Nutfruit magazine, March 2018

Edition 73. Nº 1

Edition 73. Nº 1 MARCH 2018

SEVILLA AWAITS THE NUT AND DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY XXXVII INC CONGRESS MAY 21 – 23, 2018 Page 50

SWEETS & SNACKS: THE AMAZON EFFECT Page 26

US DEMAND OF ORGANIC ALMONDS OUTPACES DOMESTIC SUPPLY

MARCH 2018

Page 28

THE INC ACADEMIA TAKES OFF: WHERE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY ARE SHAPED! Page 58

www.nutfruit.org

Edition 73 Nº 1 INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mark Mariani - Chairman Mariani Packing Company, USA Michael Waring - 1st Vice Chairman MWT Foods, Australia Pino Calcagni - 2nd Vice Chairman V. Besana S.P.A., Italy 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 Ashok Krishen Olam International Limited, Singapore Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company, USA Jordi Martí Borges S.A.U., Spain 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 Hasan Sabir Sabirlar Findik Ihracat Ltd. Sti., Turkey Harry Sinclair Treehouse Foods, USA 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 Michael Waring Pino Calcagni Giles Hacking Ashok Krishen Jack Mariani Antonio Pont Berton Steir Cuneyd Zapsu Goretti Guasch

Chairman 1st Vice Chairman 2nd Vice Chairman Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Secretary and Executive Director

NUTFRUIT MAGAZINE TEAM Goretti Guasch Executive Director

goretti.guasch@nutfruit.org Francisco Montoya Production Editor communications@nutfruit.org Irene Gironès Technical and Statistical Editor irene.girones@nutfruit.org Marc Centelles Advertising and Subscription Sales marc.centelles@nutfruit.org

BUSINESS NEWS

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• Ferrero to Acquire Nestlé’s U.S. Confectionary Business • Kind and Mars Announce Partnership to Bring Healthy Snacks to People Worldwide • Snack Producer Whitworths Partners Aardman and Chapter to Launch Bright Little Nuts Animated TV Ad • Sun-Maid Growers Announce New CEO • Barry Callebaut: Mapping the Source of Sustainable Ingredients

GOURMET 18 • Bittor Arginzoniz. Asador Etxebarri Restaurant, Axpe (Spain). World’s 6th Restaurant according to The World’s 50 Best

FEATURE ARTICLES

26

• Sweets & Snacks: The Amazon Effect • US Demand of Organic Almonds Outpaces Domestic Supply • BIOFOS: Micro-Ring Resonator-Based Biophotonic System for Food Analysis. Mycotoxin Detection in Nuts and Dehydrated Fruits • Aflatoxins in Nuts And Dried Fruits: A Menace that Compromises Health and Nutrition • What’s Hot in Food and Beverage: New Global Trends Revealed

HEALTH NEWS

36

• Interview with Dr. Marta Guasch-Ferré, Research Fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health • Almonds and Chocolate, the Perfect Combination for Cardiometabolic Health?

A CHAT WITH THE INDUSTRY

46

• Emma Grennall, Nut Sourcing Global Manager at Mondelēz

50

INC CONGRESS • 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 Lively Sevilla and the Andalusian Region with INC Tours

INC NEWS

58

• Welcome to the INC Academia: Where Leaders of the Industry are Shaped!

• GulFood 2018: The Largest INC Pavilion Ever Seen in the Middle East • Nuts for Gifts, for a Healthier World • Mr. Pino Calcagni Awarded Honoris Causa by Caspian University • INC Grants Support Research and Dissemination

INDUSTRY NEWS

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• Europeans’ Appetite for Almonds Endures and Grows • CWC Completes First Year in UK • Vegetarian Athletes Fuel Up with Pistachios • On-Trend: Plant Protein Sports Nutrition Workshops Feature Pistachios • NPSA Celebrates 75 Years of Global Pecan Industry Leadership • News from the INC Nutrition Research & Education Foundation • Safe Food Alliance Opens New Food Safety Facility in Kingsburg, CA • The Strength of California Prunes • Nuts for Life Industry Update • A Specialist’s Opinion on the Benefits of Nuts and Dried Fruit • The Chilean Walnut Industry Will Be Promoted Overseas in 2018

INC HEADQUARTERS

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

MARCH 2018

Legal Update

21 Advertisers list

Statistical 69 102 Global Review

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 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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INC Foreword

SEVILLE AWAITS US! Mark A. Mariani INC Chairman

W

e are looking forward to seeing you in Seville, Spain for the 37th World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress on May 21-23, 2018. Seville is one of Europe’s top destinations and declared the “World’s number 1 city to visit in 2018” by the Lonely Planet travel guide. The congress will be held at the FIBES Conference & Exhibition Center, a top-class facility for accommodating various program events, networking, and keynote speakers’ presentations.

February 2018 launched the INC Academia and its first course -the Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits, which is an educational program about the basics of our industry. The on-site part of the program will take place on May 17-19 in Seville right before the congress, which will provide a unique opportunity for the registered students to attend both events. This onsite experience will allow the students visit almond, walnut and pistachio orchards and factories in the Seville region. They will also learn through case studies and negotiation skills program.

Ongoing research continues to emerge the many health benefits that nuts provide. In the last four months studies have shown the positive effects nuts have on markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. According to recent studies, cashews may help to improve cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure and almonds and dark chocolate may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. We are creating a series of animated videos explaining the studies, which is accessible through the health news on the INC website.

Lastly, GulFood Dubai recently observed the largest INC Pavilion ever featured in the Middle East, which hosted 20 co-exhibitors and is becoming the trading hub for our industry.

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

All My Best,

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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Business News

FERRERO TO ACQUIRE NESTLÉ’S U.S. CONFECTIONARY BUSINESS

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HE FERRERO GROUP and its affiliated companies (“Ferrero”), a global confectionary group, announced a definitive agreement pursuant to which it will acquire the U.S. confectionary business from Nestlé for $2.8 billion in cash. Nestlé’s U.S. confectionary business generated sales of approximately $900 million in 2016.

Ferrero will acquire more than 20 American brands with a rich heritage and strong awareness, including iconic chocolate brands such as Butterfinger, BabyRuth, 100Grand, Raisinets, Wonka and the exclusive right to the Crunch brand for confectionary and certain categories in the U.S., as well as sugar brands such as SweeTarts, LaffyTaffy, and Nerds.

With this transaction, Ferrero will become the third-largest confectionary company in the

U.S. market, where it is best known for Tic Tac breath mints, Ferrero Rocher pralines, Nutella hazelnut spreads, the Fannie May and Harry London chocolate brands, and the Ferrara Candy Company, which was recently acquired by a Ferrero affiliated company and whose portfolio of brands includes Trolli, Brach’s® and Black Forest® Gummies.

Ferrero will acquire Nestlé’s U.S. manufacturing facilities in Bloomington, Franklin Park and Itasca, Illinois, and the confectionaryrelated employees, and will continue to operate through the offices in Glendale, California, as well as from its other current locations in Illinois and in New Jersey.

Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of the Ferrero Group, said, “We are very excited about the acquisition of Nestlé’s U.S. confectionary

business, which has an outstanding portfolio of iconic brands with rich histories and tremendous awareness. In combination with Ferrero’s existing U.S. presence, including the recently acquired Fannie May Confections Brands and the Ferrara Candy Company, we will have substantially greater scale, a broader offering of high-quality products to customers across the chocolate snack, sugar confectionary and seasonal categories, and exciting new growth opportunities in the world’s largest confectionary market. We look forward to welcoming the talented team from Nestlé to Ferrero and to continuing to invest in and grow all of our products and brands in this key strategic and attractive market.”

“Our commitment to deliver value to the North American consumers and customers will be strongly enhanced by the arrival in our portfolio of such powerful confectionary and chocolate brands,” said Lapo Civiletti, CEO of the Ferrero Group.

HERSHEY ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE AMPLIFY SNACK BRANDS, INC.

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HE HERSHEY COMPANY and Amplify Snack Brands, Inc. announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Hershey will acquire all outstanding shares of Amplify for $12.00 per share in cash.

“The acquisition of Amplify and its product portfolio is an important step in our journey to becoming an innovative snacking powerhouse as together it will enable us to bring scale and category management capabilities to a key sub-segment of the warehouse snack aisle,” said Michele Buck, The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer. “Hershey’s snack mix and meat snacks products, combined with Amplify’s Skinny Pop, Tyrrells, Oatmega, Paqui and other international

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brands, will allow us to capture more consumer snacking occasions by creating a broader portfolio of brands.”

“Since Amplify’s inception in 2014, our company’s goal has been to bring transparency to our products, and clean ingredients and great tasting snacks to consumers,” said Tom Ennis, Amplify Snack Brands, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “This transaction is a continuation of our mission as Hershey also believes in bringing to consumers greattasting snacks made with the best ingredients possible. Hershey is a great cultural partner for Amplify and I’m excited for our team, who will have access to Hershey’s marketing and go-to-market resources to take our brands to the next level.”

nt e lm

! n pe

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Enroll in the INC Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits

Don’t miss this opportunity!

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

nutfruitacademia.org

Business News

KIND AND MARS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO BRING HEALTHY SNACKS TO PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

K

IND, a healthy-snacking leader, and Mars Incorporated, a family-owned global pet care, confectionery and food business, announced a strategic partnership whereby Mars will take a minority stake in Kind.

As part of the agreement, the two companies will partner to grow Kind’s product offerings and business globally, utilizing each other’s strengths.

The partnership will allow Kind to continue to drive positive change in the food industry while fulfilling – on a worldwide scale – its “Kind promise”, a set of nutrition principles that have guided the company’s innovation since its founding. Kind will provide Mars with a pioneering and trusted brand to anchor a newly formed global health and wellness

platform, while Mars will provide Kind with its proven international model to expand into new markets. Kind will continue to operate independently, led by its majority stakeholders, founder Daniel Lubetzky and the Kind team, with its existing headquarters in New York. As part of the agreement, Mars will lead the growth of the business outside the U.S. and Canada, partnering with Kind in accordance with the “Kind promise”.

The partnership will enable Kind to accelerate its dual mission to make its healthy and tasty foods available to more people across the globe and make the world a little kinder through meaningful social-impact initiatives. It will also enable Kind to expand into new categories.

“When we introduced our first whole nut & fruit bar in 2004, we set out on an ambitious mission to do things differently and challenge false compromises by offering snacks that were healthy and tasty as well as wholesome and convenient. It’s been exciting to see the reach and impact of our mission, and with our partnership with Mars, we’re looking forward to continuing on this journey as we empower more people to make healthy eating decisions across the globe. We remain fully committed to our guiding principles, including our commitment to always use a nutritious food as the first and predominant ingredient in every food product,” said Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and CEO of Kind.

THE WONDERFUL COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW NATURAL, RAW PISTACHIO PRODUCT

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ONDERFUL PISTACHIOS announced a new flavor, joining the Wonderful portfolio, with new Natural Raw Wonderful Pistachios. The company said that Natural Raw pistachios are the closest pistachio lovers can get to snacking straight from Wonderful Pistachios’ abundant California orchards. In fact, no roasting or salting takes place with these pistachios, making them a great option for people looking

to add more plant protein to their daily diet.

“The ‘natural raw’ process maintains the raw properties of the pistachio nut that some of our consumers are looking for,” said Adam Cooper, vice president of marketing, The Wonderful Company. “In fact, consumers are showing an increased desire for raw nuts, with 62 percent of all nut buyers purchasing raw nuts in the past year. Among this group, nearly 80% expressed interest in buying

Natural Raw Wonderful Pistachios. With this clear consumer in mind, Wonderful Pistachios Natural Raw was a natural extension to our portfolio.”

GRAZE LAUNCHES 15 NEW PRODUCTS TO TARGET HEALTHIER EATING HABITS

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EALTHY SNACK brand Graze launched 15 new products aiming to capitalise on consumers’ New Year healthy eating programs. The UK-based brand unveiled

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four new product ranges. New Superfood Bites are wholegrain rolled oat flapjacks which are packed with fiber and contain superfoods such as baobab, chia seeds, cacao nibs and quinoa.

Each square has less than 130 calories and available in an on-the-go or multipack format.

Graze is also launching a range of Mini Protein Balls following the success of its Protein Bites last summer. These raw hand-made snacks have 5g of protein, with less than 130

calories per serving. Available in cocoa and peanut butter, coconut and cashew butter, and cinnamon and cashew butter flavours, Graze said the balls are an ideal energy booster.

Graze’s new Superfood Mixes are packed with fruits, nuts and seeds, as well as superfoods including spirulina, chia and flax seeds. Available in three varieties – power, defence, and boost – these re-sealable bags are said to be a good source of fibre and vitamins.

TRUS T

When it comes to trust, details matter.

For more than a century, California

We don’t just grow the world’s

prune growers have worked hard

most consistently flavorful prunes.

to not only earn your trust but keep

Our industry’s commitment to

it. It’s a big responsibility to carry

food safety, innovation, nutrition

the mantle as the world’s largest

research and market promotion sets

producer of high quality prunes.

us far apart from our competitors.

With rich soils, abundant sunshine and a pioneering spirit that drives us to constantly improve practices we’re more than up to the task.

Details they may be. We like to call it earning your trust.

Michael Vasey | California Prune Grower Lindauer River Ranch | Red Bluff, California

CaliforniaDriedPlums.org

/CaliforniaDriedPlums

/CADriedPlumBoard

/CADriedPlumBrd

@CADriedPlums /User/CADriedPlumBoard

Business News

SNACK PRODUCER WHITWORTHS PARTNERS AARDMAN AND CHAPTER TO LAUNCH BRIGHT LITTLE NUTS ANIMATED TV AD

S

nack food producer Whitworths has partnered with Wallace & Gromit creator Aardman to develop an animated advertising campaign for its Bright Little Nuts range of natural snacks for children.

The animation, devised by Chapter and directed by Aardman’s Asa Lucander, features the fantasy land of Nutville and shows how on-pack characters The Nutwings collect and package Bright Little Nuts, before delivering them to kids across the world.

Phil Gowland, marketing director at Whitworths, said: “As a brand we’re passionate about creating nutritious healthy snacks, and we’ve recognised that there is a gap in the market for a snacking product which is packed with good stuff that isn’t boring. Ultimately, that’s what we wanted to reflect in our latest advert.

“We wanted to bring the existing on-pack characters to life. When we first launched the product the characters didn’t have a name, let alone a backstory, and we knew that partnering with such a prestigious animation studio would help us bring these characters to life and tell the story of Bright Little Nuts in a truly unique and fun way.”

Ricky Neault, agency director at Chapter, said: “We thought Aardman was the perfect fit to communicate the story of Bright Little Nuts and the associated characters. As soon as we had ‘christened’ the characters, we began to imagine the world that The Nutwings lived in. All together, we wanted the advert to be full of movement, colour, wit and charm, and Aardman did a great job of creating a fun-filled flight through the energypacked world of Bright Little Nuts.”

ROGER FEDERER AND LINDT EXTEND THEIR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

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INDT & SPRÜNGLI extended its partnership with Roger Federer, the 20–time Grand Slam Champion and most successful tennis player of all time. Roger Federer is respected and admired around the world for his outstanding sporting achievements and his likeable demeanour. He perfectly embodies Swissness, premium quality, passion and skill – values that Lindt & Sprüngli stands for as a traditional Swiss company.

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The global popularity of the ambitious elite athlete Roger Federer has made him the perfect brand ambassador for Lindt since 2009. The extension of the successful partnership, shaped by numerous emotional and enjoyable moments, joint events and charity activities, helps Lindt to strategically further enhance its brand awareness around the world and gain a foothold in important markets of the future. The partnership with Roger Federer is a complementing feature of Lindt’s successful global brand strategy with the Maître Chocolatiers. The exact details of the global contract have not been disclosed.

“We are very proud to once again extend the successful partnership with our brand ambassador Roger Federer. In this very extraordinary year for him, he has shown his ability to write sport history with unwavering maximum effort and a great degree of passion. Lindt and Roger Federer both stand for the highest Swiss quality”, says Ernst Tanner, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lindt & Sprüngli.

“I grew up with Lindt products so, as a Swiss and an enthusiastic fan of chocolate, I associate the close partnership with Lindt with wonderful childhood memories. As I travel around the world, people are always asking me about Lindt and I am very proud to be part of the Lindt family”, says Roger Federer.

Business News

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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Business News

TOMRA SORTING FOOD RELEASES UPGRADED NIMBUS BSI AT ALMOND CONFERENCE 2017

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OMRA SORTING FOOD unveiled upgrades to its ground-breaking Nimbus BSI sorter for the nut, dried fruit and other food industries at The Almond Conference 2017 in Sacramento, California, on December 5-7.

The upgrades include new, user-friendly software, improved Biometric Signature Identification (BSI+) technology, more accurate mini-pitch manifold, and more hygienic accept and reject chutes. The upgrade options were revealed to Almond Conference delegates at Booth 533.

The BSI+ module identifies product defects visible and invisible to the human eye using a near-infrared spectrum. This makes the sorter a market

leader in detecting problematic defects in almonds, hazelnuts and other nuts, including insect damage, mold, discoloration and doubles (where two nuts are found within one shell).

At the same time, new software further improves the user experience for setting up a product’s biometric signature, making the BSI technology easier to use for operators and requiring less training and resource investment.

The upgraded intuitive user-friendly interface now gives customers more input options and flexibility, allowing them to quickly and easily assign classifiers to meet their own requirements.

Customers using the existing Nimbus BSI sorter will also be able to benefit from the new software upgrade, improving their sorter’s performance without making any mechanical changes.

The sorter also boasts various mechanical upgrades which result in more effective sorting of nuts, dried fruits, grains and seeds. The size of the mini-pitch manifold has been reduced by 25 percent, making the rejection process more precise, reducing false rejections and resulting in higher yield.

The product chute has also been redesigned to improve access to the Rear Ejection System meaning customers can ensure better hygiene and sanitation. This can provide customers with peace of mind during hygiene audits and keep the machine’s uptime as high as possible.

Thomas Molnar, TOMRA Sorting Food’s global sales and marketing communications director, says: “The upgrades available on the Nimbus BSI help processors work more efficiently, produce an even higher quality product, minimize product waste and maximise profits. We always work in partnership with our customers to understand their processing requirements and create solutions that meet their sorting needs. The result of these close partnerships and listening to customers’ needs is our launch of these important upgrades.”

SPAIN CREATES AN OPERATIONAL GROUP FOR THE ERADICATION AND DETECTION OF BITTER ALMONDS

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PAIN has created a research and innovation group to work on the development of systems that can be used both at the productive and industrial scale which are capable of detecting and eliminating bitter almonds.

The occasional presence of bitter almonds in a batch is a challenge for the Spanish-sourced almond market. The economic value of the two most

The objective is to develop systems that can be used at industry scale. recent export campaigns reached almost 700 million euros. Hence the importance of this operational group, which in its first stage is composed of several associations involved in the chain of production, transformation and commercialization of the almond sector.

However, given the relevance and necessity of this project for the sector, in a second stage, other organizations of producers and agricultural

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cooperatives, along with private operators, have been incorporated into the group, in order to ensure the project has the widest umbrella possible within the almond sector in Spain. The project is funded by the Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Environment.

This operational group is due to be publicly presented in Madrid before representatives from across the sector.

Business News

SUN-MAID GROWERS ANNOUNCE NEW CEO

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N OCTOBER 26, 2017, the SunMaid Board of Directors announced the selection of Mr. Harry Overly to lead Sun-Maid as its president and CEO, effective as of October 31. Mr. Overly replaced Barry F. Kriebel who served as Sun-Maid’s president since February 1986.

“The Sun-Maid Board wants to thank Barry Kriebel for his leadership which has guided SunMaid’s success for nearly 32 years, and we wish Barry and his wife Pam the very best for their future,” said Jeffrey Jue, chairman of the SunMaid Board. “The Sun-Maid Board of Directors has been working deliberately and carefully during the last eight months to recruit the best candidate to lead Sun-Maid into the future and we are delighted with Harry as our selection.”

Harry Overly most recently served as the CEO of North America for Deoleo, the seller of the largest olive oil brands in the world and best known in the United States for Bertolli olive oil. His passions for product innovation and brand connections have driven him throughout his nearly 20-year career through several consumer packaged goods organizations

spanning both the largest to some with an entrepreneurial/high growth focus.

“I’m thrilled to be working with such an iconic brand with an incredible heritage. I look forward to joining the Sun-Maid team and connecting with all the employees, growers, and families to lead our next phase of growth,” said Overly.

Prior to joining Deoleo, Mr. Overly was Chief Customer Officer of TreeHouse Foods, the largest private label focused food manufacturer in the United States with sales of approximately $7 billion, and crafted the consultative model to work with the country’s leading retailers to refine their brand portfolios via innovation, merchandising, and product design. While at TreeHouse, he held several positions, including SVP of Marketing over 30 product categories, with examples such as snack mixes, beverages, soups, and salad dressings.

He is best known for leading the development and execution of company’s successful single serve coffee business as well as deploying key brand management strategies throughout the company’s product innovation pipelines.

Prior to joining TreeHouse, Harry worked at Kraft Foods, the Wm. Wrigley Jr Co, and BestSweet, Inc, holding various positions between brand management and global innovation leading major brands like Extra and “5” Gum. Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is the world’s largest producer and processor of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits with sales of $360 million. Located in Kingsburg, California in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley’s raisin producing district, SunMaid products are distributed throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries.

BARRY CALLEBAUT: MAPPING THE SOURCE OF SUSTAINABLE INGREDIENTS

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ARRY CALLEBAUT has committed to having 100% sustainable ingredients in all products by 2025, as part of the Forever Chocolate strategy. To make its progress visible, it has created a sustainable source map.

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Transparency is key to a sustainable supply chain, which is why Barry Callebaut is creating more ways to highlight its partners and own programs around the globe from whom it sources sustainable ingredients. One of these ways is via the newly launched source map to highlight the origins from which the company currently sources sustainable ingredients. The map gives customers a peek into some of the many sustainability programs and people behind the production of their sustainable raw materials.

Users can take a journey to view origins and ingredients such as cocoa, nuts, vanilla, dairy, sugar, palm oil and more via the sustainable source map. They will learn about the farmers behind the sustainable production of their key ingredients, immerse themselves in virtual reality highlighting the magnificent adventure behind sustainable cocoa and nut production, see films and images, and read testimonials from some of the participating farmers. Most importantly, they will get a better view of the programs the company is working on to ensure a sustainable supply chain.

Gourmet Gourmet

“ IS TO IMPROVE WHAT I DID My only dream

THE PREVIOUS DAY”

BITTOR ARGINZONIZ,

Bittor Arginzoniz (1960) was born and raised in the farming community of Axpe, a tiny village nestled among the mountains in the Basque Country region of Spain. When he bought the restaurant building in the center of the village, he and his family rebuilt it entirely themselves.

He is self-taught and has only ever worked in one kitchen -his own- where he designed and built his famous adjustable-height grills. He rarely leaves the restaurant except to tend to his farm animals, which supply many of the raw ingredients for his tasting menu.

ASADOR ETXEBARRI

How does it feel to run the 6th best restaurant in the world, according to The World’s 50 Best ranking? Is it daunting? Do you feel vertigo?

features… But, to summarize the three questions in just one, my answer would be: simplicity, humility and respect.

No. Absolutely not. To be honest, I feel today exactly the same levels of vertigo that I used to when I wasn’t on that list. I feel equally responsible for all my work. All I can say is that I am deeply grateful for such recognition and for so many customers that have visited us over the years and have helped us achieve it.

What makes charcoal grill cuisine so special?

How do you explain it? What do you think led Asador Etxebarri to obtain the nomination?

I don’t really know if there is any specific explanation for that. I guess it must be a reflection of the people who come to Etxebarri, of what they see and taste here, of what the establishment offers and makes them experience.

For those readers who haven’t been at Etxebarri and don’t know the restaurant: What is Etxebarri?

What do customers find there?

How would you define your style as a chef?

Probably lots of things could be said here. I could mention so many characteristics and

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Cooking using charcoal grill is special because wood provides very characteristic aromas which are easily recognized by everybody. It somehow ends up reflected in the final dish as one more ingredient which cannot be seen but is clearly perceived.

Lots of articles and reviews highlight that, at Etxebarri, food is the core element of everything, and especially the raw material.

You aim for nothing less than the best ingredients. Is that true?

That is at least what we constantly try.

Sometimes it is not easy and, of course, it is not always possible to achieve, but that is our aim and our desired policy, and we focus our efforts on attempting to accomplish it.

They also mention that a remarkable number of the ingredients used are sourced from your own farm. How influential is that on the final result of a dish?

It is probably not decisive, but it does have an influence. I consider it of vital importance to have a deep knowledge of the product itself, of its origin, of what processing it has undergone, and using products from our own farm of course allows me to accomplish that.

Is there any ingredient that you have discovered recently and that has become essential to your cuisine?

Common sense is the most valuable ingredient.

It would be very hard to get anywhere without it.

You are known for being a selftaught chef. Was it a matter of instinct, of trying different formulas until finding the right one, of following advice… or a bit of everything?

It’s true, you could say that I am basically a self-taught chef. On the one hand, I do follow my instincts very often, I rely very much on them. But on the other hand, it is also true that I like to listen to others -I value people’s opinions very much. I guess that all of it has contributed to defining our style at Etxebarri.

Did you expect, when you started, to eventually achieve the

Gourmet

worldwide fame that you have today?

Not at all. And, in fact, I never pursued it. I am not really a friend of fame.

What I did start with is a lot of enthusiasm, and I still have it. I have always had a lot of passion for what I do.

At this point, what are your dreams for the future?

My only dream is to improve on what I did the previous day.

When you run the world’s best 6th restaurant, what do you do at home, on your days off, or at family reunions? Do you cook yourself? Or do you prefer to go out and try other restaurants?

Honestly, I do cook at home as well, but from time to time I go out and try other restaurants too. However, when I do so, I go there as a regular customer and not as a professional: I am only seeking to enjoy the food and the experience, not to try and compare.

Almond Tile with Caviar Ingredients 300 g of raw peeled almonds 300 ml of mineral water 20 g of caviar Preparation: 1. Crush the almonds, blend them with water and strain.

Why do you think a region as small as the Basque Country has two restaurants among the world’s 10 best, and 4 among the world’s best 50? What is it that makes Basque cuisine so special and successful?

Each restaurant of course has its own characteristics, but as a common pattern for Basque gastronomy I would mainly mention its fresh products, which are the basis for everything. And I would also point out the seasonality of this cuisine: Menus and dishes are tightly linked to the products in season. I understand that to be a sign of authenticity and freshness. Besides, cuisine and gastronomy are an essential part of Basque culture, it is very present in people’s lives and it permeates all social layers and sectors. Basque people are passionate about cuisine.

You are also a keen user of nuts and dried fruits in your dishes.

Exactly. Everything has importance, and we do make some of our dishes with nuts and dried fruits. They represent a very interesting element when it comes to combining tastes, and they are also helpful when searching for texture combinations. Additionally, they are also an aesthetic element which enhances the look of the final dish. Plus they present a very rich nutritional profile and, as regards the particular gastronomic style of Etxebarri, I have to say that nuts make a great match for charcoal grill cuisine.

Where is contemporary cuisine going? Do you think there is sometimes too much paraphernalia, or is it all about styles and tastes?

The line that separates those two things is very sensitive, very weak…

And it can lead to confusion.

2. Heat the water over a low heat for 30 minutes and keep stirring until it takes on a thick consistency.

3. Extend this almond dough between 2 pieces of oven paper.

4. Form the dough into the shape of a tile and allow to dry for 8 hours at 40 degrees Celsius.

Presentation: Carefully place the tempered caviar on the tile and serve.

Almond Financiers Ingredients 125 g of toasted butter 100 g of sugar 75 g of powdered almonds

60 g of flour 4 egg whites

Preparation: 1. Whip the egg whites and add the sugar, the powdered almonds and the flour.

2. Gradually add the melted butter until everything is well combined.

3. Place this dough in molds and bake in the oven for 12 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

Presentation: Serve the financiers at room temperature.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

19

Legal Update

LEGAL UPDATE PESTICIDES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: MRLs UPDATE The Food Standards Australia New Zealand proposed to Amend Schedule 20 of the revised Food Standards Code. The following new maximum residue limits (MRLs) are added or amended.

CANADA: MRLs UPDATE Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency adopted the following proposed maximum residue limits.

Pesticide Pirimicarb

CHINA, TAIWAN: MRLs UPDATE The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Standards for Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods.

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

Limits in Foods.

MRL (ppm) 0.05

tree nuts [except almonds]

T*0.05

* indicates that the maximum residue limit is set at the limit of determination.

‘T’ indicates that the maximum residue limit is a temporary maximum residue limit.

Pesticide Cyclaniliprole Spirotetramat

CHINA: MRLs UPDATE The Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China notified the World Trade Organization of the National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C. Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods. This standard establishes 600 maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the residues of 122 pesticides. Some of the proposed MRLs may differ from Codex limits. According to an unofficial translation issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the following MRLs are listed for nuts and dried fruits:

Product almonds

Product

MRL (ppm)

tree nuts

Adoption date

0.03

stone fruit (crop group 12-09)

4.5

tree nuts (crop group 14-11)

0.25

Pesticide

Product

26-10-2017 31-01-2018

MRL (ppm)

Chlorothalonil

grape

Fludioxonil

peanut kernel

0.05

1-naphthylacetic acid

peanut

0.05

Sodium 1-naphthalacitic acid

peanut

0.05

dried fig

1.0

cranberry

1.0

Malathion

10

Simetryn

peanut

0.05

Propisochlor

peanut

0.05

Butralin

peanut

0.05

Pesticide

Product

MRL (ppm)

Boscalid

peanuts

0.1

Chromafenozide

peanuts

0.5

Pesticide

Product

Flonicamid

apricots

MRL (ppm) Adoption date 0.3

Penconazole

grapes

0.4

Spinetoram

cranberries

0.4

Prohexadione

plums

0.05

Adoption date Entered into force on: 16-01-2018

Regulation

20-10-2017

Regulation 2017/1777 of 29 September 2017

06-02-2018

Regulation 2018/70 of 16 January 2018

EU: GLYPHOSATE On December 15, 2017, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2324 of 12 December 2017 renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate until 15 December 2022. The Regulation entered into force on December 16, 2017.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

21

Legal Update JAPAN: MRLs UPDATE

for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue standards)�, which includes the following maximum residue limits in nuts and dried fruits.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan notified the World Trade Organization of the “Revision of the Standards and Specifications Pesticide

Product

MRL (ppm)

Date

Mandipropamid

raisin

Dinotefuran

cranberry

Difenoconazole

peanuts

0.1

cranberry

0.01

Folpet

0.01 0.2

raisin

Mepiquat chloride Captan

40

apricot, prune, cranberry, date, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts

0.01

peanut, date, cranberry, pecan, walnut and other nuts

0.01

grape

25

cranberry

Fenbuconazole

1

pecan

Deadline for comments: 15-01-2018

Deadline for comments: 16-02-2018

Deadline for comments: 06-04-2018

0.01

NEW ZEALAND: MRLs UPDATE

Pesticide

The Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand notified the World Trade Organization of the Proposals to Amend the Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds Food Notice 2017. The document establishes technical details on proposals to amend the 2017 Notice under the Food Act 2014, which lists the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for agricultural compounds in New Zealand. Among others, the draft proposes the following new MRLs:

Product

MRL (ppm)

Fluopyram

stone fruit

0.7

Fludioxonil

stone fruit

0.01*

1-naphthylacetic acid

stone fruit

0.03

* indicates that the maximum residue level has been set at or about the limit of analytical quantification.

USA: MRLs UPDATE

Pesticide

The US Environmental Protection Agency established the following maximum residue limits in nuts and fruits.

Product

MRL (ppm)

nut, tree, group 14-12

1.0

cranberry

Tebufenozide

grapes

Adoption date 16-11-2017

3.0

Nitrapyrin

nut, tree, group 14-12

0.02

30-11-2017

Ziram

hazelnut

0.10

08-12-2017

Difenoconazole

cranberry

0.60

26-01-2018

CONTAMINANTS CHINA, TAIWAN: MYCOTOXINS MLs The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft of Sanitation Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food. For nuts and dried fruits, the following MLs (ppb) are established:

B1+B2+G1+G2

B1

Aflatoxins

B1

for further processing

B1+B2+G1+G2 ready-to-eat

Peanuts, oilseeds and soybeans, and removal of shell/husk

8.0

15.0

2.0

4.0

Hazelnuts and brazil nuts, and removal of shell/husk

8.0

15.0

5.0

10.0

12.0

15.0

8.0

10.0

2.0

4.0

Dried figs and its processed product

6.0

10.0

Other dried fruit and its processed product

2.0

4.0

Almonds, pistachios and apricot kernels, and removal of shell/husk Other tree nuts and removal of shell/husk

5.0

10.0

Dried fruit, exclude of dried figs

5.0

10.0

Ochratoxin A

OTA

Peanuts and processed peanuts-based products intended for direct human consumption

3.0

22

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Legal Update EU: INCREASED LEVEL OF OFFICIAL CONTROLS On December 13, 2017, the European Commission issued the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2298 of 12 December 2017 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, 2018).

Roasted pistachios from the United States (10% of control frequency for aflatoxins) is added to the list. After the modifications, the control frequency for nuts and dried fruits is the following:

Feed and food

Country of origin

Frequency of physical and identity checks (%)

Hazard

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

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

Dried grapes

Iran

Ochratoxin A

5

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

Madagascar

Aflatoxins

50

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

Senegal

Aflatoxins

50

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

Sudan

Aflatoxins

50

Dried grapes

Turkey

Ochratoxin A

5

Dried apricots and apricots otherwise prepared or preserved

Turkey

Sulphites

20

Pistachios in shell, shelled or roasted

United States

Aflatoxins

10

Dried apricots and apricots otherwise prepared or preserved

Uzbekistan

Sulphites

50

EU: RASFF ANNUAL REPORT The European Commission published its Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) Annual Report. In 2016, the number of notifications for the product category “nuts, nut products and seeds” amounted to 443 notifications (362 of which were border rejections), 7% less than in 2015 (477 notifications). In the product category ‘nuts, nut products and seeds’, the top notifications for each combination of hazard/country included:

• Aflatoxins in nuts, nut products and seeds from Turkey: 68 notifications.

• Aflatoxins in nuts, nut products and seeds from Iran: 56 notifications.

• Aflatoxins in nuts, nut products and seeds from China: 50 notifications.

TURKEY: MYCOTOXINS MLs The Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Food and Control of Turkey notified the World Trade Organization of the regulation laying down maximum levels (MLs) for mycotoxins in food products. For nuts and dried fruits, the following MLs (ppb) are established: B1+B2+G1+G2

B1

Aflatoxins

B1

for further processing

Peanuts (except for peanuts and other oil seeds used in the production of refined vegetable oil) Almonds, pistachios and apricot kernels

B1+B2+G1+G2 ready-to-eat

8.0

15.0

5.0

10.0

12.0

15.0

8.0

10.0

Hazelnut and Brazil nut (except nuts used in the production of refined vegetable oil)

8.0

15.0

5.0

10.0

Other nuts (except those already specified)

8.0

15.0

8.0

10.0

8.0

10.0

Dried figs

Ochratoxin A

OTA

Dried grapes

10.0

FOOD ADDITIVES EU: CALCIUM SORBATE The European Commission published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/98 of 22 January 2018 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as regards calcium sorbate (E 203).

The Regulation removes calcium sorbate (E 203) from the list of approved food additives as a consequence of the lack of genotoxicity data on calcium sorbate to confirm its safety as a food additive. It shall apply from August 12, 2018.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

23

Legal Update

LABELING ISRAEL: NEW NUTRITIONAL LABELING REGULATION According to a USDA GAIN Report, on January 29, 2018, the Israeli parliament’s Labor, Welfare and Health Committee approved new regulations requiring front of pack labeling for most prepackaged food products. The regulations are currently set to enter into force on January 1, 2020.

Under the new labeling regime, products deemed to be high in sodium, sugar and saturated fats will be marked with a red symbol on the front of the packaging. Limits are described in detail in the regulation. The red labels must be affixed or printed on the front of retail packaging of specific products larger than 25 square centimeters.

TRADE CHINA: ANNUAL TARIFF REDUCTIONS China announced a reduction of import tariff on selected commodities effective since December 1, 2017. According to an unofficial translation issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, the Tentative Import Tariffs on nuts and tree nuts are the following: EX1

HS Code 08012100

Commodity In-shell Brazil nuts, fresh or dried

2017 MFN rate

Tentative duty rate as of Dec. 1, 2017

10

7

08012200

Shelled Brazil nuts, fresh or dried

10

7

08013100

In-shell cashew nuts, fresh or dried

20

7

08013200

Shelled cashew nuts, fresh or dried

10

7

08026190

In-shell macadamia nuts (not for seed), fresh or dried

24

12 12

08026200

Shelled macadamia nuts, fresh or dried

24

ex

08029090

Pecan

24

7

ex

08134090

Dried cranberries

25

15

“ex” indicates that goods applicable to provisional tax rate should be within the scope of the harmonized schedule tariff code and should be determined by the specific product description.

1

EU: DUTY SUSPENSION ON DRIED CRANBERRIES On December 12, 2017, the European Commission published the Council Regulation (EU) 2017/2467 of 21 December 2017 amending Regulation (EU) No 1387/2013 suspending the autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on certain agricultural and industrial products.

The Regulation maintains suspensions on sweetened dried cranberries, excluding packing alone as processing, for the manufacture of products of food processing industries. The Regulation entered into force on January 1, 2018.

INDIA: CUSTOMS DUTY ON RAW CASHEW On February 1, 2018, the Minister of Finance of India, Mr. Arun Jaitley announced his proposal to reduce the customs duty on raw cashew nuts (0801 31 00) from 5% to 2.5%.

24

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

PUBLI

Feature Articles

SWEETS & SNACKS: THE AMAZON EFFECT Amazon experienced in 2017 a record year in a variety of unexpected places. With clever strategies and long-term investments, Amazon had a great deal of success in becoming a major destination for consumers buying automotive products, furniture and home appliances. Now, Amazon is targeting a very different kind of product: Sweets & Snacks.

Nathan Rigby

is the VP Sales and Marketing at One Click Retail, one of the industry’s most accurate source of sales data for the world’s top eCommerce marketplaces. Using a combination of website indexing, machine learning and proprietary software, One Click Retail estimates weekly online sales figures with 98.5% accuracy.

C

ompeting in the Sweets & Snacks space is a unique challenge because it relies so heavily on impulse buying.

But Amazon, never one to shy away from a difficult product group, has a plan: with the new Prime Surprise Sweets program and the use of Alexa to engage the impulse buying crowd, Amazon’s effect on the Sweets & Snacks

In only the first eight months of 2017, Amazon’s sales of Sweets & Snacks had almost reached the total volume of sales in 2016, a YoY growth (comparing the previous 52 weeks to the same period in 2015-16) of 42%. Though the biggest subcategories by a significant margin are not surprising – Chocolate Candy, Salty Snacks, and Non-Chocolate Candy – much of the growth was driven by more health-conscious consumers. Dry Fruit Snacks, arguably the healthiest of all subcategories, experienced 75% growth, more than any other subcategory, while the next three top growers are all relatively healthy: Dried Meat Snacks, Snack/Granola Bars, and Crackers. Of the larger volume categories, Salty Snacks grew the most rapidly, leaving sugary treats relatively stagnant by comparison.

Sweets & Snacks: U.S. 2017 YTD

Top Subcategories

Top Growing Subcategories

Chocolate Candy

$31M

Dry Fruit Snacks

75%

Salty Snacks

$31M

Dried Meat Snacks

65%

Non-Chocolate Candy

$27M

Snack Bars / Granola Bars

59%

Dried Meat Snacks

$18M

Crackers

57%

Cookies

$14M

Salty Snacks

49%

Top Items The Numbers

$49 billion Total 2016 U.S. Sweets & Snacks sales.

$240 million Amazon.com 2016 Sweets & Snacks sales.

$215 million Amazon.com 2017 YTD Sweets & Snacks sales (January-August inclusive).

$215 million 42%: YoY growth of Amazon.com Sweets & Snacks sales.

Dry Fruit Snacks

Wonderful Pistachios, Roasted and Salted, 32-oz Bag

Dried Meat Snacks

Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, Original Flavor, 16 Ounce

Non-Chocolate Candy

Haribo Gold-Bears Gummi Candy, 5-Pound Bag

Non-Chocolate Candy

LifeSavers Hard Wint-O-Green, 50-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)

Popcorn & Popcorn Oil

Great Northern Popcorn Premium 24 Pk (8 Ounce Portion)

Popcorn & Popcorn Oil

SkinnyPop Popcorn, Original, 0.65 Ounce (Pack of 30)

Chocolate Candy

Ferrero Rocher Hazelnut Chocolates, 48 Count

Chocolate Candy

MARS Chocolate Minis Size Candy Bars Variety Mix 240-Piece

Other Snacks

Planters Nut 24 Count-Variety Pack, 2 Lb 8.5 Ounce

Sweets & Snacks: International Conversely, Sweets & Snacks sales in Europe are still overwhelmingly driven by sugary treats, with the Sweets subcategory dominating in the U.K. and Chocolate leading in both Germany and France. Quite unlike the U.S., the vast majority of the top selling items are sweets and chocolates, making up at least 8 of the top 10 items in all three of these countries.

U.S.

*Figures reflect Amazon first-party sellers only.

industry is quickly being felt. Let’s take a closer look at the eCommerce giant’s performance in this produc group.

26

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Annie’s Homegrown Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks Variety Pack

Snack Nuts & Seeds

U.K.

Germany

France

2016 Total Sales

$240M

£13.5M

€17M

€1.1M

2017 YTD Sales

$215M

£12.5M

€9.5M

€1.2M

YoY Growth

42%

35%

35%

110%

Top Category

Chocolate Candy

Sweets

Chocolate

Chocolate

Feature Articles

»» Launching “Prime Surprise Sweets” Amazon’s recent pilot program Prime Surprise Sweets is something new for the platform.

In brief, it’s a button on an Amazon Prime member’s dashboard (purchasable for $4.99) which, when clicked, automatically orders an $18 box of assorted artisanal sweets. The Dash button, which requires a 1-click ordering address, is designed to promote Amazon’s assortment of specialty chocolates, sweets and baked goods, delivering a “surprise” package of premium handmade treats, many of which can’t be bought through Amazon in any other way.

They brought in about $1.6M in sales in only a few months, and continued to rapidly grow: the button only sold about $65,000 in January but had grown to five times that size

Amazon has invested heavily in automation and today, thanks to Alexa, there is no need to click a button to place an order and have it delivered directly to your home. This new direction makes a huge difference in Amazon’s ability to compete in a wider range of product groups and subcategories because of one simple fact: it eliminates the friction of online ordering which allows consumers to reconsider. In other words, Alexa gives Amazon access to a whole new level of impulse buying. Amazon Echo owners can now shout out the candy or treat they’re craving at any given time and the very next moment Alexa will have the order placed for them. »» Candy Holidays Drive Chocolate Sales Chocolate Candy Sales over Time

17

17

20 3/ 7/

17

20

20

3/

3/ 3/

5/

6

17 20

1/

3/

01

16 20

/2 /3 11

16

3/ 9/

16

20

20

3/ 7/

16

3/ 5/

16 3/

3/

20

5

20 3/

1/

/2

01

15

/3 11

15

20

20

3/ 9/

15

3/ 7/

15

20

20

3/ 5/

3/

20

15

2,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 500,000 0

3/

At this time, Amazon has two private brands competing in the snack space: Happy Belly and Wickedly Prime. The latter paints a rather minor figure, ranking 65th in the product group with $800,000 YTD sales in 2017. Half of those sales are popcorn snack bags, generating a respectable 25% of the sales of the top incumbent SkinnyPop (with $1.6M YTD sales).

Happy Belly on the other hand ranks as the 4thbest selling 1P brand in the Snacks category, generating $3.5M in YTD in the Snack Nuts subcategory. Though Happy Belly’s biggest 1P competitor is Planters with $6.5 in Snack Nuts sales YTD, Happy Belly’s flagship Trail Mix products have no direct 1P competition on Amazon. Category leaders Kirkland Signature and Archer Farms are both only available through 3rd-party sellers – leaving a vacuum for Happy Belly to fill that may be responsible for the private brand’s success.

»» Impulse Buying with Alexa

3/

»» Private Brands: Happy Belly & Wickedly Prime

by July. By then, the program had generated $700,000 YTD sales of Artisanal Baked Goods, $300,000 of Artisanal Chocolates and $130,000 Artisanal Caramels as well as lesser amounts of several other subcategories, though since Prime members don’t actually choose the items included in the box, this may not accurately reflect consumer demand.

1/

Amazon’s Sweets & Snacks Strategy Amazon’s burgeoning success in the Sweets & Snacks product group can be broken down into four main drivers: Private Brands, Prime Surprise Sweets, Alexa, and Candy Holidays.

Let’s take a look at how each of these factors affect Amazon’s strategy.

All this talk about impulse buying of candy would be disingenuous without recognizing that the three biggest chocolate-buying days of the year are not impulse-driven at all: Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween. As might be guessed, sales of Chocolate Candy see an annual spike around each of these dates, with Valentine’s Day driving an 85% increase in 2015 and 2016, which then climbed to a 135% lift in 2017. Halloween drove a 3-week long sales lift of 120% in 2016.

Uniquely, Easter actually yielded very little change in the past, generating a negligible lift in chocolate sales prior to the holiday. Instead, we saw a sudden spike in sales during the few weeks after Easter driven by a high volume of lightning deals discounting chocolate items by 30-80%.

This is most likely due to brands overstocking on Easter candy and later trying to clear their inventory; adding credence to this interpretation is that in 2017, Amazon bucked the trend with an unprecedented 50% spike in candy sales before Easter and, as a result, the post-holiday dealdriven spike disappeared.

Key Takeaways »» Amazon shoppers in the U.S. are buying more snacks year after year, but their preferences are shifting towards healthier, non-sugary and organic snacks. »» Amazon’s private brands (which are still limited in this space) are competing more effectively in areas where there are less first-party competitors, such as Happy Belly Trail Mix. »» Prime Surprise Sweets is a new and unique way for Amazon to market specific product categories, generate brand awareness for artisans and other 1P sellers, and increase their portfolio of premium and artisanal products. »» As Alexa grows in popularity, voice-activated purchases of snack foods and other consumables have the potential for major growth. »» Year after year, Amazon has been improving holiday candy sales (including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas), both in volume and in duration of lift.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

27

Feature Articles

US DEMAND OF ORGANIC ALMONDS OUTPACES DOMESTIC SUPPLY Domestic organic almond producers cannot keep pace with market demand as imports continue to grow. The United States imports as many organic almonds as domestic producers can provide.

I

n 2016, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) reported that U.S. consumers spent nearly $50 billion USD in total organic products sales and that organic continued to average double-digit growth over the last five years.1 Of those sales, OTA reported that organic nut sales expanded to $161 million.2 Consumer demand for organic nuts is high, but U.S. domestic almond producers are not keeping pace despite the higher market price for organic almonds and an overall growing sector.

The Rise of Organic

Organic certification in the United States began in the 1970s and became federally regulated through the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). OFPA created the National Organic Program (NOP) within the USDA and established the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a U.S. federal advisory board. In about 40 years, organic grew from local farmers inspecting each other to an international marketplace of thousands of certified organic growers, handlers, and processors and billions in global revenue.

Today, organic farmers and processors operate on almost every continent, and state trading partners manage equivalency agreements so that organic almonds grown in Spain or Italy can be sold in the U.S. market as organic.

The organic standards are dynamic and require producers to follow a strict set of rules regarding the production, processing, and handling of commodities. They include regulations on soil management, pest and weed control, input materials, and more. The standards also require a three-year transition period for bringing land from conventional to organic production. Use of bioengineering (GMOs), ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is strictly prohibited. Fertilizers and pesticides are regulated and must be approved for organic

28

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

production before use. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), within the standards, lists the synthetic substances that are allowed for use and the nonsynthetic substances that are prohibited.

Materials on the National List are reviewed every five years to determine whether the substance should continue to be allowed or prohibited.

Organic Benefits

The organic standards include requirements to enhance soil fertility and to maintain or improve natural resources. Producers are required to foster biodiversity, and almond growers—who rely on pollinators—can reap the benefits of implementing biodiversity and natural resource conservation practices. Integrated pest management practices and wildlife management plans conserve local natural flora and fauna, while organic soil practices build carbon-sequestering soils that retain nutrients and reduce soil erosion and groundwater contamination.

Label Competitors

Consumers of organic foods have high expectations and trust of the organic label.

However, food labels such as “non-GMO,” “natural,” and others can be found side-by-side with organic products on shelves. But some labels only go so far.

Organic certification also often encompasses other labels and certifications.

For example, as use of GMOs is prohibited in organic production, all certified organic products are non-GMO. Labels such as “non-GMO” share organic’s prohibition of GMO use, but they do not include organic’s prohibition of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, requirement to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity, and more.

Organic is also regulated by federal law, while other labels are private, third-party certifications.

Peter Nell is the policy assistant for CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). CCOF is a nonprofit organization that advances organic agriculture and provides organic certification for growers, handlers, and processors across North America.

Barriers to Organic

Organic producers benefit from strong consumer demand, premium prices, and more. However, significant barriers exist for producers interested in transitioning to organic production. Producers must navigate two major barriers to the organic transition: the required three-year transition to organic production, and access to land and capital.

The required three-year transition period “poses numerous challenges, including need for capital investment, high operating costs, risk management, and regulatory compliance costs at the same time that product is not eligible for the organic price premiums.”3 The organic standards require that producers not apply prohibited inputs to their land for three years prior to their first organic harvest. Often, crop producers experience yield loss and higher operation costs during the transition period. This can create an economic issue for producers who cannot use the organic label on their products while transitioning to organic. Significantly, the economic barrier also leads to further challenges as producers often are investing into organic without returns on their investment for three years.

However, transitional certification programs do exist for operations that are amid their transition to organic.

Access to land is also a barrier for the organic transition. Domestic organic almonds are exclusively grown in California’s agriculturally diverse Central Valley, where the climate is ideal for many crops. As nonagricultural development continues to grow in the region, available farmland is shrinking and driving land prices up.4 Even when land is secured, the producer must likely then still spend three years transitioning it to organic production.

Feature Articles Domestic and Imported Organic Almonds

Growth in organic nuts sales has continued to rise rapidly over the past few years. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistic Service’s (NASS) Certified Organic Surveys show that the value of U.S. organic almond sales increased $8.3 million in 2015 to $40.6 million, with only 52 more acres but 200,000 fewer almonds harvested than the previous year. Domestic sales of organic almonds soared in 2015 with imports also reaching an all-time high of $40.8 million.5 U.S. Certified Organic Almonds 2014–2016 Acres Harvested

Quantity Harvested

Value of Sales

20146

6,157 acres

7.6 million

$32.3 million

20157

6,209 acres

7.4 million

$40.6 million

20168

5,897 acres

6.6 million

$32 million

totals were nearly the same in 2013, but Spanish almonds doubled Italian imports and have continued to be more popular. Additionally, in the past three years organic almonds represented more than 50 percent of the total almond imports to the United States. Almonds are ranked as the twelfthbiggest organic import by value (coffee, soybeans, and bananas rank first, second, and third, respectively).10 Almond producers also benefit from the popularity of almond products, such as almond milk and almond butters. The organic nut butter sector grew 8.5 percent in 2016, up from 6 percent the year prior, but the sector is heavily reliant on the supply.11 Demand for almonds, either raw or processed into products, therefore provides a valuable chance for domestic almond producers to enter the organic market.

The Opportunity

The high prices of domestic organic almonds “drove up expectation of producers around the world” in 2016, and the value of sales and imports dropped to closer to 2014 numbers.9 Nevertheless, organic almond imports remain high.

The majority of almonds are imported from Spain and Italy under the U.S.–EU organic trade equivalency agreement. Spanish and Italian import Organic Almonds Imports $58,7 $60,0

Millions of USD

$50,0

$39,6

$41,6

$40,0 $40,8

$30,0 $20,0 $10,0

$16,7

$32,5

$17,7

$27,7

[VALOR]

$8,5

$13,9 $7,1

$0,0 2013

2014

2015

Years Total Imports

Italian Imports

Spanish Imports

2016

The demand for organic almonds poses an especially great opportunity for almond producers who are interested in transitioning to organic production. The Almond Board of California reports that 130 million almond trees produce almonds on 1.1 million acres in California.12 However, less than 6,000 acres of almonds are certified organic.13 This discrepancy is not unique to almonds; in organic’s home of California, less than 4 percent of farmland is certified organic14. Organic products continue to sell well, but domestic suppliers cannot keep pace.

Domestic supply of organic almonds must increase to match consumer demand for organic almonds. Producers who are able to transition to organic production have the opportunity to reap the benefits of a steadily growing sector. For the last three years, demand for almonds was only met through importation of almonds with international growers taking advantage of low domestic supply. Domestic almond growers can join the organic market and benefit from premium prices while enhancing the environment and more.

Source: Organic Trade Association, “U.S. Organic Trade Data: 2011-2016,” 2017.

References 1. Organic Trade Association, “Organic Industry Survey 2017,” 2017, 2. 2. Organic Trade Association, “U.S. Organic Trade Data: 2011-2016,” 2017, 92. 3. CCOF, “Report on Economic Barriers to Organic Transition,” 2015, 4. 4. CCOF, “Report on Economic Barriers to Organic Transition,” 6-7. 5. Organic Trade Association, “U.S. Organic Trade Data: 2011-2016,” 92. 6. U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Service. “Certified Organic Survey 2014,” 2015, 102. 7. U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Service. “Certified Organic Survey 2015”, 2016, 49.

8. U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Service. “Certified Organic Survey 2016,” 2017, 79. 9. Organic Trade Association, “Organic Industry Survey 2017,” 92. 10. Organic Trade Association, “Organic Industry Survey 2017,” 29. 11. Organic Trade Association, “Organic Industry Survey 2017,” 87. 12. Almond Board of California. Almond Almanac 2016 Annual Report, 2016, 5.

13. U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Service. Organic Survey 2016, 79. 14. U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Service. “Certified Organic Survey 2016,” 2017, 1; California Department of Food and Agriculture. “California Agriculture Statistics Review, 2015-2016,” 2016, 2.

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Feature Articles

BIOFOS, NEW METHOD OF MYCOTOXIN DETECTION IN NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS Biosensors are fast analysis devices that can provide quantitative determination at a reasonable price.

Romero1, A.; Ninot1, A.; Hermoso1, J.F.; Zergioti2, I.; M. Massaouti2, Kouloumentas2, Ch.; Avramopoulos2, H.; Leeuwis3, H.; Schreuder3, E.; Graf 4, S.; Knapp4, H.; Barthelmebs5, L.; Noguer5, T.; Tsekenis6, G.; Scheres7, L.; Smulders8, M.; Zuilhof 8, H., Heesink9, G.; Serrano10, A.; Rísquez10, A.

1. IRTA-Mas de Bover, Ctra Reus-El Morell km 3,8 43120-Constantí (Spain) agusti.romero@irta.cat 2. Institure of Communications & Computer Systems / National Technical University of Athens- ICCS/NTUA, Greece 3. LIONIX B.V., The Netherlands 4. Centre Suisse d’Electronique en de Mocrotechnique - CSEM, Switzerland 5. Univessité de Perpignan Via Domitia - UPVD, France 6. Bioacademy of Athens – BRFAA, Greece 7. SURFIX B.V., The Netherlands 8. Wageningen University - WU, The Netherlands 9. Saxion University, The Netherlands 10. Cooperativa del Valle de los Pedroches - COVAP, Spain

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F

ood contamination by mycotoxins, pesticides and metals is a major issue for Food Safety Policy and it has an important economic impact on European Food Health Services1. Aflatoxins are produced by certain species of Aspergillus spp. All Aflatoxins are acutely and chronically toxic in animal studies. They are described as carcinogens in humans, with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) being the most toxic. Nuts may contain AFB1 along with other aflatoxins (B2, G1 and G2). Nuts can be naturally affected in the orchard or during postharvest steps. In contrast to other mycotoxins, Europe has no Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for aflatoxins because they have been shown to cause cancer of the liver in laboratory animals by damaging DNA. Official analyses use very high precision methods that require skilled personnel and high-tech equipment (HPLC-FLD and HPLCMS/MS). This is expensive and makes it difficult to implement these analyses along the food chain from farm to fork. Furthermore, there are several fast analysis kits on the marked, most of them using the ELISA test, which makes safety control easier along the food chain. However, these fast analyses are not quantitative, still require several days to get the results and they are not reusable.

Biosensors are fast analysis devices that can provide quantitative determination at a reasonable price. Different biosensor platforms have been the focus of interest over the last fifteen years, including fluorescence2, surface plasmon resonance (SPR)3, electrochemical4 and surface acoustic waves5. Despite their individual strengths, these platforms have individual limitations, such as the need to label molecules and techniques2, the need for bulky setups5 or their sensitivity to intense electromagnetic (EM) interference and their low signal‐to‐noise ratio. What is more, they only can achieve low

sensitivity and/or specificity due to either the underlying mechanisms of detection or the biotransducer elements used.

In recent years, optical lab‐on‐a‐chip (LoC) technology based on optical interferometers6 has seen significant achievements. The interferometric biosensors are label‐free, do not suffer from electromagnetic interference and can really deliver on the vision for miniaturized optofluidic biosensors, as a result of the revolution in photonic integration and microfluidic technology since the early 2000s7, 8. BIOFOS aims to further develop and validate a reusable and high-added-value Lab-on-Chip (LoC) based, micro-biophotonic sensor platform for in situ monitoring of food contaminants.

BIOFOS combines four high-tech platforms: »» The photonic platform based on microring resonators (MRR) for signal quantification9. »» The biological platform based on aptamers for analyte detection10. »» The nanochemical platform to immobilize aptamers onto the chip surface11. »» The microfluidic platform for sample pretreatment and its loading into the biosensor.

The project activities include device development, the definition of end-user requirements, the comparison against actual analytical methods and kits for fast analysis, validation through ISO protocols and the study for potential markets.

The BIOFOS device can be used all along the food chain by non-skilled personnel, with a low cost per sample and a very short timeto-result. Furthermore, each biosensor can be used more than twenty times. The Lab-on-Chip will be tested on milk (aflatoxin M1, antibiotics and lactose), olive oil (pesticides and metals), nuts (aflatoxin B1) and dehydrated fruits (ochratoxin A).

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Simple and fast off-device sample extraction procedures were developed in order to isolate the mycotoxins from the food into a liquid solution. Then, this solution is loaded into the BIOFOS pre-treatment unit that corrects, in an automated way, pH, clean level and more parameters before its loading into the detection unit. This makes BIOFOS suitable to analyze almost any kind of food as long as the mycotoxins and average concentrations are equivalents.

Preliminary results for almonds and pistachios spiked with AFB1 and OTA suggest that BIOFOS is sensitive enough for both mycotoxins, even though the concentration is at ppb level.

More data are still required, and many analyses are ongoing in the laboratory. There are insufficient results to draw any conclusions about any characteristics of the device’s

performance other than that repeatability seems very good (variation less than 2% at 33 ppb for AFB1 and less than 9% at 14 ppb for OTA) and recovery is acceptable (78% for AFB1 and 95% for OTA), while decision limit and detection capability are still uncertain.

Future activities will target a higher number of mycotoxins to be detected simultaneously and to increase the technology level from preprototype to prototype that could be tested in real industrial plants.

References 1. EFSA (European Food Safety Agency), 2014. The 2012 European Union Report on pesticide residues in food. EFSA Journal 2014;12(12):3942 2. Zhang, R.; Ying, Y.; Rao, X.; Li, J. 2012. Quality and safety assessment of food and agricultural products by hyperspectral fluorescence imaging. J. Sci. Food Agric. 92(12):2397-408.

3. Guo, X. 2009. Surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor technique: a review. J. Biophotonics, 5(7):483-501.

4. Centi, S.; Laschi, S.; Mascini, M. 2009. Strategies for electrochemical detection in immunochemistry. Bioanalysis. 1(7):1271-91.

5. Deisingh, A.K.; Thompson, M. 2004. Biosensors for the detection of bacteria. Can. J. Microbiol. 50(2):69-77.

6. Iqbal, M.; Gleeson, M.A.; Spaugh, B.; Tybor, F.; Gunn, W.G.; Hochberg, M.; Baehr-Jones, T.; Bailey, R.C.; Gunn, L.C. 2010. Label-free biosensor arrays based on silicon ring resonators and high-speed optical scanning instrumentation. IEEE J. Sel. Topics Quantum Electron, pp. 654–661.

7. Vlasov, Y.A. 2012. Silicon CMOS-Integrated Nano-Photonics for Computer and Data Communications Beyond 100G. IEEE Communications Magazine, pp-567-572.

8. Harold, K.E.; Rasooly, A. (editor). 2009. Lab-on-a-Chip technology: fabrication and microfluidics. Caister Academic Press, ISBN.978-1-904455-46-2.

9. Damen, C.A.J.; Heideman, R.G.; Heesink, G.J.T.; Schreuder, F.; Besselink, G.A.J. 2014. TriPleXTM-based Micro Ring Resonators for Food Safety Applications, Conference Paper Latin America Optics and Photonics Conference Cancun Mexico November 16-21.

10. Istamboulié, G.; Paniel, N.; Zara, L.; Reguillo L.; Barthelmebs, L.; Noguer, T. 2016. Development of an impedimetric aptasensor for the determination of aflatoxin M1 in milk. Talanta, 146, 464-469.

11. Chatzipetrou, M.; Massaouti, M.; Trilling, A.K.; van Andel, E.; Scheres, L.; Smulders, M.M.J.; Zuilhof, H.; Zergioti, I.. Direct creation of biopatterns via combination of laser-based techniques and “click-chemistry”, Langmuir, (submitted).

Your Distributor for Germany Work hand in hand with the nuts & dried fruits import and marketing experts.

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Feature Articles

AFLATOXINS IN NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS: A MENACE THAT COMPROMISES HEALTH AND NUTRITION The contamination of foods and food products causes not only economic losses but renders the produce unfit for consumption and thereby poses a significant health hazard to both humans and livestock.

Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur, Arunima Pothana, Kalyani Prasad and Kiran Kumar Sharma.

International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad-502324, Telangana, India

A

flatoxins form one of the major groups of mycotoxins that are released as secondary metabolites by the saprophytic fungi Aspergillus, the most common of which is Aspergillus flavus. They grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay and greens, and on a variety of agricultural and food products (Payne and Brown, 1998).

Aflatoxins are often responsible for the contamination of fruits and nuts grown in tropical, subtropical and semi-arid regions, where environmental conditions promote the growth of these mycotoxigenic Aspergilli. The most susceptible commodities include maize, peanuts, chilies, figs, dried fruits, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and several nuts grown in regions with high temperatures necessary for fungal infection and consequently, the production of aflatoxins (Karaca and Nas, 2006; Shenasi et al., 2002).

Because of their high lipid content, the nuts which are vulnerable to aflatoxin contamination are almonds, walnuts, peanuts and pistachios.

Similarly, fruits such as figs and dates are susceptible to infection by aflatoxigenic Aspergilli after the fruits ripen and soften, providing a medium high in sugars that is suitable for aflatoxin production. Aspergillus infection of figs has been associated with the ability of the pathogens to penetrate the internal cavity of the fruit (Doster et al., 1996) making them prone to infection during drying. The contamination of foods and food products causes not only economic losses but renders the produce unfit for consumption and thereby poses a significant health hazard to both humans and livestock.

A recent study indicated that, in general, over 25% of A. flavus isolates are capable of producing aflatoxins (Hedayati et al., 2016).

While A. flavus commonly produces B1 and B2 aflatoxins, A. parasiticus produces two additional aflatoxins, G1 and G2. Among these, B1 is the most toxic and potent carcinogen because of its association with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Aflatoxins were first identified in 1960 when a severe outbreak of “Turkey ‘X’ Disease” in the UK killed over 100,000 turkeys. Since then there have been over six major aflatoxin outbreaks globally (Bhatnagar-Mathur et al., 2015).

Over 5 billion people in developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), South Asia (SA), the Western Pacific region (including China), as well as parts of Central America have been exposed to uncontrolled levels of these toxins, while nearly 2 billion unsuspectingly consume

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aflatoxins at levels far above food safety standards, especially in lowincome countries where food rarely undergoes formal safety inspection (Sharma et al., 2017).

Ingestion of contaminated food is the main source of exposure to aflatoxins which adversely affect the health of both humans and animals. The compounds can cause acute or chronic toxic effects of a teratogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic and immunotoxic character.

They are also heat and freeze stable and thereby remain indefinitely in the food chain (Bhatnagar-Mathur et al., 2015). Besides restricting trade, contamination caused by these molds leads to a huge amount of wastage. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed stringent regulations on levels of aflatoxin at 20 ppb (parts per billion) in food and feed, and 0.5 ppb in milk, the European Union (EU) has set lower limits.

Aflatoxin contamination occurs at both pre- and post-harvest and is highly dependent on biological and environmental factors that lead to mold growth and toxin production. Contaminated soils, extended drought, mechanical or insect and bird damage, drought stress and excessive rainfall encourage pre-harvest mold growth and aflatoxin production.

During post-harvest, aflatoxin contaminates the crop/commodity that is not appropriately dried, followed by improper storage conditions that are typical of the developing countries, inadequate sanitation and processing of harvested products.

In many crops, breeding for resistance is not a reliable option because of the limited availability of genotypes with durable resistance to the Aspergillus species. Post-harvest practices like proper drying, curing, sampling, irradiation, ozone fumigation and improved packaging materials can minimize the effect, but no durable resistance has been obtained thus far. An integrated adoption of these pre- and postharvest technologies is required for sustainable solutions to reduce aflatoxin contamination.

Biotechnology Provides a Solution

For a sustainable solution to aflatoxin contamination, efforts have been focused on identifying and improving knowledge of host-plant interactions that may provide factors for resistance to infection and colonization of the fungi and subsequent production of the toxin. Based on these findings, precision molecular or transgenic breeding of resistance genes into commercial varieties may be possible. While appropriate storage practices can generally minimize post-harvest aflatoxin contamination, the use of biotechnology to interrupt the probability of pre-harvest infection and contamination has the potential to provide a sustainable solution.

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By analyzing the way the fungus propagates through the groundnut pods in nature, a collaborative effort involving ICRISAT scientists and US researchers from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Missouri, Louisiana State University (LSU), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Louisiana have devised biotechnology tools to develop peanuts that are immune to preharvest infection by A. flavus and are also able to block aflatoxin production in the field as well as under post-harvest storage. Their research has shown potential for taming this fungal threat by developing groundnuts free from aflatoxins with a biotechnological double-defense strategy offering hope of controlling this toxin (Sharma et al., 2017).

One strategy that involved the production of antimicrobial peptides (called defensins) using a genetic engineering approach resulted in no or minimal growth and infections by A. flavus. The other employed plant-induced gene silencing by using small siRNA’s that interfere with the toxin production pathway to make the fungus incapable of aflatoxin production and accumulation. In this approach, peanut seeds are made to produce small RNA molecules from the Aspergillus fungus.

The RNA molecules inactivate the target genes in the fungus that are involved in the biosynthetic pathway responsible for aflatoxin synthesis. When exposed to the aflatoxin-producing molds, the seeds in the former experiment remain unaffected while the untransformed peanut varieties turn green and moldy. The latter approach completely prevents the fungus from producing aflatoxin.

Both approaches show great heritability when tested over three seed generations and remarkable levels of aflatoxin resistance. Using highly sensitive detection tools (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), researchers detect hardly any trace of aflatoxin (below 1 ppb) upon fungus inoculation, compared to the control seeds, which accumulated over 3,000 ppb within the

3-day post infection period. This study shows that groundnut lines infected with the fungus, in conditions well above the field reality, were able to suppress toxin levels to below detectable limits, offering promising results. We are now combining these two traits in a single variety to ensure double protection rendered by both technologies, ultimately leading to healthy peanuts that are immune to A. flavus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination.

This innovative research demonstrates very tangible proof of concept to incorporate high aflatoxin resistance within peanuts as well as other nuts and dried fruit that are prone to Aspergillus infection and subsequent aflatoxin contamination. Further study of these aflatoxinfree lines will also help better understand the molecular mechanisms involved, which can be transferred to other crops. Thus, we show a clear roadmap to tame these harmful food contaminants at their source. Development and deployment of such improved germplasm in an effective manner will also be an important prerequisite for the sustainable use of biotechnology for crop improvement and food safety. This will prevent thousands of tons of fungi-affected crops from being discarded or consumed with unacceptable levels of the toxin.

But before the breakthrough can benefit consumers, researchers must still conduct field trials in the target countries to continue developing aflatoxin-resistant peanuts by validating their safety and agronomic performance according to biosafety regulations, which would require seeking approval from the respective regulatory authorities.

References 1. Payne, G.A. and Brown, M.P. 1998. Genetics and physiology of aflatoxin bioxynthesis. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 36:329-362. 2. Karaca, H. and Nas, S. 2006. Aflatoxins, patulin and ergosterol contents of dried figs in Turkey. Food Additives and Contaminants 23:502-508. 3. Shenasi et al. 2002. The production of aflatoxins in fresh date fruits and under simulated storage conditions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 82:848-853. 4. Doster et al. 1996. Aspergillus species and mycotoxins in figs from California orchards. Plant Disease 80:484-489. 5. Hedayati et al. 2016. Aflatoxins in food products in Iran: A review of the literature. Jundishapur journal of microbiology, 9:7. 6. Marroquín-Cardona, et al. 2014. Mycotoxins in a changing global environment–a review. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 69: 220-230. 7. Bhatnagar-Mathur et al. 2015. Biotechnological advances for combating Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in crops. Plant Sci. 234:119–32. 8. Sharma et al. 2017. Peanuts that keep aflatoxin at bay: a threshold that matters. Plant biotechnology journal, https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12846.

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Feature Articles

WHAT’S HOT IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE: NEW GLOBAL TRENDS REVEALED

Lynne Ziehlke,

Market Development Manager, Australian Macadamias

T

he Australian Macadamias marketing program is guided by the results of regular consumer research, with our most recent study examining the latest global food and beverage trends.

These trends provide an indication of what lies ahead and help paint a picture of how product developers can innovate in ways that will meet changing consumer desires as they come to fruition.

Here we share some of the key findings of the study, how they’re manifesting in Western and Asian markets, and what they mean for macadamias.

The 5 Macro Trends Driving Food and Beverage Consumer Behaviour 1. Control of Health In Western markets, health has become a currency that consumers are embracing, and Western consumers have a heightened knowledge of nutrition, at an almost molecular level. Many consumers are embracing organic, gluten free and raw trends, but often as a personal branding choice rather than a true dietary requirement.

This trend offers up a host of opportunities for macadamias in Western markets, particularly as a source of non-meat protein. As a source of magnesium (which promotes good quality sleep), they’re suited to the ‘night time nutrition’ space, while their health benefits and portability are a great fit for the kids snacking category.

In Asia, food is considered ‘nature’s medicine’, however it is also about external appearance, keeping young and looking good. There is significant concern about food safety in many Asian markets, and organic food is regarded as the safest option.

Many Asian consumers are lactose intolerant and in search of plant-based alternatives. Consumers are also increasingly aware of the importance of protein, and looking for products that offer sports nutrition.

2. Here and Now In the West, the need for convenience endures, and our ‘always on’ lives have seen the rise of snacking, which is moving from a habit that occurs between meals to a meal replacement in its own right.

In China, snacking has become a way of life, and macadamias can leverage this in multiple forms. As a highly satiating nut, macadamias are an ideal ingredient for busy Chinese urbanites who are seeking something filling on the go.

3. No Filter Consumer trust is at an all-time low, and Western consumers are demanding absolute transparency in terms of ingredients, source and production methods, sustainability practices and how communities are affected by the products they’re purchasing.

By far the biggest trend engulfing Asian markets at the moment, Chinese consumers in particular have serious concerns about food

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Chai frappé with a macadamia and honey swirl

safety, with many purchase decisions based on a brand’s country of origin. Asian consumers perceive the West to be a symbol of purity, and safety of source, ingredient and production process.

In Asia, products containing Australian macadamias could leverage the Australian grown ‘purity of source’ narrative.

4. Global Fusion As the world becomes borderless, flavours, foods and heritage are merging, catering to our “restless palate syndrome”.

In the West, the expansion of multiculturalism is continuing, with international flavours emerging in the cuisine landscape. Increased travel and internet access is seeing the globalisation of fusion flavours expand.

Food trends that originate in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan hold great status in China, as they’re considered to have the ‘cool’ factor that Chinese consumers are seeking.

In China’s tier 1 and 2 cities, consumers make highly sophisticated food choices and everyday eating out has become a food journey, from Italian mash-up to traditional Chinese meals. As a versatile ingredient, macadamias suit a variety of cuisines and can easily play in this space.

5. Memorable Food Western consumers have come to value experiences more than products. Many people now enjoy Instagramming their food as much as eating it, and food has become a form of theatre, and an expression of an individual’s values. Binge culture has become acceptable, as consumers seek escape in food, with macadamias offering high binge-ability.

In China, the idea of experiencing beauty from the inside out is gaining traction, presenting an opportunity for macadamias to feature in ingestible beauty products. The promise of energy is powerful among urban populations, and for macadamias, there is potential to feature in products that promise to energise Asian consumers.

These macro trends are food for thought for product development across multiple product categories and markets. For further information contact lynne.ziehlke@macadamias.org.

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NON GMO

Project VERIFIED

nongmoproject.org

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Health News

“

“MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONSUME 4 TO 7 SERVINGS PER WEEK OF ANY TYPE OF NUTS AS PART OF A HEALTHY DIET”

DR. MARTA GUASCH-FERRÉ

RESEARCH FELLOW AT THE DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AT HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH (US).

You just led the “largest study to date” into the frequency of nut consumption and cardiovascular disease. Did you expect these results?

Although previous evidence has shown that frequent nut consumption is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, as well as with lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), most of the previous prospective studies have focused on total nut consumption in relation to the risk of total cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, the associations between peanut butter and specific types of nuts, such as peanuts and walnuts, with major cardiovascular events, and specifically the relation with stroke, were unclear. Of note, because the nutritional composition of peanuts and walnuts differs from other nuts, it was of particular interest to evaluate the health effects of specific types of nuts. Briefly, we have observed that in three large prospective cohorts with up to 32 years of follow-up, people who regularly eat nuts, including peanuts, walnuts and tree nuts, have a lower risk of developing CVD and CHD compared to people who never or almost never eat nuts. Our results in three large studies confirmed the previous findings in this topic but also added new lines of evidence regarding specific types of nuts and their benefits. In fact, because of the previous

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She holds a PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology. Her research interests include the role of the Mediterranean diet on type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She is currently working on Dietary Interventions, metabolomics, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the context of the PREDIMED Study (a randomized clinical trial for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease). Dr. Guasch-Ferré’s research is also focused on evaluating the effect of olive oil, nuts and other dietary fats on type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Mediterranean populations (the PREDIMED Study) but also in large non-Mediterranean cohorts (Nurses’ Health Study I and II and Health Professionals Follow-up Study). She was awarded the prestigious Beatriu de Pinos Postdoctoral Fellowship by the Catalan Government and is currently the PI of a project entitled ‘Mechanisms Underlying Metabolomic Profiles and Type 2 Diabetes’, funded by the American Diabetes Association.

evidence and the unique composition of nuts, in general, we expected these results and they were in line with our a priori hypothesis.

210,000 people and up to 32 years of follow up. Could you outline how the study worked?

Our study was conducted in the framework of three large-cohort studies, the Nurses’ Health Study I (NHS), the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS). These studies are among the largest prospective investigations into the risk factors for major chronic diseases. NHS I included female nurses aged 30 to 55 years, from 11 U.S. states and was established in 1989. NHS II included younger female registered nurses aged 25 to 42 at the beginning of the study and was established in 1989. HPFS enrolled male health professionals between the ages of 40 and 75, starting in 1986. In all three cohorts, information about medical history, lifestyle, and health conditions has been collected by self-administered questionnaires every two years since baseline. Using food-frequency questionnaires administered every four years, we asked participants how often they had consumed a serving of nuts (serving size, 28 g [1 oz]) during the preceding year. Physicians reviewed the participants’ medical records to collect information about diseases including cardiovascular disease and death. Using all this information, we were able to analyze the

relationship between nut consumption and CVD. What is the main conclusion? Can we say that consuming nuts helps prevent heart diseases such as stroke and coronary heart disease?

The take-home message of our work is that increasing the intake of a variety of nuts, as part of a healthy diet, may help to reduce the risk of CVD in the general population.

Specifically, we found a consistent inverse association between total nut consumption and total CVD (14% lower risk for those consuming nuts five or more times per week) and CHD (20% lower risk). Also, after looking at individual nut consumption, eating walnuts one or more times per week was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of CVD and 21 percent lower risk of CHD. Participants who ate peanuts or tree nuts two or more times per week had a 15 percent and 23 percent lower risk, respectively, of CHD compared to those who never consumed nuts. For stroke, the evidence was less consistent, although we found no evidence of an association between total nut consumption and risk of stroke, the intake of peanuts and walnuts was inversely associated with the risk of stroke.

Is it true that total nut consumption was more strongly associated with lower rates of fatal CVD (24%) than nonfatal CVD (9%)?

Yes, this is true, we have observed stronger

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associations for fatal CVD than nonfatal CVD. These results are consistent with previous studies. For example, in a study (metaanalysis) combining the estimates from 7 previous studies, a 30% lower risk of CHD mortality was observed in participants with higher nut consumption but no significant associations for nonfatal CHD were observed.

Has the association between nuts and CVD and CHD been definitively proven, or is further research needed?

I believe that the evidence regarding nut consumption and CVD and CHD is quite strong and consistent. However, in our study, data on how the nuts were prepared was not available so it was impossible to test the influence of preparation methods. By this I mean that we couldn’t differentiate between salted and unsalted nuts and it is likely that it is not the same to consume raw or roasted nuts, which we know is beneficial for health, than to consume peanuts covered in chocolate or nuts with high amounts of sodium. More research is needed to further investigate the differences between the preparation methods of nuts and to further elucidate the effect of peanut butter on health outcomes.

What are the next research challenges regarding nuts and their health benefits?

Several lines of research can be pursued after this work, including a more in-depth investigation of the mechanisms underlying the associations between nuts and CVD with novel omics techniques such as genomics, metabolomics and proteomics.

Also, identifying objective biomarkers of nut consumption with the use of metabolomics techniques (identification of small molecules present in a biological sample) can be of help to evaluate the compliance with dietary intervention on nut consumption. For example, to identify a cluster of biomarkers (metabolites) that can discriminate between non-consumers versus consumers of nuts as a more reliable way to assess dietary intake.

What do you consider healthy eating? Which dietary pattern is most beneficial to health?

Recently, dietary recommendations have shifted toward diets including higher quantities of plantbased foods over animal-based foods, with most dietary patterns including nuts because of their association with reduced cardiovascular risk factors and unique nutritional composition.

Nuts are a good source of healthy fats including mono- and poly- unsaturated fatty acids as well as rich in plant-based protein, minerals, vitamins and fiber. Thus, they can be a key food to be included as part of healthy diets high in plant-based food and help to substitute animal foods such as red meat, providing a nutritious and delicious food. A wide range of dietary patterns can be considered healthy and beneficial to health including plant-based diets, vegetarian diets, and the Mediterranean diet, among several others.

What is true about the caloric and fat content of nuts and what is the current scientific evidence?

Despite nuts being an energy-dense food, there is no scientific evidence supporting associations between weight gain and nut consumption.

Indeed, they have been associated with lower weight gain and lower risk of obesity, probably because they can increase satiety and fullness, which may potentially reduce the consumption of unhealthy snacks.

What makes nuts so special?

Besides being a healthy food that has been proven to have several benefits for health, nuts are highly palatable and very easy to be incorporated in the context of healthy diets. They can be used as healthy snacks, or included in salad, desserts and in many recipes. In addition, and because they are high in plant-based protein and healthy fats, they are a good substitute for animal protein such as red and processed meats.

Nuts have been proven to have beneficial effects on the body, why and how do they act on our metabolism?

Nuts are believed to be beneficial for heart

problems mainly because of their unique nutritional composition. Nuts are high in healthy fats (unsaturated fatty acids), fiber, minerals, vitamins and several other bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, which may in part explain their beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Some of the mechanisms that may underlie these associations include the fact that nuts have been shown to improve blood lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides), attenuate inflammatory processes and improve glucose tolerance and diabetic related traits, all of which are risk factors for CVD. However, even greater health benefits may be achieved through a combination of several lifestyle factors, including adhering to a healthy diet (for example, diets with high amounts of plant foods and the reduction of animal foods. One good example would be to include the intake of different types of nuts as a replacement for other unhealthy foods such as red meat), moderate physical activity, no smoking, and low alcohol consumption, among other things.

What level of consumption of nuts would you recommend to the general population to reduce the risk of chronic diseases?

For total nuts, we observed that those participants who consume a handful of nuts (which is equivalent to 28g or 1 ounce) five or more times per week had the lowest risk of CVD and CHD as compared to those who never or almost never consume nuts. A beneficial effect of nuts on CVD was also observed in the group of participants consuming two to four times per week of nuts. And in fact, when we evaluated the intake of nuts as a 28g increase in nut consumption (instead of categories of nut consumption) each 28g increase in nut intake was associated with 6% lower risk of CVD and 13% lower risk of CHD. For the intake of peanuts and tree nuts the greatest benefit was also observed in the higher category, which in this case was those consuming two or more times per week and for one or more times per week for walnuts. So, I would say that the recommendations should be to consume 4 to 7 servings per week of any type of nuts in a context of a healthy diet.

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Health News

ALMONDS AND CHOCOLATE, THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR CARDIOMETABOLIC HEALTH? Incorporating almonds, dark chocolate and cocoa into a healthy isocaloric diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

By Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó and PhD Student Indira Paz Graniel.

PROF. JORDI SALAS-SALVADÓ

C

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). CIBER (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid (Spain).

ardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Metabolic alterations such as elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG), hypertension (HTA), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), overweight (OW) or obesity (OB) and some lifestyle factors are considered risk factors for developing CVD. Moreover, an unhealthy diet has been recognized as an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor1 and therefore a key issue for cardiovascular disease prevention2.

Since the publication of the main results from the PREDIMED study, which showed that a Mediterranean diet, typically low in saturated fatty acids (SFA’s) and high in monounsaturated (MUFA’s) or polyunsaturated (PUFA’s) fatty acids, and rich in phytochemicals supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or with mixed nuts, reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events by 30% compared to a lower-fat control diet3. The quality of dietary fat has been recognized as being even more important than the total amount in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, several epidemiological studies4 have demonstrated that, compared to those rarely consuming nuts, individuals that frequently consume nuts had a reduced risk of CVD. These benefits have been attributed to their lipid composition profile (high in unsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids), and the presence of high amounts of bioactive compounds such as antioxidant vitamins, polyphenols, some minerals, phytosterols, plant protein, and fiber.

It is not only dietary fats that have been studied in relation to CVD prevention. Flavonoids, a subclass of polyphenolic compounds known for their antioxidant capacity, have been proposed as cardioprotective molecules due to the insulin resistance reduction, and the improvement of endothelial function and blood pressure in adults5. Given that cocoa

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and dark chocolate have been recognized for their high flavonoid content (in even higher amounts per weight than red wine, black tea, cranberry juice and apples6) several studies have been conducted in order to understand their possible effects on cardiovascular risk factors7.

Considering the health benefits of these nutrients, in recent years health professionals and investigators have invested time looking for alternative options to increase their intake through diet. Recently, a group of researchers from The Pennsylvania State University developed a randomized, 4 period, crossover, controlled-feeding trial to investigate the single and combined effects of dark chocolate, cocoa, and/or almond on peripheral lipid, lipoprotein, and apo-lipoprotein

Promising results would support the recommendation of the incorporation of almonds, alone or in combination with dark chocolate and cocoa, as an alternative snack as part of a healthy isocaloric diet, in order to reduce the risk of CVDs. concentrations8. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of four diets: (1) No treatment food (an average American diet), (2) an almond enriched diet (42.5 g/d of almonds), (3) a chocolate enriched diet (18 g/d cocoa powder and 43 g/d of dark chocolate), or (4) a chocolate and almond enriched diet.

It was observed that compared with an average American diet, an almond enriched diet reduced total cholesterol, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) and LDL-c by 4%, 5% and 7%, respectively (P-value<0.05). Even when the consumption of almond and chocolate decreased LDL-c by a comparable degree, different treatment effects on LDL subclasses were observed. It has been shown

Health News that the combination of dark chocolate with almond consumption lowered apo-lipoprotein B (ApoB) by 5% and therefore the ApoB/Apoliprotein A1 (ApoA1) ratio compared with the average American diet (0.7 ± 0.0 compared with 0.8 ± 0.0 P-value=0.02).

These findings are of clinical significance since ApoB is an important atherogenic component of lipoprotein particles (especially VLDL and LDL). Unlike apo B, ApoA1, as the major apo-lipoprotein of the HDL particles, has been associated with a lower risk of developing inflammatory response and atherosclerotic plaque growth. Therefore the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio has been considered a better predictive value than classical lipid parameters in cardiovascular risk assessment9.

Even when higher levels of fasting glucose were observed after a chocolate enriched diet and chocolate with almonds diet (attributed to higher amounts of sugar compared with the other tested diets), no effects on serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein were reported.

These promising results would support the recommendation of the incorporation of almonds, alone or in combination with dark chocolate and cocoa (as the chocolate and almond diet had shown to influence both quantity and quality of LDL-c), as an alternative snack as part of a healthy isocaloric diet, in order to reduce the risk of CVDs. Nevertheless, these recommendations should be followed with caution to avoid an excess of calories and consequently an increase in body weight.

References 1. Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Daniels SR, et al. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome: an American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement. Circulation.

2005;112(17):2735-2752. 2. Krauss RM, Eckel RH, Howard B, et al. AHA Dietary Guidelines: revision 2000: A statement for healthcare professionals from the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association. Stroke. 2000;31(11):2751-2766. 3. Estruch, Ramon; Ros, Emilio; Salas-Salvado J, Gómezgracia E, Ph D, et al. Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet. N Engl J Med. 2013;368:1279-1290. 4. Zhou D, Yu H, He F, et al. Nut consumption in relation to cardiovascular disease risk and type 2 diabetes : a systematic review and meta-analysis of. 2014:270-277. 5. Keli, SO. Hertog, Mg. Feskens E et al. Dietary Flavonoids, antioxidant, vitamins and incidence of stroke: The Zutphen study. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:637-642. 6. Steinberg FM, Bearden MM, Keen CL. Cocoa and chocolate flavonoids: Implications for cardiovascular health. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103(15):215223. 7. Hooper L, Kay C, Abdelhamid A, et al. Effects of chocolate , cocoa , and flavan-3-ols on cardiovascular health : a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials 1 – 3. 2012:740751. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.023457. 8. Lee Y, Berryman CE, West SG, et al. Effects of Dark Chocolate and Almonds on Cardiovascular Risk. 2017:1-15. 9. Tamang HK, Timilsina U, Singh KP, Shrestha S. Apo B / Apo A-I Ratio is Statistically A Better Predictor of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) than Conventional Lipid Profile : A Study from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. J Clin Diagnostic Res. 2014;8(Cvd):34-36.

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Health News

NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDIES Fadelu, T., Zhang, S., Niedzwiecki, D., Ye, X., Saltz, L.B., Mayer, R.J.,… & Fuchs, C.S. (2018). Nut Consumption and Survival in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer: Results From CALGB 89803 (Alliance).

Journal of Clinical Oncology. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.75.5413.

Purpose Observational studies have reported increased colon cancer recurrence and mortality in patients with states of hyperinsulinemia, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and high glycemic load diet.

Nut intake has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance.

However, the effect of nut intake on colon cancer recurrence and survival is not known. Patients and Methods We conducted a prospective, observational study of 826 eligible patients with stage III colon cancer who reported dietary intake on food frequency questionnaires while enrolled onto a randomized adjuvant chemotherapy trial.

Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we assessed associations of nut intake with cancer recurrence and mortality. Results After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, compared with patients who abstained from nuts, individuals who consumed two or more servings of nuts per week experienced an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for disease-free survival of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.92; Ptrend = .03) and an HR for overall survival of 0.43 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.74; Ptrend = .01). In subgroup analysis, the apparent benefit was confined to tree nut intake (HR for disease-free survival, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.85; Ptrend = .04; and HR for overall survival, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.82; Ptrend = .04). The association of total nut intake with improved outcomes was maintained across other known or suspected risk factors for cancer recurrence and mortality. Conclusion Diets with a higher consumption of nuts may be associated with a significantly reduced incidence of cancer recurrence and death in patients with stage III colon cancer.

Guasch-Ferré, M., Liu, X., Malik V. S., Sun, Q., …

Bhupathiraju, S.M. (2017).

Nut Consumption and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017;70:2519–32.

BACKGROUND: The associations between specific types of nuts, specifically peanuts and walnuts, and cardiovascular disease remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to analyze the associations between the intake of total and specific types of nuts and cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke risk. METHODS: The authors included 76,364 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (1980 to 2012), 92,946 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II (1991 to 2013), and 41,526 men from the Health Professionals Follow Up Study (1986 to 2012) who were free of cancer, heart disease, and stroke at baseline. Nut consumption was assessed using food frequency questionnaires at baseline and was updated every 4 years. RESULTS: During 5,063,439 person-years of follow-up, the authors documented 14,136 incident cardiovascular disease cases, including 8,390 coronary heart disease cases and 5,910 stroke cases. Total nut consumption was inversely associated with total cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. The pooled multivariable hazard ratios for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease among participants who consumed 1 serving of nuts (28 g) 5 or more times per week, compared with the reference category (never or almost never), were 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.79 to 0.93; p for trend ¼ 0.0002) and 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.72 to 0.89; p for trend <0.001), respectively. Consumption of peanuts and tree nuts (2 or more times/week) and walnuts (1 or more times/week) was associated with a 13% to 19% lower risk of total cardiovascular disease and 15% to 23% lower risk of coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: In 3 large prospective cohort studies, higher consumption of total and specific types of nuts was inversely associated with total cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

Kim, Y., Keogh, J. B., & Clifton, P. M. (2017). Benefits of Nut Consumption on Insulin Resistance and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Multiple Potential Mechanisms of Actions. Nutrients, 9(11), 1271.

Epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated that nut consumption could be a healthy dietary strategy to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and related cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this review is to examine the potential mechanisms of action of nuts addressing effects on glycemic control, weight management, energy balance, appetite, gut microbiota modification, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial function and blood pressure with a focus on data from both animal and human studies. The favourable effects of nuts could be explained by the unique nutrient composition and bioactive compounds in nuts. Unsaturated fatty acids (monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids) present in nuts may play a role in glucose control and appetite suppression. Fiber and polyphenols in nuts may also have an anti-diabetic effect by altering gut microbiota. Nuts lower serum cholesterol by reduced cholesterol absorption, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and increased bile acid production by stimulation of 7-α hydroxylase. Arginine and magnesium improve inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial function and blood pressure. In conclusion, nuts contain compounds that favourably influence glucose homeostasis, weight control and vascular health. Further investigations are required to identify the most important mechanisms by which nuts decrease the risk of T2DM and CVD.

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Feature Articles

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Health News Lee, Y., Berryman, C. E., West, S. G., Chen, C. Y. O., Blumberg, J. B., Lapsley, K. G., ... & Kris‐Etherton, P. M. (2017).

Effects of Dark Chocolate and Almonds on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Randomized Controlled‐Feeding Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(12), e005162.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of almonds or dark chocolate and cocoa has favorable effects on markers of coronary heart disease; however, the combined effects have not been evaluated in a well-controlled feeding study. The aim of this study was to examine the individual and combined effects of consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa and almonds on markers of coronary heart disease risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: A randomized controlled, 4-period, crossover, feeding trial was conducted in overweight and obese individuals aged 30 to 70 years. Forty-eight participants were randomized, and 31 participants completed the entire study. Each diet period was 4 weeks long, followed by a 2-week compliance break. Participants consumed each of 4 isocaloric, weight maintenance diets: (1) no treatment foods (average American diet), (2) 42.5 g/d of almonds (almond diet [ALD]), (3) 18 g/d of cocoa powder and 43 g/d of dark chocolate (chocolate diet [CHOC]), or (4) all 3 foods (CHOC+ALD). Compared with the average American diet, total cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after the ALD were lower by 4%, 5%, and 7%, respectively (P<0.05). The CHOC+ALD decreased apolipoprotein B by 5% compared with the average American diet. For low-density lipoprotein subclasses, compared with the average American diet, the ALD showed a greater reduction in large buoyant low-density lipoprotein particles (-5.7±2.3 versus -0.3±2.3 mg/ dL; P=0.04), whereas the CHOC+ALD had a greater decrease in small dense low-density lipoprotein particles (-12.0±2.8 versus -5.3±2.8 mg/dL; P=0.04). There were no significant differences between diets for measures of vascular health and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that consumption of almonds alone or combined with dark chocolate under controlled-feeding conditions improves lipid profiles. Incorporating almonds, dark chocolate, and cocoa into a typical American diet without exceeding energy needs may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Mohan, V., Gayathri, R., Jaacks, L. M., Lakshmipriya, N., Anjana, R. M., Spiegelman, D., ... & Gopinath, V. (2018). Cashew Nut Consumption Increases HDL Cholesterol and Reduces Systolic Blood Pressure in Asian Indians with Type 2 Diabetes: A 12-Week Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Nutrition, 148(1), 63-69.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that nut consumption decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, there are few data on the health effects of cashew nuts among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the effects of cashew nut supplementation on glycemia, body weight, blood pressure, and lipid profile in Asian Indians with T2DM. METHODS: In a parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial, 300 adults with T2DM [mean ± SD age: 51 ± 9.3 y; body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2): 26.0 ± 3.4; 55% male] were randomly assigned to receive advice to follow a standard diabetic diet (control) or similar advice plus 30 g cashew nuts/d (intervention) for 12 wk. The macronutrient composition of the prescribed diabetic diet was 60-65% energy from carbohydrates, 15-25% from fat, and the rest from protein. Differences between groups in changes in anthropometric and biochemical variables were analyzed using linear models with robust variance estimation under an assumed independence working correlation. RESULTS: Participants in the intervention group had a greater decrease in systolic blood pressure from baseline to 12 wk than did controls (-4.9 ± 13.7 compared with -1.7 ± 11.6 mm Hg; P = 0.04) and a greater increase in plasma HDL cholesterol compared with controls (+1.7 ± 5.6 compared with +0.1 ± 4.6 mg/dL; P = 0.01). There were no differences between the groups with respect to changes in body weight, BMI, blood lipid, and glycemic variables. Plasma oleic acid concentrations and selfreported dietary intake of nuts, oleic acid, and monounsaturated fatty acids suggested excellent compliance with the nut consumption. CONCLUSION: Cashew nut supplementation in Asian Indians with T2DM reduced systolic blood pressure and increased HDL cholesterol concentrations with no deleterious effects on body weight, glycemia, or other lipid variables. This study was registered at the clinical trial registry of India as CTRI/2017/07/009022.

Neale, E.P., Tapsell, L.C., Guan, V., Batterham, M.J. (2017). The Effect of Nut Consumption on Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Function: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. BMJ Open 2017;7:e016863.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of nut consumption on inflammatory biomarkers and endothelial function.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (all years to 13 January 2017). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (with a duration of 3 weeks or more) or prospective cohort designs conducted in adults; studies assessing the effect of consumption of tree nuts or peanuts on C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion protein 1 and flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Data extraction and analysis: Relevant data were extracted for summary tables and analyses by two independent researchers. Random effects metaanalyses were conducted to explore weighted mean differences (WMD) in change or final mean values for each outcome. RESULTS: A total of 32 studies (all randomised controlled trials) were included in the review. The effect of nut consumption on FMD was explored in nine strata from eight studies (involving 652 participants), with consumption of nuts resulting in significant improvements in FMD (WMD: 0.79% (95% CI 0.35 to 1.23)). Nut consumption resulted in small, non-significant differences in CRP (WMD: −0.01 mg/L (95% CI −0.06 to 0.03)) (26 strata from 25 studies), although sensitivity analyses suggest results for CRP may have been influenced by two individual studies. Small, non-significant differences were also found for other biomarkers of inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of nut consumption on inflammation and endothelial function found evidence for favourable effects on FMD, a measure of endothelial function. Nonsignificant changes in other biomarkers indicate a lack of consistent evidence for effects of nut consumption on inflammation. The findings of this analysis suggest a need for more research in this area, with a particular focus on randomised controlled trials.

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Health News Nieuwenhuis, L., van den Brandt, P.A. (2018). Total Nut, Tree Nut, Peanut, and Peanut Butter Consumption and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in the Netherlands Cohort Study.

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. doi: 10.1158/10559965.EPI-17-0448.

BACKGROUND: Nut intake has been associated with decreased cancer-related mortality, but few studies have examined the potential of nuts in the chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer. We prospectively investigated the association of total nut, tree nut, peanut, and peanut butter consumption with pancreatic cancer risk. METHODS: In the Netherlands Cohort Study, 120,852 men and women completed a baseline questionnaire, including a food frequency questionnaire, in 1986. After 20.3 years of follow-up, 583 incident pancreatic cancer cases, including 349 microscopically confirmed pancreatic cancer (MCPC) cases, were included in multivariable casecohort analyses. RESULTS: Increased total nut consumption was associated with a non-significantly decreased MCPC risk in men (HR (95% CI) for 10+ g/day vs. nonconsumers = 0.72 (0.47-1.11), P-trend = 0.163). No clear association was found in women. For tree nut and peanut consumption, non-significant inverse associations were observed in men. In women, no or unclear associations were found for tree nut and peanut consumption.

Peanut butter intake was related to a significantly reduced risk of MCPC in men (HR (95% CI) for 5+ g/day vs. nonconsumers = 0.53 (0.28-1.00), P-trend = 0.047), but this relation was not clear in women. Evidence for a nonlinear dose-response relation with MCPC was found for tree nut intake only. The associations were weaker when looking at total pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that nuts and peanut butter might reduce pancreatic cancer risk in men. In women, no or unclear associations were found. IMPACT: Nut consumption might reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer in men.

Relja, A., Miljković, A., Gelemanović, A., Bošković, M., Hayward, C., Polašek, O., & Kolčić, I. (2017). Nut Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Mediterranean Population. Nutrients, 9(12), 1296.

Nuts are often considered beneficial for health, yet few studies have examined determinants of their intake and the associations between nut consumption and various cardiovascular disease risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with nut intake in a Mediterranean population, in Croatia, and to investigate the association of nut intake and various cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Subjects from the Island of Vis, Island of Korčula and the City of Split were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 4416 in total; 4011 without known cardiovascular disease). Survey responses, medical records and clinically relevant measurements were utilized. Multivariate ordinal and logistic regression models were used in the analysis, adjusting for known confounding factors. RESULTS: As low as 5% of all subjects reported daily, and 11% reported weekly, nut consumption. The characteristics associated with more frequent nut intake were female gender (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.62), highest level of education (1.42; 1.15-1.76) and material status (1.58; 1.29-1.93), smoking abstinence (1.21; 1.04-1.42 in never-smokers and 1.22; 1.02-1.46 in exsmokers), Mediterranean diet adherence (1.87; 1.62-2.15), and absence of central obesity (1.29; 1.09-1.53), absence of diabetes (1.30; 1.02-1.66) and metabolic syndrome (1.17; 1.01-1.36). Subjects who consumed nuts had more favorable waist-to-height (overall p = 0.036) and waist-to-hip ratios (0.033), lesser odds of elevated fibrinogen (p < 0.001 in both weekly and monthly nut consumers) and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p = 0.026), compared to non-consumers. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that frequent nut consumption is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and better socioeconomic status. A beneficial association of nut intake with cardiovascular risk factors was confirmed in this study.

Rock, C. L., Flatt, S. W., Barkai, H. S., Pakiz, B., & Heath, D. D. (2017). Walnut Consumption in a Weight Reduction Intervention: Effects on Body Weight, Biological Measures, Blood Pressure and Satiety. Nutrition journal, 16(1), 76.

BACKGROUND: Dietary strategies that help patients adhere to a weight reduction diet may increase the likelihood of weight loss maintenance and improved long-term health outcomes. Regular nut consumption has been associated with better weight management and less adiposity. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a walnut-enriched reduced-energy diet to a standard reduced-energy-density diet on weight, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and satiety. METHODS: Overweight and obese men and women (n = 100) were randomly assigned to a standard reduced-energy-density diet or a walnut-enriched (15% of energy) reduced-energy diet in the context of a behavioral weight loss intervention. Measurements were obtained at baseline and 3- and 6-month clinic visits.

Participants rated hunger, fullness and anticipated prospective consumption at 3 time points during the intervention.

Body measurements, blood pressure, physical activity, lipids, tocopherols and fatty acids were analyzed using repeated measures mixed models. RESULTS: Both study groups reduced body weight, body mass index and waist circumference (time effect p < 0.001 for each). Change in weight was -9.4 (0.9)% vs. -8.9 (0.7)% (mean [SE]), for the standard vs. walnut-enriched diet groups, respectively. Systolic blood pressure decreased in both groups at 3 months, but only the walnut-enriched diet group maintained a lower systolic blood pressure at 6 months. The walnut-enriched diet group, but not the standard reduced-energy-density diet group, reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at 6 months, from 203 to 194 mg/dL and 121 to 112 mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.05). Self-reported satiety was similar in the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further evidence that a walnut-enriched reduced-energy diet can promote weight loss that is comparable to a standard reduced-energy-density diet in the context of a behavioral weight loss intervention. Although weight loss in response to both dietary strategies was associated with improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors, the walnut-enriched diet promoted more favorable effects on LDL-C and systolic blood pressure.

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AAChat Chatwith withthe theIndustry Industry

HEALTH AND WELLBEING ARE BIG DRIVERS OF TODAY’S CONSUMER TRENDS”

EMMA GRENNALL NUT SOURCING GLOBAL MANAGER AT MONDELĒZ

Emma Grennall has been the Nut Sourcing Global Manager at Mondelēz International since May 2017. She previously acted as Procurement Manager of Hazelnuts & Almonds (2015-2017) and as Senior Scientist in the same company (2012-2015). Before that, Grennall was Process Engineer & Engineering Manager at Cadbury Trebor Bassett, and Senior Chemical Engineer at Robinson Brothers Ltd. She obtained her Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at Teesside University (Middlesbrough, UK).

What is the role of nuts and dried fruits in Mondelēz’s business?

We use them in most of our product ranges: we include hazelnuts, almonds and dried fruits to give variety to our consumers and have done so for many years.

Are they present in many of the products?

We have a broad range of inclusions in our products and nuts play a part in that, both on their own and as speciality inclusions such as caramelized and salted.

Health and wellbeing is a big driver today. We want to meet consumers’ taste expectations by providing products that create moments of mindful snacking.

What exactly does a “Nut Sourcing Global Manager” do?

I am responsible for the relationship with our suppliers and the purchasing of hazelnuts and almonds on a global scale for all the Mondelēz

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factories, both in chocolate and biscuit manufacturing. I coordinate with the factories to ensure they get their deliveries at the correct time and to the best quality. I also work closely with our Research and Development team to ensure our specifications adhere to the latest legislation and are fully compliant to our needs.

I advise on our sustainability program and how we integrate the nuts portfolio into this -watch this space as we look to introduce this in 2018!

What are the current consumer trends driving it?

Health and wellbeing is a big driver today. We want to meet consumers’ taste expectations by providing products that create moments of mindful snacking.

What can we expect in the future?

As we look ahead towards 2020, we see an opportunity to build upon our achievements and evolve our portfolio to meet consumers’ growing expectations for snacks that offer good nutrition.

What are the challenges for the industry?

We depend on nuts supplied from different parts of the world, so weather conditions can potentially cause sourcing issues. Also, an increase in demand globally and how we source responsibly will be the main factors we consider in the future.

Helping people enjoy the snacks they love and stay in balance is our primary mission, so including these ingredients gives consumers small moments of joy!

What do you think consumers value most about nuts and dried fruits?

Due to the positive marketing and education from organizations such as the Almond Board of California and the INC, to name but two, the shift in consumer awareness of mindful snacking and the value of using nuts and dried fruits seems to be on the increase.

A Chat with the Industry

Do you think people still think that nuts and dried fruits are “fattening” foods?

No, I think consumers are much more clued up and understand that nuts contain good fats, they provide nutrients we need and are a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.

What is the main area where you expect nuts and dried fruits to play a more significant role in the future: healthy food, confectionery, snacking…?

Independent research shows that nuts and dried fruits are increasing in preference for healthy snacking and at Mondelēz our goal is to be a global leader in wellbeing snacks. Helping people enjoy the snacks they love and stay in balance is our primary mission, so including these ingredients gives consumers small moments of joy!

Specifically, hazelnuts and almonds are expected to play a significant role in the near future.

Yes. Hazelnuts and almonds have a big part to play in our portfolio and

we are always on the lookout for great, innovative products and what the consumer desires.

Are there any particular nuts or dried fruits that have a specific potential?

Not really, we try to give a varied range to our consumers to reach different people -some love the tablets with just hazelnuts but some like the variation of a fruit and a nut together, so we try to provide a choice.

Fifty years experience as International Brokers and Agents Consultants Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pistachios, Cashews, Walnuts, Peanuts, Pinenuts, Olive Oil, Seed Oils and Other Products

44, Avenue Marceau - 75008 Paris - Tél.: 33 (0) 1.40.70.94.50 - Fax.: 33 (0) 1.40.70.94.80 - somercom@somercom.com Cell : Hubert Berrebi + 33 (0) 607683972

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A Chat with the Industry

HIGHLY EFFICIENT CUTTING SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST PRODUCT QUALITY

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March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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www.maseto.com ◊ info@maseto.com ◊ +34 965 930 077

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www.nutfruitcongress.org

INC Congress

A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN, NETWORK AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES 1,300+ ATTENDEES FROM 60+ COUNTRIES 60+ GLOBAL INDUSTRY SPEAKERS 11 NUT AND DRIED FRUIT ROUND TABLES 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 1 SCIENCE SEMINAR 1 NUTRITION RESEARCH SEMINAR 3 EVENING SOCIAL EVENTS

NETWORK WITH THE INDUSTRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP LEADERS AND EXPERTS

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INC Congress

A STIMULATING THREE-DAY PROGRAM TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS

Over the course of three days, FIBES Conference & Exhibition Center in Sevilla (Spain) will become a hub to take the industry’s pulse through a complete set of round tables, scientific seminars and keynote speakers.

All meetings and social events will take place in top-class facilities.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM Saturday 19, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Congress Registration > Hotels: Alfonso XIII, Meliá Sevilla, Meliá Lebreros Sunday 20 , 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Congress Registration > Hotels: Alfonso XIII, Meliá Sevilla, Meliá Lebreros

Monday 21

Tuesday 22

Wednesday 23

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Congress Registration > FIBES Conference Center

7:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Congress Registration > FIBES Conference Center

7:30 AM - 2:00 PM - Congress Registration > FIBES Conference Center

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Booth Exhibition

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Booth Exhibition

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Booth Exhibition

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM All-day Coffee Sponsored by AHT

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM All-day Coffee Sponsored by Setton Pistachios of Terra Bella Inc

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM All-day Coffee Sponsored

by Besana Group

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Meetings Area Sponsored by Borges

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Meetings Area Sponsored by Borges

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Meetings Area Sponsored by Borges

8:30 - 9:00 AM - CONGRESS OPENING Delivery of the: Excellence in Research Award Excellence in Gastronomy Award

8:30 - 9:30 AM - PISTACHIOS Round Table Chair: Mike Hohmann, The Wonderful Company, USA

8:30 - 9:30 AM - ANNUAL REPORT Delivery of the Innovation Award

9:00 - 10:00 AM - ALMONDS Round Table Chair: Joan Fortuny, Borges, Spain

9:30 - 10:15 AM - SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR Chair: Pino Calcagni, Chairman, INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee Guest Speaker: Dr. Alison Blackwell, APS Biocontrol Ltd, UK, “Bacteriophage Management of Salmonella Contaminants of Vine Fruits”

9:30 - 10:30 - HAZELNUTS Round Table Chair: Ferrero Group, Italy

10:45 - 11:15 AM - BRAZIL NUTS Round Table Chair: Richard Rosenblatt, The Richard Franco Agency, USA

10:15 - 11:15 AM - WALNUTS Round Table Chair: Gary Ford, Diamond Foods, USA

10:30 - 11:30 AM - MACADAMIAS Round Table Chair: Jolyon Burnett, Australian Macadamia Society

11:15 - 11:45 AM DRIED APRICOTS, FIGS, PRUNES AND DATES Round Table Chair: Guillaume Pagy, Pagysa, Turkey

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM Keynote Speaker: A. Garrigues Walker, Honorary Chairman of the law firm Garrigues, “Today’s Geopolitical Trends”

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM DRIED CRANBERRIES, RAISINS, SULTANAS AND CURRANTS Round Table Chair: Steve Sousa, Mariani Packing, USA

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM NUTRITION RESEARCH SEMINAR Chair: Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Chairman, INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination Guest Speaker: Dr. Ramon Estruch, PREDIMED Study Group, Spain

12:00 - 1:00 PM CASHEWS Round Table Chair: Amit Khirbat, Olam International, Singapore

12:00 - 1:00 PM PINE NUTS AND PEANUTS Round Table Chair: Chen Ying, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products

12:00 - 2:00 PM Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored

by Incus Technology

12:00 - 2:00 PM Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Sun-Maid Growers of California

10:00 - 10:45 AM Keynote Speaker: Dr. Andreu Veá, The Internet Biographer

12:30 - 1:00 PM - PECANS Round Table Chair: Jeffrey Sanfilippo, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, USA 12:00 - 2:00 PM Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Blue Diamond Growers

Advanced

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2:00 - 3:30 PM GLOBAL INTER-BOARD COOPERATION SUMMIT Chair: Antonio Pont, INC Honorary President 6:00 - 8:00 PM WELCOME COCKTAIL Sponsored by Almendras Llopis > Alfonso XIII Hotel

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7:00 - 10:00 PM BUFFET CASUAL DINNER Sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds > Plaza de las Americas

6:30 - 7:30 PM GALA COCKTAIL 7:30 - 11:00 pm GALA DINNER Delivery of the: Individual Golden Nut Award Corporate Golden Nut Award Sponsored by the Chilean Walnut Commission > Plaza España

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. Giles Hacking. With Chris Hacking as a father, Giles was born into the nut business in 1963. At the time Chris was working for a large commodity business in the City of London, before striking out on his own, establishing CG Hacking & Sons in 1971. After a brief spell working in television in Sydney, Giles went on to an early career in advertising, before being convinced by Chris that the commodity business was the future. He went on to join one of London’s leading Cocoa and coffee dealers, spending the next ten years trading physicals and futures, based in London and New York. Eventually, the ‘lure’ of the nut and dried fruit industry proved too strong to resist, and Giles joined CG Hacking in 1994.

In 1997, the INC celebrated its first London Congress, where Chris Hacking, a founding father of the INC, acted as ‘conference chair’ and received the INC Golden Nut Award. Two years later Giles was appointed to the INC Board and in 2004 was elected to the INC Executive Committee where he continues to serve. Giles was appointed to the INC Chairmanship in Budapest in 2011, and during his four year tenure, membership of the foundation increased by ten percent. Also, during this time Congress attendances went from 800 to over 1100 participants in Barcelona Congress. Another exciting development during this period, was the INC’s move from the Reus Chamber of Commerce to its ‘new home’ Mas Barrufet.

The Corporate Golden Nut Award will be given to Borges Agricultural and Industrial Nuts. Leader in the industrial processing and marketing of almonds, walnuts, pistachios and other nuts, Borges has historically sustained steady market share and a consolidated business, driven by a strong international commercial network selling in sixty-three countries and maintaining an excellent reputation in its sector as benchmark of quality.

In 1987 the company started its agricultural project, acquiring its own farms producing walnuts, pistachios and almonds, with a significant presence in California, Spain and Portugal. This allowed Borges to obtain a high level of first-hand traceability and crop information unrivalled in its sector. The company has seven commercial and manufacturing offices worldwide to serve its consumers around the world and owns 21 farms totaling more than 2,400 ha. Borges Agricultural & Industrial Nuts is the only European nut company quoted in the stock market -the Bolsa de Madrid continuous market.

The Award for Excellence in Research will be delivered to the PREDIMED Study Group. This is the largest ever randomized primary prevention trial showing that a typical Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts (30 g/ day) is beneficial against the incidence of several major chronic diseases in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

The study was conducted in 16 centres in Spain with nearly 7,500 participants and a median follow-up of 4.8 years. Results showed a significant (28-30%) reduction in the combined endpoint of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death. Researchers found eating a Mediterranean diet with a 30g handful of mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) a day helps improve heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, weight and brain function. To date the PREDIMED study groups have published over 230 papers in scientific journals.

The Award for Excellence in Gastronomy will go to Chef Joan Bosch, of the Can Bosch restaurant in Cambrils (Spain). Bosch is the benchmark for a gastronomic tradition that is steeped in the Mediterranean cuisine of Cambrils, of its fishermen and the excellent product offered to us with the flavors of the sea and garden produce.

From the premises that were set up back in 1964, Can Bosch has positioned itself to become what it is today, a gastronomic benchmark both within and outside our borders. Joan began working in front of the stove through pure chance and this led him to become self-taught, demanding and a creator of cuisine that placed value on the product and its seasonality. All of this meaning that he has had a Michelin star for 34 years now, in addition to top rankings in prestigious gastronomic guides. Bosch has been a constant and untiring worker, self-taught, and he has made cuisine his passion and his restaurant is both a national and international insignia. And this has been maintained thanks to the learning path, to experimenting and to seeking perfection in the dishes he offers us and that he has offered us from Cambrils.

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INC Congress

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Renowned experts in different fields of knowledge will show their expertise in the INC Congress Monday, May 21, 2018. 10:00 - 10:45 AM. FIBES Auditorium Dr. Andreu Veá is the co-founder of the Internet Society (ISOC-ES) and is the only European to be selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the Internet Hall of Fame. After his doctoral dissertation thesis on the technology, history, and social structure of the Internet (which for 8 years was one of the top 25 most downloaded, 260,000 copies), he was invited by Vint Cerf (one of the “fathers of the Internet”) to continue his original research at Stanford University (California, USA), from which he launched the international research program WiWiW.org.

Mr. Veá is known as "The Internet Biographer" after his book "How we created the internet" and in recognition for his support to the internet, this year, Mr. Veá has received a lifetime achievement award by the Spanish Internet Society.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018. 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM. FIBES Auditorium Garrigues Walker, Chairman of the Garrigues Foundation and Honorary Chairman of the law firm Garrigues, is an internationally-renowned Spanish jurist, particularly prominent is his work as adviser on foreign investments in Spain for major multinational companies and governments of countries such as the US and Japan. He has also advised the Spanish government on matters of financial legislation.

Former Chairman of the World Association of Lawyers, Garrigues Walker is Honorary Member of the American Bar Association and Honorary President of the Spanish Committee of the UNHCR. He has always played an active role in Spain’s social, economic and political life, and was founder of the Spanish Chapter of Transparency International (TI), a global anti-corruption organization. He is Honorary Chairman of the Garrigues law firm, founded by his father and his uncle, which he joined in 1954 and where he became Chairman in 1961, at just 27 years old. Today he is Chairman and Director at various companies and holds honorary doctorates from several universities in Spain and Argentina.

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 or service introduced in the market. Open only to INC members attending the congress, this is a unique opportunity to: »» Reach 1,300+ participants from 60+ countries. »» Highlight your new products or services. »» Enhance your company’s reputation for innovation.

The deadline for submissions is April 10, 2018 (only one product or service per applicant). Entrants should e-mail inc@nutfruit.org, enclosing the product/service description, high-quality product shots and company logo.

Qcify receiving the 2017 Innovation Award.

ACCOMPANYING PERSONS TOURS Sevilla is an amazing city, full of history, color and liveliness. The following city tours will provide accompanying persons with an opportunity to visit the most emblematic landmarks and immerse themselves in its culture and arts.

CITY TOUR 1 (May 22, 2018): Sevilla Flamenco City Tour

CITY TOUR 2 (May 23, 2018): Sevilla Monumental Dramatized Route

Get to know Sevilla and one of the most famous traditions of the city: flamenco. Visit the neighborhood of Santa Cruz, the Flamenco Dance Museum, Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza, Triana neighborhood and have lunch in one of its typical bars.

A cultural tour of Sevilla means visiting the most emblematic monuments in the history of the city: the Cathedral, the third biggest in the world; the Alcazar, fortress and residence of Christian kings over the centuries; the world-famous Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz, which delights visitors with its narrow streets and colorful squares, and the Hall of Ambassadors, near the walls of the Alcázar. After the tour we will have lunch at the Taberna del Alabardero.

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INC Congress

EXPLORING LIVELY SEVILLA AND ANDALUSIA WITH INC TOURS

A

ttending the INC Congress will allow delegates to discover an amazing city, full of history, color and liveliness. Crowned by the unique and majestic Giralda, the Cathedral’s bell tower, Sevilla is one of the top destinations in southern Europe for countless reasons: the charm of its old town and narrow streets, the beauty of its Cathedral, the elegance of its parks like Parque de María Luisa, the peculiar and formidable Plaza de España, the magic of quarters like Triana and Barrio de Santa Cruz, the Torre del Oro, the Maestranza bullring and the Reales Alcázares.

However, what makes Sevilla different and so appealing goes beyond monuments and sights. It has to do with its people and atmosphere: the joy in its streets and squares, and the pleasant strolls along the Guadalquivir river. As if all that were not enough, Sevilla is the world capital of Flamenco, the most famous Spanish style of music and dance.

Pre-Congress Tours offer participants an opportunity to discover both the unique city of Sevilla along with the rest of the region, Andalucía, where other world-famous destinations such as Granada and Córdoba are to be found. There is no question that if you are attending the INC Congress, discovering Sevilla and Andalucía is a must!

Tour 2 (Sunday, May 20, 2018): Cultural Visit of Córdoba Córdoba was the cultural, political and administrative centre of Al-Andalus. During the 10th century, it was one of the most important cities in the West, along with Rome and Constantinople.

In the heart of its medina there is the Mosque, which, thanks to the successive enlargements over the centuries, has become a unique artistic and cultural global icon.

You cannot miss the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter, which will take you through the history of this city.

All-day tour from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Price €250.

This tour includes: Lunch, transport, English-speaking guide, all entry tickets.

Tour 1 (Sunday, May 20, 2018): Cultural Visit of Sevilla A cultural tour of Sevilla allows visitors to appreciate the most emblematic monuments in the history of the city: the Cathedral, the third biggest in the world; the Alcazar, fortress and residence of Christian kings over the centuries; the world-famous Jewish Quarter of Santa Cruz, which delights visitors with its narrow streets and colorful squares, and the Hall of Ambassadors, near the walls of the Alcázar.

Half day tour from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Price €230.

This tour includes: Lunch, transport (from the hotel if necessary), English-speaking guide, all entry tickets.

Tour 3 (Sunday, May 20, 2018): Bulls and Horses in Sierra Morena The cattle ranch of the Marqués de Albaserrada is a symbol of strength, purity and authenticity. Pedigree and fighting bulls are bred in the heart of a magnificent landscape, at the bottom of Sierra Morena with its hills and olive groves, around 30 minutes’ drive from Sevilla.

During this visit you will have the chance to learn more about the fascinating and ancient world of bullfighting and understand the real meaning of this art.

All day tour, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Price €394.

This tour includes: Lunch, transport, English-speaking guide.

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INC Congress

NETWORK WITH 1,300+ 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.

The Online Meeting Point is not only useful but also a precise digital tool to connect with other attendees and exhibitors before, during and after the event. The search function allows users to filter by country, commercial activity and product. Once found, the user can contact the other participants and set appointments in advance. Those INC members wishing to benefit from the advantages of the Meeting Point need only access the online tool and insert their INC member username and password.

In addition, as a new feature incorporated this year, attendees can create a personalized schedule including conference sessions and meetings. The Meeting Point is therefore a unique platform enabling INC members to take maximum advantage of their time while in Congress. Both the congress website and the Meeting Point are available for all mobile devices.

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 Sevilla with you on your smartphone

O

nce again, those attending the INC Congress will have all the necessary information at their disposal in their mobile phones, thanks to the official Congress App. The tool contains a complete set of information including the sessions program, evening social events, speakers, awards, list of participants, exhibitors and sponsors. With the Congress App, attendees also have the

Sponsored by C.G. Hacking & Sons

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March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

opportunity to download the presentations delivered at the round tables, seminars and keynote speaker sessions.

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) and the App Store (for Apple).

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 1,300+ world-class industry leaders and professionals.

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

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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INC INCNews News

WELCOME TO THE INC ACADEMIA: WHERE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY ARE SHAPED! The Recently Launched Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits Will Immerse Students in the Basics of the Sector

F

ebruary saw the INC launch one of its latest and most exciting projects, the INC Academia, and specifically its first course: the Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits, an educational program on the basics of the nut and dried fruit industry, main characteristics, applications and information resources. It combines a 10-unit online course of approximately 50 hours, and a final three-day on-site experience (10+ hours of preparatory tasks & reading material) to learn through case studies, network and visit orchards and factories. The course is presented as a full

package, although it is possible to undertake only the online part. To attend the on-site course, participants are required to first complete the online course.

The contents of the online course have been designed and created by top experts from the world’s most prestigious institutions and companies. The program consists of 10 units covering the main aspects involved in the management of the nut and dried fruit sector, including soil and climate, varieties and uses, nutrition facts, food safety and quality standards, production, and consumption trends.

AUTHORS

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Mr. Rudolf Ernst August Töpfer & Co, Germany

Dr. Cameon Ivarsson Napasol Switzerland

Mr. José Roig Borrell Borrell® Spain-USA

Ms. Myla Tadulan-Santos Nielsen Australia

Dr.-ING. Malte Ahrens Bühler Aeroglide USA

Mr. Stefano Massari Oltremare Italy

Mr. Thomas Barber Bühler Aeroglide USA

Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó Rovira i Virgili University Spain

Prof. Dr. Uygun Aksoy Consultant Turkey

Mr. Carlos de Pablos Silliker Ibérica SAU Spain

Mr. Klaus Ihrig Detia Degesch Germany

Mr. David Woollard tna Solutions Pty Ltd Australia

Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta IESE Business School Spain

Mr. Steven Hiel TOMRA Sorting Solutions Belgium

Mr. Marco Azzaretti Key Technology USA

Assoc. Prof. Cesarettin Alasalvar TÜBITAK Marmara Research Center Turkey

Mr. Wilfried Thobe Mondi Consumer Goods Packaging Austria

Ms. Claudia Toussaint Waren-Verein der Hamburger Börse e.V. Germany

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

The on-site course will last three days and the location will change every year. The first onsite course will take place on May 17-19, 2018, in Sevilla, Spain, just before the INC Congress.

The on-site course will allow students to network, visit orchards and factories and learn through case studies, which will be presented

by Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta and Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla, from the prestigious IESE Business School. The Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits allows students to learn the basics of the nut and dried fruit industry at their own pace while providing them with networking opportunities. The INC will provide a certificate of completion to those who complete and pass the online course (a score of 60% or more after one attempt) and a certificate of attendance to those who participate in the on-site course.

Full-Course Students Get 50% Off their INC Congress Registration Fee The INC Congress offers a special 50% discount on the registration fee for students who take the full course (online + on-site).

For those who enroll in the on-site course, it provides the perfect opportunity to stay in Sevilla and attend the world’s largest nut and dried fruit industry event at a special price.

The 10 Online Units The contents of the online course of the Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits have been designed and created by top experts from the world’s most prestigious institutions and companies. The units are: 1. Origin and description: Introduction to the long history of nuts and dried fruits, their description and physiology.

2. Soil and climate: Which climates nuts and dried fruits are adapted to, soils, water de-

INC News

The On-Site Course The full course includes an on-site experience of 3 days (10+ hours of preparatory tasks & reading material). The location will change every year. The first on-site course will take place on May 17-19, 2018, in Sevilla, Spain, just before the INC Congress.

PROGRAM

Thursday, May 17

Friday, May 18

Saturday, May 19

Bus transfer (Sevilla-Estepa: 1h15m ride)

Bus transfer (Granada-Guadix: 50m) Visit to factory and orchard Finca El Carquí, Borges, (Guadix, Granada)

Operations Case Studies

By Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla • Porsche: The Crisis of 1992 • PACECO: The Purchasing Decision for the Fénix Project Meliá Sevilla Hotel

Lunch

Lunch at Guadix

Lunch at Meliá Sevilla Hotel

Visit to factory La Fortaleza (Estepa, Sevilla)

Bus transfer (Guadix-Gérgal: 45m) Visit to factory Almendras de Almería/ Maseto (Gérgal, Almería)

Negotiation Case Studies

By Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta • Negotiation Simulation: Food & Agriculture Sector • Negotiation Simulation: Services Sector Meliá Sevilla Hotel

Bus transfer (Gérgal-Sevilla: 3h35m)

Presentation of Certificates Meliá Sevilla Hotel

Dinner Overnight in Sevilla

Closing Dinner Meliá Sevilla Hotel

Morning

Afternoon

Evening

Bus transfer (Estepa-Granada: 1h30m) Dinner Overnight in Granada

Sunday, May 20

May 21-23

Special Offer!

Free Day

Save 50% on your INC Congress registration fee!

The INC Congress offers a special registration fee for students taking the full course (online + on-site).

Take advantage of it and attend the world’s largest nut & dried fruit industry event!

The case studies of the on-site course will be developed by Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta and Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla, from the prestigious IESE Business School. Among its other accolades, the IESE Executive Education and Custom Programmes have been ranked best in the world three years running (2015, 2016 and 2017) by The Financial Times.

Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta: Senior lecturer in the Entrepreneurship Department and the Negotiation Unit at IESE Business School, Barcelona. He has a PhD from IESE Business School, Barcelona and is a recipient of the DRRC advisory fellowship from the Kellogg School of Management. He has been with the Entrepreneurship Department at IESE since October 2009. His research has focused on creativity in organizations and in negotiations. He has conducted several Negotiation and Creativity Workshops for corporate executives and management students in India and Spain.

mand and how climate conditions may affect the crops.

3. Varieties and uses: An overview of the main varieties and geographical distribution of species, as well as traditional and recent products and uses.

4. Nutrition facts: A review of the nutritional value and evidence-based health benefits of nut and dried fruit consumption.

5. Processing: Main processing operations that can take place during and after harvest, including shelling, drying, sorting and allergen management. · Harvest · Storage

Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla: PhD in Industrial Engineering, currently finishing a second PhD in Economics. PDG by IESE Business School. Participant Centered Learning certification by Harvard Business School. 18+ years of management experience, mainly developed in Germany at BSH Bosch und Siemens Group. Owner and CEO of OPERATIONS Management Engineers, a consulting & research company. Professor of Operations Strategy in renowned universities and business schools in Spain, the UK and Germany.

Independent board member in several companies in the automotive and healthcare sector.

· Fumigation with phosphine · Shelling · Blanching · Drying · Sorting technologies · Vacuum packing · Pasteurization · Frying and dry roasting · Flavoring · Multihead weighing and bag forming · Modified atmosphere packaging · Packaging materials · Contaminant detection and removal · Allergen management

6. Food safety and quality standards: Review of the essential aspects of food safety, quality standards and best practices.

7. Production, trade and consumption: Global review of industry statistics, including production, trade and consumption volumes.

8. Consumption trends: Understanding purchase behavior and capturing opportunities from emerging trends.

9. Arbitration rules: Overview of arbitration rules, procedures and tribunals, as well as defaults and contract related issues.

10. Negotiation: Essential strategies and skills for successful negotiations.

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59

INC News

GULFOOD 2018: THE LARGEST INC PAVILION EVER SEEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST 19 Companies Joined the INC at the World’s Biggest Annual Food and Hospitality Event

T

he INC participated from February 18 to 22 in a new edition of GulFoodDubai, where, following the successful experience of 2017, the INC Pavilion was presented in its largest version ever in the Middle East: Up to 180 square meters of booths, meeting space, storage and hospitality area hosting a total of 19 co-exhibitors.

Placed at ZA’Abeel Hall 2, Stand Z2-D40, the Pavilion was a vibrant trading hub that, during the five days of the show, witnessed a non-stop flow of visitors and a remarkable number of both informal conversations and private meetings. All this activity allowed the INC’s co-exhibitors to showcase their services and products, network and do business

while enjoying unrivalled advantages and a premium location.

Once again, the Pavilion became a symbol of the INC’s internationality and global representation: The 19 participating co-exhibitors came from eleven different countries, namely Chile, China, Germany, Iran, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, the UK and the USA, reinforcing the global umbrella of the nut and dried fruit industry which the INC represents.

The presence of visitors at the Pavilion was constant during the entire show. However, as was to be expected, the Welcome Cocktail attracted one of the largest crowds. The event drew a significant number of attendees, who

enjoyed networking in a relaxed atmosphere, while enjoying a drink, snacks and assorted nuts and dried fruits.

Nearly 100,000 Visitors This year has seen the 23rd edition of GulFood.

Launched as a biennial trade fair in 1987, the event has grown dramatically to reach more than 120 countries (now annually) embracing 5,000 local, regional and international exhibitors to showcase those food trends and innovations shaping the future worldwide.

Around 95,000 visitors go to see its eight food sectors every year including, among others, pulses, grains and cereals, beverages, dairy and world food.

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

INDUFRUT

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INC News

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE INC PAVILION IN GULFOOD 2018

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61

INC News

NUTS FOR GIFTS FOR A HEALTHIER WORLD The INC’s Global Dissemination Plan Keeps Growing and Announces a Determined Move Towards Solidarity

N

uts for Gifts keeps growing! The global plan launched in 2017 by the INC to present nuts and dried fruits as a top-of-mind gift has already become an international trend, driven by dozens of influencers and their hundreds of thousands of followers, who have embraced the concept and are helping to spread it around the world.

Following this successful first year, it’s time now to make a new move forward so as to consolidate the plan and reinforce its

nuts and dried fruits are a gift from nature that everybody in the world has the right to enjoy, including those living in the most disadvantaged regions of the planet. This view is in line with the goals of the INC itself, as regards the worldwide dissemination of the properties of nuts and dried fruits.

A nut and dried fruit mix including the 16 products represented by the INC will be the pivotal element of the campaign. Through a series of 16 videos, the products will be presented and

The “Nuts for Gifts - For a Healthier World” campaign will be implemented in the multilingual “Nuts for Gifts” website.

core values. That is why, from now on, the Nuts for Gifts initiative will incorporate a solidarity campaign based on the idea that

Companies will be invited to become partners of the campaign by donating nuts and dried fruits. A stamp has been created which they can include in their communications and packaging.

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introduced in the symbolic bag containing the nut and dried fruit mix. Each product will have its own presentation video featuring a local person from a producing country.

Videos will be released and disseminated online through an ambitious and comprehensive strategy with the aim that they go viral. And here is when solidarity comes in: Every time the videos are shared, the user will be donating a symbolic bag containing the nut and dried fruit mix to people living in

The “Nuts for Gifts - For a Healthier World” campaign will be launched in May, coinciding with the celebration of the 37th INC Congress in Sevilla (May 21-23). Therefore, during that month the campaign videos will be released and, at the same time, on-site promotion will also take place at the INC Congress, where a promotional stand will be installed so that attendees can obtain first-hand information of the campaign. On-site promotion at other international events is also being considered.

disadvantaged regions of the world. Just by sharing the videos, with no effort, users will be contributing to the solidarity campaign.

They will be allowing somebody to enjoy the benefits of nuts and dried fruits. That’s why “Nuts for Gifts - For a Healthier World” is this year’s slogan for the campaign.

The donation of the total amount of nuts and dried fruits achieved per the number of video shares will be channelled through an NGO. Companies in the sector will be invited to join the campaign too and become partners by donating nuts and dried fruits. A stamp has been created which they can include in their communications and packaging.

Because videos will be deeply moving and because sharing them will entail an effortless and automatic solidary action, the campaign promises to go viral and thus be successful, considering that its ultimate goal, along with helping disadvantaged people, is the global dissemination of the properties and benefits of nuts and dried fruits.

INC News

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

63

INC News

INC GRANTS SUPPORT RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION INC to grant €350,000 in 2018 to nut and dried fruit research and dissemination

O

n November 6, 2017, the INC launched its Annual Call for Research Projects and Annual Call for Promotion and Dissemination Projects with the deadline for submission January 31, 2018.

The INC will fund research and dissemination projects through two different grants for project proposals with a total of €350,000.

Last year the INC selected two research projects and two dissemination projects to receive the funding, reinforcing its commitment to helping improve our understanding of the

benefits of eating nuts and dried fruits, and dissemination projects.

By year end, the INC will have funded research and dissemination grants for nearly 1.5 million Euros since the launch of the first call in 2013.

You can consult the list of grant recipients of previous calls on our website www.nutfruit. org, where you will find a detailed list of awardees between 2013 and 2017.

In addition, the INC launched the “Nuts for Gifts” Global Dissemination Program to promote nuts and dried fruits worldwide.

Aimed at presenting nuts and dried fruits as a top-of-mind gift, the Program is aligned with the DIY trend. “Nuts for Gifts” can be shared and disseminated through its Toolbox Kit. INC members and industry organizations can download it at the Members Area of the website nutsforgifts.org.

INC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

T

he INC Executive Committee met in Boca Raton, Florida, on

February 2, 2018, to review the Foundation’s financial status at the end of the year 2017 and the Budget for 2018, and several ongoing projects, such as the Annual Communication Plan, Exhibitions, the Global Dissemination Project, website renovation and the INC Academia’s Executive Program on Nuts and Dried Fruits.

An update of the new initiatives for the INC Strategic Plan 20182023 was also presented. The new initiatives include: 1) a newsletter for health professionals; 2) a toolkit on nut allergy facts and allergen management practices; 3) identifying megatrends, production areas, consumption trends and sustainability initiatives currently implemented

64

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

in the nut and dried fruit sector; 4) identifying and resolving trade barriers, both tariff and non-tariff, that hinder nut and dried fruit trade; and 5) issuing a Model Contract aimed at helping INC Members avoid contractual issues.

Preparations for the upcoming Congress in Sevilla were reviewed, and candidatures for future congresses were evaluated.

The members of the Executive Committee reviewed and discussed the activities of the different ad-hoc committees: The Statistics Committee, the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, the Global Cashew Council, the Macadamia Working Group, and the Business Integrity Committee.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

INC News

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March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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65

INC News

MR. PINO CALCAGNI AWARDED HONORIS CAUSA BY CASPIAN UNIVERSITY

M

r. Pino Calcagni, INC Vice Chairman, Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee and the Statistics Committee, has received an Honoris Causa Degree from the Caspian University, Almaty (Kazakhstan) for his outstanding contribution to the nut and dried fruit sector over sixty years.

Mr. Calcagni was invited to give a Lectio Magistralis at Caspian University on January 23, 2018. The invitation was extended by the Rector of the University in view of Mr. Calcagni’s recent valuable commitments to the development of the nut industry in the area, including projects to implement modern agriculture through financial support and a transfer of know-how to local producers. The focus will be placed on developing new producing areas and turning abandoned crops into modern, well equipped plantations, especially for hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios.

Mr. Calcagni’s lecture gave a historical perspective of the global tree nut sector and projections for the future. Other points addressed were the complexity of climate change and the economic opportunities

afforded by the transition from traditional fruit cultivation to a modern tree nut orchard.

WORLD CASHEW CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

T

he 4th World Cashew Convention and Exhibition took place in Macau, China, on February 1-3, 2018, in association with the INC. The event welcomed 475 participants from 38 countries to discuss about global RCN market dynamics, quality standards, the kernel market, by-products, sector development in Africa and women’s empowerment.

The INC was represented by Mr. Pratap Nair, INC Board member and Ambassador for India, who participated in the Opening Ceremony with a keynote presentation about the work of the INC and the Global Cashew Council, and an overview of the nut industry. He also highlighted two recent clinical trials that have examined the effect of cashew consumption on cardiovascular disease risk. One led by Dr. David J. Baer at the USDA Beltsville Human Nutrition Center; the other by Dr. V. Mohan from the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in India.

66

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

The INC also featured a booth in the exhibition area where dozens of visitors learnt about the INC and the upcoming INC Congress in Sevilla, Spain, on May 21-23.

INC News

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

67

INC News

68

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Statistical Review

WORLD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION TRENDS

Global Statistical Review March 2018

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 2018 | NUTFRUIT

69

Statistical Review

ALMONDS 杏仁

/ ALMENDRA / AMANDE / MANDORLE / MANDEL / BADEM

USA. As per the Almond Board of California,

AUSTRALIA. As reported by the

SPAIN. According to the Mesa Nacional

by January 2018 (FY 2017/18), grower crop receipts totaled ca. 1 million metric tons (2.21 billion pounds), 7% above the same time last year, and slightly below the Objective Estimate of 1.021 million MT (2.25 billion pounds).

Overall shipment records were set for the November 2017 - January 2018 period, reflecting strong demand in the U.S. and export markets. 281,908 MT (621.5 million pounds) shipped in the first 5 months of FY 2017/18 were 25% higher than the same period in FY 2016/17. December exports of in-shell almonds were particularly strong, putting total in-shell shipments well ahead of last year.

Current bearing planted area in California is 404,686 hectares (1 million acres), with an additional 121,406 non-bearing ha (300,000 non-bearing acres, defined as less than 4 years old) across the state.

Almond Board of Australia, based on orchard plantings data, the Australian almond industry expected a crop of 87,000 MT in 2018.

However, wet, cold and windy weather during pollination and subsequent frost and wind damage impacted on the crop size. The variable nature of this damage within orchards made the 2018 crop estimation a very difficult exercise and, at the time of writing this report, it was gauged that the crop tonnage would be similar to last year, at around 81,000 MT, but the margin of error may be significant. The quality appeared to be good with kernel size tending towards larger.

de Frutos Secos (Spanish National Table of Nut Production Organizations) the 2017/18 Spanish crop was estimated at 50,954 MT, up by 11% compared to 2016/17. This was due to the increment of planted area in the main almond producing areas.

As per the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, during the AugustDecember 2017 period, around 30,000 MT of almonds were already shelled and 14,000 MT exported, accounting for about 47% of the total amount processed until the end of last year.

Estimated World Almond Production. Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country USA* (MM lbs)

2016/2017 Beginning Stock

Crop

2017/2018

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

412

2,087

2,499

399

399

2,205

2,604

404

186,881

946,647

1,133,528

180,847

180,847

1,000,171

1,181,018

183,251

AUSTRALIA

1,000

80,140

81,140

1,000

1,000

80,800

81,800

1,000

SPAIN

1,000

45,866

46,866

1,000

1,000

50,954

51,954

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

CHILE

0

12,000

12,000

0

0

14,000

14,000

0

TURKEY

0

13,000

13,000

0

0

13,000

13,000

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

7,500

7,500

1,000

1,000

3,000

4,000

0

OTHERS

0

30,000

30,000

0

0

30,000

30,000

0

188,881

1,183,653

1,372,534

183,847

183,847

1,240,425

1,424,272

185,251

USA* (MT)

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1,188,687

Source: Almond Board of California, Almond Board of Australia, National Table of Spanish Nuts Production Organizations, Greek Nuts & Fruits Trade Association and other INC sources. *USA crop reflects the estimated 2% Loss & Exempt (L&E) for the crop year.

70

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

1,239,021

Statistical Review

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

NOCE DE BRASILE / PARANUSS / BREZILYA FINGIGI

After having been out of work for so many months due to the short crop last year, Brazil nut factories worked hard to open as early as possible this crop. Three factories were open in January (one big and two small) and others were targeting to open from February to March.

The raw material market has been challenging as the collectors were expecting historically high prices for their raw material, having earned really good prices for their goods last year, whilst factories have been pushing back for lower prices knowing that the export market would not be willing to support these high prices. At the time of writing this report, it seemed that a balance had been found and raw material was finally flowing. Factories had also been making sales and had sold all the February and March shipment positions.

On the demand side, there has been a clear divide between users who still have cover/stocks at last year’s high price levels and others who needed to take cover. The users who needed cover booked up all the early shipment positions and paid a premium for it. If flow of raw material remains good and demand strong stability for the next few months can be expected.

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nut Production · In-shell Basis · Metric Tons.

Country BOLIVIA PERU BRAZIL WORLD TOTAL

2016/2017 Beginning Stock 4,500 450 300 5,250

Crop

2017/2018

Total Supply

69,000 13,050 1,500 83,550

73,500 13,500 1,800 88,800

Ending Stock 6,720 900 300 7,920

Beginning stock 6,720 900 300 7,920

Crop

Total Supply

24,000 7,500 600 32,100

30,720 8,400 900 40,020

80,880

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock 0 0 0 0

40,020

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country BOLIVIA PERU BRAZIL WORLD TOTAL

2016/2017 Beginning Stock 1,500 150 100 1,750

Crop 23,000 4,350 500 27,850

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2017/2018

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

Ending Stock 2,240 300 100 2,640

26,960

Beginning stock 2,240 300 100 2,640

Crop 8,000 2,500 200 10,700

Total Supply

Ending Stock

10,240 2,800 300 13,340

0 0 0 0

13,340

Source: INC.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

71

Statistical Review

CASHEWS 腰果 / ANACARDO / NOIX DE CAJU / ANACARDIO /

CASHWKERNE / CASHEW CEVIZI

WESTERN AFRICA. As per the

VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA.

BRAZIL. Brazil’s 2017 exports accounted

African Cashew Alliance (ACA), Western African 2017/18 crops were increased compared to the prior season. Registered increments ranged from 3-4% (Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire), through 7-10% (Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Benin) up to 2250% (Senegal and Gambia respectively).

Vietnam 2017/18 crop was 23% lower than the prior season due to abundant rains, which also affected quality, while Cambodia crop was increased by 10%, adding up to ca.

90,000 MT. According to the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS), between January and October 2017, 297,469 MT of cashew kernel were exported from Vietnam, from which 55% were destined to the USA and 12% to China.

for 504,000 cartons, which represents less than a quarter of the figure eight years ago.

55% of the shipments were destined to North America, while only 23% went to Europe, 19% to Latin America and 3% elsewhere. In particular, sales of large nuts to the Middle East were way down.

At the end of January arrivals were being very poor, and the price of RCN went up accordingly. This harvest seemed initially to be better than prior years, but it has been revised to 100,000 MT of RCN, 44% down from the prior estimate. Factories will have to manage their raw material stocks until they can receive West African material.

INDIA. According to the Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, the total area under cashew cultivation is currently about 1,040,890 hectares and the production of raw cashew nut (RCN) accounted for 817,045 metric tons in 2017/18 (March-April 2017), which indicates that there was an increase of 5% in terms of production compared to the previous season. As reported by the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI), in addition to the local crop, in 2017, between April and October, 489,513 MT of RCN were imported into India to be processed.

EASTERN AFRICA. A good 2017/18 season was anticipated in Eastern Africa. Tanzania experienced a second year of good crop. As reported by ACA, a crop around 300,000 MT was expected, which represents an increment of 18% over the 2016/17 season. In Mozambique the crop was estimated down by 20% from the previous season, while Kenya is expected to end up at similar levels to 2016/17.

Estimated World Cashew Production. Raw Cashew Nut (RCN). Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Growing Area/ Country Beginning Stock Crop Total Supply Ending Stock Beginning stock NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Western Africa Cote d'Ivoire Guinea-Bissau Nigeria Benin Burkina Faso Ghana Senegal Gambia Subtotal Western Africa India Vietnam Cambodia SUBTOTAL N, HEMISPHERE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Eastern Africa Tanzania Mozambique Kenya Subtotal Eastern Africa Brazil Indonesia SUBTOTAL S. HEMISPHERE Others WORLD TOTAL

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Total Supply

Ending Stock

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

649.587 210.000 175.000 100.000 75.000 70.000 45.000 10.000 1.334.587 779.335 390.756 81.513 2.586.191

649.587 210.000 175.000 100.000 75.000 70.000 45.000 10.000 1.334.587 779.335 390.756 81.513 2.586.191

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

673.236 225.000 180.000 110.000 80.000 75.000 55.000 15.000 1.413.236 817.045 300.105 90.034 2.620.420

673.236 225.000 180.000 110.000 80.000 75.000 55.000 15.000 1.413.236 817.045 300.105 90.034 2.620.420

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

255.000 115.000 10.000 380.000 120.000 90.000 590.000 130.000 3.306.191

255.000 115.000 10.000 380.000 120.000 90.000 590.000 130.000 3.306.191

n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a

n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a

300.000 92.000 10.000 402.000 100.000 80.000 582.000 123.000 3.325.420

300.000 92.000 10.000 402.000 100.000 80.000 582.000 123.000 3.325.420

n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a

*Harvest from from January'17 through June'17 (Northern hemisphere), from September'17 through February'18 (Southern hemisphere).

Source: Global Cashew Council and INC.

72

2017/2018 Crop

Statistical Review

HAZELNUTS

榛子 / AVELLANA / NOISETTE / NOCCIOLA / HASELNUSS / FINDIK

TURKEY. After a strong flow of goods,

ITALY. At the time of writing this report

heavy trading and depreciation of the Turkish Lira against major currencies between September and November 2017, the new year started reasonably calm. The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) completed the procurement of 140,000 metric tons mostly from the Eastern Black Sea region by leaving some unknowns towards the second half of the season with no indications of intent for release or pricing yet.

Exports and domestic consumption have showed stronger performance compared to the previous few seasons aiming to reach 570,000 MT and 150,000 MT in-shell basis, consecutively.

In terms of indications of the upcoming season, at the end of January there was lack of rain and snow along with higher than average winter temperatures. However, these findings were not yet statistically sound to estimate pollination performance.

in early February, orchard preparation and pruning for 2018 crop were very favorable and rich of catkins in all the areas.

AZERBAIJAN. Azerbaijan had sold most of its crop in January, as the quality had been superior to their long-term averages; crop receipts ranged between 20,000 and 22,500 MT (kernels basis).

GEORGIA. As previously reported by the Hazelnut Processors and Exporters Association of Georgia, the 2017/18 crop faced bacterial and fungal diseases and the stink bug plague. Therefore, it was not possible to produce Class 1 and Class 2 hazelnuts from West Georgia, the main producing region. In contrast, the Eastern region of Kakheti was not affected at all, and it was able to produce high quality hazelnuts, but in a very limited quantity.

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

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

Crop

TURKEY 135,000 500,000 ITALY 15,000 130,000 AZERBAIJAN 1,000 50,000 GEORGIA 1,000 60,000 CHILE 0 20,000 USA 0 39,000 SPAIN 300 20,000 IRAN 500 10,000 CHINA 0 5,500 FRANCE 0 10,000 OTHERS 0 15,000 WORLD TOTAL 152,800 859,500 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply

Ending Stock

635,000 145,000 51,000 61,000 20,000 39,000 20,300 10,500 5,500 10,000 15,000 1,012,300

80,000 15,000 500 1,000 0 3,500 1,000 500 0 0 0 101,500

Kernels yielded around 50% below their long-term average and internal rotten from West Georgia averaged 6%, resulting in a sellable crop of at around 15,300 MT (kernel basis). Shipments out of Georgia in September - December 2017 were about 8,000 MT of kernels, 29% down from the same period in 2016.

On the other hand, the quality of processed hazelnuts is being improved. By the means of a new regulation in Georgia, from January 1, 2018, processed hazelnuts can only be exported by HACCP certified companies.

USA. Due to poor weather conditions, the 2017/18 crop came in 17% less than the previous estimate, resulting in less developed kernel meat, skin damage, and lower flavor quality. In contrast, the trees are primed for a bumper crop in 2018, which is expected to exceed the largest crop of record. Trees were loaded with catkins and pollination conditions were exceptional.

2017/2018

Beginning stock 80,000 15,000 500 1,000 0 3,500 1,000 500 0 0 0 101,500

Crop

Total Supply

720,000 90,000 65,000 70,000 25,000 27,000 14,000 12,000 6,200 4,500 25,000 1,058,700

800,000 105,000 65,500 71,000 25,000 30,500 15,000 12,500 6,200 4,500 25,000 1,160,200

910,800

Ending Stock 80,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 1,000 0 0 0 0 91,000

1,069,200

Kernel Basis· Metric Tons.

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

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

Crop

Total Supply

250,000 58,500 20,000 19,000 9,000 15,120 8,640 4,500 2,500 4,800 6,000 398,060

317,500 65,250 20,500 19,500 9,000 15,120 8,784 4,725 2,500 4,800 6,000 473,679

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2017/2018 Ending Stock 40,000 7,000 200 320 0 1,365 430 225 0 0 0 49,540

424,139

Beginning stock 40,000 7,000 200 320 0 1,365 430 225 0 0 0 49,540

Crop

Total Supply

360,000 42,300 25,000 15,313 11,000 10,800 6,300 5,500 2,790 2,025 9,000 490,028

400,000 49,300 25,200 15,633 11,000 12,165 6,730 5,725 2,790 2,025 9,000 539,568

Ending Stock 40,000 0 0 3,800 0 0 450 0 0 0 0 44,250

495,318

Source: Hazelnut Processors and Exporters Association of Georgia, China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products and other INC sources.

In the Southern hemisphere hazelnuts are harvested from February through March.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

73

Statistical Review

MACADAMIAS

夏威夷果 / MACADAMIA / MACADAMIANUSS / MAKEDEMIA / CEVIZI

SOUTH AFRICA As reported by

The South African industry is growing at a steady pace and more than 1,000 hectares of young trees will come into production for the first time. Tree sales data have not been collected from nurseries for 2017, but it is anticipated to be similar to 2016. Therefore, it is estimated that a further 4,000 ha of macadamias were established in 2017, bringing the total planted area to approximately 31,500 ha. Approximately 17,000 ha should be in full production, or close to full production in 2018.

the Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC), the 2017 crop ended up being better than anticipated. By the end of September the total harvested figure was 42,155 metric tons NIS (nut in-shell at 1.5% kernel moisture content). However, in the last quarter of the year and early 2018, around 2,450 MT were harvested additionally, bringing total crop to approximately 44,600 MT NIS (final consolidation will still be done).

Weather conditions were mostly favorable and rains were received across the major producing regions. Hail storms differing in severity hit various regions; however, most growers remained optimistic about the 2018 crop, which is expected to be near 54,000 MT NIS according to the initial crop forecast.

AUSTRALIA. As per the Australian Macadamia Society, the 2018 crop started very well with good flowering and well needed rain in spring following an extended dry period. In November and December 2017 several storms caused tree damage and

crop loss in some producing regions. Overall, tree health is good and farms not affected by storms expect to achieve an above average crop. At the time of writing this report, a similar production output to 2017 was expected, with an early forecast estimated at 44,500 MT (at 3.5% nut in-shell moisture content).

Kernel imports into Korea, Taiwan and the U.S. grew strongly in 2017 while imports into Japan and Europe were similar to the prior year.

In-shell imports into China grew significantly.

It is anticipated that demand for macadamias from existing users and new entrants will remain strong during 2018.

2017 saw continued new interest and investment into the Australian macadamia industry and it is estimated 1,500-2,000 hectares were planted, expectations are for similar plantings in 2018.

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

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

2017 Beginning Stock 3,010 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,010

2018

Crop

Total Supply

44,610 44,000 30,500 14,000 17,900 10,250 4,500 4,639 1,000 229 20,056 191,684

47,620 44,000 30,500 14,000 17,900 10,250 4,500 4,639 1,000 229 20,056 194,694

Ending Stock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 0 0 120

Beginning stock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 0 0 120

Crop

Total Supply

54,000 44,500 32,500 18,000 17,900 11,000 6,200 5,358 1,100 230 20,100 210,888

54,000 44,500 32,500 18,000 17,900 11,000 6,200 5,358 1,220 230 20,100 211,008

194,574

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 n/a n/a 80 n/a n/a 80

210,928

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

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

2017 Beginning Stock 903 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 903

Crop 13,383 14,100 5,795 3,920 4,700 2,200 1,150 1,286 250 57 5,013 51,854

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2018

Total Supply 14,286 14,100 5,795 3,920 4,700 2,200 1,150 1,286 250 57 5,013 52,757

Ending Stock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0 0 27

52,730

Beginning stock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0 0 27

Crop 16,200 14,240 6,825 5,040 4,700 2,500 1,550 1,485 242 58 5,025 57,865

Total Supply 16,200 14,240 6,825 5,040 4,700 2,500 1,550 1,485 269 58 5,025 57,892

Ending Stock n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 17 n/a n/a 17

57,875

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.

74

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Statistical Review

PECANS

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

NORTH AMERICA. Despite extensive hurricane damage in Georgia, the U.S. crop was estimated to be a good volume crop. Although revised down from the previous estimate of 138,350 metric tons, it was increased by 6% compared to 2016/17, accounting for ca. 126,000 MT. In contrast, expectations were for a much shorter Mexican crop than the past three years. After three years of very high volumes, it appears that the trees are in the resting mode with estimates indicating a volume as high to 28% lower than the 2016/17 crop.

Kernel quality appears to be very good across the entire North American growing region. Early worries about lower quality due to hurricane damage did not materialize.

Reports on kernel size, fill and quality have been coming in with good reviews.

Shipments bound for China, Hong Kong and Vietnam from the U.S. through November 2017 were quite strong, with numbers close to 20,000 MT for October and November 2017 combined.

AUSTRALIA. At the beginning of

SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa has had favorable weather for the 2018/19 crop.

At the beginning of the year, good rains and sunshine were recorded in the main growing regions in the North-West of the country and the nut set was good. With new orchards coming into production, the 2018/19 crop is expected to show decent growth from the record 2017/18 crop. However, much will depend on conditions over the coming months.

2018, the Australian pecan crop was maturing well under generally favorable conditions in all growing regions. Pollination and nut-set occurred successfully in September-October 2017 and nuts were in the oil stage in early January 2018. Although weather conditions were hot, they were less extreme than the previous year, and with regular irrigation, nuts were sizing up nicely. Harvest in Australia traditionally starts in the last week of April.

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

Country USA MEXICO SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2016/2017 Beginning Stock

2017/2018

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

58,533

119,160

177,693

68,000

4,535

140,796

145,331

0

10,080

200

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

68,000

125,830

193,830

68,000

4,500

4,500

102,060

106,560

3,500

10,080

0

0

16,500

16,500

0

2,550

2,750

200

200

2,600

2,800

200

0

1,000

1,000

0

0

500

500

0

63,268

273,586

336,854

72,700

72,700

247,490

320,190

71,700

264,154

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Ending Stock

248,490

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country USA MEXICO SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2016/2017 Beginning Stock

Crop

2017/2018

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

25,755

52,430

78,185

29,920

29,920

62,915

92,835

29,920

2,268

70,398

72,666

2,250

2,250

51,300

53,550

1,750

0

5,040

5,040

0

0

8,250

8,250

0

100

1,275

1,375

100

100

1,430

1,530

100

0

500

500

0

0

250

250

0

28,123

129,643

157,766

32,270

32,270

124,145

156,415

31,770

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

125,496

124,645

Source: INC.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

75

Statistical Review

PINE NUTS 松子

/ PIÑÓN / PIGNON / PINOLI / PINIENKERNE / ÇAM FISTIGI

FAR EAST. Total Far East 2017/18 crop was estimated at 20,800 metric tons (kernel basis), up by 39% from the earlier estimate, although slightly below the prior season crop. This was due to the 2017/18 Chinese and North Korean pine nut crops, which were revised up at 8,800 MT and 3,000 MT respectively. In the 2018/19 season the yield of China’s red pine is also expected to be higher (forecasted at around 28,000 MT in-shell; 11,000 MT kernel basis) than that of 2017/18, as 2018 is anticipated to be a bumper harvest year.

As reported by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, since January 1, 2018, China banned imports of North Korean pine nuts because of the reduced supplies from this country. In spite of this,

adding the 2017 inventory, it is expected that global supply of pine nuts in China will remain stable.

MEDITERRANEAN. In Turkey, pine nut production is usually around 1,200 MT (kernel basis). However, according to the Aegean Exporters Association, both the 2016/17 and 2017/18 crops were smaller due to unfavorable weather conditions. As a result, domestic consumption is being very limited and almost all of the crop is being exported mainly to the EU, Middle East and USA. 2017 exports added up to 799 MT. The rest of the Mediterranean origins previous estimates were confirmed.

Estimated World Pine Nut Production. In-shell Basis · Metric Tons 2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

2017/2018

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

FAR EAST CHINA AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN NORTH KOREA RUSSIA MONGOLIA SUBTOTAL

10,600 200 200 800 200 0 12,000

12,000 6,000 6,000 18,000 14,000 28,000 84,000

22,600 6,200 6,200 18,800 14,200 28,000 96,000

28,000 200 200 600 240 0 29,240

28,000 200 200 600 240 0 29,240

22,000 6,000 6,000 12,000 8,000 4,000 58,000

50,000 6,200 6,200 12,600 8,240 4,000 87,240

2,000 200 200 1,000 1,200 0 4,600

400 400 400 1,800 0 3,000 15,000

2,400 2,600 1,200 800 400 7,400 91,400

2,800 3,000 1,600 2,600 400 10,400 106,400

400 400 400 1,200 0 2,400 31,640

400 400 400 1,200 0 2,400 31,640

3,600 2,800 1,000 400 400 8,200 66,200

4,000 3,200 1,400 1,600 400 10,600 97,840

200 400 200 320 0 1,120 5,720

MEDITERRANEAN (Pinus pinea) ITALY TURKEY PORTUGAL SPAIN OTHERS SUBTOTAL WORLD TOTAL

74,760

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

92,120

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

2016/2017 Beginning Stock

Crop

2017/2018

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

FAR EAST CHINA AFGHANISTAN PAKISTAN NORTH KOREA RUSSIA MONGOLIA SUBTOTAL

2,650 100 100 200 50 0 3,100

3,000 3,000 3,000 4,500 3,500 7,000 24,000

5,650 3,100 3,100 4,700 3,550 7,000 27,100

7,000 100 100 150 60 0 7,410

7,000 100 100 150 60 0 7,410

8,800 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 20,800

15,800 3,100 3,100 3,150 2,060 1,000 28,210

500 100 100 250 300 0 1,250

100 100 100 450 0 750 3,850

600 650 300 200 100 1,850 25,850

700 750 400 650 100 2,600 29,700

100 100 100 300 0 600 8,010

100 100 100 300 0 600 8,010

900 700 250 100 100 2,050 22,850

1,000 800 350 400 100 2,650 30,860

50 100 50 80 n/a 280 1,530

MEDITERRANEAN (Pinus pinea) ITALY TURKEY PORTUGAL SPAIN OTHERS SUBTOTAL WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

21,690

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

76

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

29,330

Statistical Review

PISTACHIOS

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

USA. California’s pistachio harvest started in early September 2017, with the 2017/18 crop finishing at 274,757 metric tons (606 million pounds), representing a decrease of 33% from the previous year. Regarding quality, late season extreme heat reduced the overall pistachio harvest in 2017 and caused some quality issues relating to hull breakdown (straining) and insect damage. Despite this and the decrease from an “off-year”, California pistachio crop keeps consistently growing, 5-7% annually, after overcoming the drought.

Increased global demand is continuing from crop year 2016, with the drivers being attractive prices and strong promotions.

California pistachio sales remained strong through the Christmas season, with retail sales driven by continued ad campaigns and numerous retail promotions, and export

EU15 (health/quality conscious market), Indian Subcontinent (quality and variety-oriented market) and the Middle East markets are robustly growing.

sales driven by favorable consumer reaction to attractive prices. Sales to China for the Chinese New Year festivities on February 16, 2018 were expected to be similar to the high-volume sales from prior year driven by continued strong demand.

TURKEY. Due to bad climate conditions,

IRAN. As reported by the Iran Pistachio Association, the post-harvest 2017/18 season crop was estimated at 225,000 MT, up by 47% from the previous season. In terms of quality, the nut size of the dominant Fandoghi variety for the 2017/18 crop was reported to be smaller than usual and closed shell percentage, floaters and blanks for the new crop were also reported to be at higher levels compared to the 2016/17 crop.

The 2016 marketing year witnessed a significant diversification in pistachio markets.

the Turkish 2017/18 pistachio crop was smaller than the previous one. It was harvested early in order to supply the baklava industry in the domestic market, which demands early picked green kernels. Thus, there were very limited regular pistachios left for the chocolate and snack industry which were supplied with carry overs. Quality wise, the size of in-shell pistachios was at average.

Confectionary and industrial usage and Christmas consumption led to a price increase during November and December 2017.

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

Country

2016/2017 Beginning Stock

2017/2018

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

Crop

Total Supply

Ending Stock

USA

46,528

409,429

455,957

115,507

115,507

274,757

390,264

55,782

IRAN

17,000

153,000

170,000

3,000

3,000

225,000

228,000

n/a

TURKEY

40,000

135,000

175,000

50,000

50,000

50,000

100,000

30,000

SYRIA

0

20,000

20,000

0

0

17,000

17,000

n/a

AFGHANISTAN

0

5,000

5,000

0

0

10,000

10,000

n/a

GREECE

0

4,000

4,000

500

500

4,000

4,500

n/a

ITALY

0

2,500

2,500

0

0

2,250

2,250

n/a

AUSTRALIA

0

2,000

2,000

0

0

2,000

2,000

0

CHINA

210

4,200

4,410

0

0

1,200

1,200

0

TOTAL

103,738

735,129

838,867

169,007

169,007

586,207

755,214

85,782

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

669,860

669,432

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

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

77

Statistical Review

WALNUTS 核桃

/ NUEZ / NOIX / NOCE / WALNUSS / CEVIZ

CHINA. The final walnut receipt was estimated at 840,000 metric tons. Production continues to grow by 5-10% annually, with a planted area of over 300,000 hectares and a target of 500,000 ha by 2020 (bearing and non-bearing).

The market for premium varieties strengthened by nearly 20% since the start of the season. The enlarged production of newly improved varieties enabled Chinese suppliers to reappear on the world market at competitive pricing, resulting in a substantial increase in export. Overseas shipments for both in-shell and shelled walnuts from February - December 2017 jumped by 25 and 2.5 times respectively above the prior season.

In view of a lower than expected 2017 crop and strong overseas demand, the price is likely to hold steady before the next crop, but

this will largely depend on consumption during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Festivals.

The majority of the crop showed excellent quality, light color and good size.

USA. The current crop as reported by handlers through February 9, 2018, totaled 569,065 MT (627,287 short tons) lower than the 589,670 MT (650,000 short tons) forecasted by the USDA Objective Measurement Report of September 2017.

As reported by the California Walnut Board and Commission, export shipments were affected by the later harvest, giving a slow start to the season. However, market demand for walnuts remains strong. Receipts as of November 30, 2017 were 557,524 MT (614,565 short tons). Shelled shipments as reported through December 31, 2017 showed a gain of 3% in Europe and on par with the last crop season in Asia.

CHILE. The walnut crop for the 2017/18 season (harvest March/April 2018) is expected to reach 130,000 MT. Production has experienced an accelerated increment over the last past years due to over 3,000 ha planted annually. Currently, there are about 45,000 ha of walnut planted in Chile, from which around 35,000 are bearing, 8,000 ha are not bearing yet and approx. 2,000 ha accounted for last year increase in plantings.

World demand has been steady because of the great quality and availability of fresh walnuts in the off season, being the main markets Turkey, the Middle East, Europe, South America and India.

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

Country

Beginning Stock

CHINA 40,000 USA 65,669 CHILE 3,000 UKRAINE 5,000 IRAN 0 FRANCE 0 MOLDOVA 0 INDIA 0 TURKEY 3,000 ROMANIA 0 ITALY 0 AUSTRALIA 0 HUNGARY 0 GEORGIA 0 OTHERS 0 WORLD TOTAL 116,669 CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2016/2017 Crop Total Supply 900,000 622,328 108,000 80,000 90,000 36,000 34,000 36,000 20,000 30,000 15,000 6,500 11,000 5,500 30,000 2,024,328

940,000 687,997 111,000 85,000 90,000 36,000 34,000 36,000 23,000 30,000 15,000 6,500 11,000 5,500 30,000 2,140,997

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

40,000 50,780 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 99,780 2,041,217

40,000 50,780 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 0 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 99,780

Ending Stock 17,600 22,338 1,000 680 0 880 0 0 1,320 0 0 0 0 0 0 43,818 888,672

Beginning stock 17,600 22,338 1,000 680 0 880 0 0 1,320 0 0 0 0 0 0 43,818

2017/2018 Crop Total Supply 840,000 569,065 130,000 132,250 95,000 35,000 39,000 35,000 26,500 33,000 18,000 10,500 12,000 6,000 30,000 2,011,315

880,000 619,845 132,000 134,250 95,000 37,000 39,000 35,000 29,500 33,000 18,000 10,500 12,000 6,000 30,000 2,111,095

Ending Stock 40,000 65,000 1,200 5,000 0 2,000 0 5,000 0 0 0 200 0 0 0 118,400 1,992,695

Kernel Basis · Metric Tons.

Country

Beginning Stock CHINA 17,600 USA 28,894 CHILE 1,500 UKRAINE 1,667 IRAN 0 FRANCE 0 MOLDOVA 0 INDIA 0 TURKEY 1,304 ROMANIA 0 ITALY 0 AUSTRALIA 0 HUNGARY 0 GEORGIA 0 OTHERS 0 WORLD TOTAL 50,965 CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2016/2017 Crop Total Supply 396,000 413,600 273,824 302,719 54,000 55,500 27,000 28,667 39,600 39,600 16,000 16,000 12,000 12,000 16,000 16,000 8,800 10,104 10,500 10,500 7,000 7,000 2,900 2,900 3,900 3,900 2,000 2,000 12,000 12,000 881,524 932,490

2017/2018 Crop Total Supply 369,000 386,600 250,389 272,727 65,000 66,000 51,750 52,430 38,000 38,000 17,500 18,380 13,500 13,500 12,000 12,000 11,660 12,980 11,500 11,500 8,100 8,100 5,250 5,250 4,200 4,200 2,000 2,000 12,000 12,000 871,849 915,667

Ending Stock 17,600 28,535 600 1,950 0 1,000 0 1,700 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 51,485 864,182

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, California Walnut Board and Commission, ChileNut, Ukrainian Walnut Association and other INC sources. In the Southern hemisphere walnuts are harvested from March through April.

78

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Statistical Review

PEANUTS

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

CHINA. As previously reported by the

estimates, the 2017/18 crop in India accounted for 6.5 million MT, maintaining similar levels to the prior season.

China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, China registered a very good harvest during the 2017/18 season. If rains are sufficient during 2018, a good crop is also expected for the 2018/19 season.

Early estimates are of 17 million metric tons (in-shell basis). The planted area in 2018 is anticipated to remain similar to 2017 levels.

At the time of writing this report, the price of peanuts in China was stable.

higher than the carryout at the beginning of the season.

ARGENTINA. The 2017/18 crop is expected to reach 1.3 million MT. A sowing area of 423,000 hectares is planned to be completed in 2018, registering an increase of 5% over the previous period. As reported by the USDA and according to their local sources, about half of the peanut crop was already planted by late December 2017.

Weather conditions by January 2018 were favorable, the registered rains were within normal ranges and the early planted crop was healthy.

USA. According to the USDA, the 2017/18 U.S. peanut crop was estimated at 3.28 million MT, up by 30% from the prior season and registering a yield of 4.56 MT per hectare, the second-highest ever. Peanut use started slow in 2017 due to a decline in August-November crush, however demand for the rest of the season is forecasted to increase around 4%. Considering this level of demand, ending stocks, estimated at around 1.13 million MT, are foreseen to be 73%

INDIA. As per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) latest

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

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

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

Crop

843 299 812 n/a 23 275 80 52 69 n/a 14 4 28 n/a 98 2,597

Total Supply

17,366 6,700 2,530 3,000 950 1,288 1,120 450 470 440 200 120 100 90 8,330 43,154

Ending Stock

18,209 6,999 3,342 3,000 973 1,563 1,200 502 539 440 214 124 128 90 8,428 45,751

2017/2018

Beginning stock

868 769 654 n/a 35 433 80 50 102 n/a 20 1 23 n/a 120 3,155

Crop

868 769 654 n/a 35 433 80 50 102 n/a 20 1 23 n/a 120 3,155

Total Supply

18,500 6,500 3,280 3,000 1,400 1,300 1,110 470 460 440 200 120 100 90 8,360 45,330

Ending Stock

19,368 7,269 3,934 3,000 1,435 1,733 1,190 520 562 440 220 121 123 90 8,480 48,485

27 219 1,134 0 47 427 85 48 104 0 26 23 23 0 0 2,163

42,596

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

46,322

Source: China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other INC sources.

US Peanut Supply and Disappearance. 1000 Metric Tons Year Beg. Aug. 1 2015/16* 2016/17* 2017/18**

Beg Stocks 953 812 654

Supply Production 2,722 2,532 3,281

Imports 43 73 57

Total 3,718 3,417 3,992

Domestic Food 1,385 1,402 1,439

Crush 322 399 386

Disappearance Seed & Residual Exports 499 700 360 602 403 635

Total 2,906 2,763 2,863

Ending Stock 812 654 1,129

3,992 3,577 2,582

2,848 2,388

2,673

2,715

3,718 3,190

2,463

3,237

3,417 2,722

3,281

2,532

2,354 3,068

1,571

1,666

2,341

1,675

1,886

1,893

1,660

Total Supply 2006/07 2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15*

2015/16*

Production 2016/17** 2017/18**

*Estimated. **Forecast. Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Crop Production and Peanut Stocks and Processing, and U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.

Last update: January 16, 2018.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

79

Statistical Review

DATES / DÁTIL / DATTE / DATTERO / DATTEL / HURMA Date production continues to change from year to year, with an increase of about 12% in the last ten years. Production of organic dates is also evolving significantly. Although the marketing of dates remains relatively stable, it is developing significantly in Asia and especially in Southeast Asia. It is also noteworthy the increased sales of the Medjool variety, particularly from the USA, Israel, Mexico and Namibia.

However, despite the rather significant evolution of the exports, the majority of the world production is still consumed within the borders of producing countries and presented for sale in bulk without packaging or processing.

In general, the quality is good and keeps improving. Producers are becoming more aware of the need to meet consumer expectations.

Estimated World Table Date Production. Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

Production

SAUDI ARABIA 17,000 200,000 IRAN 4,500 150,000 UAE 8,500 120,000 TUNISIA 6,500 100,000 EGYPT 2,000 82,000 ALGERIA 5,500 80,000 IRAQ 1,500 45,000 ISRAEL 2,500 29,000 PAKISTAN 1,500 30,000 MOROCCO 1,000 15,000 OMAN 1,500 20,000 USA 3,500 18,000 SUDAN 1,000 9,000 LIBYA 100 1,000 OTHERS 4,000 30,000 WORLD TOTAL 60,600 929,000 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply

Ending Stock

217,000 154,500 128,500 106,500 84,000 85,500 46,500 31,500 31,500 16,000 21,500 21,500 10,000 1,100 34,000 989,600

Beginning stock

16,000 7,000 5,500 5,000 6,000 4,000 1,500 4,000 1,500 1,000 1,500 4,000 500 100 5,000 62,600

16,000 7,000 5,500 5,000 6,000 4,000 1,500 4,000 1,500 1,000 1,500 4,000 500 100 5,000 62,600

2017/2018

Production

Total Supply

220,000 170,000 120,000 105,000 95,000 90,000 65,000 30,000 30,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 9,000 1,000 30,000 1,025,000

236,000 177,000 125,500 110,000 101,000 94,000 66,500 34,000 31,500 21,000 21,500 24,000 9,500 1,100 35,000 1,087,600

927,000

Ending Stock 20,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 6,000 3,000 4,000 2,000 1,000 1,500 4,000 500 100 5,000 77,100

1,010,500

Source: INC. These data concern only dates that have been packaged and presented for sale as such. They account for about 12% of global production of raw dates. Dates consumed in bulk and those destined for processing are not included.

DRIED APRICOTS

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

TURKEY. According to the Malatya Provincial Food, Agriculture

quarter, exports to Far East and Oceania increased by 31%; mainly to China (111%), India (47%) and Vietnam (425%). Shipments to main markets like Europe and the USA also increased during the same period. Total exports amounted to 51,527 MT (88% whole, 6% industrial and 6% diced dried apricot), representing a 21% increase compared to the previous season.

and Livestock Directorate, the 2017/18 production estimate remains unchanged at 142,260 MT. As previously reported, in spite of some quality issues due to unfavorable weather conditions, the supply and quality were enough to meet exports and domestic demand.

As per the Aegean Exporters Association, during the season first

Estimated World Dried Apricot Production. Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

TURKEY IRAN UZBEKISTAN CHINA AFGHANISTAN SOUTH AFRICA USA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

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

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

80

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

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

159,900

2017/2018 Beginning stock 15,000 1,000 0 250 0 0 0 1,500 17,750

Production

Total Supply

142,260 32,000 10,000 6,000 3,500 1,500 1,500 30,000 226,760

157,260 33,000 10,000 6,250 3,500 1,500 1,500 31,500 244,510

Ending Stock 15,000 0 0 250 0 0 0 3,000 18,250

226,260

Statistical Review

DRIED CRANBERRIES 莓

/ ARÁNDANO / MIRTILLO ROSSO / KEÇIYEMISI

The 2017 fresh fruit crop was decreased by 2.2 million barrels, 16.4% vs. the prior year. Thus, the available fruit to manufacture sweetened dried cranberries is very tight and not enough to meet the global demand, which significantly increased compared to the previous year,

particularly in China, Europe and North America. The industry pricing has risen for standard material around 22% since October 2017 and is expected to continue to rise through 2018.

Estimated World Sweetened Dried Cranberries Production. Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

Production

USA 14,000 145,000 CANADA 2,500 28,000 CHILE 800 10,000 WORLD TOTAL 17,300 183,000 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply

Ending Stock

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

Beginning stock

13,000 2,200 500 15,700

13,000 2,200 500 15,700

2017/2018

Production

Total Supply

154,222 25,494 9,970 189,686

167,222 27,694 10,470 205,386

184,600

Ending Stock 3,869 1,820 221 5,910

199,476

Source: INC. The cranberry crop is harvested in the fall. End of year statistics are measured as of August, 31. 2017/18 represents the estimate of production and supply through August 31, 2018.

DRIED FIGS

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

TURKEY. As per the Dried Fig Crop Assessment Group, the 2017/18 dried fig production estimate remains unchanged at 78,200 metric tons.

According to the Aegean Exporters Association, around 60% of Turkish dried fig exports were completed before Christmas, from which

Estimated World Dried Fig Production. Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

Production

TURKEY 0 72,000 IRAN 3,000 22,000 USA 0 9,000 AFGHANISTAN 0 7,000 GREECE 0 7,500 SPAIN 0 5,500 ITALY 0 3,500 OTHERS 0 5,000 WORLD TOTAL 3,000 131,500 WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Total Supply 72,000 25,000 9,000 7,000 7,500 5,500 3,500 5,000 134,500

48% were destined to western countries. Exports to South Korea, India and Vietnam also increased during this season. Approximately 60,000 MT are expected to be exported until the beginning of the next season.

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

0 5,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,000

0 5,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,000

129,500

2017/2018

Production

Total Supply

78,200 18,000 9,200 9,000 7,500 6,000 4,000 3,500 135,400

78,200 23,000 9,200 9,000 7,500 6,000 4,000 3,500 140,400

Ending Stock 0 1,500 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,500

138,900

Source: Aegean Exporters Association, Iran Dried Fruits Exporters Association, California Fig Advisory Board and other INC sources.

PRUNES

/ CIRUELA SECA / PRUNEAU / PRUGNA SECCA / BACKPFLAUME / KURU ERIK / PRUNA SECA

Autumn production in California rebounded from the weather-induced short crop of the previous season. Total production is expected to reach the estimated 95,000 MT. Quality was representative of California’s consistently high standards, with a slight reduction in availability of larger-sized fruit.

Estimated World Prune Production. Metric Tons.

2016/2017 Country Beginning Stock

USA 64,830 CHILE 17,853 FRANCE 19,700 ARGENTINA 26,130 AUSTRALIA 300 SERBIA 4,000 SOUTH AFRICA 0 ITALY 430 WORLD TOTAL 133,243 CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

Chile had good chill hours during winter and good blooming in spring 2017. The production for 2018 is expected to be between 80,000 and 85,000 MT. In Argentina the weather conditions have been much better than previous year, with no much frost damage. The expectations of Argentina for 2018 crop are close to 45,000 MT.

2017/2018

Production

Total Supply

Ending Stock

47,946 70,000 52,620 41,029 2,600 9,000 1,000 1,580 225,775

112,776 87,853 72,320 67,159 2,900 13,000 1,000 2,010 359,018

47,391 10,559 38,000 34,000 0 2,000 0 650 132,600

226,418

Beginning stock 47,391 10,559 38,000 34,000 0 2,000 0 650 132,600

Production

Total Supply

Ending Stock

95,000 76,176 50,000 12,000 4,500 3,000 1,100 890 242,666

142,391 86,735 88,000 46,000 4,500 5,000 1,100 1,540 375,266

74,000 10,000 45,000 12,753 210 420 0 315 142,698

232,568

Source: International Prune Association, California Dried Plum Board, Chile Prunes Association and other INC sources.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

81

Statistical Review

RAISINS, SULTANAS & CURRANTS

葡萄干 / UVA PASA / RAISIN SEC / UVETTA / ROSINE / KURU ÜZÜM

TURKEY. As announced by the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Turkey’s Sultana 2017/2018 crop was estimated at 310,000 metric tons, maintaining a similar level from the previous season.

The project for Primary School students initiated by the Ministry of Education in 2015 aiming to increase dried grape consumption and healthy nutrition continues.

In the 2017/18 academic term, 9,000 MT of Sultanas in 25 g. packages are being disseminated twice a week to primary school students.

As per the Aegean Exporters Association, total exports for the 2017/18 season were estimated at 270,000 MT. During the 2017/18 export season first quarter, exports accounted for 111,414 MT, down by 2% from the same period the previous year, being the main destinations the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and France, which along with the rest of the EU countries, account for around 83% of the Turkish Sultana export share. Moreover, the export volume to FarEastern countries like China, South Korea,

Japan and Thailand also expanded during this period. Sultanas in the importing countries are majorly used as cake and pastry ingredients and in muesli production.

USA. The 2017 California raisin crop is projected to be significantly smaller than in previous years. A severe heatwave occurred in early June 2017, followed by rain storms on September 11 and September 21, 2017 during the drying period. These events caused further damage to the already short crop.

Christmas is an important selling season for the California raisin industry with US industrial shipments to Europe starting as early as July and US domestic shipments starting around October. Deliveries as of December 30, 2017 were approximately 158,000 MT. Easter continues to be an important selling season for the California raisin industry with ingredient shipments starting in January. However, California raisin shipments in calendar year 2018 are expected to decline due to short supply.

CHINA. The Chinese crop is expected to significantly increase for the 2018/19 season; it is forecasted at 190,000 MT, 46% above the 2017/18 shorter crop estimated at 130,000 MT. IRAN. Iran 2017/18 supply was estimated at 125,000 MT, accounting for a crop of 105,000 MT plus 20,000 MT of carry-over from the previous season. Considering that domestic consumption was around 30,000 MT and Iran exported 35,000 Mt of Sultanas and Raisins during October, November and December 2017, there is a remaining of 60,000 MT in stock for the rest of the season composed of 25,000 MT of Sultanas, 15,000 MT of sun-dried Raisins, and 20,000 MT of Golden Raisins.

ARGENTINA. Unlike the previous season, the 2017/18 weather conditions have been favorable and there were non-extreme events like hail or excessive rainfall, therefore a good production and quality were expected at the time of writing these lines.

Estimated World Raisin / Sultana / Currant Production. Metric Tons.

Country TURKEY USA

2016/2017 Beginning Stock 15,000

2017/2018

Production

Total Supply

Ending Stock

Beginning stock

313,000

328,000

20,000

20,000

Production

Total Supply

310,000

Ending Stock

330,000

20,000

145,000

243,000

388,000

91,262

91,262

215,000

306,262

80,000

0

135,000

135,000

0

0

140,000

140,000

n/a

CHINA

8,000

130,000

138,000

5,000

5,000

130,000

135,000

0

IRAN

10,000

200,000

210,000

20,000

20,000

105,000

125,000

n/a

0

45,000

45,000

1,800

1,800

69,400

71,200

n/a

CHILE

6,000

60,000

66,000

5,000

5,000

60,000

65,000

6,000

AFGHANISTAN

3,000

45,000

48,000

3,000

3,000

50,000

53,000

2,500

INDIA

SOUTH AFRICA

UZBEKISTAN

0

50,000

50,000

0

0

45,000

45,000

2,500

ARGENTINA

0

18,000

18,000

0

0

35,000

35,000

n/a

GREECE

0

27,000

27,000

0

0

22,000

22,000

n/a

AUSTRALIA TOTAL

0

12,000

12,000

7,450

7,450

15,100

22,550

n/a

187,000

1,278,000

1,465,000

153,512

153,512

1,196,500

1,350,012

111,000

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1,311,488

Source: Aegean Exporters Association, Iran Dried Fruit Exporters Association, 2017 International Seedless Dried Grape Producing Countries Conference and other INC sources.

82

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

1,239,012

Statistical Review

SPECIAL REPORT: SPAIN, ALMOND OUTLOOK PRODUCTION AND TRADE

2017/2018 World Almond Production (Kernel Basis, Metric Tons)

Spain Almond Production (Kernel Basis, Metric Tons) 80,000

80,000

60,000

Africa 1% North 1% America Africa Asia 6% Oceania 1%2%Oceania and Latin Latin AmericaandAsia North America 1% 2% America Africa 6%North1% 1% America Africa 6% Asia 1% 2% Asia

2% North America North 6% America

45,866

17 20

20

73,933

86,902

73,933

20 16

20 15

20 86,902 16

20

16 73,933

86,902

15

20 268,237 01 5

16 73,933

22001 146

/1

7 16

/1

6 /1 15 8 /1

20 2 68,237 73,933 17 0

73,933

20

86,902

5

86,902 267,062 01 240

01

20 14 68,237 16

67,062

13 20 67,062 15

20

2200 1124

15,000

France, 13,253 20,000

Poland, 2,369

25,000

Germany, 19,531

10,873 UK, 5,453 Italy,Others, 12,018 Others, 12,018 France, 13,253 5,000 10,000 15,000 Italy, 10,873

20,000

25,000

Germany, 19,531

France, 13,253

Netherlands, 3,342

Netherlands, UK, 5,453 3,342 0

8

20 17 45,866 /1 8

6/ 17 45,866 20 17 /1 8 50,954 17

10,000

UK, 5,453 Netherlands, 3,342

5,000

286,902 01 201 6/ 4/ 17 15

6/

Poland, 2,369

22001 135

14

68,237

58,764 20

220 0111 3

12

20 2010

France, 13,253

12,018 UK, Spain 5,453 Others, 2016 Almond Exports - Europe Germany, 19,531 Others, 12,018 10,873 (Shelled*,Italy, Metric Tons)

5,0002,369 Netherlands,Poland, 3,342

0

68,237 20 58,764 13 2

13

20 59,610 67,062 12

267,062 01 2 20 58,764 14

20

12

11 59,610

58,764 20

20

12 59,356 20 58,764 11 20 13

10 59,356

20 201 68,237 15 3/ /1 14 6

20 1 14 2/1 67,062 3 /1 5

59,610

20

12

14

20 58,764 13/

59,356 20

20 59,610

20

1

20 1 49,298 10 59,610

01 1

0

20 2 09

01

20 2 08

Others, 12,018

Italy, 10,873

Netherlands, 3,342

0 2,369 Poland,

50,954

65,957

50,954

60,750

32,000

45,866

65,957

60,750

32,000

45,000

45,000

50,000

13

20 59,61012/ 11 20

20 59,356 09 49,298 20 10 40,682 09 59,356

40,682

2

09

20

20

10

2

20

20 40,682 10

49,298

49,298

09

00 49,298 8

20

20 09 47,839 0

49,2988 20

Others, 12,018

20 07

20

08

07

20

06

UK, 5,453

Poland, 2,369

11 /

/11

0

10 20

47,839 20

47,839

40,682

20 08 49,632 07

20 59,356 11/1

/11

20

09

/0 08 200

/1 09 20 40,682

08 20 40,68207

20

/1

9

8

Spain Almond Exports (Shelled*, Metric Tons)

0 Netherlands, 3,3420

Europe 90%

Europe 90%

35,000

50,000

69,000

35,000

69,000

35,000

35,000

30,000

/02 90 08 07

20

0

00 07 6

06

20,000 20,000 Poland, 2,369

0

Europe 90%

0 40,000

49,632 2 20

0 40,000

(Shelled*)

Europe 90%

20

20,000 20,000 60,000 60,000

20

USA

USA Others China 69% China Others 69% 10% 7% 10% 7% SPAIN Oceania and LatinAustralia Australia8%SPAIN 6% 8% America 6% 1% Oceania China China Africaand Latin 7% 7% 1% America SPAIN SPAIN Asia1% Europe 8% 2% 8% 90% Africa Oceania North and Latin 1% Oceania America America and6% LatinAsia Europe 2016 Spain Almond Exports 1% America 2% 90%

49,632

0 40,000 40,000 80,000 80,000

SPAIN 8%

47,8396 49,632

20

06

0 20,000 60,000 60,000 100,000 100,000

20

Australia Australia 6% 6%

49,632

USA USA 69% 69%

47,839

40,000 80,000

20,000 80,000

Others Others SPAIN China 10%8% 7% 10%

20

20

07

/0

60,000 40,000 100,000 100,000

Australia China 6% 7%

0

80,000

07

0

/0

60,000

30,000

80,000 20,000

8

USA 69%

Others 10%

8

07

20

Australia

Australia 6%

8

20,000 100,000

2016 Exports 6% World Almond USA (Shelled*) 69%

Australia Others 6% 10%

40,000

0 100,000 40,000

35,000 30,000 2 35,000 0 20 2 20 09/ 0900 1 08 30,000 /1 8/ /0 0 0 0 9 69,0009 35,000 20 69,000 20 10 20 1200 /11 /1019 09 35,000 /1 / 1 35,000 0 0 35,000 20 69,000 20 11 112 /1 20 2 /011 1 2069,000 0/ /11 50,000 11 50,000 2 0 35,000 12 20 12 /1 2/01 20 3 131 1 35,000 45,000 1/1 /1 45,000 2 202 20 50,00013 13 /1 4 2/014 20 1 50,000 2/ 32,000 12/ 13 32,000 2103 20 45,000 14/1 14 5 2/015 20 1 13 60,750 45,000 60,7503/1 /210 4 415 20 15 /1 32,000 6 /1 6 20 20 65,957 14 14 2 32,000 65,957 /1 /101 20 5 56 16 60,750/17 /1 7 20 2 45,8660 2 15 0 45,866 5 20 160,750 /1 17/ 17 /16 6 1 /1 65,9578 8 50,954 2 20 50,95401 65,957 1

20

USA 81%

4% SPAIN

4%

USA 81%

49,632

SPAIN

30,000

Others Australia 9%

8

4%

Australia Others 6% 6% 9%

40,000 80,000 20,000 60,000 20,000 60,000 0

/0

4%

0 40,000 80,000

20 07 /0 8

USA 81%

USA 81%

SPAIN

SPAIN

20,000 60,000

0 60,000

20 06

4%

Australia Others 6% Australia 9% Others 6% 9%

40,000 80,000

20,000 80,000

47,839 20

USA 81%

4%SPAIN

30,000

9%

SPAIN

60,000

40,000

20 0 07 8/09 /0

USA 81%

20 20 08 07 /0 /0 9

Others 9%Others

10,000

20,000 Germany, 19,531 25,000

15,000

UK, 5,453 Italy, 10,873 5,000 10,000 13,253 Italy, 10,873 15,000 France,

20,000

25,000

France, Germany, 13,253 19,531

6% 0

5,000

0

10,000

5,000

15,000

10,000

20,000

15,000

Germany, 19,531 25,000

20,000

25,000

*Shelled + in-shell converted to kernel basis based on 35% shell. Sources: INC database, DESA/UNSD United Nations Database and European Commission Trade Helpdesk Database.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

83

Statistical Review

SPECIAL REPORT (II): SPAIN, ALMOND OUTLOOK PRODUCTION AND TRADE

2016 World Almond Imports (Shelled*)

Spain Tree Nut Imports 2006 vs. 2016 (Metric Tons)

101,070 14,920 14,920 2016 2016 8,869 8,869

2016

14,920 14,920

2016

8,869

Vietnam 8% Almonds Almonds shelled* shelled*

8,869

8,491 Almonds shelled* 8,491 Almonds shelled*

8,491

8,491

101,070 101,070 Italy 5%

101,070

Walnuts shelled China Walnuts shelled 9% PistachiosPistachios in-shell in-shell Pistachios in-shell 57,356 Pistachios in-shell 57,356 57,356 57,356 Others Others Others 7,248 Others 7,248 India 2006 2006 9% 10,621 10,621 Walnuts shelled Walnuts shelled

7,248

7,248 2006 10,621

2006

10,621

5,069

5,069

Vietnam Vietnam Others Others 8% 48% 8% 48%

Vietnam 8%

China 9%

China 9%

SpainIndia 11% 9%

India 9% Germany 10%

Germany 10%

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 0 80,000 20,000 40,000 60,000 120,000 80,000 80,000 100,000 100,000 120,000 120,000 20,000 60,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 40,000 100,000 120,000

20,0000

0

5,069

5,069

84,964 85,871

85,871 101,070

101,070

22001 154

22001 165

20 16

20 08 20 07

20 06

0

0

0

0

69,244 57,356 63,025

20,000 20,000

20 09 20 2008 20 06 10 20 2200090 20 076 11 20 2 201000 20 087 12 20 2 201010 20 098 13 20 2201020 20 109 14 20 1 2 20031 20 110 15 20 2201041 20 121 16 20 2 201051 132

20,000

20 07 20 06

,000

101,070 84,413 84,964

40,000 40,000

20 2201061 143

40,000

85,871 70,164 84,413

,000

84,964 77,358 70,164 101,070

60,000 60,000 84,413 63,025 77,358 85,871

60,000

70,164 75,869 63,025 84,964

,000

77,358 69,244 75,869 84,413

80,000 80,000

63,025 58,217 69,244 70,164

80,000

75,869

,000

58,217

100,000 100,000

69,244

100,000

57,356

,000

58,217

120,000 120,000

57,356

120,000

75,869 57,356 58,217 77,358

Spain Almond Imports (Shelled*, Metric Tons)

,000

2016 Spain Almond Imports (Shelled*, Metric Tons) Others, 3,596 Others, 3,596

Others, 3,596 Others, 3,596

Australia, 10,428 Australia, 10,428

Australia, Australia, 10,428 10,428

USA, 87,046 USA, 87,046

0

0

30,000

0 30,0000

USA, 87,046 USA, 87,046

30,000 60,000 30,00060,000

60,000 90,000 60,00090,000

90,000 90,000

*Shelled + in-shell converted to kernel basis based on 35% shell. Sources: DESA/UNSD United Nations Database and European Commission Trade Helpdesk Database.

84

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Italy 5%

Italy 5%

Italy 5%

Othe 48%

China 9%

Spain India 11% 9%

Spain 11% Germany Germany 10% 10%

Statistical Review

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March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

85

Industry News

EUROPEANS’ APPETITE FOR ALMONDS ENDURES AND GROWS

A focus on snacking and ingredients Following in-depth consumer research in Europe, since 2010 ABC has been focused on driving consumer awareness of almonds as a naturally satisfying snack choice that fits the female target’s lifestyle. The consumer target audiences and our approach in each one of our markets has since been refined to reflect the progress we have made in each market and the needs of the markets. In both France and UK, we have expanded to a younger target audience and in 2017, a new target audience, strategy and approach was developed for the German Market which culminated in the launch of our first consumer advertising campaign in Germany. As of late 2017, ABC has fully integrated marketing campaigns including consumer advertising and public relations running in all EU3 markets.

In addition to snacking, Europe is a key almond ingredient market and there continues to be tremendous innovation in usage of almonds as an ingredient. In terms of new

86

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

Europe leads the globe and continues to introduce more almond products than any other region.

More paid social content elements together with influencer marketing were introduced and these sit alongside print, digital, video advertising, public relations and social elements.

*28g (about 23 almonds). © 2016 Almond Board of California. All rights reserved.

The Almond Board of California’s (ABC) consumer programs in Europe focus on raising awareness of almonds as a healthy snack to female consumers in France, Germany and the UK. ABC focuses on these three markets, referred to as EU3, because they represent a large portion of the total EU population, collectively, they are the largest retail food spenders, they are the top three European markets for new almond product introductions and have a strong heritage with nuts, especially in ingredient usage, specifically bakery, chocolate and marzipan.

The last crop year (FY16-17), was a record year with 192M lbs of almonds shipped to EU3.

This is 33M lbs ahead of the previous crop year (15-16) and 14M lbs ahead of the previous record set in FY13-14. Significant increases in Germany (27%) and France (20%) drove this growth, with the UK also recording a solid 8% increase in shipments on the previous year.

product introductions, Europe leads the globe and continues to introduce more almond products than any other region. A significant 47% of all global almond introductions originated in Europe, more than twice as many

as any other region, with Germany, France and the UK driving this innovation. Furthermore, in 2016, for the second consecutive year, almonds overtook hazelnuts in Europe as the #1 nut for new product introductions1.

160

CALORIES. *

THAT'S SN ACKING GOOD.

Spotlight on France and the UK France and UK, the two markets where ABC has, to-date, invested more in consumer snacking awareness, continue to perform well. Most notable is the progress that has been made since the strategic focus was changed to raising awareness of almonds as a healthy snack.

Top of mind awareness, amongst our target audience, has gone from 5% to 15% in the UK and has skyrocketed from 1% to 29% in France.

Snacking association meanwhile has increased from 2% to 15% in the UK and from 1% to 28% in France over the past decade2.

As this data suggest, the European markets are developing at different paces and each has its own opportunities and challenges. As such, while the Almond Board’s objective across all EU markets is consistent, the strategies and approaches employed in each market are tailored accordingly.

In the UK, to appeal to the Almond Board’s weight conscious, healthy eating-motivated target audience, the campaign is called “Snacking Good”. After expanding the audience in 2016 to include a younger target (25-34), the campaign was refined to dial up the prominence of health and weight management messaging, which are the biggest motivators for the target.

A tasty satisfying crunch to boost the nutritional quality of any diet.

ALMONDS. SNACKING GOOD.

*Nutrition claims are based on 100g, as per regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. © 2016 Almond Board of California. All rights reserved.

Europe is the largest export region for California almonds.

15 ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS. *

THAT'S SN ACKING GOOD.

A tasty staisfying crunch your body can feel good about.

ALMONDS. SNACKING GOOD.

The last crop year marked a significant year for almonds in the UK, increasing on key measures including volume, awareness, and association with snacking. Positive story awareness also experienced an uptick, and significantly, almonds were the #1 nut in terms of health rating in the UK. In France meanwhile, almonds are hot property! In 2016, ABC launched new creative advertising with the tag line “Nature does things

Industry News well”, reminding consumers that almonds are a natural, nutritious snack that are responsibly grown – good for our bodies and good for the planet. The advertising includes print, mobile, native and social advertising, as well as a new website landing page and pre-roll video. The advertising is supported by an integrated public relations and social media campaign that serves to educate consumers about the health benefits of eating 28g of almonds per day.

ESSENTIELS 15 NUTRIMENTS

*28g (soit 23 amandes). **Valeurs nutritives pour 100g, conformément à la Directive (CE) 1924/2006. © 2017 Almond Board of California. Tous droits réservés.

RICHE EN MAGNÉSIUM**

La nature fait bien les choses.

160 CALORIES PAR POIGNÉE.* Rendez-vous sur Almonds.fr

France continues to perform very well following the launch of the Almond Board’s integrated snacking program. Consumer perceptions of almonds continue to grow, with almonds selected by consumers as #1 for: healthiest nut, nut liking, nut eaten as a snack, nut positive story recall, average consumption, snacking association, and baking association. The progress in France has been very fast and positive3.

However, October 2017 saw the launch of the Almond Board’s first integrated marketing campaign in Germany, which aims to capitalize on growing consumer demand for the product and increase consumer awareness and usage of almonds as a healthy mid-day snack. The “Snack die Sonne Kaliforniens / Snack the Californian Sun” campaign includes TV spots,

Europe is a key market for the California Almond industry and continued long-term investment is needed to continue to drive awareness and volume growth for almonds as a healthy snack and as a versatile, nutritious, in-demand ingredient with a safe and stable supply year over year. print ads, online and social advertising, as well as in-store advertising at Rewe and Edeka and is supported by public relations. The campaign creative draws inspiration from the product’s Californian heritage, with the sun symbolizing the goodness contained in almonds and the rich, healthy, carefree and light lifestyle that goes hand in hand with that. Research showed that this is a lifestyle desired and admired by German consumers and the blend of functional and emotional benefits of eating almonds is motivating to this audience.

SNACK DIE SONNE KALIFORNIENS 23 MANDELN | 160 KALORIEN | 100% LEBENSFREUDE Spür die Energie.

Fühl die Leichtigkeit.

Schmeck das volle Leben.

Increasing investment in Germany In Germany, where ABC has invested minimally to-date in marketing programs, consumer attitudes towards almonds and behavior changes have moved at a slower pace than France and UK. In Germany, almonds have a strong association with bakery and with the Christmas occasion and a switch to thinking about almonds as a healthy, natural snack is more challenging.

SNACK DIE SONNE KALIFORNIENS 23 MANDELN | 160 KALORIEN | 100% LEBENSFREUDE Spür die Energie.

Fühl die Leichtigkeit.

Schmeck das volle Leben.

© 2017 Almond Board of California. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

EU3 becomes EU4 The Almond Board of California has been conducting extensive global research to determine new opportunity markets for almonds and has announced that it is adding Italy as a fourth EU market in 2018. As in France, the UK and Germany, consumers in Italy are shifting to healthier lifestyles and are open to trying new, healthy foods and awareness of healthy snacking is growing and appears to be at the tipping point. What is more, Italy has a strong heritage and affinity for almonds and almond products are highly developed at retail. As with all activities the ABC undertakes, a disciplined approach will be undertaken to assess the market, identify and size the target audience and refine the messaging and approach before beginning outreach in Italy and other new markets.

In conclusion, almonds continue to be well liked by consumers and manufacturers. Europe is a key market for the California Almond industry and continued long-term investment is needed to continue to drive awareness and volume growth for almonds as a healthy snack and as a versatile, nutritious, in-demand ingredient with a safe and stable supply year over year.

© 2017 Almond Board of California. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

References 1. 2017 Innova New Product Report. 2. Almond Board of California: 2007-2010, EU3 Attitudes, Awareness & Usage Studies. 3. Almond Board of California: 2007 France Attitudes, Awareness & Usage Studies.

March 2018 | NUTFRUIT

87

Industry News

CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION COMPLETES FIRST YEAR IN UK

A

fter a 20-year hiatus, the CWC reintroduced California walnuts to the trade, consumers, and media and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been an incredible year for California walnuts in the UK. The UK market has been very receptive to California walnuts, right at a time when nuts have seen tremendous growth due in part to the 2017 trend of flexitarianism.

Many UK consumers are cutting back on meat, but without going completely vegetarian. On meat free days, swapping animal protein for plant based alternatives has been on the rise and walnuts have fit the bill adding flavor and crunch to all mealtimes in addition to healthy snacking. The good news is the health and wellness trend shows no sign of slowing down.

With these prime conditions, shipments for shelled walnuts during the 2016/17 crop year increased by 24% over the year prior.

CWC UK participated in several trade shows in 2017 including the most recent, Food Matters Live. Food Matters Live took place in London on November 21-23. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a three-day exhibition bringing retailers and food service providers in the food and drink industry in addition to government, research bodies and those working in nutrition.

Visitors sampled California walnuts and listened to a 30-minute presentation on the nutritional benefits of walnuts and their versatility as a healthy snack and ingredient. The

presentation was very well received with many attendees requesting a copy of the presentation.

The trade in the UK is very receptive to California walnuts as they have proven to provide consistent quality, taste and value.

Consumer outreach continues through recipe creation and talking about the latest research on the health benefits of walnuts.

A large number of new recipes have been

added to the website and during 2017, articles focusing on a variety of academic studies resulted in a reach of over 500 million impressions which highlights consumer interest and national media responsiveness to health research updates.

Wellness, Cali Style

Cracking

Straight from the California sunshine, these golden delightsare a great way to get those essential * heart healthy unsaturated fats - Omega-3s Visit californiawalnuts.uk and follow @walnuts_uk to discover how walnuts are key to cracking wellness, the California way *Walnuts are a rich source of unsaturated fats â&#x20AC;&#x201C; specifically the essential omega-3 (ALA). Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet has been shown to lower blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease.

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Industry News

U.S. CONSUMER ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN GETS A FRESH LOOK

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n October, the California Walnut Board launched the third year of the domestic multi-media consumer advertising campaign.

After two award-winning years, with record traffic to the website and growth in both US shipments and US retail sales, this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign focuses on the same winning strategy with a fresh new look and feel. The new campaign builds on the momentum of the previous two years, showing consumers how to incorporate California walnuts into various meals.

Existing print concepts for salads, entrees, and snacks have been updated with the addition of three new concepts for multiple meal parts, kid-friendly recipes, and baking.

The new television commercial complements the print ads with upbeat easy to understand ways to use walnuts every day. Digital ads that direct consumers to the newly redesigned website www.walnuts.org rounds out the U.S. campaign.

Results of the previous two years of the campaign have been positive.

A consumer tracking study showed that the previous campaign continued to be meaningful, with the main idea or message playing back quite well among consumers. Benchmarks for these types of attributes were met and in most cases exceeded industry standards.

The California Walnut Board continues to look to the future to build demand for walnuts in the US through increased consumer awareness as well as developing a strong tie between advertising efforts and in-

store purchases through the new logo which can be used on package.

As it takes several years to grow a tree, it will take time to build and sustain a level of demand that will result in meaningful growth in the US market. Our goal is for long-term success for the industry.

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Industry News

VEGETARIAN ATHLETES FUEL UP WITH PISTACHIOS

By Sharon Palmer, RD

Sharon, the Plant-Powered Dietitian, is an award-winning blogger, author, registered dietitian nutritionist, plant-based food and nutrition expert and nutrition consultant for American Pistachio Growers.

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f you’re a vegetarian athlete and you are ready to step it up a notch, pistachios should be part of your daily game plan. This little green snack in a shell is packed with protein, B vitamins, healthy fats, potassium, and even antioxidants. Check out these top eight reasons to power up on pistachios to be a lean, green fighting machine.

Top 8 Reasons to Fuel Your Workout with Pistachios 1. Harness Energy with Vitamin B1. Your body needs simple and complex carbs to perform. Carb-rich foods break down into sugars that your body uses to make energy, and thiamin (aka Vitamin B1) is the star in this process. Without thiamin, your body can’t transform glucose into the energy it craves. Pistachios provide more thiamin than walnuts, peanuts or almonds!1 Add a handful of pistachios to a pre-workout smoothie or a homemade energy bar to help your body use glucose like a pro.

2. Help Your Heart. Pistachios are about 20% protein by weight, making them an excellent source of heart-healthy protein for plantbased eaters. 1 They include all of the essential amino acids, and a higher percentage of branched chain amino acids than any other tree nut. Pistachios even include a key amino acid named arginine, which

helps regulate your circulatory system and maintain healthy blood pressure levels. 1 3. Lighten Your Load. It’s important to fuel your body quickly after an exercise session, and that’s not always easy. Unlike bars, which can be heavy or start to melt, pistachios are lightweight and won’t get crushed, thanks to their sturdy texture. So, the next time you head out for a long run or a competition, fill a small bag with pistachios for your post-workout protein fix.

4. Bolster Your Muscles with Healthy Fat. It may surprise you to learn that your body also uses fat to supply energy to your muscles.2 But too much fat before a workout can hinder performance by causing gastrointestinal distress.3 Pistachios are at that sweet spot for fat at 13 grams per serving (lower compared to other nuts).

And 60% of the total fat in these tiny green packages is from heart-healthy oleic and omega-6 fatty acids.1 5. Boost Potassium. Swap that banana as your go-to, potassium-rich workout snack for pistachios more often. During exercise, potassium—an important electrolyte that helps regulate nerve control and muscle function—is lost through sweat. Without adequate replacement, your muscles can feel weak and you can get dehydrated. At 570 milligrams per 2-ounce serving, pistachios surpass the potassium content of a large banana.

tein per serving, it’s easy to incorporate pistachios into the post workout routine. Why not whiz up some pistachios into your next green smoothie, or top a warming bowl of oatmeal with pears and crushed pistachios?

7. Fight the Flu. When your training is sidelined due to illness, future performances can suffer. Intense training can actually suppress the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to invaders. But vegetarians and vegans consuming a diet high in micronutrients, including B vitamins, zinc, copper, and iron are able to bolster their immunity and resist oxidative stress. Carotenoids, the green pigments abundant in pistachios, have also been shown to enhance immune function.4 The common cold just doesn’t stand a chance!

8. Add Antioxidants. Exercise, even with its myriad of benefits, puts extra stress on your body, forcing your muscles and your blood to fight circulating free radicals. Studies show that consistent intake of high-antioxidant foods like pistachios can keep bad guys at bay and quench free radicals.4 The antioxidants found in pistachios aren’t found in most nuts, making them a unique, and positively potent, teammate.

6. Recover Well. To recover from a tough workout, it’s best to consume a high-carbohydrate, high-protein snack within 15-20 minutes of exercising.3 At 6 grams of pro-

References 1. Bulló M, Juanola-Falgarona M, Hernández-Alonso P, Salas-Salvadó J. Nutrition attributes and health effects of pistachio nuts. British Journal of Nutrition. 2015;113(S2):S79-S93. doi:10.1017/ s0007114514003250. 2. Building Muscle on a Vegetarian Diet. wwweatrightorg. 2017. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/resource/fitness/training-and-recovery/building-muscle/build-muscle-no-steakrequired. Accessed November 5, 2017. 3. Timing Your Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition. wwweatrightorg. 2017. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/resource/fitness/exercise/exercise-nutrition/timing-yournutrition. Accessed November 10, 2017. 4. Fuhrman J, Ferreri D. Fueling the Vegetarian (Vegan) Athlete. Current Sports Medicine Reports. 2010;9(4):233-241. doi:10.1249/jsr.0b013e3181e93a6f.

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Industry News

ON-TREND: PLANT PROTEIN SPORTS NUTRITION WORKSHOPS FEATURE PISTACHIOS

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he Pistachio Health Institute (PHI) hosted a full day of plant science workshops in New York City with top tier dietitians and health editors on the topic of how to fuel the plant-based athlete.

PHI had its finger on the pulse of current trends by leveraging the concept of “plant-based eating” to tell a positive health story for pistachios, one of the highest protein snack nuts for the plant-protein seeking consumer. In fact, U.S.-based food trends watcher Baum+Whiteman recently named plant-based eating as “2018’s trend of the year,” describing it as a “profound consumer shift,” especially appealing to younger adults from GenX, Z, and Millennial generations as early adopters.1

real-life professional experiences with pro-athletes, resulting in a day of engaging lectures.

Attendees had the opportunity to learn from Anding, see examples of what she was talking about (e.g. a full days’ worth of plant-based meals and snacks on a table), and then get involved themselves in making plant-based snacks with pistachios during the workshops. The goal was to fully immerse media RDs and health editors in an educational experience that would allow Pistachio Health Institute to tell, show, and involve them in learning about the role of pistachios in plant-based fuel for an active lifestyle.

The goal was to fully immerse media RDs and health editors in an educational experience that would allow Pistachio Health Institute to tell, show, and involve them in learning about the role of pistachios in plant-based fuel for an active lifestyle.

The keynote presenter was Roberta Anding, MS, RD, LD, CSSD, CDE, FAND, sports dietitian to the current Major League Baseball World Series Champions, the Houston Astros. She also has a prior 12-year track-record of fueling the National Football League’s team, the Houston Texans, where she supported a player in his quest to go vegan. She included pistachios and pistachio butter in his regimen to ensure he received enough of the right nutrients to fuel his performance and energy needs. She brought the scientific content to life based on her Attendee feedback was enthusiastically positive, including:

“Thank you for bringing such a great expert to share good content” “I loved the workshop, and didn’t realize we were going to get a chance to make our own fuel with pistachios - so delicious!”

“Thank you for keeping it small. Some of these events try to pack in so many people, and the conversation suffers. I feel like I really learned a lot.”

Killer Pre-Workout Pistachio Butter Toast Ingredients 1 cup, Pistachio kernels ½ cup, Pistachio oil (if you can’t find pistachio oil, use sunflower oil) 1 Tablespoon, Honey 1/8 teaspoon, Salt

Attendees had the opportunity to create their own plant-protein centric snacks with pistachios. The favorite was the pistachio butter toast topped with bananas, pomegranate arils, and more pistachios. Attendees were especially excited to make their own pistachio butter using the recipe from celebrity chef David Bouley’s team at his Bouley Botanical, a plant-forward event venue.

Blend all ingredients until creamy.

References 1. http://www.baumwhiteman.com/PLANT%20BASED%20COPY.pdf

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Industry News

NPSA CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF GLOBAL PECAN INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP The mission of the NPSA has been to support and promote the interest of pecan shellers and the global industry to assure quality, safety and integrity of pecan products worldwide.

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Veggie Burguer

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he National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA) celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2018. For more than seven-and-ahalf decades, the association has been a global leader in the pecan industry. The mission of the NPSA has been to support and promote the interest of pecan shellers and the global industry to assure quality, safety and integrity of pecan products worldwide.

The association’s roots date back to 1943, evolving into a community of commercial shellers, nearly all multi-generation family businesses, who have devoted their lives and careers to the pecan industry.

Estimates are that more than eighty percent of the world’s supply of pecans are grown in fifteen of the Unites States including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas. Pecan production has steadily increased in the United States, rising from 2.2 million pounds in 1920 to an estimated 277 million pounds in 2016 (as reported by the United States Department of Agriculture).

“We have grown from a cottage industry into an international force with exports of inshell and kernels, plus the establishment of the Federal Marketing Order in late 2016 and the formation of the American Pecan Council,” remarks Dan York, the current NPSA Chair. “The pecan industry is still in its infancy and one of the more import challenges is that the demand for pecans is taxing the supply.”

NPSA is a leading resource for pecan information to the industry, media, consumers, and culinary and health professionals. Since 1997, for more than 20 years, the NPSA’s Marketing Promotions and Research Program has generated over one million dollars of health-related research projects and funded numerous international studies focusing on the

health benefits of adding nuts to the everyday diet. NPSA has funded and promoted scientific research documenting the health benefits of pecans. Numerous universities have conducted landmark studies on the contributions pecans make to a healthful diet including Loma Linda University, Tufts University, and the University of Georgia. These and other studies can be found on the association’s website at www.

ILovePecans.org.

NPSA is a leading resource for pecan information to the industry, media, consumers, and culinary and health professionals.

NPSA is managed by Kellen, a leading global professional services company providing association management, strategic consulting and customized solutions to a sustainable and diversified client base. “It has been an honor to represent the NPSA for nearly half of their 75 years in existence,” remarks Russ Lemieux, long-time NPSA Executive Vice President. “We are proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved thus far, and look forward to a robust future ahead.”

With the current momentum, along with new funding to generate consumer awareness, demand for pecans will continue to grow and NPSA members will remain a significant driving force in the global marketplace.

Industry News

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

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Industry News

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

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

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his year INC NREF will be starting a new study at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), looking at the effect of nut consumption on weight loss and weight maintenance. In addition, INC NREF will continue to co-sponsor a five-year study on nut consumption and cognition at Harvard (in Boston, Massachusetts) and Rush University (located in Chicago, Illinois).

Like all INC NREF-funded research, these studies include at least seven tree nuts; almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. Over the past 17 years, INC NREF has funded research in the areas of cancer, nut composition, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, diet quality, metabolic syndrome and weight (see chart below):

RESEARCH AREA

FINDINGS

ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY Bao et al., 2013. Association of nut consumption with total and cause-specific mortality. N Engl J Med. 369:2001-2011.

Those who consumed nuts (serving size of 1 ounce) 7 or more times per week had a 20% lower death rate than non-nut consumers and this association was dose-dependent.

CANCER Fadelu et al, 2018. Nut Consumption and Survival in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer: Results From CALGB 89803 (Alliance). Journal of Clinical Oncology, JCO-2017.

Diets with a higher consumption of nuts may be associated with significantly reduced cancer recurrence and death in patients with stage III colon cancer.

Wang et al., 2016. Nut consumption and prostate cancer risk and mortality. Br J Cancer. 115(3):371-4.

Men who had prostate cancer and consumed tree nuts 5 or more times per week after diagnosis, had a significant 34% lower risk of overall mortality than those who consumed nuts less than once per month.

Yang et al., 2015. Nut consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in women.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 70(3):333-7.

Women who consumed a 1-ounce serving of nuts, 2 or more times/week, had a 13% lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to those who rarely consumed nuts.

Bao et al., 2013. Nut consumption and risk of pancreatic cancer in women. Br J Cancer. 109(11):2911-2916.

Compared to those who did not consume nuts, women who consumed a 1-ounce serving of nuts 2 or more times/week had a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer.

COMPOSITION Bolling et al., 2011.Tree nut phytochemicals: composition, antioxidant capacity, bioactivity, impact factors. A systematic review of almonds, Brazils, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts. Nutrition Research Reviews. 24:244–275.

Summary and scientific review of the available data on tree nut phytochemicals.

Bolling et al., 2010. The phytochemical composition and antioxidant actions of tree nuts. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 19 (1):117-123.

Summary of the carotenoid, phenolic, and tocopherol content of tree nuts.

CVD Yu et al., 2016. Associations between nut consumption and inflammatory biomarkers. Am J Clin Nutr. 104(3):722-8.

Higher nut intake (5 or more times/week) was associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin 6 (IL6). Elevated CRP levels have been shown to predict the development of both CVD and type 2 diabetes, and IL6 has been associated with cardio-metabolic risk.

Del Gobbo et al., 2015. Effects of tree nuts on blood lipids, apolipoproteins, and blood pressure: systematic review, meta-analysis, and dose-response of 61 controlled intervention trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 102(6):1347-56.

Eating nuts may be especially important for lowering cardiovascular risk in the setting of diabetes or insulin resistance.

O’Neil et al., 2011. Nut consumption is associated with decreased health risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome in U.S. adults: NHANES 1999–2004. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 30(6):502–510.

Tree nut consumption was associated with higher levels of HDL cholesterol, lower levels of CRP, lower body weight and body mass index (BMI).

Sabaté et al., 2010. Nut Consumption and Blood Lipid Levels A Pooled Analysis of 25 Intervention Trials. Arch Intern Med. 170(9):821-827.

Nut consumption improved blood lipid levels in a dose-related manner, particularly among subjects with higher LDL cholesterol or with lower BMI. And, different types of nuts had similar effects on blood lipid levels.

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Industry News

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

Abstracts for all INC-NREF-funded research are available on the INC NREF website at nuthealth.org. For more information on any project, please contact Maureen Ternus at maureen.ternus@nuthealth.org.

RESEARCH AREA

FINDINGS

DIABETES Viguiliouk et al., 2014. Effect of tree nuts on glycemic control in diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled dietary trials. PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103376

Diets emphasizing ~2 ounces of tree nuts/day significantly lowered HbA1c (a marker of blood sugar control over the previous three months) and fasting glucose compared to the control diets.

Nishi et al., 2014. Nut consumption, serum fatty acid profile and estimated coronary heart disease risk in type 2 diabetes. Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases.

24(8):845-852.

Incorporating ~2 ounces of nuts into the diet of people with diabetes, was inversely associated with CHD risk factors and 10-year CHD risk.

Jenkins et al., 2011. Nuts as a replacement for carbohydrates in the diabetic diet.

Diabetes Care. 34:1-6.

The full dose nut group had significantly reduced LDL and total cholesterol levels compared to the full dose muffin group. And, there was a significant reduction in HbA1c in the full dose nuts compared to the other two diets.

DIET QUALITY O’Neil et al., 2015. Tree nut consumption is associated with better nutrient adequacy and diet quality in adults: national health and nutrition examination survey 2005–2010. Nutrients. 7(1):595-607.

Compared to non-consumers, fewer tree nut consumers consumed usual intakes of nutrients below the recommended levels of vitamins A, E and C, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Tree nut consumers also consumed more dietary fiber and potassium.

O’Neil et al., 2012. Out-of-hand nut consumption is associated with improved nutrient intake and health risk markers in US children and adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. Nutrition Research. 32:185-194.

Out-of-hand-nut (OOHN) consumption was associated with higher intakes of energy, mono- and polyunsaturated fats and dietary fiber, and lower intakes of carbohydrates, cholesterol and sodium. Adult consumers also had a 19% decreased risk of hypertension and a 21% decreased risk of low HDL.

METABOLIC SYNDROME O’Neil et al., 2015. Tree Nut consumption is associated with better adiposity measures and cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome health risk factors in U.S. Adults: NHANES 2005–2010. Nutrition Journal. 14:64 doi:10.1186/s12937-0150052-x.

Tree nut consumption was associated with lower BMI, systolic blood pressure, insulin resistance and higher levels of HDL cholesterol. And, 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.

Mejia et al., 2014. Effect of tree nuts on metabolic syndrome criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMJ Open. DOI:10.1136/ bmjopen-2013-004660

Tree nut consumption of ~ 2 ounces/day decreased triglycerides and fasting blood glucose significantly over an average follow-up of 8 weeks.

Jaceldo-Siegl et al., 2014. Tree nuts are inversely associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity: The Adventist Health Study-2. PLoS ONE. 9(1): e85133. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085133.

One (1-ounce) serving of tree nuts/week was significantly associated with 7% less metabolic syndrome. And, high tree nut consumers had significantly lower prevalence of obesity compared to the low tree nut consumers.

WEIGHT McManus et al., 2001. A randomized controlled trial of a moderate fat, low energy diet compared with a low fat, low energy diet for weight loss in overweight adults.

Int J Obesity. 25:1503-11.

A moderate-fat diet, controlled in energy, offers superior long-term participation and adherence, with consequent improvements in weight loss compared to a low-fat diet.

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Industry News

SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE OPENS NEW FOOD SAFETY FACILITY IN KINGSBURG, CALIFORNIA

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afe Food Alliance is very excited to announce the official opening of their largest facility in Kingsburg, California at a Grand Opening event on April 25, 2018. The California based company offers technical food safety services to growers, packers, processors and manufacturers to provide solutions that lead to safe food.

Located off Highway 99 in the Kingsburg Business Park, the state-of-the-art Kingsburg Center will provide food safety and quality services for food testing, research, training, and commodity inspection.

Senior Director of Analytical Services at Safe Food Alliance, Thomas Jones, states: “The new lab is coming on line at the perfect time.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has raised the bar for food safety and requires a lot more from companies. Water testing for the Produce Safety Rule, shelf life studies, environmental monitoring and increased product testing are some of our services that are in high demand right now. This is all part of the validation and verification processes demanded

by FSMA. At the same time, the requirements of the international buyers for products free from mycotoxins and pesticides are becoming stricter. Our team is primed to provide the expertise and personalized attention it takes to fulfill the food safety requirements in 2018 and beyond to customers worldwide,” adds Jones.

The laboratory is fully accredited and offers specialized services like fumigation research and pesticide testing. Resident scientists will also test the microbiological and chemical properties of food and water to assure buyers that products meet their specifications and are safe for consumers. Research activities will be conducted to discover better methods of analyzing foods for pesticide residues, protecting them from pest damage and insuring that they are safe from microbial hazards.

The Safe Food Alliance training team has a

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designated training room where public training courses will be conducted. Some of the course topics that will be covered are: Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) specifically British Retail

“Everyone in our organization is dedicated to continuously improving our food safety program because our consumer deserves the healthiest, safest food on the planet!”, says Mark Mariani of Mariani Packing Company.

Consortium (BRC) and Safe Quality Foods (SQF), Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) specifically Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and Produce Safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), as well as additional trainings such as Crisis Management or Internal Auditor training.

Additionally, commodity inspectors, from DFA of California, will be grading and inspecting commodities in the facility.

“We’re proud of our 100-plus combined years of helping our business partners to excel in food safety and we’ve been focused on expanding our services to better serve the growing needs of our customers,” explains Sam Keiper, President and CEO of Safe Food Alliance. “While we continue to expand our core

competencies, we are poised to serve a broader base of food companies globally,” continues Keiper. “As consumers and regulators scrutinize the food supply to ensure the quality and safety of products, our new state of the art Kingsburg Center will serve business partners who seek solutions for delivering the highest quality products worldwide.”

Construction of the new 20,408 square feet facility was completed in December, 2017, followed by the transfer of the existing Fresnobased South Valley Laboratory equipment and personnel to the new facility. Safe Food Alliance has additional laboratories in Kerman, Winters and Yuba City, California.

DFA of California Board Chairman, Mark Mariani of Mariani Packing Company, says, “Expanding Safe Food Alliance’s lab capabilities and food safety training programs will allow the food industry and companies like mine to catch issues before the product leaves the facility.

Everyone in our organization is dedicated to continuously improving our food safety program because our consumer deserves the healthiest, safest food on the planet!”

If you are in the area on April 25th, please stop by and take a self-guided tour through the facility, network with industry peers, and meet some of the staff at Safe Food Alliance. We look forward to seeing you there and serving you from our new home in Kingsburg.

Industry News

THE STRENGTH OF CALIFORNIA PRUNES

Q&A WITH BONE HEALTH EXPERT, DR. SHIRIN HOOSHMAND

SHIRIN HOOSHMAND, PH.D., RESEARCHER AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

Q: How did you become interested in bone health?

A: Nutrition plays an essential role in bone health. Bone loss can be prevented, repaired and reversed using nutrition. My research focuses mainly on prevention and reversal of bone loss.

Q: What are common bone health conditions?

A: Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. Bone loss primarily affects elderly people and presents risks such as fractures. Osteoporosis is more typical among the elderly and more common in women due to lower estrogen levels after menopause. 1 in 2 women after the age of 50 are at risk for bone fracture compared to 1 in 4 men.

Osteopenia refers to bone density that is lower than normal peak density, but not low enough to be considered osteoporosis.

Osteopenia affects younger people, and if caught in the early stages, can be prevented and/or reversed. Approximately 44 million people in the United States suffer from either osteoporosis or osteopenia due to hormonal problems, medications, genes and other issues.

Q: Can you speak to the nutritional attributes of California prunes?

A: California prunes have a variety of nutrients that make them unique. Among other traditional

Dr. Hooshmand specializes in nutrition research related to bone and cartilage health. A consultant to the California prune industry, many of her studies examine the effect of prunes on bone health. Dr. Hooshmand shares the following question and answer (Q&A) overview about her area of study and promising research findings.

dried fruits, only prunes are high in vitamin K. They are also a source of manganese, magnesium, copper and potassium. This combination of nutrients and vitamins in California prunes all benefit bone health.

Q: Have California prunes shown favorable results specific to osteoporosis?

A: Bone health is important as soon as a person is born, but most people only pay attention to their bone health as they age because the impacts become more serious. The denser our bones are, the better our overall bone health.

As we age, we begin to lose bone density, but we are able to delay and repair bone density loss through nutrition. Several clinical studies have shown that 50 – 100 grams of prunes can prevent bone loss in women with low bone density (osteopenia).

Q: What is the most exciting finding that your research has revealed about California prunes?

A: To date, the most exciting findings are from human studies conducted among postmenopausal women. Post-menopausal women lose 1 – 1.5 percent of their bone density per year, but studies show that women who eat prunes daily are actually able to maintain their bone density and prevent additional loss.

Additionally, there are promising findings in

animal studies about the reparative (repairing) qualities of California prunes in terms of bone health. California prunes are the only dried fruit that is shown to reverse bone loss. Other dried fruits have qualities that can prevent bone loss, but are not shown to reverse the condition. Plus, California prunes are shown to prevent bone loss at a much higher rate than other dried fruits.

Interestingly, a short-term animal-based experiment conducted by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicates that prunes may also protect bones from the damaging effects of space radiation.

That’s not only good news for astronauts, but also for cancer patients and those who work in and around radiation.

Q: Are there other California prune studies that are intriguing to you?

A: Although I am trained in bone health and nutrition research, during our studies, we observed positive impacts on gut health. It became evident that eating prunes changes bowel movements and gut health in all patients.

There is also interesting new research that shows prunes – due to their rich polyphenols –may have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammatory markers. This is a promising finding for addressing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Q: What is the one thing you wish more people knew about California prunes – but, don’t?

A: I don’t think many people are aware of all of the health benefits of California prunes. I wish people understood that California prunes are a real miracle fruit and can positively impact bone health beginning at an early age. If everyone understood this, perhaps we could decrease the amount of people who suffer from both osteopenia and osteoporosis. If people would try California prunes, I know they — and their bones — would love them!

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Industry News

NUTS FOR LIFE INDUSTRY UPDATE

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uts for Life has had a significant second half of the year, with a new strategic direction, the resignation of Lisa Yates and the appointment of a new Nuts for Life team.

Nuts for Life has been in operation for over 13 years, but like all successful collaborations, it is essential to evolve and move forward with a new strategic direction. The plan for the next three years is to divide activities into two areas: • Scientific program – to collate and review research pertaining to nuts and their positive role in the diet. This will be used to educate and influence key influencers including health care professionals and media commentators. It will also support and strengthen public health recommendations around healthy eating and encourage improvements in government and other relevant public health organisations’ policies.

• Consumer program – to provide consumers with more health based reasons to consume nuts and to dispel barriers to increasing nut consumption. It will seek to identify opportunities to amplify this message through various channels, based around the notion that ‘nuts make healthy snacking easy’.

Lisa Yates – long serving Program Manager resigned from her position in June 2017, after almost 13 years. Lisa did an extraordinary job for the Australian nut industry. Behind the sales figures has been the change in attitude amongst the community about nuts = fat = bad, to nuts now being viewed as a nutritious, heart healthy food. Belinda Neville, who worked alongside Lisa for 18 months was appointed as the new Nutrition Program Manager to take over the reigns of Nuts for Life. Officially started her new role in September 2017, Belinda is responsible for delivering the Scientific Program.

Nuts for Life will also shortly be appointing a Marketing Manager to work collaboratively with Belinda to deliver the Consumer Program. At the time of preparing this article, interviews for the role are taking place, with the successful candidate to be appointed in February 2018.

Health Star Rating Front of Pack Labelling The formal five-year review of the Health Star Rating system was extended with public submissions being taken up until August 17th. This process was our chance to share views on the Health Star Rating system and to help ensure that the Health Star Rating system continues to assist Australians and New Zealanders in making healthier choices.

Nuts for Life, on behalf of the Australian Nut Industry Council prepared a submission, raising the following key points: 1. Health star ratings need to align with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the system should be achieving the health objectives of the HSR program.

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2. HSRs disadvantage natural primary foods even though many are “processed and packaged” because they can’t be reformulated.

3. The Australian Tree Nut Industry would be more supportive of the Health Star Rating system if all nuts were given a consistent star rating of 5 stars because they are core foods and capable of reducing chronic disease.

4. HSRs should be used as a health promotion tool with fresh produce nuts, fruits and vegetables being granted an automatic 5-star rating since consumption of these foods needs to increase.

5. The unintended consequences of HSRs are that food manufacturers are removing nuts from products to get higher HSRs.

Where to from here?

Stage 1 October 2017 – January 2018: Review of the 480+ submissions.

Stage 2 February 2018 – April 2018: Wider consultations with industry and consumer/public health stakeholders to present options for addressing the issues raised during the submission process.

Stage 3 April – June 2018: Subject specific discussions – seeking solutions to the key issues identified during the submission process.

Industry News

Stage 4 Early 2019: Development of, and consultation on, the Draft Review Report.

Stage 5 Mid – late 2019: Finalisation of the Review Report and consideration by governments (Australia and New Zealand).

So, it’s a long and lengthy process.

Nut Heart Health General Level Health Claim The General Level Health Claim (GLHC) – ‘Nut Heart Health’, was launched at the Australian Nut Conference in March 2017. The required licensing agreement to enable Nuts for Life contributors to have access to the substantiation document which supports the claim was finalised in October following some last-minute changes to the wording of the claim(s).

Examples of the type of claims that can be made based on the evidence in the literature review (there is flexibility to the exact wording of the claim, subject to Nuts for Life approval):

For all tree nuts and peanuts (except chestnuts, where there is insufficient evidence to make the claim): • A regular 30g handful of nuts such as [insert name of nut] when eaten as part of a healthy, varied diet contributes to heart health [+/- without causing weight gain] • Nuts are a heart healthy food • Nuts support heart health • Enjoy a handful of heart healthy nuts

For almonds and walnuts specifically (where stronger evidence exists): • A regular 30g handful of almonds OR walnuts when eaten as part of a healthy, varied diet contributes to heart health [+/- without causing weight gain] • Almonds OR walnuts are a heart healthy food • Almonds OR walnuts support heart health • Enjoy a handful of heart healthy almonds OR walnuts

Based on feedback received from Nuts for Life contributors, we also developed a ‘User Guide’ to help navigate through the claims process.

Claims on Pack Nuts for Life, on behalf of the Australian Nut Industry Council are committed to updating the scientific literature review which substantiates the claim as the need arises, or at least every 2-3 years. Given the review was conducted on data published between 1966 and 2014, an update is already being planned for later in 2018.

Re-analysis of the Australian Health Survey 2011-2013 We are currently considering a project to conduct a re-analysis of the latest Australian Health Survey. The purpose would be to explore characteristics of nut consumers, and nutrient and health measures associated with nut consumption. It is hoped that the results could be submitted to a scientific journal for publication, as well as being disseminated to health professional audiences and the nut industry via conference presentations, reports, and traditional and social media.

The project will likely comprise the following stages: 1. Development of a database on nut products This would involve the identification of nuts and nut containing products, and the proportion of nuts contained in mixed products would be calculated from the AUSNUT food composition database.

This would create a ‘nut database’.

2. Determining characteristics of nut consumers Following the development of the ‘nut database’, nut consumption would be calculated with survey respondents being classified as nut ‘consumers’ or ‘non-consumers’. Nut consumption could also be explored according to respondent demographics e.g. age, gender and level of education.

3. Nutrient intakes associated with nut consumption The contribution of total nut intake to the dietary intake of key nutrients such as fibre and unsaturated fats would be calculated.

4. Anthropometric measures associated with nut consumption Anthropometric measures such as body mass index, body weight, waist circumference and blood pressure would be compared between nut consumers and non-consumers.

For further information on these activities contact Belinda Neville, Nutrition Program Manager at Nuts for Life, admin@nutsforlife.com.au

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Industry News

A SPECIALIST’S OPINION ON THE BENEFITS OF NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT An interview with Alessandra Bordoni, from the AgriFood Science and Technology Department at the University of Bologna, scientific consultant on the Italian project “Nuts about Good Health”

E

ating is one thing, eating well is another, and nourishing ourselves is yet another. Being aware of what we are consuming is perhaps the optimum for everyone, regardless of age. In the last few years Nucis Italia, with its project “Nuts about Good Health”, has helped Italians to adopt a correct and clever approach to nuts and dried fruit, making them the protagonists of our daily nutrition. The project has also been endorsed by many experts, including doctors, nutritionists and dieticians, who have helped to distribute informative material among their patients.

Prof. Alessandra Bordoni from the Department of AgriFood Science and Technology at the University of Bologna and scientific consultant of the Italian project “Nuts about Good Health”, explains how the role of these foods is essential and how Italians today are savvy consumers of these products.

Health Comes from Correct Nutrition In order to understand the change, it is necessary to step back and get the wider picture: we know now that people are aware that nutrition and human health are inextricably linked, but we also know that this has not always been the case. “The link has been known since the time of Hippocrates, but the majority of the population did not make much use of the knowledge. Today, in spite of the fact that the media sometimes spread false and misleading information, people know that their wellbeing comes also from food, and know as well that some kinds of food help us to live better and prevent various illnesses”.

Nuts are one of the key elements of a healhty diet. “Finally -the doctor says- we succeded in separating nuts from the nightmare of their caloric contents, which is their power to make you fat. Today people are aware that, if consumed in the right quantity (a daily portion corresponds to around 30g of shelled fruit), nuts and dried fruit play an important role in healthy, proper nutrition. And not just that, because they are good at giving you the feeling of being full, they are perfect as a snack. All the more so because they contain a lot of important nutrients for human health. We have been working hard around this message with the “Nuts About Good Health” campaign, and will continue to spread it in our future activities.”

Good for Kids Good habits, if picked up at childhood, help us to live better and prevent the onset of many pathologies. In the case of children, the consumption of nuts and dried fruit is important and very positive. Such a natural snack can even boast a low glycemic index. Hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia are risk factors for various metabolic illnesses, in particular for diabetes, whose incidence is strongly on the rise, especially in children and teenagers. This

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is why it is better to choose a diet based on foods with a low glycemic index, and this is why nuts and dried fruit are the right snack, one that can be consumed before or after one’s favorite sports activity. “Moreover -Prof. Bordoni says- nuts are also rich in fibers, whose presence is always scarce in everybody’s diet, and especially in younger people’s. Also, nuts and dried fruit do not contain cholesterol, but provide many unsaturated fats. Diets rich in unsaturated fats and low in cholesterol are at the basis of cardiovascular illness prevention, which starts from childhood”.

Attention to Vegans There is another group of people who can greatly benefit from the consumption of nuts and dried fruit: vegetarians and vegans. The latter, who avoid every kind of animal-based food, may be prone to a deficiency of vitamin B12 (which must be taken in the form of supplements), as well as iron, calcium, phosphorus and selenium. “Nuts and dried fruit are ideal to compensate for such deficiencies. For example: pistachios and cashew nuts contribute to our daily need for iron and selenium; dried figs, hazelnuts and walnuts to the need for calcium; and almonds and cashews contain a lot of phosphorus. As they also have a good protein content, nuts are very useful in meeting the daily need for proteins from non-animal sources.”

She also suggested: “Every fruit has its own nutritional qualities. In order to secure a varied and also tasty diet, it is best to vary between all the different fruits, which can be easily done by consuming the nut mixes that can be found in stores.”

Collaborating with over 2,000 doctors and nutritionists, Nucis Italia always shows up on time for its annual appointment, at the start of the winter season, with thousands of Italian families to provide them with ever new informative tools to get to know nuts and dried fruit better, a now irreplaceable ingredient of Italian families’ recipes.

Industry News

THE CHILEAN WALNUT INDUSTRY WILL BE PROMOTED OVERSEAS IN 2018 Nicolas Di Cosmo ChileNut Chairman

W

alnut production in Chile has grown by leaps and bounds.

Until just a few months ago Chilean yields for 2017 were expected to be around 96 thousand tons, which in itself represented superlative growth compared to the 74 thousand tons produced in 2016.

The milestone of surpassing 100 thousand tons wasn’t expected until 2018. But no, it came early, with 105 thousand tons produced last year.

And that’s not all: new orchards are entering production, so five years from now, we expect production levels of around 200 thousand tons.

Under this scenario, promotion in international markets in the short and mid-term is now a priority for our industry. We must double our efforts to showcase our many attributes: we produce the clearest walnuts in the world, with the best taste, perfect size and more walnut within the shell.

Our walnuts are the freshest when they reach the northern hemisphere between April and October, and, in addition, over the years the Chilean walnut industry has become a serious, reliable global supplier.

The idea of promoting Chilean walnuts has been in the works for over two years. Now, finally, ProChile (the government office for the promotion of exports) has defined their level of support, meaning there will now be joint, coordinated, public-private funding.

Promotional Focus We are currently deciding on the final details before launching our promotional campaign, which will feature India -an important market for unshelled walnuts- as its main focus for 2018. No matter how you look at it, India is a tremendously attractive market for Chilean walnuts. In this subcontinent inhabited by 1.3 billion people, 41% of the population is under the age of 20 and there is a tremendous expanding middle class of around 300 million people. In addition, walnuts are among the three most consumed nuts in India -along with almonds and cashews- making it an “essential” daily food in the Indian diet. Their internal consumption levels, however, are very low at only 36 thousand tons, especially considering that China, which has a slightly larger population, consumes 450 thousand tons a year.

Simply put, the future could not look any brighter, especially when you factor in our counter-seasonal status, which is perfect for the Indian festival season, which begins in July.

Along with India, another set of activities will take place in South Korea, an important market for shelled walnuts, and a place in which we would like to get back on track in terms of the growth and consumption

of our product. In both India and Korea we will have the support of a local agency to make sure we are penetrating these markets correctly by always respecting their culture and traditions.

Another public-private action for 2018 is sponsoring the gala dinner at the Annual INC Conference in Seville, which will take place in May of this year. By having a strong presence at this event, we as a trade association believe that Chile is being appropriately represented as a country that has been in the big leagues of the global walnut supply world for quite some time now.

Finally, we obviously couldn’t leave China out of our promotional activities for 2018. For this very reason, we will be participating in China Week, an activity organized by ProChile that seeks to provide visibility for the export industry, especially food exports.

Our trade association is convinced that it is time to take the next step in our growth and promote our products in the most promising markets out there, and to start things off we have defined an annual budget of US$ 1.2 million, a number we hope to increase in the coming years, allowing us to cover more markets and/or delve deeper into markets where we already operate. This way, we hope to contribute to an increase in global walnut consumption.

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Edition 73. Nº 1

Edition 73. Nº 1 MARCH 2018

SEVILLA AWAITS THE NUT AND DRIED FRUIT INDUSTRY XXXVII INC CONGRESS MAY 21 – 23, 2018 Page 50

SWEETS & SNACKS: THE AMAZON EFFECT Page 26

US DEMAND OF ORGANIC ALMONDS OUTPACES DOMESTIC SUPPLY

MARCH 2018

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THE INC ACADEMIA TAKES OFF: WHERE LEADERS OF THE INDUSTRY ARE SHAPED! Page 58

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