement are those supported by the seductive power of images. As a

and dried fruits worldwide. This is a global initiative to encourage, support

matter of fact, Instagram exceeds 500 million active users worldwide while

and inspire people to think about nuts and dried fruits not only as a healthy

Pinterest has well over 100 million.

snack, but also as a prized gift.

Besides this inspiring concept, Nuts for Gifts is fully aligned with some

Nuts for Gifts Backbone

trends driving the digital environment. One of these trends has given rise

The Nuts for Gifts dissemination program mainly focuses its strategy

to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Do It Yourselfâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (DIY) movement, a concept aiming at encouraging

on final consumers, although other targets such as bloggers, national

people to make their own creations. This is an original and imaginative

associations and health professionals have also been considered. All of

idea and the end result can be shown and shared through social media

these are considered effective channels and opinion leaders to convey the

channels.

health message of nuts and dried fruits.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

INC News A website to present consumers some ideas on how to give nuts and dried fruits as a gift plays a pivotal role within the dissemination program.

In a set of short videos, nutsforgifts.org will offer users suggestions on how to create ‘Do it Yourself’ pieces. These handmade products containing nuts and dried fruits (decorated glasses, packaging, fabric, artistic boxes etc.) will boost potential new ideas for consumers on special dates. The website will be available in 4 languages: Spanish, English, Hindi and Arabic. In addition, there will be specific pages to promote nuts and dried fruits based on their nutritional composition, health benefits, a piece of their history and origins, tips, myths and so on.

Bloggers Plan nutsforgifts.org will be disseminated by making content viral and shareable by using INC social media channels. Furthermore, a bloggers dissemination plan has been carefully devised to increase the reach of the program while targeting new audiences. 100 bloggers from food, lifestyle, fashion and trends, home and family, gift and toys, and photography will participate in this initiative. In order to broaden the reach of the plan, a wide variety of categories has been compiled. Not only are food fans specified as Nuts for Gift’s targets, but there are also other audiences dabbling in territories such as photography, home-style or fashion who might be interested in the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits.

This plan will work as follows: bloggers will receive a ‘Do it Yourself’ pack, a brochure with easy-to-make nuts and dried fruits gift ideas, and also an invitation to find out more at the website nutsforgifts.org. Relevant nutritional information will also be included. Bloggers will be invited to create a handmade gift using nuts and dried fruits. They will produce a making-of video summarizing the creative process and the video will be uploaded to their website. Bloggers’ relevance and digital reputation will serve to attract the attention of new users and to disseminate the content.

Health Professionals Apart from the dissemination through digital channels, the Nuts for Gifts program will also be promoted by means of offline actions resulting in INC’s participation in international congresses on nutrition to present nuts and dried fruits not only as a healthy snack but also as a top-of-mind gift. INC’s participation will feature a corner where promotional actions will be displayed while samples of nuts and dried fruits, under the umbrella of the Nuts for Gifts program, are offered to visitors. INC has confirmed its participation in the following congresses on nutrition: EB Experimental Biology Chicago, USA (April 22-26, 2017) and International Congress of Nutrition IUNS Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 15-20, 2017). The Nuts for Gifts program will be also presented at the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Chennai.

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INC News

GULFOOD 2017 SEES THE 1ST EDITION OF THE INC PAVILION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

12 companies from 10 countries joined the INC at the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality show Sponsorship Opportunities for Anuga 2017 INC will participate in Anuga 2017 (Cologne, 07 -11 October) with the 6th edition of the INC Pavilion in Europe.

Aimed at offering companies an exclusive platform to enhance their brand and promote their products/services in front of specific and well-targeted audiences, three levels of sponsorship opportunities are available to INC members: Cocktail Sponsor:

I

NC attended GulFood 2017 (February 26 – March 2) with a new edition of the Nuts and Dried Fruits Pavilion, the first ever in the Middle East. By replicating the concept exhibited at Anuga and SIAL-Paris in past editions, the INC Pavilion hosted 12 co-exhibitors over 108 m2. Once again, the Pavilion became a trading hub for the nut and dried fruit business, with hundreds of commercial and informal meetings being held at the co-exhibitors’ booths and the hospitality area.

A heavy and continuous flow of visitors through ZA’ABEEL Hall 3 Stand Z3-A20 turned the INC Pavilion into a vivid and lively space to do business and network with top industry leaders. As an innovation at the 2017 edition, there were two ‘happy hours’ held on February 26 and March 1. Both events drew a great number of attendees, launching an original concept to network in a different and relaxed atmosphere.

Besides its premium position, the INC Pavilion enjoyed a remarkable international presence, as 10 different nationalities (USA, Germany, UK, Italy, Netherlands, France, Turkey, Chile, China and Iran) were represented among its co-exhibitors. Several languages, cultures and religions coexisted for 5 days, reinforcing the global umbrella represented by INC for the entire nut and dried fruit industry across the globe.

GulFood’s 22nd Edition GulFood celebrated its 22nd edition in 2017. Launched as a biennial trade fair in 1987, GulFood has grown dramatically to reach more than 120 countries annually, embracing 5,000 local, regional and international exhibitors to showcase those food trends and innovations shaping the future worldwide. Around 95,000 visitors passed through the eight food sectors including, among others, pulses, grains and cereals, beverages, dairy and world food.

We thank our exhibitors for joining us in the world's biggest food and hospitality show

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• Sign at the Pavilion entrance while the cocktail reception is being held.

• Corporate handouts to be placed at the INC welcome desk and meeting rooms.

• Company logo published on INC publications (mention in the Nutfruit magazine, listing on INC website, newsletter and postPavilion video), Pavilion main-front banner and TV screens placed in the hospitality area.

Special Sponsor: • Corporate handouts to be placed at the INC welcome desk and meeting rooms.

• Company logo published on INC publications, Pavilion mainfront banner and TV screens placed at the hospitality area.

Pavilion Sponsor: • Company logo published on INC publications, Pavilion mainfront banner and TV screens placed in the hospitality area.

INC News

BEST MOMENTS OF GULFOOD 2017 Highlights from the INC Pavilion are published in the official album - the lively atmosphere in the hospitality area, the hectic pace at co-exhibitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; booths and the nut and dried fruit industry working together. All these special moments were captured by our cameras.

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INC News

INC TO GRANT €350,000 IN 2017 TO NUT AND DRIED FRUIT RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION On December 15, 2016, INC launched its Annual Research Grant and Annual Grant for Promotion and Dissemination Projects to better understand the health effects of nuts and dried fruits and spread the message around the globe.

I

NC will fund research and dissemination projects through two different calls for project proposals with a total of €300,000 allocated to research and €50,000 to dissemination.

2016 Grant Awardees In 2016, INC selected six projects to receive €187,000, reinforcing its commitment to promote research which helps improve our understanding of the benefits of eating nuts and dried fruits, as well as dissemination projects.

INC awarded grants to three research projects on the relationship of dried fruit to glycemic response, the effects of nut consumption and

endothelial function, and the relationship between nuts and fat cells. As for promotion and dissemination projects, INC issued a total of €50,000 in grants. The goal is to build consumer demand for nuts and dried fruits and provide information on their properties.

In addition, INC is allocating nearly €200,000 to a Global Dissemination Program to promote nuts and dried fruits as a top-of-mind gift.

Since INC began offering these grants, it has awarded more than one million euros to the dissemination of and research on the health effects of nut and dried fruit consumption.

2013-2016 Awards Recipients Project

Applicant

Research Long-term nut consumption and cognitive function with ageing (epidemiological study).

Dr. Francine Grodstein, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA

Long-term effects of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet on mortality and cardiovascular

Dr. Miguel A. Martínez-González, University of Navarra, Spain

disease (clinical study).

Nut consumption and changes in weight and body fat distribution in adults from 10 European

Dr. Joan Sabaté, Loma Linda University, USA

countries (epidemiological study).

Association between dietary nuts exposure and cognitive decline over three-year period in

Prof. Cristina Andrés Lacueva, University of Barcelona, Spain

older adults: the InCHIANTI study (clinical study).

Effect of dried plums, figs, dates, and raisins versus fruit drinks/punch on cardiometabolic

Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, Penn State University, USA

disease risk factors (clinical study).

Effect of nut consumption on semen quality and functionality in a cohort of healthy males

Dr. Mònica Bulló, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain

(clinical study).

Dried fruit as a means for lowering the glycemic response to high-glycemic-index

Dr. Cyril Kendall, Glycemia Consulting Inc., Canada

carbohydrate foods (clinical study).

Exploration of the effects of nut consumption on markers of inflammation and endothelial

Prof. Linda Tapsell, University of Wollongong, Australia

function (systematic review and meta-analysis).

Effects of nut-derived miRNAs on inflammatory and metabolic profile of fat cells (animal and

Dr. Daniele Lettieri-Barbato, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy

cell study).

Promotion and Dissemination Nuts & Diabetes Symposium, 33rd International Symposium on Diabetes & Nutrition.

Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis & Clinical Trials Foundation, Canada

Nut growers social media education project.

Nuts for Life, Australia

Nuts about good health, The Mediterranean Diet & Nuts: unbeatably healthy!

Nucis Italia

Nuts, Obesity & Diabetes Symposium, 34th International Symposium on Diabetes & Nutrition.

Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), Czech Republic

Nuts & Fit, Frutta Secca & Sport, il mix ideale per tenersi in forma.

Nucis Italia

Update Ernährungsmedizin, Nutritional Medicine Congress Update.

Nucis Germany

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

INC News

2016 EU RASFF ALERTS FOR NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS European RASFF notifications for nuts and dried fruits are up slightly (3.7% and 8.2% respectively) from 2015. The presence of aflatoxins remains the main reason for notifications referring to nuts. Sulphites became the main reason for notifications referring to dried fruits.

I

n 2016, the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) issued a total of 514 notifications with reference to edible nuts (364 not.), dried fruits (131 not.), mixtures of nuts and dried fruits (11 not.) and peanuts for feed (8 not.). This result represents an increase of 5.8% compared with 2015, when a total of 486 notifications were registered.

By category, the number of RASFF notifications related to edible nuts increased slightly by 3.7% compared with 2015; notifications related to dried fruits rose by 8.2% (Figure 1).

Total RASFF Notifications for

Total RASFF Notifications for

Dried Fruits

Edible Nuts

179 453

383

351 364

110

121 92

241 251 249

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2010

115 121

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

131

2016

Figure 1. 2010-2016 Total RASFF Notifications for Edible Nuts and Dried Fruits.

The edible nuts with most notifications were peanuts, with 178, followed by pistachios (102 not.) and hazelnuts (49 not.). As in previous years, the main reason for notifications related to edible nuts was the presence of aflatoxins (86%). By country of origin, the most frequently notified edible nuts were peanuts from China (16%), pistachios from Iran (15%) and pistachios from Turkey (9%). In 2015, pistachios from the USA were the third most reported product/country (30 not.), however, in 2016, the number of notifications dropped to 13. The number of notifications related to peanuts from China decreased by 46% compared to 2015 whereas the number of notifications related to peanuts from the USA (30 not.) and from Egypt (30 not.) increased in 2016 (Figure 2).

2016 Most Notified

Edible Nuts

As for dried fruits, dried figs (57 not.), dried grapes (38 not.) and dried apricots (34 not.) were still the most reported. As in 2015, the main reasons for notifications were sulphites (36%), aflatoxins (34%) and ochratoxin A (19%). Dried figs and dried apricots from Turkey were still the most notified, representing 41% and 23%, respectively, of the total notifications. The number of notifications for dried grapes from Uzbekistan (13%) and from Iran (7%) increased notably compared with previous years (Figure 3).

For the first time in the past 6 years, sulphites became the main reason for notifications on dried fruits.

NUMBER OF RASFF NOTIFICATIONS 2010-2016

106 87 67 68 66 45

57

57

54 46 52

38 22

28 15

41

36 9

20 19

31

30 4 16 9 11 15 17

30 3 11 3 7 6 4

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Peanuts (China)

Pistachios (Iran)

Pistachios (Turkey)

Peanuts (Egypt)

Peanuts (USA)

Figure 2. 2016 Most Notified Edible Nuts and Country of Origin.

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45

46 52

38 22

28

41

36

15

9

20 19

31

30 4 16 9 11 15 17

INC 6 4 3 11 3 7News

30

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Peanuts (China)

Pistachios (Iran)

Pistachios (Turkey)

Peanuts (Egypt)

Peanuts (USA)

2016 Most Notified

Dried Fruits

NUMBER OF RASFF NOTIFICATIONS 2010-2016

134

87 61

53 49 58 54 6

5 21 0 3

29 30

9

2 6 4 5 1 17

4 4 3 3 0 3 9

3 1 7 8 5 3 4

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Dried figs (Turkey)

Dried apricots (Turkey)

Dried grapes (Uzbekistan)

Dried grapes (Iran)

Dried grapes (Turkey)

Figure 3. 2016 Most Notified Dried Fruits and Country of Origin.

The RASFF exchanges information within EU Member States about measures taken in response to serious risks detected in relation to food or feed. INC collects and classifies the RASFF notifications for nuts (including peanuts for feed) and dried fruits intended for food published on the RASFF web page, by product, country of origin, notifying country and type of notification. Some caution is advised when drawing conclusions from this report. For example, we cannot say that because a member state has a relatively high number of notifications that the situation regarding food safety there is disastrous. On the contrary, it could indicate that a greater number of checks are carried out.

INC BUSINESS INTEGRITY COMMITTEE

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t the 2016 San Diego Congress, the INC formed the new Business Integrity Committee (BIC). The committee consists of INC Board Members Michael Waring (Committee Chair), Stephen Meltzer (Chairman of the INC Ambassadors Committee), Karsten Dankert (Board), Pratap Nair (Board), Giles Hacking (Board), Mark Mariani (INC Chairman) and Goretti Guasch (INC Executive Director).

Recently a significant number of INC members were affected by business defaults. Although not a new phenomenon to participants in particular nut and dried fruit sectors, the recent impact on USA Walnut and Almond exporters combined with a highly attended USA hosted Congress brought the discussion of the integrity of members to the fore.

INC reviewed its policy in regards membership and considered what actions might best support our members. A member forum was held in San Diego. The session and discussions were a highly anticipated event and forum attendance was at capacity. The discussions covered all nut and dried fruit and from all origins.

The forum included panel members Giles Hacking, Argo Dermenjian, and Michael Waring as Chair. INC engaged renowned USA Lawyer Andrew Wanger to assist with the panel. The question and answer session was blunt and message clear: INC members expect a base code of conduct be followed by fellow members. Defaulting businesses and their Directors are not welcome as members or at the INC Congress.

In October the Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to the amendment of INC By law Article 3: “Founding Aims of the Foundation” inserting new item 8 -“To promote integrity and good business practices in the nut and dried fruit sector”.

Industry participants that wish to be or remain members need conform to a base standard of integrity, especially in regards compliance with directions of arbitration and judiciary acknowledged in their contracts. INC is within its rights to expel and/or not accept companies and/or individuals that do not comply with these decisions.

BIC will advise INC on defaults, industry integrity issues and review the impact on members. BIC will specifically recognise The Nut Association (UK), Association of Food Industries AFI (USA), Waren-Verein (Germany), and will consider other jurisdictions.

INC and BIC encourage all Members to seek advice in regard to contract formation, enforceability and relevant dispute settlement mechanisms.

Correct and basic contract structure will assist in enforceability between buyer and seller.

The old adage of “Know your Customer” or “Know your Supplier” has never rung truer than in the current fast moving world of international trade. The INC will continue to provide an exceptional opportunity to grow your contacts and relationships within an environment conducive to and under a membership code of conduct that will make you proud to be a member, and sought after as a partner in business.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

61

INC News

INC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING MARCH 2017

T

he INC Executive Committee met in Reus, Spain, on March 2122, 2017 to discuss new strategic actions and to review the status of on-going activities. On March 21, the group discussed new initiatives for the next Strategic Plan 2019-2023. On March 22, the group reviewed current projects such as the INC Academia, the Global Dissemination Project, INC Exhibitions and Pavilions, and annual statistical reports. An update of the Annual Communication Plan was also presented to the Committee. In addition, the group reviewed the latest developments for

INC LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS

Chennai 2017 and Seville 2018 preparations, and evaluated candidatures for future Congresses.

Finally, the Committee reviewed and discussed the activities of the different committees and ad-hoc working groups, namely the Statistics Committee, the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, the Ambassadors Committee, the Business Integrity Committee and the two ad-hoc working groups: the Global Cashew Council and the Macadamias Committee.

100,000+ FANS

Since October 2015, the number of followers on Facebook has risen steadily from 2,000 to 100,000

I

NC followers on Facebook have been invited to participate in several social media competitions. Aimed at increasing user's knowledge on nuts and dried fruits while disseminating its health benefits, they are intended to engage INC’s social community in conversation.

On some occasions, users have been asked to identify the colour of nuts and dried fruits. Other times the objective has been to teach consumers how to differentiate between them, matching the form and color with the correct name. Through these actions, some basic information is being disseminated so as to enhance the users’ knowledge on this subject.

The latest social media competition reached more than 35,000 people, garnering over 6,000 interactions. The winner was awarded a monthly assortment of nuts and dried fruits and, judging by the pictures shared with us, she is already enjoying them!

These campaigns are having an outstanding impact on the growth of the social media community on Facebook. Since October 2015, the number of fans has risen steadily from 2,000 to 100,000. Our data reveal that nuts and dried fruits generate a great deal of interest among Facebook users.

Besides Facebook and Twitter, INC has also reinforced its presence on Instagram through new actions and campaigns. Surpassing 500 million active users, Instagram has become the dominant social network in the digital world. Pictures of nuts and dried fruits have entered this visual showcase where beauty, charm and appeal are essential to becoming shareable and grabbing the user’s attention.

Nuts and Dried Fruits Analytical Competence Worldwide Professional sampling at all process steps of the supply chain NEW: Sampling at Black Sea coast (Georgia, Turkey) service@eurofins.de www.eurofins.de

62

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

Mycotoxins • Sensory Analysis • GMO Nutrition Values • Pesticides • Microbiology • Contaminants • and many more...

INC News

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

63

Statistical Review

WORLD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION TRENDS

Global Statistical Review March 2017

Statistics are also available at our website www.nutfruit.org

Map shows 5 top producing countries. Other major producers listed below.

Main producing countries

Almonds USA Australia Spain Iran Turkey Tunisia

Greece Chile Morocco Italy Syria

Walnuts China USA Iran Turkey Ukraine Chile France

Moldava India Romania Hungary Italy Georgia Australia

Brazil Nuts Bolivia Peru Brazil

Peanuts China India USA Nigeria Indonesia Argentina

Senegal Vietnam Ghana Brazil Nicaragua

Cashews India Cote dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ivoire Vietnam Guinea¡Bissau Brazil

Tanzania Benin Nigeria Indonesia Cambodia

Dates Saudi Arabia Egypt Iran UAE Pakistan Algeria Iraq

Sudan Oman Tunisia Morocco Libya Israel USA

Hazelnuts Turkey Italy USA Georgia Azerbaijan

Spain France China Iran Chile

Dried Apricots Turkey Iran China USA South Africa Australia

Macadamias South Africa Australia Kenya USA Guatemala Malawi

Brazil China Colombia New Zealand Swaziland

Dried Cranberries USA Canada Chile

Pecans USA Mexico South Africa Australia

Dried Figs Turkey Egypt Iran USA

Greece Spain Italy

Pine Nuts China DPR Korea Pakistan Afghanistan Mongolia

Russia Spain Turkey Portugal Italy

Prunes USA Chile France Argentina

Serbia Australia Italy South Africa

Pistachios USA Iran Turkey Syria Afghanistan

China Greece Italy Australia

Raisins Sultanas Currants USA Turkey Iran China India Chile

Uzbekistan Greece Australia Argentina South Africa

Listed by global production as per FAO but not necessarily meaning quantities going through commercial channels.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

65

Statistical Review

ALMONDS 杏仁

/ ALMENDRA / AMANDE / MANDORLE / MANDEL / BADEM

USA. According to the Almond Board of

2017/18 crop is forecast to amount 85,000 MT (kernel basis). The Australian almond industry is expecting another strong crop of the Non Pareil variety and an above average harvest of the pollinators, especially Carmel.

exploring opportunities in new markets around California, the 2016/2017 crop has been the world. The second, and equally significant estimated at 916,700 metric tons (2.021 billion area of investment, is to advance the industry’s pounds) kernel basis, slightly down from the agricultural excellence and sustainability through 929,900 MT (2.050 billion lbs.) previously investment in new technologies and adoption of forecasted. best practices.

In 2016 (August-December), total AUSTRALIA. As reported by the Almond shipments stood at 34% ahead of the Board of Australia, the 2017/18 crop has previous season while total supply exceeded experienced a more temperate summer this by only 9%. Crop receipts slightly exceeded year than the two previous seasons. Therefore, the NASS objective estimate of 1 million MT harvest is forecast to start in a more traditional (2.050 billion pounds). With a 25% increase March timeline rather than the earlier than in production forecast over the next three normal February period of the past couple of crop years, the California Almond industry is years. As a whole, the growing conditions for investing in the expansion of global market Australian almonds have been favorable with the development programs. This is a key priority to drive demand ahead of supply. Investments above average rainfall during the period leading last Christmas. will focus on existing markets, as well as

SPAIN. In Spain, the 2016/17 almond harvest concluded with a final figure close to expectations, except for the traditional Spanish varieties: Larguetas and Marconas that unfortunately confirmed the expected shortage.

Reports on quality are very positive with larger than average size availability. Domestic consumption and export figures from the Spanish industry remain strong.

Estimated World Almond Production. Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country USA* (MM lbs)

2015/2016 Beginning Stock

Crop

2016/2017

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

377

1,847

2,223

412

412

2,021

2,433

421

170,825

837,612

1,008,437

186,882

186,882

916,720

1,103,602

190,964

1,000

82,509

83,509

1,000

1,000

80,140

81,140

1,000

500

65,957

66,457

1,000

1,000

47,000

48,000

1,000

IRAN

0

15,000

15,000

0

0

15,000

15,000

0

TUNISIA

0

15,000

15,000

0

0

15,000

15,000

0

TURKEY

0

13,000

13,000

0

0

13,000

13,000

0

CHILE

0

13,000

13,000

0

0

12,000

12,000

0

MOROCCO

0

11,000

11,000

0

0

11,000

11,000

0

ITALY

0

7,500

7,500

0

0

7,500

7,500

0

GREECE

0

4,000

4,000

0

0

7,500

7,500

0

OTHERS

0

30,000

30,000

0

0

30,000

30,000

0

172,325

1,094,578

1,266,903

188,882

188,882

1,154,860

1,343,742

192,964

USA* (MT) AUSTRALIA SPAIN

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1,078,021

*USA current crop year (YTD) reflects the estimated 2% Loss & Exempt (L&E) forecast for the year. 2015/2016 crop year reflects the actual L&E for the crop year.

Source: Almond Board of California, Almond Board of Australia, Greek Nut Association and other INC sources.

66

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

1,150,777

Statistical Review

AMAZONIA (BRAZIL) NUTS 巴西果 / COQUITO DE BRASIL / NOIX DE VRESIL /

NOCE DE BRASILE / PARANUSS / BREZILYA FINGIGI

The perfect scenario for Brazil nut would be that export prices in the fourth quarter of the year came down in line with the new crop approaching. However, this year the opposite occurred: as a result of a large carry over from 2015 prices of Brazil nuts at the start of 2016 traded at or below factories production cost.

As demand picked up and the total availability of Brazil nuts was down on 2015 (by 4%) prices increased to the highest point at the end of the year. This high price occurred at the same time as collectors started to negotiate the 2017 crop.

As factories in 2016 shut early many were keen to get started and entered the raw material market well financed and at the same time. The strong demand for the first available raw material and the high ending export price for the 2016 crop meant that raw material prices started at a high, translating to an export price last seen in the third quarter.

After the first month of collection, a short crop is being forecast and factories began to heavily compete for product. During January, raw material was being traded 30% higher than the starting price, and shippers stopped offering as they paused to check they have bought enough material to cover their early shipments.

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nut Production · In-shell Basis · Metric Tons Country BOLIVIA PERU BRAZIL WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 4,500 450 300 5,250

Crop

2016/2017

Total Supply

69,000 12,450 1,500 82,950

73,500 12,900 1,800 88,200

Ending Stock 900 450 0 1,350

Beginning stock 900 450 0 1,350

Crop

Total Supply

69,000 12,000 1,800 82,800

69,900 12,450 1,800 84,150

86,850

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock 4,500 450 240 5,190

78,960

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons Country BOLIVIA PERU BRAZIL WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 1,500 150 100 1,750

Crop 23,000 4,350 500 27,850

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2016/2017

Total Supply 24,500 4,500 600 29,600

Ending Stock 300 150 0 450

29,150

Beginning stock 300 150 0 450

Crop 23,000 4,000 600 27,600

Total Supply 23,300 4,150 600 28,050

Ending Stock 1,500 150 80 1,730

26,320

Source: INC.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

67

Statistical Review

CASHEWS 腰果 / ANACARDO / NOIX DE CAJU / ANACARDIO /

CASHWKERNE / CASHEW CEVIZI

AFRICA. According to the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), West

VIETNAM. According to Vietnam National Center of

African production reached over 1.5 million metric tons in 2015/16.

Countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana produced 15% below the previous season. Not only the cashew trees were experiencing a low yield cycle, but also the Harmattan wind negatively impacted flowering.

At the time of writing these lines, there were no adverse reports and, with signs of an early crop in some areas, the industry expects a better 2017/18 production. For this upcoming season, ACA foresees an increase of at least 15-30% in production, based on an estimation of early fruiting in some West African countries, i.e. Nigeria, Togo and Ghana.

The yield in East Africa seems to be higher for this recently completed 2016/17 harvest season and the re-engagement of the governments in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique is expected to reinforce the sector.

Hydrometeorology & Forecasts, due to ENSO phenomenon, the rainy season 2016-2017 is expected to end late. A preliminary report by the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) forecasts the cashew nut production at 120,000 MT (kernel basis) in 2017/18 thanks to newly mature growing areas. However, this figure may change depending on the weather conditions during the first quarter of 2017.

INDIA. The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) expects a good 2017/18 crop given the favorable weather conditions. As per the advanced estimates by the Directorate of Cashew Nut and Cocoa Development (DCCD), the crop is expected to reach 780,000 MT (RCN), an increase of about 16%.

Since the area under cultivation has been expanding on a year to year basis, the Indian production is foreseen to boost in the coming years.

BRAZIL. Preliminary estimates suggest that the 2017/18 crop might reach up to 150,000 MT in-shell basis. Northeast Brazil is now in its fifth year of drought conditions; and the current rainy season, which started in January, is not forecast to be exceptional (which is what is needed).

As a result of this decline in the harvest, there were fewer companies exporting in January 2017. What increased was the proportion of the crop going to the local market, both from the major factories and small local roasters. The factories are importing from West Africa in small quantities to maintain production in the off season. The proportion of exports going to the North American market increased to 62%, reversing the trend for more diversification seen over several years.

CAMBODIA. According to VINACAS, Cambodia seems to be expanding the cashew cropping areas quickly and it is currently becoming an important RNC supplier for Vietnam.

Estimated World Cashew Production. Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2015/2016 Beginning Stock

Crop

2016/2017

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

COTE D'IVOIRE

nil

162,222

162,222

nil

nil

167,000

167,000

nil

INDIA

nil

172,700

172,700

nil

nil

159,600

159,600

nil

VIETNAM

nil

113,000

113,000

nil

nil

96,000

96,000

nil

GUINEA-BISSAU

nil

55,556

55,556

nil

nil

56,000

56,000

nil

TANZANIA

nil

26,667

26,667

nil

nil

54,000

54,000

nil

BENIN

nil

17,778

17,778

nil

nil

34,000

34,000

nil

NIGERIA

nil

38,889

38,889

nil

nil

32,000

32,000

nil

BRAZIL

nil

33,000

33,000

nil

nil

27,200

27,200

nil

CAMBODIA

nil

19,000

19,000

nil

nil

23,800

23,800

nil

MOZAMBIQUE

nil

19,433

19,433

nil

nil

21,100

21,100

nil

INDONESIA

nil

12,000

12,000

nil

nil

19,000

19,000

nil

BURKINA FASO

nil

17,778

17,778

nil

nil

17,800

17,800

nil

GHANA

nil

14,444

14,444

nil

nil

16,600

16,600

nil

SENEGAL

nil

8,889

8,889

nil

nil

10,000

10,000

nil

GAMBIA

nil

3,400

3,400

nil

nil

3,400

3,400

nil

KENYA

nil

1,800

1,800

nil

nil

2,200

2,200

nil

OTHERS

nil

8,000

8,000

nil

nil

15,000

15,000

nil

WORLD TOTAL

nil

724,556

724,556

nil

nil

754,700

754,700

nil

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock) Source: Global Cashew Council and INC.

68

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

724,556

754,700

Statistical Review

HAZELNUTS

榛子 / AVELLANA / NOISETTE / NOCCIOLA / HASELNUSS / FINDIK

TURKEY. As reported in the last issue, hazelnut prices (Turkish Lira based) continued to slide in October and November, but stabilized in December and started to climb again in January. Market commented that quality challenges in both producing regions in Turkey discouraged the farmers to hold the nuts, thus physical flow resulted either in earlier than expected sales or consignee behavior. Lower TL prices coupled with strong devaluation of the TL in the fourth quarter of 2016 resulted in more than 30% lower prices in USD compared to the previous year. However, these better prices have not triggered buyer demand yet.

Export figures were registered as 93,000 MT kernels (September-December 2016), one of the lowest in decades including frost years.

This brought the delayed demand into the consideration, where the buyers were operating with lower re-order levels by expecting further decrease in prices. This situation brought the question how well the industry was covered.

At the time of writing this report, new crop indicators were expected to be closely followed starting mid-February and market to be adjusted itself accordingly.

ITALY. The Italian hazelnut crop for 2016/17 season was confirmed; reaching 130,000 MT and 58,500 MT in-shell and kernel basis respectively; 4% up from the previous season.

USA. The 2016/17 crop official estimate

least 36,000 MT in-shell. Although growing conditions were good in 2016, the harvesting ones were very wet. Even though, the quality was quite good.

Last November, Oregon shipped or shelled approx. 60% of the crop, which was a bit light. China remained the largest market, receiving about 40% of the crop or 70% of the shipments. China typically takes 60-70% of the total crop. Domestic demand for shelled hazelnuts was slower than expected.

Weather conditions were quite extreme last winter, with ice damage affecting many older orchards. At the time of writing this report, it was too early to know how the younger trees would handle the stress from the winter.

was 34,500 MT; however, it might reach at

Estimated World Hazelnut Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons .

Country TURKEY ITALY AZERBAIJAN GEORGIA USA SPAIN CHILE FRANCE IRAN CHINA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 25,000 1,000 500 1,000 1,000 300 0 500 0 0 0 29,300

2016/2017

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

710,000 125,000 40,000 50,000 27,850 22,000 12,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 1,016,850

735,000 126,000 40,500 51,000 28,850 22,300 12,000 10,500 10,000 5,000 5,000 1,046,150

135,000 15,000 1,000 1,000 0 300 0 0 500 0 0 152,800

Beginning stock 135,000 15,000 1,000 1,000 0 300 0 0 500 0 0 152,800

Crop

Total Supply

500,000 130,000 50,000 60,000 37,800 18,000 18,000 10,000 10,000 5,500 15,000 854,300

635,000 145,000 51,000 61,000 37,800 18,300 18,000 10,000 10,500 5,500 15,000 1,007,100

893,350

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock 25,000 10,000 500 1,000 0 1,000 0 0 500 0 0 38,000

969,100

Kernel Basis· Metric Tons.

Country TURKEY ITALY AZERBAIJAN GEORGIA USA SPAIN CHILE FRANCE IRAN CHINA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 12,500 450 250 500 400 144 0 240 0 0 0 14,484

Crop

Total Supply

355,000 56,250 20,000 25,000 11,140 10,560 5,400 4,800 4,500 2,250 2,250 497,150

367,500 56,700 20,250 25,500 11,540 10,704 5,400 5,040 4,500 2,250 2,250 511,634

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2016/2017 Ending Stock 67,500 6,750 500 500 0 144 0 0 225 0 0 75,619

436,015

Beginning stock 67,500 6,750 500 500 0 144 0 0 225 0 0 75,619

Crop

Total Supply

250,000 58,500 20,000 19,000 15,120 8,640 8,100 4,800 4,500 2,500 6,000 397,160

317,500 65,250 20,500 19,500 15,120 8,784 8,100 4,800 4,725 2,500 6,000 472,779

Ending Stock 12,500 4,500 250 500 0 480 0 0 225 0 0 18,455

454,324

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, and other INC sources.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

69

Statistical Review

MACADAMIAS

夏威夷果 / MACADAMIA / MACADAMIANUSS / MAKEDEMIA / CEVIZI

AUSTRALIA. According to the Australian

2017 is shaping up to be another good season with favorable weather conditions across all growing regions and a continued focus on best practice orchard management.

Quality is expected to be good.

Macadamia Society, following the 2015 trend, 2016 was a record crop, due to favorable weather conditions throughout the season.

It accounted for 52,000 metric tons in-shell at 10% moisture content (48,600 MT at 3.5 % moisture content). Slightly higher than the originally forecasted, the in-shell crop increased 8% compared to the previous year. Production-wise, the Bundaberg region accounted for more than 40% of the Australian macadamia share.

Regarding trade, global demand remained strong. The free trade agreements with South Korea, Japan and China had a very positive impact on exports. In fact, exports of Australian macadamias have significantly increased to Korea and, in a lesser extent to Japan as well.

SOUTH AFRICA. The 2016 season was a challenging one for the South African macadamia industry. The crop was hit by the worst drought in many years and as a result suffered major losses. Although many areas received good rains eventually, many dam levels have remained low and have not recovered yet. As reported by the Southern African Macadamia Growers Association, final production figures for 2016 have been estimated approx. at 38,000 MT dry nut in shell (1.5% kernel moisture content), which

is 17% down on the 2015 crop of 46,000 MT. There are indications that more NIS was processed to kernel than in previous years, despite the lower crop. This is a positive indication that the kernel market remains strong and is in fact growing.

Although it is too early to make accurate predictions about the size of the 2017 crop, indications are that it could be a slightly better year than the previous season due to plantings established after 2009 coming into production, however an immediate return to pre-2016 volumes would be unlikely. The demand for in-shell macadamias is on the rise but there are concerns that nut sizes might be smaller than usual, but similar to those observed in 2016. A more accurate crop forecast will be available closer to the harvesting season which commences in March.

Estimated World Macadamia Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons.

Country AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA KENYA USA GUATEMALA MALAWI CHINA BRAZIL COLOMBIA NEW ZEALAND SWAZILAND OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2016 Beginning Stock 0 3,831 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,831

2017

Crop

Total Supply

48,600 38,000 27,500 16,800 9,050 5,452 6,000 5,596 1,000 600 110 16,398 175,106

48,600 41,831 27,500 16,800 9,050 5,452 6,000 5,596 1,000 600 110 16,398 178,937

Ending Stock 0 1,880 0 0 0 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 2,180

Beginning stock 0 1,880 0 0 0 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 2,180

Crop

Total Supply

50,500 42,000 32,000 17,900 9,450 6,297 6,500 4,500 1,000 229 110 19,946 190,432

50,500 43,880 32,000 17,900 9,450 6,297 6,800 4,500 1,000 229 110 19,946 192,612

Ending Stock n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 340 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

178,937

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA KENYA USA GUATEMALA MALAWI CHINA BRAZIL COLOMBIA NEW ZEALAND SWAZILAND OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2016 Beginning Stock 0 1,073 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,073

Crop 15,600 10,640 7,372 4,300 1,800 1,443 1,363 1,500 250 150 26 4,100 48,544

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2017

Total Supply 15,600 11,713 7,372 4,300 1,800 1,443 1,363 1,500 250 150 26 4,100 49,617

Ending Stock 0 526 0 0 0 0 75 0 0 0 0 0 601

Beginning stock 0 526 0 0 0 0 75 0 0 0 0 0 601

Crop 16,200 11,760 8,012 4,700 1,990 1,659 1,625 1,100 250 57 26 4,987 52,367

Total Supply 16,200 12,286 8,012 4,700 1,990 1,659 1,700 1,100 250 57 26 4,987 52,968

Ending Stock n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 85 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

49,617

*Estimate only. Australia reported at 3.5% NIS moisture content. South Africa estimated at 1.5% kernel moisture content. USA estimated at 3.5% NIS m.c.; 1.5% kernel m.c. Brazil estimated at 1.5% NIS m.c.; 1.5% kernel m.c. Source: Australian Macadamia Society, Southern African Macadamia Growers Association, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Tree Nut Growers Association of Malawi and other INC sources.

70

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

Statistical Review

PECANS

/ PECANA / NOIX DE PÉCAN / NOCE PECAN / PECANUSS / PEKAN CEVIZI

MEXICO. It appears that the Mexican crop size will be shorter than the previous two years, due mostly to lack of rainfall during the key filling months for pecans. While some quality issues have been reported early in the harvest, it appears that these quality issues affected only 10-12% of the entire crop.

New crop shipments, August 1-January 1, of both kernel and in-shell to the USA were well above 2015, with in-shell up 31% and kernels up 12%.

USA. The USA crop size has been estimated to be 119,160 metric tons by the USDA’s October 2016 estimate. This represents an increase of about 3% over the prior year’s crop. Quality seems to be good overall despite a few challenges in Texas and isolated parts of the Southeast. There were a lot of large sized pecans harvested. This is

due to the relative short quantity of the crop which usually translates to large and high quality in-shell.

Exports of both kernel and in-shell were strong for the last quarter of 2016, particularly in shipments bound for both China and the EU. Compared to 2015, shipments for China from USA were up over 40% for the first two months of the crop year, October and November. These were the strongest shipments since 2012 despite record prices.

The demand from this region continues to be a solid part of worldwide demand for pecans.

Retail sales in the USA were strong for the last Christmas season as well.

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa experienced one of the worst droughts ever recorded in 2016 and the resultant restrictions on irrigation and lack of rain

severely hampered the crop, which again came in well below expectations. Furthermore, an unseasonably warm winter meant that the harvest was also delayed. Both factors resulted in shipments later than usual. Due to the small crop and strong demand no carryover is expected into the new season.

AUSTRALIA.

Although 2016 was an “off-year” for the Australian pecan crop, the quality was relatively good. Solid domestic demand along with a strong international market saw the crop committed early. 2017 harvesting is expected to commence in April.

At the time of writing this report, the signs were good for the new crop in most regions.

Interest from China remains keen but kernel demand from Europe and Asia, including emerging markets are also being observed.

Estimated World Pecan Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2015/2016 Crop

Total Supply

2,500

122,700

125,200

4,535

55,025

115,344

170,369

SOUTH AFRICA

0

10,150

AUSTRALIA

0

OTHERS

MEXICO USA

WORLD TOTAL

Beginning Stock

2016/2017 Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

4,535

117,935

122,470

4,500

58,533

58,533

119,160

177,693

65,775

10,150

0

0

10,080

10,080

0

3,300

3,300

200

200

2,550

2,750

200

0

1,800

1,800

0

0

1,000

1,000

0

55,025

130,594

185,619

58,733

58,733

132,790

191,523

65,975

126,886

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock

125,548

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons, Country MEXICO

2015/2016 Beginning Stock

Crop

2016/2017

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

1,250

61,350

62,600

2,268

2,268

58,968

61,236

2,250

24,211

50,751

74,962

25,755

25,755

52,430

78,185

28,941

SOUTH AFRICA

0

5,075

5,075

0

0

5,040

5,040

0

AUSTRALIA

0

1,650

1,650

100

100

1,275

1,375

100

OTHERS

0

900

900

0

0

500

500

0

25,461

119,726

145,187

28,123

28,123

118,213

146,336

31,291

USA

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T, Supply - End, Stock)

117,064

115,045

Source: USDA, SIAP Mexico and other INC sources.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

71

Statistical Review

PINE NUTS / PIÑÓN / PIGNON / PINOLI / PINIENKERNE / ÇAM FISTIGI

松子

Globally, 2016/2017 pine nut production increased by 20% compared to the previous season. This was due mainly to the Northern Korea crop, up 100% from the previous season. As reported by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuff, surprisingly, the Siberian Korean pine nut production accounted for far more than previously expected and, therefore, prices dropped. Siberian Korean pine nut surplus mainly comes from Mongolia.

On the other hand, the output of Korean pine nut was normal in China for the 2016/17 season. Most of the Korean pine nuts, the price of which is higher compared to other varieties, were destined to the domestic market. Only a small number is used for export.

According to customs statistics, from January to October 2016, China exported 10,945 MT of pine nuts, being the top export destinations Germany (3,038 MT), the USA (2,866 MT) and the Netherlands (1,203 MT).

Estimated World Pine Nut Production. Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2015/2016 Beginning Stock

Crop

2016/2017

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

FAR EAST NORTH KOREA

200

3,000

3,200

200

200

6,000

6,200

150

50

4,050

4,100

50

50

4,900

4,950

60

12,000

5,000

17,000

2,650

2,650

4,000

6,650

500

AFGHANISTAN

100

3,000

3,100

100

100

3,000

3,100

100

PAKISTAN

100

3,000

3,100

100

100

3,000

3,100

100

12,450

18,050

30,500

3,100

3,100

20,900

24,000

910

40

370

410

40

40

700

740

40

TURKEY

100

410

510

100

100

650

750

100

ITALY

150

360

510

100

100

600

700

100

SPAIN

0

310

310

0

0

600

600

0

OTHERS

0

50

50

0

0

100

100

0

290

1,500

1,790

240

240

2,650

2,890

240

12,740

19,550

32,290

3,340

3,340

23,550

26,890

1,150

RUSSIA CHINA

SUBTOTAL MEDITERRANEAN (Pinus pinea) PORTUGAL

SUBTOTAL WORLD TOTAL

28,950

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

25,740

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

China. Pine Nut Exports. Metric Tons 13,444 11,579 9,948

9,633 7,873

7,862

10,683

11,428

10,945

7,026

4,194

2006

2007

2008

2009

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 Jan-Oct

Statistical Review

PISTACHIOS

心果 / PISTACHO / PISTACHE / PISTACCHIO / PISTAZIE / ANTEP FISTIGI

USA. The California pistachio harvest for 2016/2017 finished at 409,000 metric tons (903 million pounds). Crop Year 2016 industry sales were off to a strong start and ahead of the overall CY2016 plan. September, October and November all set record shipments. Lower pistachio pricing and strong promotions helped to drive increased global demand.

China’s pistachio market has been very strong for the new crop year, driven by demand for the Chinese New Year. Early indications showed strong sells through in the Chinese retail market.

Given the strong sell-through, the strength in the Chinese market is expected to continue for the remainder of the crop year.

The US market is being driven by the strong promotions including a new television advertising campaign. Crop-to-date shipments increased significantly over last season and are in line with expectations. The rest of the global markets are all continuing increased sales, along with strong spot demand for the new crop year.

The industry is expecting to carry over sufficient supply to mitigate the smaller expected CY2017 harvest and maintain consistent supply into CY2017. Given the alternate bearing nature of pistachios and the record 2016 crop, 2017 is expected to be a normal “off-year”.

IRAN. As reported by the Iran Pistachio Association (IPA) the post-harvest estimate for the 2016/17 crop year was updated to 153,000 MT (in-shell basis), 10% down from the previous forecast. Production figures do not include an unregistered volume of pistachios that are produced and consumed fresh.

According to IPA, approximately 80% of the Iranian production is destined to exports.

Therefore, it is estimated that 136,000 MT of pistachios (in-shell basis) are available for export during the current marketing crop year.

TURKEY.

As usual, Turkey’s domestic demand remained high. This, along with the fact that this seasons’ green type pistachios (early pick) were very scarce, caused prices to increase noticeably.

On the other hand, export market was active as well. Turkish lira devaluation against US dollar and Euro have contributed to competitive prices for the Turkish pistachio in the market.

Although it is very early to predict the 2017/18 crop, the second half of December 2016 was very rainy and cold, and January brought big snows which favors pistachio production. Thus, a good crop development is expected for next April.

Estimated World Pistachio Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2015/2016 Beginning Stock

2016/2017

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

USA

74,803

124,645

199,448

46,528

46,528

409,429

455,957

101,714

IRAN

4,000

210,000

214,000

17,000

17,000

153,000

170,000

n/a

10,000

145,000

155,000

40,000

40,000

135,000

175,000

50,000

SYRIA

0

25,000

25,000

0

0

20,000

20,000

0

AFGHANISTAN

0

5,000

5,000

0

0

5,000

5,000

0

CHINA

0

4,200

4,200

210

210

4,200

4,410

220

GREECE

0

4,000

4,000

0

0

4,000

4,000

0

ITALY

0

2,500

2,500

0

0

2,500

2,500

0

AUSTRALIA

0

1,150

1,150

0

0

2,000

2,000

0

88,803

521,495

610,298

103,738

103,738

735,129

838,867

151,934

TURKEY

TOTAL

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

506,560

686,933

Source: Iran Pistachio Association, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Australian Pistachio Growers Association and other INC sources.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

73

Statistical Review

WALNUTS 核桃

/ NUEZ / NOIX / NOCE / WALNUSS / CEVIZ

CHINA. There was no much change in the size

USA. As reported by the California Walnut Board,

of the 2016/17 crop (900,000 MT) between the early forecast and final receipt. However, the color was not so encouraging in some origins due to plenty of rainfall prior to the harvest.

Towards January, the market had strengthened with a 10% price increase compared to the start of the season. This was mainly due to a strong demand from the local walnut juice industry, which sometimes dominates the pricing. The newly launched Chinese red dates mixed with walnut kernels product has got more and more popular, and has absorbed a good volume of premium walnut halves. Imports and exports were comparatively slow due to a good local crop, moderate pricing and competition from other origins.

2016/2017 crop color, yield and overall quality were excellent. Shipments through December 31, 2016 indicated a very strong market overall, domestically and abroad. In-shell exports were up 41% to 140,160 MT (309 million pounds) and shelled exports were up nearly 22% at 44,452 MT (98 million pounds). In the domestic market, shelled walnuts (the primary form of consumption) had increased 25% to reach 34,019 MT (75 million pounds). China continues to be a strong buyer for California walnuts with 29,484 MT (65 million pounds) shipped to China, Vietnam and Thailand.

CHILE. The climate during springtime was normal. However, during January, a heat wave (the worst in many years) affected the production areas.

According to ChileNut, although some sunburn could

occur, at the time of writing this lines it was not expected to affect the crop in a large proportion. On the other hand, the development of the crop was quite advanced and growers were more concerned about the care of the trees. Due to this particular weather conditions, the season was expected to start 10-15 days earlier.

EASTERN EUROPE. In Eastern Europe, the walnut harvest started two weeks later than usual and the crops were 20-30% below the previous year due to unfavorable weather conditions; frost during blooming and poor rainfall.

The quality of the kernels was better than the previous crop.

Strong demand for Eastern European walnuts increased shipments before Christmas by 10-15% vs. 2015.

Estimated World Walnut Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

Beginning Stock

CHINA 20,000 USA 73,531 CHILE 2,000 IRAN 0 UKRAINE 0 FRANCE 1,000 INDIA 0 MOLDOVA 0 ROMANIA 0 TURKEY 4,000 ITALY 0 HUNGARY 0 AUSTRALIA 0 GEORGIA 0 TOTAL 100,531 CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2015/2016 Crop Total Supply 580,000 547,032 75,000 97,000 116,000 40,000 34,000 46,000 29,000 20,000 17,000 19,000 10,000 7,500 1,637,532

600,000 620,563 77,000 97,000 116,000 41,000 34,000 46,000 29,000 24,000 17,000 19,000 10,000 7,500 1,738,063

Ending Stock 40,000 65,669 3,000 0 5,000 0 0 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 116,669 1.621.394

Beginning stock 40,000 65,669 3,000 0 5,000 0 0 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 116,669

2016/2017 Crop Total Supply 900,000 607,813 90,000 90,000 80,000 36,000 36,000 34,000 30,000 20,000 15,000 11,000 6,500 5,500 1,961,813

940,000 673,482 93,000 90,000 85,000 36,000 36,000 34,000 30,000 23,000 15,000 11,000 6,500 5,500 2,078,482

Ending Stock 40,000 76,089 2,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 121,089 1.957.393

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2015/2016

Total Supply

Ending Stock

255,200

264,000

17,600

17,600

396,000

413,600

17,600

USA

32,393

240,983

273,376

28,929

28,929

267,759

296,688

33,519

CHILE

1,000

33,000

34,000

1,500

1,500

39,600

41,100

2,000

IRAN

0

42,680

42,680

0

0

39,600

39,600

0

UKRAINE

0

44,600

44,600

1,000

1,000

27,000

28,000

0

FRANCE

440

17,600

18,040

0

0

16,000

16,000

0

INDIA

0

15,062

15,062

0

0

16,000

16,000

0

MOLDOVA

0

17,000

17,000

0

0

12,000

12,000

0

ROMANIA

0

11,600

11,600

0

0

10,500

10,500

0

4,000

8,800

12,800

3,000

3,000

8,800

11,800

2,000 0

TURKEY

Crop

2016/2017

8,800

CHINA

Beginning Stock

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

ITALY

0

7,310

7,310

0

0

7,000

7,000

HUNGARY

0

7,600

7,600

0

0

3,900

3,900

0

AUSTRALIA

0

4,500

4,500

0

0

2,900

2,900

0

GEORGIA TOTAL

0

2,763

2,763

0

0

2,000

2,000

0

46,633

708,698

755,331

52,029

52,029

849,059

901,088

55,119

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

703,302

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, California Walnut Board and Commission, ChileNut, Ukrainian Nut Growers Association and other INC sources.

74

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

845,969

Statistical Review

PEANUTS

花生 / CACAHUETE / CACAHUÈTE / ARACHIDE / ERDNUSS / YER FISTIGI

CHINA. Although 2016/2017 peanut production in the main exporting regions (Shandong and Jilin) was slightly down, China’s overall peanut production increased compared to the previous season, as reported by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuff.

Early harvest prices were on the low side.

However, due to the Chinese New Year, both the domestic and foreign merchants increased purchases, and consequently so did prices.

At the time of writing this report, the Chinese peanut purchase prices were not high with a good quality level. Exports in 2016/17 are

expected to be up from 2015/16.

The acreage significantly increased in 2016 in Henan, Jilin and Lioning, and it is expected to continue growing slightly in 2017.

Overall domestic consumption in China remains strong, particularly for peanut oil which is growing at a rapid rate.

INDIA. India’s 2016/17 peanut crop added up to 5,400 metric tons in-shell basis, 20% higher than the previous season. On the trade front, both the domestic and export demand remained strong.

Estimated World Peanut Production. In-shell Basis · 1000 Metric Tons.

2015/2016 Country Beginning Stock

CHINA INDIA NIGERIA USA INDONESIA SENEGAL ARGENTINA VIETNAM GHANA BRAZIL NICARAGUA MEXICO COTE D'IVOIRE SOUTH AFRICA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

Crop

700 230 n/a 953 100 13 670 38 n/a 83 22 23 n/a 28 97 2,957

16,860 4,470 3,000 2,722 1,130 1,067 1,000 485 440 406 175 105 90 25 8,852 40,827

Total Supply

Ending Stock

17,560 4,700 3,000 3,675 1,230 1,080 1,670 523 440 489 197 128 90 53 8,949 43,784

dropped 5% over 2015/16. The situation has been on account of the extremely dry weather during the months of September and October.

Georgia, which accounts for 45% of the US crop, was particularly severely affected.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas season in the USA, peanut consumption increased by 1.4% according to IRI data.

Retail consumption for October-December 2015 was 35,152 MT vs. 35,650 MT in October-December 2016.

2016/2017

Beginning stock

843 80 n/a 812 80 23 5 52 n/a 44 14 28 n/a 4 98 2,083

USA. The production in the Unites States

843 80 n/a 812 80 23 5 52 n/a 44 14 28 n/a 4 98 2,083

Crop

Total Supply

17,366 5,400 3,000 2,579 1,125 1,000 1,000 490 440 425 200 105 90 55 8,200 41,475

41,701

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock

18,209 5,480 3,000 3,391 1,205 1,023 1,005 542 440 469 214 133 90 59 8,298 43,558

868 200 n/a 761 80 35 n/a 50 n/a 54 20 23 n/a 1 120 2,212

41,346

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, United States Department of Agriculture and other INC sources.

US Peanut Supply and Disappearance. 1000 Metric Tons Year Beg. Aug. 1 2014/15* 2015/16** 2016/17**

Beg Stocks 843 953 812

Supply Production 2,354 2,722 2,579

Imports 41 43 50

Total 3,237 3,718 3,441

Domestic Food 1,363 1,426 1,454

3.577 2.582

2.848 2.388

2.673

2.715

Crush 306 322 366

Disappearance Seed & Residual Exports 125 490 458 701 247 612

Total 2,284 2,906 2,680

3.718 3.190

3.237

Ending Stock 953 812 761

3.441

2.722

2.463

2.579

2.354 3.068

1.571

1.666

2.341

1.675

1.886

1.893

1.660

Total Supply 2006/7

2007/8

2008/9

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15*

2015/16**

Production 2016/17**

(*) Estimated (**) Forecast. Last update: January 17, 2017. Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Crop Production and Peanut Stocks and Processing, and US Department of Commerce, US Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

75

Statistical Review

DATES / DÁTIL / DATTE / DATTERO / DATTEL / HURMA World production of table dates increased by 4% compared to 2015/2016.

In some producing countries, weather conditions have caused some adverse effects on the quality of dates. Actually, this phenomenon is chronic but the continuous effort of the interveners and specially of the packers has limited its impact on the table dates quality. Selection techniques and treatments have made possible to improve the quality.

About 400,000 metric tons, i.e. 48%, of the table dates were and will be exported during the 2016/17 season. Consumption of dates during Christmas was important, especially in Europe and particularly in Southern Europe countries. In fact, about 80% of Italian imports took place before Christmas.

Estimated World Table Date Production. Metric Tons.

Country SAUDI ARABIA UAE TUNISIA IRAN EGYPT ALGERIA IRAQ PAKISTAN OTHERS ISRAEL OMAN USA MOROCCO SUDAN LIBYA WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 18,000 8,000 7,000 4,000 2,500 5,000 2,000 1,000 4,000 2,500 1,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 50 60,050

Production

Total Supply

190,000 120,000 95,000 85,000 65,000 80,000 60,000 28,000 35,000 25,000 15,000 16,000 12,000 10,000 500 836,500

208,000 128,000 102,000 89,000 67,500 85,000 62,000 29,000 39,000 27,500 16,000 19,000 13,000 11,000 550 896,550

2016/2017 Ending Stock

Beginning stock

17,000 8,500 6,500 4,500 2,000 5,500 1,500 1,500 4,000 2,500 1,500 3,500 1,000 1,000 100 60,600

17,000 8,500 6,500 4,500 2,000 5,500 1,500 1,500 4,000 2,500 1,500 3,500 1,000 1,000 100 60,600

Production

Total Supply

200,000 120,000 100,000 94,000 82,000 80,000 45,000 30,000 30,000 29,000 20,000 18,000 15,000 9,000 1,000 873,000

217,000 128,500 106,500 98,500 84,000 85,500 46,500 31,500 34,000 31,500 21,500 21,500 16,000 10,000 1,100 933,600

835,950

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock 18,000 6,000 5,000 7,000 5,500 6,000 1,500 1,500 4,000 4,000 1,500 4,000 1,000 500 100 65,600

868,000

Source: INC. These data concern only dates that have undergone a conditioning and are presented for sale as such. Dates for industrial use or presented for sale in bulk are excluded. Therefore, these data represent only about 12% of world gross production.

DRIED APRICOTS

杏 / OREJÓN / ABRICOT SEC / ALBICOCCA SECCA / GETROCKNETE APRIKOSE / KURU KAYISI

TURKEY. As stated by the Aegean Exporters Association, due to strong hails before harvest and heavy rains during the drying period in some areas, approx. 25% of the crop was damaged. However, the quality of the undamaged apricot was good.

Demand increased slightly before Christmas. In season 2016/17, Turkish dried apricot exports reached 45,575 metric tons as of

14 January 2017, up 7% from the same period of the previous year. Top export markets were USA, France, Germany, UK and the Russian Federation. China is one of the target potential markets; when compared to the previous year, exports to China increased significantly in 2016.

Estimated World Dried Apricot Production. Metric Tons.

Country TURKEY IRAN UZBEKISTAN CHINA AFGHANISTAN SOUTH AFRICA USA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 5,000 0 0 300 0 0 0 0 5,300

Production

Total Supply

84,500 15,000 8,500 5,000 4,000 1,446 2,000 30,300 150,746

89,500 15,000 8,500 5,300 4,000 1,446 2,000 30,300 156,046

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock) Source: Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

76

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

2016/2017 Ending Stock 5,000 1,000 0 200 0 0 0 2,000 8,200

147,846

Beginning stock 5,000 1,000 0 200 0 0 0 2,000 8,200

Production

Total Supply

103,250 15,000 9,000 6,000 3,500 1,500 1,200 30,000 169,450

108,250 16,000 9,000 6,200 3,500 1,500 1,200 32,000 177,650

Ending Stock 15,000 1,000 0 250 0 0 0 1,500 17,750

159,900

Statistical Review

DRIED CRANBERRIES 莓

/ ARÁNDANO / MIRTILLO ROSSO / KEÇIYEMISI

The 2016/2017 fresh fruit cranberry crop has been estimated to be 11% larger than the 2015/16 crop and it is expected to deliver approx. 590,000 metric tons. Significant growth of the crop in Wisconsin year on year is due to increased yields and a better than average growing season.

Manufacturers of Sweetened Dried Cranberries continue to experience good global demand, especially in Asia, Europe and South America.

The 2017/18 fresh fruit cranberry crop in Chile is expected to be slightly smaller than last season at 19,000 MT.

Estimated World Sweetened Dried Cranberries Production. Metric Tons.

2015/2016 Country Beginning Stock

Production

USA 11,000 134,000 CANADA 2,000 25,000 CHILE 0 6,000 WORLD TOTAL 13,000 165,000 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply

Ending Stock

145,000 27,000 6,000 178,000

14,000 2,500 800 17,300

Beginning stock 14,000 2,500 800 17,300

2016/2017 Production

Total Supply

145,000 28,000 10,000 183,000

159,000 30,500 10,800 200,300

160,700

Ending Stock 13,000 2,200 500 15,700

184,600

The cranberry crop is harvested in the fall. End of year statistics are measured as of August, 31. 2016/17 represents the estimate of production and supply through August 31, 2017. Source: INC.

DRIED FIGS

花果 / HIGO SECO / FIGUE SEC / FICO SECCO / GETROCKNETE FEIGE / KURU INCIR

TURKEY. Although strong rains in some production areas before harvesting affected a small proportion of the 2016/2017 production, overall the crop was good.

Conforming to the Aegean Exporters Association, Turkish whole dried figs exports reached 31,991 metric tons as of January 14, 2017, down 6%

Estimated World Dried Fig Production. Metric Tons.

2015/2016 Country Beginning Stock

Production

TURKEY 0 74,505 IRAN 5,000 30,000 USA 0 9,000 GREECE 0 8,000 AFGHANISTAN 0 6,000 SPAIN 0 6,000 ITALY 0 4,000 OTHERS 0 5,000 WORLD TOTAL 5,000 142,505 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply

from the same period of the previous year. Besides, diced (2,327 MT), industrial (200 MT), roasted figs (118 MT) and fig paste (2,719 MT) were exported, totaling 37,355 MT. Top export markets of Turkish dried figs were Germany, France, Italy and USA, accounting for 46% of total exports.

2016/2017 Ending Stock

74,505 35,000 9,000 8,000 6,000 6,000 4,000 5,000 147,505

0 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,000

Beginning stock 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,000

Production

Total Supply

72,000 30,000 9,000 7,500 7,000 5,500 3,500 5,000 139,500

72,000 33,000 9,000 7,500 7,000 5,500 3,500 5,000 142,500

144,505

Ending Stock 0 2,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,000

140,500

Source: Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

PRUNES

/ CIRUELA SECA / PRUNEAU / PRUGNA SECCA / BACKPFLAUME / KURU ERIK / PRUNA SECA

World production of prunes was reduced significantly in 2016/17 to about 180 metric tons, mainly due to a 76% and a 59% decline in Argentinian and US crop respectively. As a result of early spring frosts, Argentinian production was severely affected.

In the Southern Hemisphere, large crops yielded smaller fruits with lower sugars/brix and mixed quality.

On the contrary, in the Northern Hemisphere, crops were smaller, yielding larger fruits with higher sugar/brix and excellent quality. Overall, there was a reduced availability of sweeter and larger sized fruits due to the scarcity from the Southern Hemisphere crops along with the crop drop in California.

Estimated World Prune Production. Metric Tons.

2015/2016 Country Beginning Stock

CHILE 10,690 FRANCE 14,989 USA 41,576 ARGENTINA 18,163 SERBIA 600 AUSTRALIA 850 ITALY 480 SOUTH AFRICA 80 TOTAL 87,428 CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2016/2017

Production

Total Supply

Ending Stock

76,945 36,325 98,841 41,786 7,000 3,475 1,200 1,000 266,572

87,635 51,314 140,417 59,949 7,600 4,325 1,680 1,080 354,000

16,338 19,700 64,830 6,000 1,200 300 430 0 108,798

245,202

Beginning stock 16,338 19,700 64,830 6,000 1,200 300 430 0 108,798

Production

Total Supply

70,000 45,000 41,000 10,000 9,000 2,600 1,580 1,000 180,180

86,338 64,700 105,830 16,000 10,200 2,900 2,010 1,000 288,978

Ending Stock 17,000 11,900 42,000 n/a 420 210 315 0 71,845

217,133

Source: International Prune Association, California Dried Plum Board and Chile Prunes Association.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

77

Statistical Review

RAISINS, SULTANA & CURRANTS

葡萄干 / UVA PASA / RAISIN SEC / UVETTA / ROSINE / KURU ÜZÜM

TURKEY. In season 2016/17, Turkish dried

USA. Ideal weather conditions during the

IRAN. Conforming to the Iran Dried Fruit

grape exports reached 120,716 metric tons as of 14 January 2017, up 43% from the same period of the previous year. Top export markets for Turkish dried grapes were UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and France, accounting for 62% of total exports.

Exports of Turkish seedless dried grapes increased before Christmas compared to the previous year. The Aegean Exporters Association expects that total exports will be around 275,000 MT and a carryover of 13,000 MT for the next season.

growing and drying seasons combined with adequate water resulted in the 2016/2017 raisin crop to be of very good quality. California is still in a drought situation impacted by several years of less than average rainfall. California has been experiencing above average rainfall and snowfall this winter. Growers can expect to receive surface water irrigation deliveries for their 2017/18 crop should this weather pattern continue.

Easter continues to be an important selling season for the California raisin industry. Raisins are used in the making of Easter treats with ingredient shipments starting in January.

California raisin exports have declined as a result of a number of international events including the softening of certain country economies and the strength of the US dollar.

Exporters Association, the Iranian crop increased by 13% in the 2016/17 season compared to the previous one.

Iran had exported 49,000 MT as of December 31, 2016, being the top destination markets Iraq and Russia. On the contrary, demand from Europe went down. Domestic consumption is expected to add up to 45,000 MT.

Estimated World Raisin/Sultana/Currant Production. Metric Tons.

Country TURKEY

2015/2016 Beginning Stock 45,000

2016/2017

Production

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

196,000

241,000

15,000

15,000

Production 313,000

Total Supply

Ending Stock

328,000

13,000

USA

97,000

294,000

391,000

145,000

145,000

243,000

388,000

111,000

IRAN

15,000

160,000

175,000

25,000

25,000

180,000

205,000

25,000

INDIA

0

135,000

135,000

0

0

135,000

135,000

0

CHINA

10,000

165,000

175,000

8,000

8,000

130,000

138,000

5,000

CHILE

8,000

55,000

63,000

6,000

6,000

60,000

66,000

6,000

UZBEKISTAN

0

50,000

50,000

0

0

50,000

50,000

0

AFGHANISTAN

0

32,000

32,000

3,000

3,000

45,000

48,000

3,000

SOUTH AFRICA

3,500

56,000

59,500

0

0

45,000

45,000

0

0

27,000

27,000

0

0

27,000

27,000

0

2,000

35,000

37,000

0

0

18,000

18,000

0

GREECE ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA TOTAL

0

12,000

12,000

0

0

12,000

12,000

0

180,500

1,217,000

1,397,500

202,000

202,000

1,258,000

1,460,000

163,000

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1,195,500

Source: Aegean Exporters Association, Iran Dried Fruit Exporters Association and other INC sources.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

1,297,000

Statistical Review

SPECIAL REPORT WORLD PISTACHIO OUTLOOK 心果 / PISTACHO / PISTACHE / PISTACCHIO / PISTAZIE / ANTEP FISTIGI

Estimated World Pistachio Production.

Estimated World Pistachio Production. In-shell Metric Tons Source: Basis.

Iran Pistachio Association, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Source: Iran Pistachio Association, China Chamber of Commerce for Import andFoodstuffs, Export of Foodstuffs, In-shell Basis. Metric Tons Australian PistachioAustralian Growers Association and other INC sources.

Pistachio Growers Association and other INC sources.

800,000 37,700

700,000 600,000 500,000

135,000

122,800

85,300

25,000

112,000

56,200 54,500

400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000

85,000

105,500 20,000

310,000

130,000

161,141

2008/09

2009/10

203,600

251,935

215,005

OTHERS TURKEY IRAN

160,000 210,000

240,200

153,000

145,000

160,000

125,000

41,850

230,000

180,000

195,000

85,000 185,000

42,150 50,000

160,000

47,300

190,000

112,000

57,600

40,000

93,000

42,850 60,000

USA 409,429

235,000 124,645

0 2006/07

2007/08

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16

Estimated World Pistachio Consumption.

In-shell Basis. Metric Tons Estimated World Pistachio Consumption. In-shell Basis. Metric Tons

Est. 2016/17

Source: The World Bank and INC.

Source: The World Bank and INC.

350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000

High-Income Economies Low-Income Economies

150,000

Middle-Income Economies

100,000 50,000 0 2004

2005

2006

World Pistachio Exports.

In-shell Basis. Metric Tons

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Comtrade Database and Iran Pistachio Association.

World Pistachio Exports. In-shell Basis. Metric Tons

Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Comtrade Database and Iran Pistachio Association 354,398 306,554

352,100 300,244

314,548

328,493

332,908

315,517

346,718 294,273

267,872 235,054

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

79

Statistical Review

SPECIAL REPORT WORLD PISTACHIO IMPORTS IN-SHELL. METRIC TONS TOP IMPORTING COUNTRIES Country AMERICAS

2011

2015

4.081

3.440

2.948

1.987

1.922

3,699

2,894

2,847

1,871

1,693

382

546

101

116

229

LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN

2,909

2,206

1,842

2,800

2,300

Mexico

1,275

954

847

1,420

1,447

Others

1,634

1,252

995

1,380

853

NORTH-EASTERN ASIA

77,251

123,167

89,952

104,371

69,772

China

72,912

119,647

86,550

100,851

67,198

Japan

3,085

2,530

2,381

2,619

1,832

Korea Rep.

1,235

2015 World Pistachio Exports.

2015 World Pistachio Exports. In-shell. Metric Tons.

In-shell.

Metric Tons

Sources: DESA/UNSD United nations Comtrade Database and Iran Pistachio Association 33,635 10,327 Iran 43% 125,089

Germany 4%

9902015 World 1,022 Pistachio 880 Exports.

740 In-shell. Metric Tons.

Others 10%

SOUTH-EASTERN ASIA

31,477

Vietnam

28,021

43,724

Malaysia

897

746

19

36,174

71,281 33,635 836 881 10,327 710 926

59,935

Thailand

674

703

671

490

682

538

688

1,214

307

176

259

214

10,86649,261 24,142 7,437 12,055

18,651

19,344

15,847

75,961

777

Singapore CENTRAL/SOUTHERN ASIA

677

Iran 43% USA 26%

125,089

China 17%

India

6,564

3,925

6,241

Germany 4%

Kazakhstan

1,167

2,688

7,917

6,772

5,498

Others 10%

Pakistan

3,977

377

3,347

3,328

3,830

Afghanistan

1,207

3

Others

2,932

361

823

OCEANIA

5,013

3,797

2,278

Australia

4,806

3,468

2,148

207

329

131

99,031

109,250

101,639

Others WESTERN EUROPE Germany

28,529

38,608

44,586

Belgium

13,116

14,044

12,318

Netherlands

11,851

15,554

10,118

Italy

10,399

8,107

6,746

Spain

10,381

9,362

8,670

France

14,088

13,166

8,813

UK

4,094

3,879

2,547

Luxembourg

4,220

3,850

6,205

432

438

579

1,921

2,242

1,055

EASTERN EUROPE

28,830

29,641

25,276

Russian Fed.

Switzerland Others

17,811

18,132

15,663

Poland

1,465

2,420

1,874

Greece

1,633

1,114

849

Slovakia

1,707

1,955

1,209

Lithuania Others

WESTERN ASIA/AFRICA WESTERN ASIA UAE

961

819

1,173

5,253

5,201

4,508

46,438

18,091

31,328

16,875

5,844

13,808

Saudi Arabia

1,573

1,549

3,866

Turkey

6,921

1,359

1,457

Israel

3,918

3,694

2,923

Jordan

1,459

1,665

2,226

Lebanon

2,965

2,729

4,870

233

375

337

Qatar Others

12,494

876

1,841

AFRICA

4,300

4,206

3,234

Egypt

1,286

1,711

1,279

Algeria

1,291

1,252

632

Others

1,723

1,243

1,323

315,177

350,634

321,217

WORLD TOTAL

Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Comtrade Database, FAOSTAT and Iran Pistachio Association.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

1,958 2,667 75,961 2,042 1,731 311 81,889 26,168 16,911 12,347 6,445 6,935 6,878 3,248 1,627 347 983 12,966 6,099 1,933 744 931 973 2,286 44,243 16,523 2,766 10,158 4,141 1,449 1,803 302 7,101 2,759 928 860 971 345,592

USA 26% China 17%

49,261

Sources: DESA/UNSD Comtrade Database 0 0 20United nations 2 Iran Pistachio 45,970 38,577 and73,885 62,290Association

Others

80

2014

NORTH AMERICA

Others

EUROPE

2013

Canada Others

ASIA-PACIFIC

2012

2,045 1,730 1,570

Sources: DESA/UNSD United nations Comtrade Database and Iran Pistachio Association.

1,410 160 85,768 28,237 17,826 10,077 7,567 7,133 6,956 3,796 2,577 509 1,090 8,702

2015 World Pistachio Imports.

World Pistachio Imports. In-shell. Metric Tons.

In-shell.

Metric Tons 1,906 2015 Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Comtrade Database, 1,697 FAOSTAT and Iran Pistachio Association

1,660 988 894

4,222 42,411

1,556 39,636 13,910 6,752 4,929 2,401

94,469

1,784 1,529

152,976

481 7,850

ASIA-PACIFIC 52%

2,775

EUROPE 32%

1,301 679 795

WESTERN ASIA/AFRICA 14% AMERICAS 2%

294,079 Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Comtrade Database, FAOSTAT and Iran Pistachio Association.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

81

Industry News

ALMONDS: WHEN IS A CALORIE NOT A CALORIE? Researchers find Whole and Chopped Almonds Provide Fewer Calories than Thought when Accounting for Digestibility

N

ew research data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a comprehensive literature review from Kings College London (KCL), UK both show that roasted and unroasted almonds provide fewer calories than thought—and that the number of calories is largely dependent on form. The UK researchers reviewed all available research on the impact of processing on nutrient bioaccessibility and digestion of almonds and concluded that the amount of lipids released from the almond tissue varies significantly based on the amount of processing and the almond form. The human clinical study, conducted by scientists from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and jointly funded by Almond Board of California and USDA ARS, showed that compared to the number of calories listed on nutrition labels, participants actually absorbed 25% fewer calories from whole unroasted almonds and 19% fewer calories from whole roasted almonds. David Baer, PhD, and his research team conducted controlled human clinical trials using a new method to measure the calories absorbed from treenuts, included two studies on almonds, taking bioavailability into account. The new method allows the researchers to determine the number of calories actually digested and absorbed from almonds.

USDA Clinical Studies at a Glance: These studies were conducted at the USDA Food Components and Health Laboratory human studies facility in Beltsville Maryland.

Their state of the art research unit includes labs to measure body composition, energy metabolism and qualified staff to take all clinical samples required. For dietary interventions the subjects are provided with a controlled and defined diet. These research volunteers are free living and follow their normal daily routines of work, exercise and leisure. Breakfast and dinner were consumed onsite at the centre, whereas lunch and weekend meals were packed onsite and provided to participants to consume offsite.

Almond products were added to the typlical American diet. To calculate the measured energy value of almonds, eighteen healthy adults consumed one of five diets for 18 days each. The five treatments were administered to subjects in a crossover design where the diets contained 1 of 5 forms in a serving of 42 g of almonds each day: whole unroasted, whole roasted, chopped roasted, almond butter, and control (0g/day). After 9 days of adaptation to each diet, volunteers collected all urine and feces for 9 days, and samples of diets, urine, and feces were analyzed for macronutrient and energy contents. From this, the “measured” (metabolizable) energy content of the almonds was determined. Fracture force and properties of whole and chopped almonds were also measured; to determine the almond firmness and to relate this to ease of chewing.

In 2012, these researchers had conducted their first study using whole roasted almonds, which showed that the almonds provided fewer calories than thought. 2014-2016 the research team broadened their investigation to examine the calorie availability of additional almond forms, and also replicated the testing with roasted almonds. They found that whole

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

unroasted almonds provided 25% fewer calories than expected, while whole roasted almonds provided 19% fewer calories.

Chopped roasted almonds provided 17% fewer calories, though the difference between the calories absorbed from chopped and whole roasted almonds was not statistically different.

Measured calories in almond butter did not differ from calories estimated using Atwater factors. Traditionally, calories are determined using what are known as the Atwater factors, which assign an estimated number of calories per gram of fat, protein and carbohydrate in a food. “We expanded upon the Atwater method in our study, so we could tease out the caloric value of a single target food,” explains Janet Novotny, PhD, a physiologist and mathematician with the research team. “Then using the study participants’ energy intake and energy output, we were able to measure the number of calories actually digested and absorbed from a single food – in this case, almonds.”

Why the Discrepancy Between Methods of Determining Calories?

The Atwater method of estimating the calorie content of foods was first developed jointly by American and German physiologists in the 1870’s; as they recognized that when a food is eaten, it is broken down, digested, absorbed and metabolized. This process is not 100% efficient, and unabsorbed energy is lost in the feces. In 1896 Wilbur Atwater completed a room sized human calorimeter in his USDA Connecticut laboratory and enticed men of varying sizes and occupations to live in the lab for periods of a few days to a few weeks. Once there, Atwater’s team measured the subject’s calorie input and respiration associated with tasks such as riding a bicycle, paperwork and lifting heavy objects and reported the thermal energy needed. Atwater then took an economic approach to calories, and urged lawmakers that

Industry News

Fig. 1 Structure of the almond kernel – from in shell to cellular level

calories should be the foundation for policies to that would feed workers as cheaply as possible. He was NOT thinking of caloric food labelling!! but, to this day, over 100 years later, the calories on the food label are estimated from the macronutrient composition (using Atwater factors) and are not measured. These estimations are based on data collected from these very small studies, over 100 years ago, that were not randomized controlled trials, and were for very short feeding periods with simple mixed diets, that are not representative of what people eat today. In the mid 1950’s the USDA updated the original Atwater data, and they acknowledged that nuts presented problems related to complete digestibility; but until Dr Baer’s recent research on almonds, pistachios and walnuts energy values USDA had not re-examined this data.

How Does Almond Cell Structure and Processing Affect the Caloric Values for Various Forms?

Much of the USDA findings have to do with particle size after chewing and digestion. The larger the particle size, after chewing for example, the less of the almond tissue is able to be broken down by digestive enzymes and more of the almond is excreted, so fewer calories are absorbed. The

reverse is also true: the smaller the particle size, the more almond cells are exposed to digestive enzymes and the more calories are absorbed.

In addition to chewing and digestion, mechanical processes, such as chopping, grinding and roasting almonds can also impact particle size. The KCL researchers have clearly outlined how the almond cellular structure and types of processing will impact lipid release from almond tissues (see figure 1).

In Conclusion Researchers agree that most food composition tables may overstate the calories from almonds because they simply doesn’t account for the fact that not all calories from almonds are available to the body. The chewing process does not completely break down almond cell walls, and almond lipids are therefore not completely absorbed during digestion. USDA staff are exploring options for modifications of the caloric data in the USDA nutrient database. As well, it is generally agreed in the scientific world that further research is needed to better understand the results of this study and how this method of measuring calories could potentially affect the calorie count of other foods.

References Gebauer SK, Novotny JA, Bornhorst GM and Baer DJ. Food processing and structure impact the metabolizable energy of almonds. Food & Function 2016; 7(10):4231-4238.

Grundy M, Lapsley K and Ellis PR. A review of the impact of processing on nutrient bioaccessibility and digestion of almonds. Int. J. Food Sci & Tech. 2016; 51:1937-1946.

Novotny JA, Gebauer SK and Baer DJ. Discrepancy between the Atwater factors predicted and empirically measured energy values of almonds in human diets. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2012; 96:296-301.

Carpenter, KJ. The life and times of W. J. Atwater (1844-1907). Am. L. Clin. Nutr. 1994; 1707S-1713S.

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

83

Industry News

CALIFORNIA WALNUT INDUSTRY MARKETING U.S. ADVERTISING

T

he California Walnut Board’s (CWB) 2016/17 advertising campaign is now under way. The campaign is designed to reach 93% of adults in the U.S. aged 25-54. With this year’s schedule, the CWB was able to increase the television campaign from four months, as ran in 2015/16, to seven months, with the same budget. The print campaign includes over 70 insertions across women’s and lifestyle publications.

As part of the national cable and print media buy, the CWB was able to garner some additional added-value coverage for California walnuts, which means additional coverage or exposure for no additional cost. In December, Dr. Wendy Bazilian made a guest appearance on the Hallmark channel’s

‘Home and Family’ television program. During the 12 minute segment, Dr. Bazilian demonstrated to viewers how to make a holiday side dish featuring walnuts and also mentioned walnuts’ heart-healthy benefits. During the Dr. Oz show, four different one minute vignettes are airing, featuring Dr. Oz himself explaining how to make various dishes with heart-healthy walnuts. And finally, the California Walnut Commission (CWC) was able to secure placements for the TV commercial during two key football games leading up to the Super Bowl and one during the pre-game Super Bowl show. These divisional games can garner over 24 million viewers, not to mention the Super Bowl which has over 100 million viewers.

CELEBRATING HOLIDAY BAKING WITH WALNUTS

P

ublic relations efforts during November and December focused on showing consumers delicious ways to incorporate walnuts into their holiday baking. One of the key initiatives was a partnership with popular website Brit + Co., considered a ‘Martha Stewart’ for the millennial generation. The website has 13 million unique monthly visitors and a social reach of 88 million. Brit + Co. created a recipe and video for a Maple Bourbon Walnut Mini Bundt Cakes, perfect for holiday gifting.

Social channels promoted a ‘12 Days of Holiday Baking’ campaign featuring delicious holiday baking recipes leading up to the Christmas holiday. Other media coverage included The Daily Meal, Food & Wine magazine, The Today Show’s food newsletter, Food Network magazine, Relish, and more.

EXPORT MARKETING Product Development

C

alifornia Walnuts are an excellent ingredient for an unlimited number of product applications; one of which is butter. The CWC has recently produced formularies for walnut butter such as basic walnut butter, walnut parsley pesto, and apple pie spice, just to name a few. The butter was produced and debuted in the fall of 2016 at the Seoul Café Show - the first and largest coffee focused exhibition in Korea. The

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

four-day show attracted a total of 145,900 local and overseas visitors from 70 countries. At this exhibition, the CWC introduced easy and trendy menu suggestions for cafés using California Walnuts.

The butter was displayed in several different forms: large containers; small jars; and spread on biscuits for sample tasting. Also, printed materials on how to make walnut butter were distributed to the attendees. With

Industry News over 2,250 visitors to the booth, the event sparked multiple meetings with companies interested in developing walnut butter for their outlets.

The CWC is also working with students to inspire a new generation of product developers. A student seminar was recently conducted at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg Germany. Their goal was to introduce the students of this department to the versatility and value of California Walnuts and to create new innovations with walnuts. As a result,

CWC Booth at Seoul Café Show

over 20 product variations were discovered and documented to include not only the formula but also the description of processing, specifications, sensory testing, and cost.

New product development is essential for growing the demand for California Walnuts. Companies are not only looking for new products, but they also want ready made products that are inclusive of industry recipes.

This will remain a priority for the CWC in 2017.

Small jars of walnut butter

Online Shopping

T

o maximize the momentum of the harvest season, the CWC executed a B2B & B2C promotion on Interpark. Interpark is South Korea’s major online shopping mall with more than 20 million registered members and 47 million products listed on the platform.

New product development is essential for growing the demand for California Walnuts. Companies are not only looking for new products, but they also want ready made products that are inclusive of industry recipes. This will remain a priority for the CWC in 2017.

A landing page was created on the site to promote 34 available walnut products from 28+ vendors. All products were verified to contain California Walnuts and included such items as packaged walnuts in various forms and sizes and bakery products. Along with product to purchase, consumers could also get nutritional information and view video recipes. To promote the site, Interpark sent emails and text messages targeting small-sized foodservice customers who have a history of purchasing food ingredients of significant quantities repeatedly, especially bakery ingredients and B2C packaged ingredients. The page was also promoted on Interpark and CWC’s SNS channels. The promotion gained valuable exposure for California Walnuts, and sales over this promotional period increased by 132%.

Fifty years experience as International Brokers and Agents Consultants Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Cashews, Walnuts, Peanuts, Pinenuts, Olive Oil, Seed Oils and Other Products

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Cell : Raoul Gamon + 33 (0) 608370413

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

85

Industry News

AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS DEBUTS AT SIGEP TRADE SHOW IN ITALY

A

merican Pistachio Growers (APG) participated in the SIGEP Expo in Rimini, Italy to introduce American pistachios, the American pistachio industry and pistachio usage to the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gelato, Ice cream, confectionery and patisserie businesses.

As a platform and showcase for technology, raw materials, ingredients and decorations it was the perfect fit for the American pistachio industry to showcase all the products that are available using American-grown pistachios.

Miss California, Jessa Carmack, who is a global ambassador for the U.S. pistachio industry, participated in the event, welcoming the nearly 200,000 visitors to the show.

The APG team sampled visitors with roasted, unsalted pistachio kernels and demonstrated other forms of pistachio available. On display were samples of chopped and sugared pistachio inclusions and pistachio flours for patisserie bakers. APG offers an origin mark designed for packaging or menu boards in ice cream and gelato shops.

APG received visitors and enquiries from family businesses and independent gelato, ice cream and patisserie shops along with large corporate operators in China, India, Middle East, Europe, USA, Canada, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

The expo welcomed students and schools through the door in great numbers with APG spending time with the future customers and educating them in the production, quality, safety, usage and business benefits of American-grown pistachios.

The recent growth in production of pistachios in the American West enables producers to expand into these new and exciting markets, offering the sectors the opportunity to use pure natural ingredients instead of artificial flavors and ingredients.

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March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

American-grown pistachios are becoming a valued ingredient amongst top chefs around the world. There is a growing usage of American pistachios across various culinary business platforms due to their taste, safety, yearlong availability and customer service from APG member processors. The introduction of American pistachios to these new sectors will allow both pistachio producers and the food industry the opportunity to reach new discerning consumers with very high quality pistachio products.

U.S. Crop Update The final crop production numbers are in, and the United States has produced a record crop of 903,138,501 million pounds (409.657 metric tons). This shatters the previous record of 555 million pounds (251.933 metric tons) produced in 2012. California produced 99 percent of the total U.S. crop, while the states of Arizona and New Mexico grew the remainder. It has certainly taken a few years to get back to record production levels. With many new pistachio acres coming into production over the next several years, the U.S. pistachio industry is getting ever closer to reaching its first billion-pound crop. With the typical alternate bearing that pistachio trees experience, the expectation for the 2017 crop is that it will be much smaller. Historical numbers indicate that pistachio trees will typically produce somewhere between 65-75 percent of the previous yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; large total.

Industry News

TRAINING THE TRAINER: WORKSHOP AND CULINARY DEMONSTRATION KEEPS PISTACHIOS TOP OF MIND WITH SUPERMARKET DIETITIANS

M

ore and more supermarkets are hiring registered dietitians to create health and wellness programming, with a focus on nutrition. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the U.S.-based Food Marketing Institute found that, on average, 95% of supermarkets

have a corporate dietitian on staff, and 62% have them in their stores .

These dietitians are available to educate consumers at the point of sale and help them make food and beverage choices to live a healthier lifestyle.

H-E-B Logo (Source: H-E-B).

T

his December, Pistachio Health Institute (PHI) hosted a culinary workshop with the registered dietitian team at H-E-B, a regional grocery chain with approximately 370 stores across the state of Texas in the United States. The workshop built and nurtured relationships with these influential dietitians who work closer to the point of sale and in their communities, and positioned Pistachio Health Institute as a nutrition resource for their client consults and customer events. Attendees learned about the history and nutritional benefits inside every pistachio, and how the beloved nut has evolved from a simple culinary ingredient into a consumer snacking staple.

Pistachios 101: History, Research, and Resources PHI has a deep commitment to understanding the health benefits of pistachios and communicating nutrition research to both consumers and health professionals. The first part of the workshop focused on a review of the literature to date including the pistachio science in the areas of heart health, weight management and eating right with diabetes, as well as the Pistachio Principle. Attendees learned about the unique nutrient profile of the pistachio, its history, and journey from the orchard to the plate.

The Institute also shared key resources that supermarket dietitians could use in their practice including a healthy eating toolkit complete with nutritious (and delicious) recipes, key messages, and tip sheets. Attendees expressed their desire for turnkey resources such as this, and were thrilled to have access to these materials.

From the Classroom to the Kitchen Culinary instructor and registered dietitian Christy Wilson, RDN developed four unique recipes for the workshop featuring the pistachios’ unique flavor profile and versatility. Following a brief demonstration, attendees had hands-on time to test recipes at culinary work stations with portable cooking equipment, mimicking how they would work in their own stores and communities. The recipes were simple, requiring minimal tools and ingredients so they would be appropriate to recreate during their events.

A favorite recipe featured pistachios in an avocado-tomato soup with local regional flavors including lime, green chilies, and cilantro. Attendees remarked at the aroma and flavors in the soup and noted how much their customers would enjoy making the recipe in their own homes. Other dishes included a pistachio pesto for crostini, pistachio and strawberry yogurt parfait, and a pistachio red pepper sauce that would work great with whole grain pasta.

“I never thought to use pistachios in a pesto. It adds such a beautiful bright green color and is surprisingly creamy.”

H-E-B Registered Dietitian, Corpus Christi Region

“Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Pistachios would be a perfect fit for our events during Heart Health Month, especially with the FDA Qualified Health Claim for nuts.”

H-E-B Corporate Dietitian and Nutrition Services Program Manager

As the role of the supermarket dietitian evolves, PHI is thrilled to be able to share pistachio science and resources that are valuable to their customers. These health professionals are now engaged allies, equipped to help communicate the joy of healthy eating with pistachios on the plate.

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Industry News

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

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

R

ecently, there have been a number of proposed food labeling changes in the United States and elsewhere. Health Canada, for example, requested comments on its Front-of-Package (FOP) Labelling Consultation regarding the nutrient levels (thresholds) used to identify if a product is high in sodium, sugars and/or saturated fat. With respect to snack nuts, many nut packages would be required to bear the saturated fat FOP label, despite the fact that most nuts have a beneficial fatty acid profile makeup of predominantly mono and polyunsaturated fats.

Maureen Ternus, M.S., R.D., Executive Director

INC NREF submitted comments (see the following information) requesting that Health Canada give nuts a threshold exemption for saturated fat. After all, Canada’s own Food Guide recommends consuming nuts for their health benefits.

Abridged INC NREF Comments to Health Canada

January 13, 2017

Attention: Front-of-Package Labelling Consultation The International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation (INC NREF), a non-profit organization located in Davis, California, represents nine tree nut industries worldwide. The mission of INC NREF is to build awareness of the nutritional benefits of tree nuts through relevant research and targeted educational programs.

INC NREF appreciates the opportunity to provide written comments in response to the Front-of-Package (FOP) Labelling Consultation requesting comments regarding the nutrient levels (thresholds) used to identify if a product is high in sodium, sugars and/or saturated fat. Indeed, as stated in the consultation document, “an appropriate threshold should trigger the FOP label on foods that contain relatively high levels of one (or more) nutrient of concern, but not on foods that would be recommended as part of a healthy diet.”

This perspective is supported by the relevant scientific literature.

The consultation document also states that foods to choose more often (such as fruits and vegetables), would not be required to display a FOP symbol, whereas many foods to limit (such as soft drinks, cookies, ice cream and sausages) would likely display one (or more) symbols. In this regard, we recommend that nuts should be given a threshold exemption for saturated fat, similar to the one given to certain milk and egg products which are consistent with dietary guidance, and certain “healthy” oils and dressings. The 3g saturated fat threshold is established per reference amount and per serving of stated size. With respect to snack nuts, which have a reference amount of 50g, many nut packages would be required to bear the saturated fat FOP label, despite the fact that most nuts have

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a beneficial fatty acid profile makeup of predominantly mono and polyunsaturated fats.

Health Canada's Evidence Review for Dietary Guidance concluded that lower intakes of saturated fat, through replacement with unsaturated fat, help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Similarly, the 2015-2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans no longer characterize ‘healthy’ dietary patterns as “low in fat” or recommend that Americans limit their overall fat intake. Instead the focus is on choosing foods with more unsaturated fats, such as nuts.

In addition, the new U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend a “shift to increase variety in protein food choices and to make more nutrient-dense choices.” For example, “strategies to increase the variety of protein foods include incorporating seafood as the protein foods choice in meals twice per week in place of meat, poultry, or eggs, and using legumes or nuts and seeds in mixed dishes instead of some meat or poultry.”

Canada’s Food Guide also recommends using meat alternatives, stating: “Choose nuts, nut butters and seeds in small amounts. One Food Guide Serving is 60 mL (¼ cup) nuts and seeds and 30 mL (2 Tbsp) for nut butters.”

Nut Consumption and Health When it comes to nuts and health, there has been a dramatic increase in the last decade in the number of studies demonstrating not only the positive role of nuts in reducing the risk of cardiovascular

Industry News

disease (CVD), but also the benefits of nut consumption on diabetes, metabolic syndrome and a healthy body weight.

In a study by O’Neil et al., researchers compared risk factors for heart disease and metabolic syndrome of tree nut consumers versus those who did not consume tree nuts. Tree nut (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) consumption was associated with lower body mass index, systolic blood pressure, insulin resistance and higher levels of highdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol. In addition, tree nut consumers were 25% less likely to be obese and 21% less likely to have an elevated waist circumference than those who did not consume tree nuts. The study looked at 14,386 men and women (19+ years) participating in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Intake was from 24-hour recall data and tree nut consumers were defined as those who consumed ¼ ounce or more per day.

In another study, the same researchers compared the nutrient adequacy and diet quality of those who consume tree nuts and non-tree nut consumers in the same NHANES population. Tree nut consumption was associated with better nutrient adequacy for most nutrients that are lacking in the diets of many Americans, and with better diet quality. Tree nut consumers accounted for approximately 6% of the population and their mean usual intake was 44 grams (or approximately 1.5 ounces) per day. Compare this to the per capita intake of just 3.3 grams of tree nuts per day. When it comes

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested comments on the use of the term ‘healthy’ in the labeling of human food products. INC NREF is providing written comments stating that any labeling on food products should reflect current nutrition science and should agree with other federal recommendations, policies, and regulations (i.e., the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and FDA regulated health claims). INC NREF is requesting that FDA exercise enforcement discretion immediately to permit those tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) included in the qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease, to bear healthy claims in product labeling; and is requesting consideration of enforcement discretion for Brazil nuts, cashews and macadamias as well.

When it comes to nuts and health, there has been a dramatic increase in the last decade in the number of studies showing not only the positive role of nuts in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

to nutrient adequacy for most nutrients, tree nut consumers fared better than non-consumers. The data showed that, compared to non-consumers, tree nut consumers’ diet quality was more nutrientdense. Tree nut consumers had a lower percentage of the population consuming usual intakes of nutrients below the recommended levels of vitamins A, E and C; folate; calcium; iron; magnesium; and zinc.

Tree nut consumers had a higher percentage of the population consuming over the recommendation for adequate intake for nutrients of concern: dietary fiber and potassium. The Healthy Eating Index-2005, an objective measure of diet quality, was significantly higher in tree nut consumers than non-consumers.

In Conclusion…

All of the evidence to date continues to support the recommendation that nuts 1) can and should play an important role in the Western diet; 2) help to improve overall health; and 3) reduce the risk for various chronic diseases. INC NREF believes that any labeling on food products should reflect current nutrition science and should agree with other federal recommendations and policies (i.e., Canada’s Food Guide and health claims).

As mentioned earlier, we feel strongly that Health Canada should give nuts a threshold exemption for saturated fat similar to the one given to certain dairy and egg products and certain “healthy” oils and dressings.

Thank you for considering these comments.

(CVD), but the benefits of nut consumption on diabetes, metabolic syndrome and a healthy body weight.

All of the evidence to date continues to support the recommendation that nuts 1) can and should play an important role in the diet; 2) help to improve overall health; and 3) reduce the risk for various chronic diseases. INC NREF believes that current FDA regulations governing “healthy” claims are outdated and do not align with the current U.S. Dietary Guidelines or the latest scientific research supporting the contributions made by nuts in achieving an overall healthy dietary pattern.

Both Health Canada and FDA should be coming out with their final rulings later this year. For more information on any INC NREF project please contact Maureen Ternus at Maureen.ternus@ nuthealth.org.

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Industry News

FDA’S PRODUCE SAFETY RULE TRAINING

S

afe Food Alliance continues to stay current on the Food Safety Modernization Acts implementation of the various rules under this act. Once the Produce Safety Rule was finalized and the official training released, Safe Food Alliance staff attended the official train-the-trainer course for the Produce Safety rule. Some key takeaways from the train-the-trainer course included: growers will need to understand the requirements of the rule and how it applies to their specific operation; many useful resources are available on the FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/fsma which will help the industry implement this rule, such as the “Produce Safety Rule Fact Sheet” and the Produce Safety Coverage “Flow Chart”.

First Impressions One noteworthy item from the training was growers who currently comply with a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program may not find the requirements difficult for compliance.

There will just be a few specific requirements to meet, such as water testing. However for those growers who do not currently have a GAP program in place, there may be more work ahead to implement a program that complies with the regulation.

What’s Required?

Overall, rule requirements address minimizing risks of food contamination through controls for water, soil amendments, animals, employees, and equipment. Although the regulation does not require having a written food safety program, it is highly recommended that growers develop at least a basic written program to reflect the controls they have in place. The regulation does require some records, including employee training records, water testing records, and other records, to demonstrate that an operation is in compliance. This includes records to demonstrate that a member of the operation has attended the official one-day training recognized

by FDA, as noted in § 112.22(c): (c) at least on supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training, at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.

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In order to maintain continued support of the food industry, Safe Food Alliance trainers plan to offer this training starting in the spring of 2017. The PCQI training for the Preventive Controls rule, which applies to processors, will also continue to be offered.

Overall, the regulation is relatively generic in nature as compared to existing GAP programs.

For example, there is a requirement that growers provide for appropriate disposal of waste; this can be achieved by the simple practice of using garbage cans or other containers, as is common under existing GAP programs. But the regulation does not specifically require their use.

Trainers recommended that growers look to existing GAP programs for industry best practices which can be applied in order to comply with the regulation. It is expected that FDA will release guidance documents to assist industry with methods of compliance, sometime in the future, but it’s unclear at this point when such guidance will be released or how detailed it will be.

One notable aspect of the regulation is the water controls section, which requires most growers to conduct testing of their water source and establish a baseline of coliform bacteria in the water, in terms of both average coliform levels and variability of those levels. Additionally there are requirements in place for testing and management of process water used in packing sheds and other similar operations.

Compliance Exemptions In reviewing the requirements of the rule you will note that FDA has defined a specific list of commodities which are considered “rarely consumed raw” and therefore are exempt from the requirements laid out. This list includes (among other items) cashews, sour cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, hazelnuts, peanuts, and pecans. Growers of commodities which are not exempt are required to follow the rule.

That being said, growers qualifying for an exemption should consider several things before making a decision to not implement programs.

First, any exemptions given may be revoked in the future by FDA, if they perceive a risk to the public. Second, many customers are looking for compliance with these new regulations even where compliance is not required.

Therefore, Safe Food Alliance believes that not complying may potentially become a competitive disadvantage. So it may be in growers’ best interest to begin implementing at least some of these programs even where not legally required.

As new developments arise and new guidance is released Safe Food Alliance will continue to keep the industry up to date.

Please feel free to contact Safe Food Alliance with any questions. As plans for training dates are finalized they will be posted on the website at safefoodalliance.com/events/ To contact Safe Food Alliance or to sign up for newsletter visit https://safefoodalliance.com or email foodsafety@safefoodalliance.com

Industry News

CALIFORNIA PRUNES ARE WIDELY USED AS INGREDIENTS FOR HEALTHY FOOD ITEMS IN KOREA

N

ew product development and launches using California prunes are progressing in diverse ways in Korea.

The nutritional benefit of California prunes is gaining recognition and as a result, snack and health supplement manufacturers are launching new prune products.

Chung Jung One, one of Korea’s major food manufacturers launched Chew&, a new healthy snack brand with the concept of Chew& products being a natural snack made with dried fruits and vegetables and nothing added. Under this brand, Chung Jung One launched Prunes & Walnuts at major online and offline stores nationwide. This snack item used California prunes and further removed moisture from the prunes with low temperature to get a crispy yet chewy texture, formed into

a round base, with California walnut pieces inlaid. With its unique texture and natural sweetness, it is quickly becoming a popular product among consumers, especially with health-conscious women.

Another manufacturer, Jung Gwan Jang, a Korean ginseng producer, also introduced a new product that contains California prunes.

This product is made of 5% concentrated six-

years-grown Korean red ginseng extract and 95% California prune extract. The products are well received by Korean consumers as premium healthy supplement items, with strong selling power. It is exciting that Jung Gwan Jang launched a new product using California prunes which is getting positive responses from Korean consumers for its sweet taste and health benefits.

CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD KOREA PROMOTES CALIFORNIA PRUNES ON A MAJOR BROADCAST NETWORK

C

alifornia Prune Board Korea presented California prunes on MBC, a major broadcast network in Korea. California prunes were featured on the network’s leading morning show, Good Day, which is broadcasted Monday through Friday with a viewership of 1.6 million. The program usually covers living tips and health information.

The California prune episode featured the bone health benefits of prunes presented by the program’s medical panel. In addition, healthy recipes using California prunes were introduced by the famous nutritionist chef, Lee-Bo-Eun. The segment aired on January 10, 2017.

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Industry News

RESEARCH TO UNEARTH MACADAMIA HEALTH SECRETS Lynne Ziehlke

Market Development Manager Australian Macadamias

T

he global macadamia industry charged into 2017 with the announcement of a €200,000 grant for health research. Designed to enhance the understanding of the health benefits of macadamias, it’s the largest collective initiative ever undertaken by the global macadamia community, with the investment co-funded by the macadamia producers of Australia, South Africa, Malawi, Kenya and Brazil.

This landmark collaboration marks the first time multiple macadamia growing origins have contributed to such an endeavor, and will deliver longterm benefits to macadamia producers around the world.

Consumers are Nuts about Health Current consumer behaviour trends, positive nut health study outcomes and health authority support have emerged as key drivers of the sizeable increase in tree nut consumption that has occurred over the past decade.

Consumer research and category trends show that health and wellbeing are playing an increasingly significant role in purchase decisions globally with the trend towards ‘mindful consumption’ growing stronger, and people paying closer attention to the health benefits of the food they are eating.

Meanwhile, the growing body of research that is emerging around nut consumption is showing that eating tree nuts regularly as part of a healthy diet can protect against coronary heart diseases, decreases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, and helps with weight management.

Health authorities around the world are recognising the importance of nuts as part of a healthy diet. Governments across Asia are setting daily nut consumption recommendations and the Australian Government recently recommended that Australian adults increase their nut intake by 350% in order to meet the new recommendation of a 30 gram serve per day. In the United States, a qualified health claim for some tree nuts in relation to heart disease has received government approval.

Image: Nuts for Life (ww.nutsforlife.com.au) Diving Deeper into the Macadamia Health Story Macadamias have a potential cardio-protective role to play in a healthy, balanced diet and are a significant source of nutrients. These benefits are verified by research, including seven epidemiology studies on the relationship between generic nuts and heart disease and 20 macadamia specific shortterm research studies.

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Image: Australian Macadamias

However a significant opportunity exists to bolster the body of evidence available to support the health positioning for macadamias and compete with the weight of research that currently exists to support the nutritional and health benefits of almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, hazelnuts and pistachios.

The time has come for the global macadamia industry to unite to take advantage of this opportunity by building a compelling body of evidence that will educate consumers, health professionals and regulators on the array of health benefits that macadamias can deliver.

Measuring the Effects of a Macadamia-Rich Diet The research will compare the effect of a diet enriched with macadamia nuts versus a control diet on a host of biological variables: • Insulin resistance and secretion in people with insulin resistance • Total cholesterol • LDL cholesterol • HDL cholesterol • Triglycerides • Other emergent cardiovascular risk factors including inflammation and oxidative stress markers • Central obesity and body composition Global Industry Benefits The project’s benefits will flow through the macadamia industry globally by providing strong evidence to support the role of macadamias in a healthy diet, and helping to guide powerful health messaging to consumers, health professionals and regulators in all markets. The findings are expected to deliver the hard data needed to support macadamias’ long-term premium positioning, opening up new opportunities for the product.

Potential areas for further study are also hotly anticipated and this will help to guide investment in future macadamia health research.

Applications for the grant closed at the end of February, with public and private institutions, as well as not-for-profit organizations invited to apply. Submissions are now being evaluated, and research is expected to commence in July 2017, with initial findings slated for release in late 2018.

The industry looks forward to sharing developments as they unfold.

Industry News

ITALIANS AND DRIED FRUIT: A GROWING PASSION

A

dried-fruit snack to replenish post-sport energy levels or as a pick-me-up on a work break, a moist cake ingredient for cakes or pastries and an unusual culinary twist for fish or meat dishes.

In Italy today, the image - and use - of dried fruit has “come of age” and is increasingly associated with the immense nutritional and health benefits it inevitably brings. This change in consciousness can be traced to the efforts of Nucis Italy over the past few years and its determined quest to raise national awareness. One of the major players in the sector, Nucis Italy, came into being to promote the benefits and boost consumption of this natural food source.

So, let’s have a look at some figures. The first interesting insight is regarding the average consumption of the end user in Italy, who eats an approximate per-capita amount of 1.5 kg of dried fruit per annum. This consumption level is lower than that of countries like the United States, Germany or France, which would indicate there is plenty of room for market growth. In 2015, Italian sales stood at 50,300 tonnes, an increase of 6.1% compared to 2012 (see figure 1. Source: IRI, the data relates to consumption levels extracted from the modern distribution channel, Hypermarkets, Supermarkets and Superette food stores accounting for 80% of overall consumption patterns). Over the last few months, there has been another upsurge: The growth rate rose by 10% between January and September 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

Not all dried fruit exerts the same attraction over the Italian consumer, who tends to prefer some types over others. Some fascinating figures can be seen in the consumption of peanuts and roasted peanuts (with sales of 10,600 tonnes) pointing to major indulgence of the taste buds. On the other hand, walnuts (with sales reaching 10,600 tonnes) and almonds (3,500 tonnes) are in a class of their own, much like the whole sector of dehydrated exotic fruit and dried fruit (with staggering sales increases of 41.6% and 29.4%). Nowadays, consumers are highly knowledgeable about the health benefits of these products and often eat them on a daily basis. This is not all that has changed: Today there is a wide range of fruits available and the old associations of packets of dried prunes have given way to a plethora of more exciting items from the more traditional to the highly exotic. The one-time image of a wizened prune has been Dried Fruit

replaced with a profusion of products including red berries, pears and apricots. All these natural sweets are now perceived as being both tasty and healthy (and sometimes even harvested on organic farms).

Nucis Italy’s slogan of ‘30 grams of dried fruit combined with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle contributes to your wellbeing’ has driven the message home and seems to have actually brought about a shift in Italian eating habits. For instance, dried fruit is becoming increasingly popular as a daily “grazing” choice for sports enthusiasts and students (who munch on it instead of the usual elevenses) because it is packed with goodness and allows them to include vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids and fibres in their diet. Generally speaking, dried fruit is an excellent alternative to animal proteins and it fits the bill for anyone who needs or wants to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet (peanuts, for example, are packed with protein).

Nucis Italy’s Pledge As touched on previously, Nucis Italy is the driving force behind the campaign to promote and foster dried fruit consumption in the country of the traditional Mediterranean diet. Determined to champion the benefits of this product, it worked on several fronts and strived constantly to raise awareness amongst doctors (and therefore their patients), but also amongst the public and end consumers at large. The ‘Dried Fruit Equals Wellbeing’ project came into existence in 2008 and today it can count on a community of 1,500 doctors (nutritionists, food-science practitioners and sports-medicine doctors) who are supplied with information on the properties of each different fruit category and guidelines on how to eat them. An identical approach has been taken with the final consumer by distributing information at the sales outlets of the large distribution network and making it available on their site www.nucisitalia.it. Over the past few months, youngsters and sportspeople have been particularly targeted.

Something is also stirring in terms of Italian produce. The increase in consumption and domestic demand has triggered new production areas in various regions from the North to the South of Italy: walnuts in Emilia Romagna and Veneto and hazelnuts in Piedmont, Tuscany, Apulia and Sicily.

2012

2013

2014

2015

% variance in 2015 vs 2012

Total sales volume (kg)

47,439,813

47,909,587

49,479,793

50,315,952

6.1

Total sales value (€)

474,995,789

502,708,879

546,292,063

590,481,513

24.3

Figure 1: comparison between retail purchases, Italy 2012/2015

Sales volume January - September 2016 (kg) 31,903,656

Sales volume January September 2015 (kg)

Variance in the period (kg)

%

29,043,510

2,860,146

9.85

Figure 2: comparison between year’s purchases, period January-September

Source: SGMARKETING – IRI data (extracted from the modern distribution channel)

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Industry News

EXPLAINING INSTEAD OF DOGMATIC PREACHING: HOW THE NEWSLETTER SERVICE INFORMS ABOUT NUTS AND THEIR ROLE IN NUTRITION AND MEDICINE

T

here are many rumors and half truths about nutrition which turn out to be very persistent. Although the situation has improved during recent years in regard to nuts, nutritionists still report on this problem: people tend to continue their own nutritional thinking instead of accepting scientific facts. Maybe they simply accept what they learned from their parents; maybe they never question the conventional ‘wisdom’ of their social environment. Whatever the reason, it is not enough to confront them with some abstract scientific studies. The human brain wants to be convinced by logical and comprehensible stories – and to offer these stories again and again is one of the main aims of the Nucis Newsletter.

For example, there is widespread agreement that high-fat food causes obesity, hence most proposals for weight loss are based on a fat-reduced diet. At first view, nuts cannot play a role in this strategy, because they contain a lot of fatty acids. Many people therefore believe that nuts and weight reduction are incompatible. But they are wrong.

And our newsletter continues to succeed in convincing more and more people of the fact that nuts are not only unproblematic for weight loss strategies but that they can even support it.

Fats provide twice as many calories as carbohydrates and proteins.

This is a fact nobody can deny. On the other hand, some fats are important for some human physiological processes. Mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids especially are far more than simple suppliers of calories. They are functional substances with a wide effect profile – and they are the main components of nuts. Nucis stresses this.

Spanish Scientists at Rovira i Virgili university subjected 29 healthy men and women to three different meals of equal caloric value: the first meal contained a lot of walnut oil (with mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids), the second based on olive oil (with monounsaturated fatty acid), and the third was dominated by the saturated fats of butter and cheese.

Afterwards the scientists measured the subjects’ body temperature.

The result: the olive-oil-group produced 23 percent more body heat than the butter- and cheese-eaters, which clearly demonstrates the metabolic effects of monounsaturated fats. But walnuts were even better: they increased body heat by 30 percent1. In other words: Eating walnuts warms your heart!

But what really counts: more body heat means more calorie consumption. When you eat nuts, you provide your body with an efficient calorie burner. But this is not the end of the story. People want to know why nuts can increase body heat and calorie burning. They do not only want the facts, they want an explanation. For this reason, the Nucis Newsletter is written by experienced scientific journalists who connect the singular data to a complete story. Nutritionists that are fond of nuts will recommend them to their clients and get the story behind the facts from Nucis.

The mechanism behind the increase in body heat is: Mono- and polyunsaturated fats activate special receptors and the sympathetic nervous system in the body, and this in turn stimulates, like sports, the metabolism. The biological purpose behind this is unknown but the organism probably perceives the complex nut-fats as a challenge which require a particular metabolic answer. But that’s only a theory, which isn’t a problem because it belongs in the Newsletter’s concept, where the aim is not to provide final solutions, as the educational effect is often greater when the reader has to form their own theory.

The newsletters are always distributed at the congresses Nucis participates in and a direct approach to the addressee is made before listing them in order to have a personal touch.

All newsletters are available online at www.nucis.de

1.Casas-Agustench, P., López-Uriarte, P., Bulló, M., Ros, E., Gómez-Flores, A., & Salas-Salvadó, J. (2009). Acute effects of three high-fat meals with different fat saturations on energy expenditure, substrate oxidation and satiety. Clinical nutrition, 28(1), 39-45.

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Industry News

CHILEAN NUT TRADE UNIONS UNITE TO REORGANIZE THE INDUSTRY Chilenut, main representative of the producers, and the Chilean Walnut Commission, top syndicate for exporters, sealed an agreement to face an industry going through an all-out expansion.

U

ntil last year, two trade unions were fighting over representation of the nut industry. On the one hand, there was Chilenut, which although it included producers and exporters, most of its members were the former. The same was true of the Chilean Walnut Commission, which included mostly the latter.

Naturally, there were conflicting interests, each group emphasizing its own strengths, which did not contribute positively to the industry as a whole. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed.

The Chilean nut industry is going through an all-out expansion, especially the walnut sector. The planted area moved up to number two in the country at over 40,000 hectares (98,000 acres), second only to table grapes. And that’s not all. Over half of these plantations are not even in full production yet. In fact, each year nearly three thousand new hectares (7,400 acres) are planted. As a result of this, the estimates from the nut industry’s new trade union are anticipating more than 150,000 tons of production by the year 2021 (see figure 1).

If these projections prove to be true, Chile will become the world’s third largest producer and second main exporter, far above their closest competitor. According to Chilenut chairman, Álvaro Jiménez, “this would mean a major victory for the global walnut market. Being able to have a large

production volume of counter-seasonal walnuts (with production occurring twice a year) means that international clients will no longer have to concentrate their sales. Instead, they’ll have top quality fresh walnuts available all year to supply every market. Without a doubt, this will expand consumption, because the end user experience will be much better, not just thanks to color and taste, but also due to the freshness of the essential oils contained within walnuts, not to mention the associated financial advantages and storage costs”.

Chile is predominantly a free market. For this very reason, there have been times when other tree fruit that have experienced a boom in growth, both in terms of surface area and in production volume, adding new stakeholders who fight over practically the same markets. This leads to a total lack of control, where everyone looks to gain ground at the expense of their competition, and serious consequences for the industry as a whole.

This is precisely the motivation that led both Chilean trade unions to seek convergence and avoid what they call “a sure debacle unless a comprehensive reorganization of the industry takes place”. The idea behind sitting exporters (80% of whom are now represented after the merger) and producers (90% of whom are now represented) at the same table, is to reach a consensus

regarding how to face each season taking into account the complexities presented by the market year after year, thus aligning the industry around common, attainable, realistic goals that benefit all stakeholders and subsectors operating in the industry, along with continuing the public-private work that has been done to find new destinations and consolidate the ones that already exist.

Exponut 2017 Will Be the New Entity’s First Public Showcase The traditional annual gathering of the nut industry organized by Chilenut in conjunction with the Chilean Exports Promotion Commission (Dirección de Promoción de Exportaciones de Chile) – ProChile (April 25, Santiago, Chile) will be the first time the industry has faced the public united, leading to high expectations about the definitions reached by the sector to reach their goals both nationally and internationally. The rising Indian market will surely be a subject of analysis, as well as important presentations on technical and trade matters, all crowned by the greatest exhibition of products and services for the industry in what promises to be a memorable Exponut (www.exponut.cl) and one which will mark a before and after for South American trade representatives.

Figure 1.- Projection of Chilean walnut exports (tons)

95,000 57,000

75,000

72,000

2015

2016

2014 Source: Chilenut

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2017e

108,000

2018e

123,120

2019e

137,894

2020e

154,441

2021e

169,885

2022e

186,874

2023e

201,824

2024e

217,970

2025e

WE ARE

PRUNES WALNUTS FROM CALIFORNIA GROWER OWNED COMPANIES

SINCE 1991

SINCE 1886

Sacramento Packing, Inc. 833 Tudor Road, Yuba City, CA 95991, USA (530) 671-4488 P | (530) 671-7841 F www.sacramentopacking.com

Valley View Packing 7547 Sawtelle Ave, Yuba City, CA 95991, USA (530) 673-7356 P | (530) 673-9432 F www.valleyviewpacking.com

Advertisers in this Issue BELGIUM

TOMRA SORTING NV

39

CHILE

EXPORTADORA NATURAL CHILE S.A.

17

CHINA

SINO JET INTERNATIONAL LTD. Front inside Cover

FRANCE

EUROBROKER S.A.

97

SOMERCOM

85

EUROFINS ANALYTIK GMBH

62

PALM NUTS & MORE KG

36

CONNECT S.R.L.

17

V. BESANA S.P.A.

59

CIMBRIA SRL

15

JAPAN

TANTO CORPORATION

29

PHILIPPINES

THE RISING PILI NUTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

43

SPAIN

BORGES S.A.U.

41

CRISOL DE FRUTOS SECOS, SAT

63

FRUTOS SECOS RAMON LLOP

13

GERMANY

ITALY

INCUS TECHNOLOGY S.L.

3

JOAN ESCODA S.A.

11

MASETO, S.L.

45

MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY

95

SECOEX

95

SWITZERLAND

SWISS GOURMET AG

22

TURKEY

HAZELNUT PROMOTION GROUP

U.K.

U.S.A.

4

VISYS MAKINE

18

BÃ&#x153;HLER GROUP LTD.

37

KENKKO CORPORATION LIMITED

27

CABLEVEY CONVEYORS

98

CAMPOS BROTHERS FARMS

9

CHICO NUT COMPANY

64

CRAIN WALNUT SHELLING, INC.

35

FISHER NUT COMPANY

23

HUGHSON NUT, INC.

6

KEY TECHNOLOGY

81

NATIONAL PECAN COMPANY

43

SACRAMENTO PACKING, INC.

97

SATAKE USA, INC.

Back Inside Cover

SETTON INTERNATIONAL FOODS, INC. Back Outside Cover

98

March 2017 | NUTFRUIT

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