The Cracker magazine, November 2012

Cracker The

November 2012 Edition 57, No. 3

The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

BARCELONA CONGRESS 2013 HOSTS NEW PROGRAMS: FIRST EVER NUTRITION FORUM IN REUS, SPAIN OPEN HOUSE & CEREMONY AT INC HEADQUARTERS IN REUS www.nutfruit.org

Cracker The

November 2012, Edition 57 INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Giles Hacking - Chairman CG Hacking & Sons Limited, UK Pino Calcagni - Vice Chairman V. Besana S.P.A., Italy Mark Mariani - Vice Chairman Mariani Packing Company, USA Jordi Martí - Treasurer and General Secretary Borges S.A.U., Spain Thomas Apfel Max Kiene GmbH, Germany Asadollah Asgaroladi Hassas Export Co. Ltd., Iran Baljit Chadha Balcorp Limited, Canada Cheng Hung Kay CHK Trading Co. Ltd., Hong Kong Mark Jansen Blue Diamond Growers, USA Zhou Jinkui Fenzhou Yuyuan Native Produce, China Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California, USA Ashok Krishen Olam International Limited, Singapore Maarten Leerdam Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG, Germany Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company, USA Pratap Nair Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company, India Chris Nubern Snacks Parent Corporation, USA Osman Oz Aegean Exporters Associations, Turkey Antonio Pont - Honorary President Borges S.A.U., Spain Sabit Sabir Sabirlar Findik Ihracat Ltd. Sti., Turkey Berton Steir Paramount - Roll International Corp., USA Dick Walden The Green Valley Pecan Company, USA Michael Waring MWT Foods, Australia Cuneyd Zapsu Balsu A.S., Turkey Bian Zhen-hu China Chamber of Commerce, China EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Giles Hacking – Chairman Pino Calcagni - Vice Chairman Mark Mariani - Vice Chairman Jack Mariani Antonio Pont Berton Steir Cuneyd Zapsu Goretti Guasch - Executive Director SENATORS

Hubert Berrebi, France John Cardassilaris, Greece Helmut Dankert, Germany Raoul Gamon, France Chris Hacking, UK Walter F. Payne, USA Abbas Rafii, Luxembourg Don Soetaert, USA James Swink, USA Jack Taillie, Netherlands Frank Vaerewijck, Belgium Doug Youngdahl, USA THE CRACKER EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

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FEATURED ARTICLES

INDEX

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WORLD NEWS

21 INC Ambassadors

Largest cashew conference held in Cotonou, Benin with 500 participants representing 36 countries; Spanish Almond Board-Almendrave promotes Spanish almonds, builds new markets; Taste drives increase in specialty food market in US with Italian and Mexican food driving international food purchases.

49 Statistical Outlook 85 Advertisers

22 Global Nut/Dried Fruit Trends Nut snacking is up 14 percent with new products up 15 percent; cherries, apples with maple, cranberries lead new products; low-fat, low cholesterol claims spur more consumer interest.

24 Chile: Nut/Dried Fruit Industry Update

Cracker The

November 2012 Edition 57, No. 3

The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

In a special report from the Chilean industry, growth, new products, new markets continue to spark interest in the Chilean nut and dried fruit industry; new walnut plantings are inspired by updated cultural practices and increased life span of orchards; prune exports are up as industry invests in new brand and promotions.

30 Barcelona Congress

2013 Hosts Major Events 20th May: First world forum for nutrition research conference in Reus, Spain; evening program following nutrition conference includes grand opening ceremonies, donor wall recognition and open day at the new INC headquarters in Reus, Spain; INC Congress will open 21 May in Barcelona, Spain as festivities, tours and business programs follow through to the Gala Dinner and Ball at emblematic Hotel Ritz-Carlton Arts Barcelona.

74 Nucis Italia Launches New Campaign Nutritional aspects of dried fruit and nuts are introduced in promotional campaign that includes in-store activities by demonstrators who will distribute materials for consumers to learn more about products and how to access future information.

82 Pecan Industry Gets AHA Certification

Members of the National Pecan Shellers Association receive good news from American Heart Association that they can label their products with the infamous heart check and continue to educate consumers about nutrition facts related to pecan snacking and cooking.

BARCELONA CONGRESS 2013 HOSTS NEW PROGRAMS: FIRST EVER NUTRITION FORUM IN REUS, SPAIN OPEN HOUSE & CEREMONY AT INC HEADQUARTERS IN REUS November 2012 | The Cracker www.nutfruit.org

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COVER PHOTO: INC thanks dietician Lisa Yates who provided this month’s festive cover photo. Lisa represents the Australian Nut Industry Council and its popular industry campaign “Nuts for Life.”

PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF INC

Goretti Guasch, Executive Director Calle Boule 2, 43201 Reus, Spain Tel: +34 977 331 416 | Fax: +34 977 315 028 E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org | Web: www.nutfruit.org The Cracker is published three times a year by the International Tree Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation (Fundacio Privada International Tree Nut CIF G-43738475). This magazine including all articles and illustrations, is copyright protected.

Any utilization beyond the light limits set by the Copyright Act is subject to publisher’s approval.

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

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

November 2012 | The Cracker

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Chairman’s commentary

Greetings from London!

As you have probably seen, this past summer in London has been one of the most exciting in sporting history! With the unmitigated success of the Olympic Games and the Paralympics, London is suffused with the warm after-glow of pride and satisfaction that you would expect following such a spectacular event, traditionally known as “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The determination, sporting prowess and sheer skill of all 10,000 globally- represented athletes is nothing short of an inspiration for generations to come! As one outdoor poster shouted: “Thank you, Britain. Job well-done!”

From an industry perspective, we continue to look at ways that associate our industry with the sporting arena, bearing in mind that healthy eating and regular exercise are key components to a long and healthy existence.

Moving to what’s happening in the field, September and October have been extremely busy months for us all. Many of you are in the middle of the harvest season as the true nature of the size and quality of your crops unfold. In some cases, unfortunately we have had some disappointing surprises.

Here at INC, we have also been extremely busy, spreading ourselves thinly (but evenly) around the globe, representing the industry at various nut and dietary conferences: Jordi Salas (chairman of the INC World Forum of Nutrition, Research & Dissemination) and Emilio Ros, attended the 16th International Congress of Dietetics in Sidney (Australia), where they presented the Predimed Study in early September.

I had the honour of being asked to speak at the China International Treenuts Conference in Hangzhou, China in mid-September.

Organised by the CCCFNA and China Treenuts Association, the conference was well attended with over 220 delegates, all of them major importers of nuts and dried fruit. This group has demonstrated the ability that China has to affect world markets, with their ever- increasing demand for nuts and dried fruit.

Pino Calgani (INC vice-chairman) attended the African Cashew Alliance annual conference in September in Cotonou, Benin as Chairman of the Global Cashew Council, and as moderator for the “Global Standards for Cashews” session. Pino was joined at the conference by some 420 delegates, demonstrating the growth in the African cashew sector.

Jack Mariani and Goretti Guasch attended the 6th International Macadamia Symposium in Brisbane, Australia also in midSeptember where Jack chaired a session of the INC Macadamia Working Party. He joined Goretti in presenting the INC Scientific Committee, Research and Development Priorities, and the World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination. Before heading back to their respective corners of the world, Jack and Goretti also made their first inspection visit to Melbourne in preparation for our 2014 Congress.

As we now prepare for SIAL in Paris, INC is incredibly positive about the development potential in the world of dried fruit and nuts, and will continue to increase its strategic efforts to grow the organization. I thank all of those who have expressed interest and volunteered in being further involved in the activities of INC. This is the greatest compliment to an organisation which has devoted itself to the industry for over 30 years. We count on the experience and expertise of our membership and look forward to sharing our progress with everyone in the future.

Our next occasion to meet will be in Barcelona next May, 2013 where there will be outstanding business opportunities and social venues awaiting us. Please see page 30 for more details and be sure to register early as we again expect a record turnout!

Meanwhile, I wish you and your family a memorable holiday season!

Yours Sincerely,

Giles Hacking INC Chairman

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The Cracker | November 2012

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world nut & Dried fruit news Keep up with current events from the international nut & Dried fruit industry AUSTRALIA SAYS 'GO NUTS FOR BETTER HEALTH' "Filling and nutritious ... a handful of raw or dry-roasted nuts makes a healthy snack, " says the Sydney Morning Herald. "They can be a seat-belt for your heart, reduce the risk of diabetes and bring down cholesterol but stick to just a handful of nuts a day raw if possible - and avoid additives like salt and sugar. Tree nuts are increasingly regarded as wonder foods that lower the risk of heart disease, some forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes while providing essential vitamins and minerals including niacin, zinc, folic acid, selenium and magnesium.They contain more unsaturated fats than animal proteins and can cut levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, according to numerous studies.

And their mix of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fibre will help you feel full and suppress your appetite.

Versatile ... add nuts to cooked dishes for extra flavour and nutrients. Plus the fat content helps release satiety hormones in the digestive system, which also helps to curb hunger, adds dietitian Lisa Yates of the Australian Nut Industry Council website nutsforlife.com.au. A small snack of nuts can lessen your desire to overeat later in the day.

• Almonds are rich in vitamin E, a fatsoluble vitamin and antioxidant essential to maintaining heart health, with 20 almonds (a handful) providing 85 per cent of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin E. • Brazil nuts - seeds from a large tree found in the Amazon rainforest – are rich in selenium, a vital mineral and antioxidant.

Just two Brazil nuts a day may prevent heart disease and prostate cancer and can also enhance mood.

• Cashews are high in magnesium, needed for healthy bones, and are good sources of phytochemicals and antioxidants. A handful is about 15 cashews.

• Hazelnuts, the most fibre-rich of all the nuts, contain significant levels of B-group

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The Cracker | November 2012

"[But] if there's one myth that needs busting," insists Yates, "it is that nuts are fattening." "Nuts are healthy high-fat food in a fatphobic world and it is high time we moved on from thinking that the low-fat diet is going to solve our heart disease, diabetes and obesity problems." Research has moved on from the low-fat mantra of the 80s and 90s, she says.

"Epidemiological [large population] studies have found that as nut consumption increased, body mass index decreased. We also know that nuts help prevent weight gain, which is the first step in losing weight, but like any food, healthy or not, eat too much and you may gain weight - especially if you're eating more than you need and not burning enough through exercise."

Yates suggests eating one handful of mixed nuts a day, just 30g, and enjoy them as a snack or add to your meals to make them more exciting. All nuts are about equal in calories, but their nutrient profile does differ.

There are 10 varieties of tree nuts: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.

vitamins including folate and vitamin B6.

An average handful is about 20 hazelnuts.

• Macadamia nuts are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, contain all the essential amino acids and have been shown to lower blood cholesterol. Fifteen macadamias make a handful.

• Pecans also reduce cholesterol and may delay age-related muscle nerve degeneration, according to a University of Massachusetts study. A handful is about 15 pecans.

• Pine nuts - the edible seeds of pine trees, removed from pine cones - contain zinc, niacin and manganese and are rich in monounsaturated acids. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed pine nuts were an aphrodisiac. Two tablespoons is an average serve.

• Pistachios are packed with protein, vitamin E and are an excellent source of copper and manganese. Sixty pistachios makes a 30g serving.

• Walnuts are loaded with natural plant omega-3s called alphalinoleic acid or ALA. Eating walnuts is "like wearing a seat-belt for your heart," according to nutsforlife. com. Ten whole walnuts is the suggested average serve.

• Peanuts, technically legumes but commonly referred to as nuts, are high in vitamin E, folate (for brain development) and may reduce cognitive decline.

World nut & dried fruit news

CONFERENCE PREDICTS A PROMISING FUTURE FOR AFRICAN CASHEW INDUSTY “The Future is Now!” Last September, cashew stakeholders from around the world gathered in Cotonou, Benin to attend the 7th ACA Annual Conference. The event was the world’s biggest cashew event to date, with more than 500 registered participants from 36 countries. Keynote speakers, sector-specific workshops, and hundreds of Business2Business meetings provided both first-time attendees and experienced industry players with key information and tools to facilitate the continued development of the African cashew industry.

Conference participants listened to 90 speakers presenting in 26 workshops and panels on topics ranging from finance and investment to small-scale processing. Ministers and ministerial representatives from ten countries were also in attendance, including Hon. Madina Sephou, Benin’s Minster of Industry, Trade and Small and Medium Enterprises.

The high-level panel during the Plenary Session, “Today’s Challenges for Tomorrow’s Industry,” included participants from Benin, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, The Gambia, Senegal, Mozambique, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Togo.

Another feature of the conference, the 2nd World Cashew Expo12, showcased processing equipment from China and Sri Lanka, as well as 20 other exhibitors. About 100 attendees extended their conference participation beyond Cotonou to take advantage of the opportunity to see two main aspects of Benin’s cashew value chain: production and processing of raw cashew nuts.

“It’s an important and marvelous event that allows you to move forward when you have goals for the cashew business,” said a Beninese processor who attended the conference. “I now have the solutions and institutions to support my own project. “ The conference also provided an opportunity for cooperation among cashew associations. The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) and l’Autorité de Regulation du Coton et de l’Anacarde (ARECA) of Côte d’Ivoire both signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with ACA to facilitate promotion of the cashew industry in their respective countries.

The INC was represented by Mr. Pino Calcagni, INC Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, who moderated the session “Towards a Global Cashew Standard”.

The 8th World Cashew Conference and Expo will be held 16-19 September 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria.

FRUIT AND VEGGIES LINKED TO LOWER OBESITY RATES Customers line up for farmers market produce on a corner in Washington, D.C., where people eat more fruits and veggies than in many states.

According to the annual report from the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about the state obesity rankings, a handful of southern states, on the whole, rank the highest of obesity rates in America ( Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia in 2011). Diet and lifestyle seem to be the most important of factors contributing to the trend. The rankings show that the states where people are eating their fruits and veggies have among the lowest rates of obesity. The residents of California; Washington, D.C.; Vermont; New Hampshire; and Oregon top the list of states highest in fruit and vegetable consumption.

Only about 1 in 4 adults adults in these top-ranked states are eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Yes, that means 75 percent of us are not!

The states with the lowest fruit and veggie consumption are West Virginia (7.9 percent), Louisiana (8.2 percent), Oklahoma (9.8 percent) and Mississippi (10.3 percent). Seven of the 10 states with the highest rates of obesity were in the bottom tier for fruit and vegetable consumption.

It's a similar story with exercise. States where people report engaging in the most physical activity or exercise beyond doing their regular jobs, including Colorado, Utah, and California, also have the lowest obesity rankings. Colorado holds on to its top spot for skinniest state. Only about 21 percent of Coloradans are obese, followed by Hawaii, with an obesity rate of 22 percent.

The "F as in Fat" report finds not much is budging, in terms of the top and bottom ranked states. Mississippi has an obesity rate of 34.9 percent, followed

by Louisiana at 33.4 percent, and W. Virginia at 32.4 percent.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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World nut & dried fruit news

ICE CREAM MAKES A COMEBACK IN US According to recent Mintel research, in 2011, the ice cream and frozen novelty market emerged from two years of struggling sales and posted a 4.1 percent increase over the previous year (retail sales of $10.7 billion) and is poised for continued growth of another 4 percent in 2012. When buying ice cream or other frozen novelties, 94 percent of people say they base their decision on flavor, while 83 percent look at price and 72 percent look for a sale or promotion. When it comes to brand loyalty, slightly more than two-thirds (68 percent) of respondents make their selections based on brand alone.

New product development will play a large role in the continued success of the ice cream market in the coming years, according to Mintel. New flavor profiles and ingredients, better-for-you (BFY) products, and new packaging concepts will be instrumental in its success. The popularity of Greek yogurt spilling over into the ice cream and frozen novelty market could be one reason that total U.S. retail sales of frozen yogurt were up 9.7 percent from 2011 to 2012. t demonstrates the highest growth percentage of the four ice cream and frozen novelty segments.

Not surprisingly, reduced fat (38 percent), reduced sugar (38 percent), and reduced calorie (36 percent) are the most important claims consumers are looking for on the packaging of their favorite frozen treat. However, gluten-free and dairy-free products are rapidly growing in popularity, with 14 percent and 15 percent of Mintel respondents saying they are “very or somewhat important” to them.

Container, or serving size, is important to 69 percent of survey respondents who buy frozen treats, and especially so among those aged 18–24 (74 percent), who are the most likely to eat it away from the home directly after purchasing it from the grocery or convenience store.

Portion control containers would also fare well with those concerned about ‘low-in’ claims.

Globally, it is Norway that spends the most per head on ice cream at £33 per head, closely followed by Australia (£30 per head), Switzerland (£25 per head), and Sweden and Finland (£24 per head respectively). The U.K. ranks in 10th place with £17 per head spend. However, in terms of who is eating the most, the U.S. tops the list, with 17 liters per head, way ahead of its nearest competitors—Australia with 10.3 liters per head and Norway at 10.2. Sweden (8 liters per head) and Denmark (7 liters per head) make up the remaining top five. Again, the U.K. scrapes into the top 10 in 10th position at 6 liters per head.

LOW MILK SALES MAY SPUR OPPORTUNITIES Sales of milk as a beverage have fallen to the lowest level in nearly 30 years - with more than half of U.S. adults no longer consuming the dairy industry's most iconic product. This leaves additional opportunities for nut-based non-dairy beverages.

In 2011, total U.S. beverage milk sales were 53 billion pounds - about 6 billion gallons - the lowest level since 1984, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures released in August. Whole milk beverage sales in 2011 were less than half their level from the early 1980s, according to the Agriculture Department.

Shifting consumer habits and a flood of new beverages in the marketplace, including sports drinks and bottled teas, have taken a toll on beverage milk sales. While Americans consume about the same number of gallons of beverages as they did in the past, they're drinking a lot less milk. Milk has lost out to other beverages, primarily bottled water.

Not giving up, the dairy industry has chosen "breakfast-at-home" as one of its battlegrounds for increasing milk sales. Americans still drink more milk at the breakfast table than during any other time.

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The Cracker | November 2012

Consumption of chocolate milk as a sports recovery drink is another area the industry is promoting, based on evidence that milk's protein, carbohydrates and sodium are optimal for refueling tired muscles. It could bring many adults back into the dairy industry's fold, especially if they question the nutritional value of other beverages.

Schools are another battleground for the dairy industry because it doesn't want to lose more market share to other beverages, including soda, bottled water and energy drinks. Fifty-five million children attend U.S. schools every day.

There's also a pressing need for product innovation. People want on-the-go packaging, and they want a shelf-stable product they can refrigerate when they want or maybe not refrigerate it at all.

Sales of yogurt and other dairy products have offset much of the decline in sales of milk as a beverage. Yogurt consumption is up 400 percent from 30 years ago. Cheese consumption has risen, too, and Wisconsin has a 48 percent share of U.S. specialty cheese sales.

Yet, dairy-free diets are a long-term trend rather than a fad. It may be time to re-examine the positioning of milk as an everyday beverage.

World nut & dried fruit news

PRODUCTS WITH LOW/NO/REDUCED SODIUM CLAIMS ON DECLINE The number of products touting low/no/reduced sodium claims have declined over the past few years, despite the increased awareness about risks of over-consumption. New Mintel research found that globally, launches of foods with low/no/reduced sodium claims declined 5 percent over the 2010-2011 period, appearing on just 2 percent of total food launches in 2011. According to Mintel's Global New Products Database, North America had a 26 percent new product launches carrying low/no/reduced sodium claims in 2011, compared with 32 percent in 2010 and 28 percent in 2007. This compared with Europe, which had 35 percent of new product launches carrying these claims, and Asia-Pacific, which came in third with 19 percent.

Mintel also found that about 54 percent of U.S. consumers said they limit their use of packaged snacks and other packaged foods because they think they have too much salt or sodium, while 53 percent said they are concerned about the amount of salt or sodium in their diets. However, it seems consumers will not give up salt easily. In the United States, for instance, 60 percent of restaurant diners typically order what they want instead of what is healthy. Moreover, when it comes to products flavored with a non sodium or salt alternative, almost half (46 percent) of consumers in the U.S. think that they don't taste as good as their traditional counterparts.

HERSHEY COMMITS TO CERTIFIED COCOA BY 2020 All of The Hershey Co.'s chocolate products will be made using 100 percent certified cocoa by 2020.

The company reports that certified cocoa, at present, accounts for less than five percent of the world's supply. As the claimed largest chocolate manufacturer in North America, Hershey says it believes that its efforts in West Africa, which produces around 70 percent of the world's cocoa, will lead to a significant increase in the availability of certified cocoa.

Independent auditors will verify the cocoa is grown using internationally recognized standards for labor and farming practices, which includes the elimination of child labor. The company says it has already contributed to many cocoa sustainability efforts, including the development of CocoaLink, the world's first mobile phone network specifically for cocoa farmers in West Africa. The service is up and running in Ghana, and the company plans to expand to Ivory Coast in 2013.

Hershey points out that its Dagoba organic chocolate is already 100 percent Alliance-certified. The company plans to have its Hershey's Bliss chocolates Alliance-certified by the end of 2012, and its Scharffen Berger brand 100 percent certified by the end of 2013.

PRESENTATION OF THE SPANISH ALMOND BOARD BRAND Spanish Almond and Hazelnut Exporters Association, has presented a new brand for its products: Spanish Almond Board.

Spanish Almond Board�Almendrave carries out major promotion plans worldwide to strengthen the consumption of our products in traditional markets and to open up new ones. With this internationalisation as its aim has created this new collective brand.

Savoured worldwide, Spanish almonds and hazelnuts boast exquisite qualities, both in terms of flavour and of texture and colour. Their scientifically�proven nutritional properties have made them products with great health benefits.

Traditionally rooted in Spanish cuisine, representative of the Mediterranean diet.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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He assumed his current 2011serving after serving as Resultsdirector of these of fluorescence assays, documented inMr. a peer-reviewed article in the scientific journal Mycopathologia, suggest that the yeast interfered with executive strategic initiatives for the CIA. Drescher executive director of strategic initiatives for the CIA. Mr. Drescher the mold's ATP (adenosine triphosphate) vital for the mold's survival. The findings also suggest that the yeast damaged mold cell joined the CIAenergy-generating in CIA 1995,in and served nearly 10 years10asyears thesystem, first joined the 1995, and served nearly as the first walls and cell membranes, according to Hua. Walls and membranes perform the essential role of protecting cell contents. directordirector of education for the for college's campuscampus in St. Helena, of education the college's in St. Helena, CA, In where oversaw thehelped development thetoCIA at Greystone’s other work that has theofway current studies, the team used a different analytical procedure—quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR CA, he where he oversaw thepave development of the CIA at Greystone’s program of continuing education and advanced studies. (polymerase chain reaction) assays—to analyze the activity program of continuing education and advanced studies.of certain P. anomala genes in the presence of the mold. Preliminary findings, which Hua at the annual national meeting ofa the Society for Microbiology in by 2010, suggest thatand exposing thesponsorships. yeast toProgram the mold may have triggered All reported leadership initiatives led by the CIA, not-for-profit college, are supported partnerships sponsorships. sponsors have have All leadership initiatives led by the CIA,American a not-for-profit college, are supported by partnerships and Program sponsors the yeast to turn on genes that code for production of two enzymes—PaEXG1 and PaEXG2.

These enzymes are capable of degrading the mold's cell opportunities to help to make impact on the future our industry and receive invaluable exposure of theirofproducts and brands to industry opportunities helpanmake an impact on the of future of our industry and receive invaluable exposure their products and brands to walls industry and decision causing to membranes. decision makersdamage and opinion leaders.

Parties interested in becoming program sponsors may contact Cathy Jörin, Director of Special Projects makers and opinion leaders. Parties interested in becoming program sponsors may contact Cathy Jörin, Director of Special Projects andThough Planning, Strategic Initiatives, CIA, cathyjorin1@aol.com 707.537.7742. and further Planning, Strategic Initiatives, CIA, at cathyjorin1@aol.com 707.537.7742. mechanisms that may be involved in the cell wall and cell studies are needed, theseatearly, PCR-based findingsorpoint toorgene-controlled damage observed in the fluorescence assays.

For membrane more information about the CIA and our new Singapore campus, please visit these www.ciachef.edu, www.ciachef.edu/ For more information about the CIA and our new Singapore campus, please visitwebsites: these websites: www.ciachef.edu, www.ciachef.edu/ singapore/index.html/ and www.ciaprochef.com. singapore/index.html/ and www.ciaprochef.com.

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MarchMarch 2012 |2012 The Cracker 21 21 | The Cracker November 2012 | The Cracker 13

World nut & dried fruit news

SCIENTISTS SAY 'SMART FOOD' COULD TELL THE BRAIN WHEN TO STOP EATING Smart foods that tell the brain you have eaten enough could hold the key to beating obesity, researchers have claimed. A Dutch team has already started work on the intelligent foods that could one day help the world beat obesity. They hope the foods will contain a special chemical that mimics the message our gut sends the brain when it is full. By sending the message earlier, the brain can be fooled into not overeating.

'We know nutrients interact with gut cells, which dispatch chemical messengers – hormones– to the brain to signal 'stomach full'," said endocrinologist Jens Holst of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Holst discovered a small molecule in the gut, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which acts on parts of the brain that regulate appetite. He is now involved with an EU funded research project, Full4Health, to try and find out exactly how the gut tells the brain when it is full.

A big problem: Scientists hope smart food could help deal with the global obesity crisis. 'There is a raft of hormones, which are all satiety hormones, which will tend to help terminate a meal,' said project coordinator Julian Mercer, obesity scientist at the University of Aberdeen, UK. 'We don’t know much about which nutrients are involved and whether we can manipulate how food interacts with those signalling systems and how those systems are integrated at different levels in the brain.'

The team hope their research could lead to drugs which mimic the message, and hope to eventually make food that can also contain the messages. Recent research found Britain has one of the most sedentary populations on earth, with almost twice the proportion of people defined as 'inactive' as in neighbouring France.

The global figures reveal that even the Americans put Britain to shame when it comes to taking exercise. In the UK, 63.3 per cent of the population fails to meet recommended levels of physical activity, increasing their risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. By comparison, 40.5 per cent of US citizens are inactive, despite more than 30 per cent of them being obese.

ONE IN FIVE U.S. ADULTS CONSIDERED ‘HEALTHY EATERS’ According to findings from The NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y.-based consumer and retail analysis group, eight out of 10 U.S. adults describe themselves as “extremely healthy” or “very healthy,” yet only one in five have what is considered a “most healthy” diet, with 65 percent maintaining a body mass index Equally (BMI) considered overweight or obese.

In spite of their skewed self-assessments, almost half of U.S. adults (104 million) recognize the need to change their diet to improve their overall health.

“Add to”& “Take out”

55%

U.S. consumers define healthy eating in terms of adding or omitting something from their diets, according to NPD’s "The Market for Functional Foods" report. Fifty-five percent of the 1,921 adults surveyed said that eating healthy involves adding to and taking out of their diet equally. Of the remaining adults surveyed, 26 percent said

14

The Cracker | November 2012

that “adding something to the diet” is healthy eating, and 19 percent believe it to be “taking something out.”

Add something to diet

26%

Dieting, which traditionally involves omitting something from one’s diet, is not the health and weight management solution it once was, NPD reports. In 2011, 21 percent of adults claimed to be on a diet, down from 24 percent in 2004.

As for adding something to a diet, consumers turn to easier solutions like Take taking vitamins or adding functional foods and beverages - products that offer something additional, pro-active health benefits out of diet beyond basic nutrition - as well as foods fortified with whole grains or probiotics.

One-third of adults, almost 80 million, indicate strong interest in functional foods and beverages, and one in four are already consuming at least one functional food or beverage per day.

19%

World nut & dried fruit news

LABELING CHOCOLATE ‘REDUCED-FAT’ PUTS OFF CONSUMERS Consumers are likelier to have lower expectations of ‘reduced-fat’ labeled chocolate creating a cause for concern for chocolate makers, according to a study. Research in the Food Quality and Preference journal found that study participants responded negatively to reduced-fat labeling of chocolate. However, the study by Norton et al. added that if a chocolate matched the sensory attributes of a full-fat product consumers might actually enjoy if encouraged to purchase the low-fat version.

Manufacturers are currently struggling with ways to produce a high quality low-fat chocolate.

Norton and his team gave around 90 participants two samples of identical full-fat chocolate but with different labels: one marked ‘Milk Chocolate’ and the other ‘Reduced-fat Milk Chocolate’. They found that the participants had lower expectations of the reduced-fat labelled product.

In the present study, Norton et al. also cautioned about the dangers of creating a similarly tasting product. They said it could create a ‘health halo’ above low-fat offerings and may lead to over-consumption.

“The main result of reduced expectations for a reduced-fat chocolate is a concern to those aiming to manufacture such a chocolate, as it suggests that consumers will be less willing to purchase the product,” said the study.

However, the researchers added that if manufacturers could create a product tasting the same as full-fat chocolate, ratings of liking would not be affected. “This is a positive outcome: if a reduced-fat chocolate can be produced with matched sensory attributes, and consumers can be encouraged to purchase the product, actual liking should not be affected by the knowledge that the product is reduced in fat,” they said.

Norton and co-researcher Peter Fryer of The University of Birmingham in the UK are also working on producing a low-fat chocolate with similar taste parameters using cocoa butter emulsions. Cadbury and Unilever have close ties to the University of Birmingham, with some students receiving funding from these two major industry players.

“As chocolate is perceived as an indulgence these data suggest that participants may not see the value of reduced- fat chocolate and would eat more of it to compensate for the lack of ‘naughtiness’,” they said.

“The production of reduced-fat chocolate needs to be conducted alongside a careful marketing strategy to promote consumer acceptance and choice, but also to prevent excessive intake,” they concluded.

November 2012 | The Cracker

15

World nut & dried fruit news

MOMENTUM BUILDS TO OVERHAUL GLOBAL CALORIE SYSTEM The Almond Board of California is petitioning food authorities in the US to reduce the amount of calories allocated to almonds on food labels. This follows a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in July, which claims that almonds should be allocated 20% fewer calories than previously thought.

Similar findings were made after US research into pistachios in 2011. The studies challenge the entire edifice of the Atwater general factor system for measuring calories by asserting that aspects such as food structure affect the amount of calories metabolized by the body. As a result, the absolute calorie content listed on food labels bears little relation to the amount of calories an individual absorbs from the food, experts argue.

Referring to the almond study, Dr Martin Wickham, head of nutrition at Leatherhead Food Research, recently reported to a trade magazine that, “A reduction [in calories] of about 20% is groundbreaking and will open the floodgates.” He said the subject was now a matter of intense interest to nutrition scientists. He had himself been asked to give presentations about the topic later this year, he added.

Although he said not all the Atwater studies were wrong, he continued: “We have known for many years that the so-called energy content of foods as measured by the Atwater tables is incorrect. A lot of energy is locked up in the food structure.

16

The Cracker | November 2012

“It’s time to look back at the Atwater general factor system and see how valid it is. We are well overdue [for this].”

Indeed, some aspects of the Atwater general factor system, which was based on research conducted in the early 1900s, solely depended on studies of Wilbur Atwater’s laboratory assistants. It would not bear the scrutiny of modern scientific method, said Wickham.

Pressure from trade groups representing nut producers would eventually cause the issue to be debated for other foods, he said. Nuts, seeds, vegetables “Anything with cell walls acts as a barrier to energy absorption." In particular, the structure of nuts, seeds and vegetables prevented many of the calories from such foods being metabolized, he added.

However, although he recognized the issue could cross the Atlantic and take hold in Europe, it would be some considerable time before the law on calorie labeling could be overhauled. And to his knowledge there were no signs of commercial interest in doing so within the EU. EU calorie measurement is based on values for fat, protein and carbon, which were firmly set, said Wickham. The only grey area is fiber, for which values vary and are potentially zero, since fiber is considered to be nondigestible. An overhaul of the Atwater system would take considerable time, but Wickham said it could be done.

World nut & dried fruit news

MORE CONSUMERS BUYING SPECIALTY FOODS More U.S. shoppers are buying specialty foods this year as they look to better-quality foods like chocolate, cheese and yogurt to liven up their everyday meals. According to new research from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT), nearly two-thirds of consumers said they purchased specialty foods within the past six months, an 11 percent increase over 2011, and a big jump from the 46 percent who reported buying these products in 2009. “Specialty foods are valued at $75 billion.

Chocolate is the top specialty food purchase reported for the second year, but cheese and yogurt show big gains. Men are buying more specialty food than ever before, and social media is abuzz about specialty food, with Facebook the predominant platform. The report, “Today’s Specialty Food Consumer 2012,” is based on an online survey conducted in August by Mintel International of 1,500 adults aged 18 and older and published in the October issue of NASFT’s Specialty Food Magazine. Specialty foods are defined as foods of premium quality, that are often made by small or local manufacturers or have ethnic or exotic flavors—foods that are distinctive.

The prototypical specialty food consumer is young, affluent, and lives in the West or Northeast, according to the research. More than seven in 10 consumers purchase specialty foods in the West and Northeast, with Midwesterners the least likely to make such purchases.

After chocolate, the top specialty foods purchased this year are olive oil and other specialty oils, cheese and yogurt/kefir. Younger consumers are more likely than average to buy convenient and easy-to-prepare foods, including beverages, salty snacks, cookies, salad dressing and cooking sauces. Those older than 65 are often the least likely to buy within these categories.

OTHER REPORT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: •

Mean weekly spending on food has increased to $94 from $90 in 2011 per specialty food household, with 22 percent of that spent on specialty food.

•

Three-quarters of specialty food consumers have shopped at a farmers market within the past year.

•

Italian and Mexican remain the top international food purchases.

•

Taste is the top reason for purchasing specialty foods, followed by recommendations from a friend or relative.

•

Coffee and chocolate are the specialty foods most likely to be purchased online.

•

Impulse drives more than four in 10 consumers to purchase specialty foods.

•

Family food traditions are important to 79 percent of specialty food consumers.

•

Diet and health concerns influenced more purchases in 2012 than in 2011.

•

More than half of specialty food consumers purchase foods that support charities.

SPANISH ALMOND BOARD BRAND

… Symbol of prestige of Spanish Almonds and Hazelnuts

SPANISH ALMOND AND HAZELNUT EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION SPANISH ALMOND BOARD-ALMENDRAVE Plaza de los Mostenses, 7-1º B 28015 Madrid (Spain) www.almendrave.com almendrave@almendrave.com

18

The Cracker | November 2012

World nut & dried fruit news

MOVE MORE, BUT PLEASE DON'T EAT LESS Why industry should stress ‘calories in’ to fight obesity There is a growing body of research suggesting that physical activity levels have very little to do with overweight and obesity. Exercise has many health benefits, but a new study published last August again has questioned how plausible it is to cut the number on the scales without cutting the number of calories consumed. So stressing ‘active balanced lifestyles’ and ‘calories in, calories out’ have seemed like a safe message, emphasizing the individual’s surfeit of inactivity rather than caloric excess. The food industry has made strides in offering healthier options, but these are often seen – and marketed – as supplementary to core products.

In the United States, most people exercise just as much as in the 1970s – and exercise levels among adults have actually increased – but it is still generally assumed that moving less has been a major factor in the tripling of obesity rates in the past three decades. There is plenty of research suggesting that exercise may be very helpful indeed for weight loss in conjunction with a low-calorie diet, but sensible food choices must be part of the equation.

In short, it is far easier to reduce calories consumed by 500 a day than it is to ‘burn’ 500 calories a day through exercise. A 150-pound individual would need to cycle at a moderate pace for nearly an hour, or walk for nearly two hours, in order to work off that amount.* For most people, it turns out, exercise is not about ‘balancing’ calories in with calories out at all.

With this in mind, many food industry campaigns claiming to tackle obesity look strangely skewed toward moving more, rather than eating less.

However, with a shift in strategy, most marketing executives need not feel

uneasy. There is money to be made in the promotion of healthier foods, particularly those made from wholesome ingredients, which are high in fiber, low-calorie, low-sugar, low in unhealthy fats, and portion controlled.

A recent report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch suggests that companies offering the healthiest choices – those that could genuinely help people manage their weight – are ripe for investment. It describes efforts to tackle obesity as an ‘investment megatrend,’ which could last for the next half century. For the healthiest return, the focus must be on food, not fitness.

INC AMBASSADORS • Michael Waring, Australia - Chairman

• Asadollah Asgaroladi, Iran

• Amit Khirbat, Singapore

• Oscar E. Vergara, Argentina

• Mehrdad Manouchehri, Iran

• Duncan MacGregor, South Africa

• Christopher Joyce, Australia

• Remy Berrebi, Israel

• Antonio Pont Jr., Spain

• Frank Vaerewijck, Belgium

• Riccardo Calcagni, Italy

• Caroline Rönnberg, Sweden

• Eduardo Mendes, Brazil

• Kazuo Julian Tagawa, Japan

• Varee Phonphaison, Thailand

• Stephen Meltzer, Canada

• Pius M. Ngugi, Kenya

• Mohsen Boujbel, Tunisia

• Siegfried Von Gehr, Chile

• Hani Akzam, Lebanon

• Sezmen Alper, Turkey

• Chen Ying, China

• Parissa Rafii, Luxembourg

• Bilge Anbarlilar, Turkey

• Hubert Berrebi, France

• Karim Azzaoui, Morocco

• Sabit Sabir, Turkey

• Richard Monnier, France

• Khalid Bennani, Morocco

• Jafar Moallem, UAE

• Thomas Apfel, Germany

• Kees Van de Sandt, Netherlands

• Roby Danon, UK

• John Cardassilaris, Greece

• Christopher Harlem, Norway

• Stephen Sousa, USA

• Cheng Hung Kay, Hong Kong

• Jorge Carqueja, Portugal

• Jim Warner, USA

• Károly Bognar, Hungary

• Kourosh Mojibian, Russia

• Helen Watts, USA

• Pratap Nair, India

• Ruslan Sokht, Russia November 2012 | The Cracker

21

feature Story

Global Nut and Dried Fruit Trends

by Innova Marketing Insights

Year-to-year development

5,671

7,500

• Global product launch activity of nut snacking is still increasing. It increased by 14% from 2010 to 2011, this is in line with the increase of total snacking product launches (15%).

3,375

2,838

1,562

2,500

2,507

3,750

2,550

5,000

3,960

6,250

6,473

Global Nut Snacking Introductions (2007-2011)

1,250

• 20% of all snack introductions contain nuts (35% of all snacking nuts contains almonds).

0

06

05

04

20

20

20

07

20

08

20

10

09

20

20

11

20

Time – Annually

Snacking introductions by positioning type • Natural and no additives/ preservatives trend is seen in all food, total snack but also snacking nuts and snacking almonds • More snacking nuts (and especially when almonds are included) have low fat and/ or low cholesterol claims compared to all snack products.

• Nuts (and especially almonds) are included for crunch and crispy texture.

Innova Market Insights

Global Food, Nut And Almond Snacking Introductions By Positioning: Change From 2010–2011

Positioning

Snacking Intros 2011

% change 2010-2011 Snacking

Nut Snacking Intros 2011

% change 2010-2011 Nut

Almond Snacking Intros 2011

% Change 2010-2011 almond

Health (total)

10,193

10%

2,055

7%

872

10%

Health (passive)

9,689

11%

1,923

8%

821

10%

Allergy

2,591

20%

586

15%

288

8%

Health (active)

1,452

5%

514

8%

267

14%

No additives/ preservatives

3,583

19%

572

8%

249

20%

Natural

1,881

14%

507

10%

243

23%

Gluten free

1,878

13%

447

7%

241

8%

No trans fat

2,656

13%

391

7%

147

8%

Organic

1,157

-11%

308

-4%

112

-25%

Low cholesterol

899

-6%

210

7%

95

36%

Low fat

1,172

7%

165

40%

83

46%

Wholegrain

1,166

12%

143

-5%

74

-10%

Lactose free

229

33%

43

26%

21

40%

Traditional

3,125

12%

522

4%

171

-8%

Crispy

1,561

12%

1,295

13%

63

24%

Crunchy

1,130

9%

349

26%

136

25%

Examples of Low Cholesterol, No Trans Fat introductions INDIA: NEW LIFE PURE ROASTED ALMONDS Roasted almond nuts lightly salted with organic rock salt. Premium. No cholesterol. No preservatives.

100% vegetarian. Finest quality California almonds. Controls diabetes. Lowers blood pressure. Rich in antioxidants. Helps in weight control and reduce food cravings.

22

The Cracker | November 2012

Feature Story

USA: PUREFIT AWARD WINING ALL NATURAL BERRY ALMOND CRUNCH BAR High-protein. No wheat. No gluten. No dairy. Low glycemic. Suitable for vegan. Certified kosher. All natural. 100% All Natural. Non-GMO. No artificial sweeteners. No carbohydrates. No sugar added. Alcohol free. No dairy. No hydrogenated oils.

Almonds For Weight Management • Recent advances in calorie measurements have shown that the actual calories in almonds may be lower than what we think.

• The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, concludes that instead of 165 calories per serving, almonds may only “cost you” 130 calories.

Original Serving Size

RESULTS: The energy content of Almonds in the human diet was found to be 4.6+- 0.8 kcal/g. which is equivalent to 129 kcal/28-g serving. This is significantly less than the energy density of 6.0-6.1 kcal/g as determined by the Atwater factors, which is equivalent to an energy content of 168-170 kcal/serving. the Atwater factors, when applied to almonds, resulted in a 32% overestimation of their measured energy content.

Source: Novonty, Gebauer & Baer (2012)

New Serving Size

23 Almonds

165 Calories

30 Almonds

165 Calories

Sahale Snacks — SAHALE CRUNCHERS

FRUIT & ALMOND SNACK WITH CHERRIES, APPLES + MAPLE

FRUIT & ALMOND SNACK WITH CRANBERRIES, SESAME SEEDS + HONEY

ALMOND SNACK: PARMESAN CHEESE + HERBS

Company:

SAHALE SNACKS

Company:

SAHALE SNACKS

Company:

SAHALE SNACKS

Country:

United States

Country:

United States

Country:

United States

Category:

Sugar Confectionery

Category:

Sugar Confectionery

Category:

Savory/Salty Snacks

Event Date:

Jul 2012

Event Date:

Jul 2012

Event Date:

Jul 2012

Price:

US

3.99

Price:

US

3.99

Price:

US

3.99

EURO

3.07

EURO

3.07

EURO

3.07

Description: A terrific snack right out of the bag, a delicious combination of sliced almonds with naturally dried cherries and apples with a light maple glaze and a touch of cinnamon.

Description: A terrific snack right out of the bag, a delicate blend of almonds, naturally dried cranberries and sesame seeds with a light orange blossom honey glaze and pure ground Madagascar vanilla bean.

Description: A terrific snack right out of the bag, an Italian-inspired mix of almonds, tangy grated parmesan cheese, flavorful sun dried tomatoes and fresh oregano, thyme and basil.

Source: Novonty, Gebauer & Baer (2012) November 2012 | The Cracker

23

Panton

special report

Panton

Panton

The Chilean industry of nuts & dried fruits The industry of nuts & dried fruits in Chile plans to reach 1 billion USD FOB exports by the year 2015, which entails a strong growth in the export of walnuts, prunes, almonds, hazelnuts, raisins and other products in the category.

The production and exports of nuts in Chile has been shaping up as an increasingly relevant Chilean fruit growing industry. In this perspective, it has been projected that by the year 2015 the exports will reach a billion dollars FOB. The fact is that prunes, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and raisins represent an important commercial niche which is strongly taking its place in a global context.

For this reason the Chilean Government has worked hard in several FTAs which allow exporting competitively to different countries worldwide.

Today Chile has access to reduced tariffs with more than 90% of the world GDP, through 22 FTAs with 60 countries, which puts Chile in a food power position.

As Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Chilean Walnut Commission (ChWC) and Chile Prunes, “we intend to keep growing on the international markets, because we know that we have comparative edge and that, despite the distance, we are attractive and competitive,” said the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Mayol, during his speech in Korea, after a recent public-private tour through Asia, together with ChWC and Chile Prunes.

Chile is currently the main exporter of fruits in the southern hemisphere.

Specifically in dried fruits, Chile is the world leader of prune exports and second in walnuts.

The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) has been witness of this growth in Chile. “When we organized the 2008 INC annual conference in Chile, 440 people came from 31 countries which could recognize personally Chile´s excellent conditions to produce these fruits. Since then the exports have increased significantly each year. So much, that today Chile is the largest exporter of prunes and second in walnuts. In the other products of this category also is growing steadily helped by stable sales prices of recent years “, said the INC Ambassador to Chile, Siegfried von Gehr.

“Our industry has gained major importance in the national and international nuts & dried fruit scenario, which presents us with great challenges, such as the opening and development of new markets and the homogeneity of export quality,” stated the Chilean Walnut Commission and Chile Prunes CEO, Andres Rodriguez.

In the case of prunes, transactions have grown significantly, managing to export between 58.000 and 67.000 ton in the last two years, and foreseeing that this year they will exceed 72.000 tons. The main destination markets for these exports have been Mexico, Russia, Germany, Poland, Italy and the UK. When it comes to walnuts, Chile takes the second position in the world ranking amongst the countries that export this product, and between shelled and inshell walnuts over 35.000 ton have been exported. The total grossing of these exports exceeds 200 million dollars. The projection for the current

24

The Cracker | November 2012

year is around 40.000 ton, and it is expected that in the next three years around 60.000 ton will be reached. More than 40 markets receive Chilean walnuts directly, but the 80% is concentrated in six countries, Turkey, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Germany and Spain.

Regarding almonds, five Latin-American countries receive 86% of the shipping, and as regards to hazelnuts the 88% of it goes to Italy.

“This is why we are working hard to open new markets to our products, from international negotiations to open markets, to strong marketing campaigns to develop real business opportunities. It is in our best interest, in a short term, that South Korea be established in a relevant Asian market for us, where they have recently allowed the entry of Chilean walnuts,” commented Rodriguez.

China, meanwhile, is the main producer of walnuts worldwide but they still need to import to meet its domestic demand, which represents a great economic potential, due to its large population and high consumption of walnuts.

“I note with great satisfaction the increasing importance that Chile has acquired worldwide in the field of nuts and dried fruits. Because lately, this sector is experiencing a boom due to the increased consumer awareness around the world of its nutritional benefits, and opening Asia to these products”, said von Gehr.

Sector Brand After a long public-private work between the walnuts and prune industry and ProChile (export promotion bureau), Chile has a new sector brand for prunes and walnuts, which promotes the benefits of origin, the quality of the products and the mettle of Chilean workers, key factors which have allowed to turn the country into a ranking world leader in the fruit business.

For Felix de Vicente, Director of ProChile, “the creation of sector brands allows us to consolidate the positioning amongst production sectors with export tradition, which should strengthen their presence in markets with aggressive marketing campaigns, and at the same time let the world know that Chile has quality products and services in different areas from what is traditionally known.”

“This is why the development of a sector brand strategy for this industry represents the challenge to establish a consistency amongst the related industries, the new brand image of the country and the Chilean fruit industry,” adds De Vicente.

Under the wings of the country brand “Fruits from Chile”, coordination of specific sectors emerge such as “Walnuts from Chile” and “Prunes from Chile”, benefit from the leadership Chile has on the international scene.

“We have strongly broadcasted these new sector brands with campaigns in different markets, through fairs, congresses, foodservice events, specialized media, promotional outlets and maintaining a direct relationship with importers and retailers, emphasizing the new sector brand and the quality standard of Chilean nuts and dried fruits,” said Rodriguez.

Double the value According to the last information delivered by the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa), Chilean export of nuts has doubled in value during the last three years, increasing from US$130 million in 2009 to US$274 million in 2011.

The largest percentage of growth is given by the export of walnuts, which have increased from US$80 million to US$200 million between both years, representing over two thirds of the nut export. The increased planting of walnuts in recent years seems to indicate an important rise in the export of walnuts. By the year 2015 the exports will reach a billion dollars FOB, considering all the category of nuts & dried fruits (walnuts, prunes, hazelnuts, almonds and raisins).

Chile: leading exporter of Nuts Chile is a large exporter of Nuts, specially known for its walnuts, and growth continues in offering almonds and hazelnuts.

By Chilean Walnut Commission Much has been heard in recent years of the vast potential for nut fruit markets worldwide and particularly in Chile. The walnut being the main product, it is worth mentioning that the almond production is being transformed into a remarkably growing agricultural activity for the country. The same happens with the hazelnut market which has also gained notoriety.

Chilean walnuts steadily making their way “Currently, Chile is the #1 exporter of walnuts in the southern hemisphere and the second supplier worldwide, it has the highest international standards for harvesting and processing of walnuts, which permits the export of its products to several different international markets in the five continents,” said Chilean Walnut Commission CEO, Andres Rodriguez.

The Chilean Walnut Commission (ChWC), which gathers over 50% of the Chilean walnut exports, estimated that due to the important increase in plantings that will take place, domestic production will exceed the 60.000 ton to the year 2015.

40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000

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According to information gathered by the ChWC, the walnut planting in Chile has doubled between the year 2000 and 2010, accentuating its growth since 2007, which seems to indicate an important increase in production in the midterm.

Production, meanwhile, has tripled in the same period, which is consistent with better cultural practices and the progress in the age of the plantations. Notable is the production increase in the second part of the decade, with an annual growth of 18%. The current volumes are the result of a continuous growth in the last 12 years of the hectares planted, reaching the 40.000 tons production that Chile has today (graph shown on right).

WALNUTS, IN SHELL PRODUCTION (MT) Walnuts, in shell production (MT)

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The broad outlines of the association’s work have been to generate full, relevant and timely information; carry out important international marketing campaigns; contribute to the opening of new markets and ensure compliance with quality standards.

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Panton

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Panton

Panton

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The main production areas are in the Metropolitan region, 5th, 6th, and even reaching the 4th, 7th and 8th region, amounting to a planting of over 25,000 hectares nationwide, with projections over 60.000 tons of production in the next 3 years.

“The natural conditions to grow walnuts in Chile and high quality standards make the great difference of this origin. Great flavor (not bitter), lighter color and a long shelf life. Unique attributes that make the Chilean walnut so well positioned worldwide”, assures the CEO of ChWC. It should be noted that, “Today Chilean walnuts are about to reach a new quality standard developed by the Chilean Walnut Commission, which besides seeking to promote the attributes and high quality of the local walnut, hopes to be a tool of reliability for the importers of this product. This way the attributes of the sector will be enhanced, and thus being able to compete in international markets through its quality of excellence,” said Rodriguez.

Almonds: a great quality recognized worldwide The Chilean Walnut Commission created, at the start of the year, the Almond Committee, to give their members a meeting and discussion space in specific topics which were not being covered.

“We have to take advantage of all the efforts already done by the ChWC to benefit other nuts. Ultimately, to open up a space for discussion and analysis will be very valuable to the Hazelnut and Almonds committees, since they will not start from zero and they will be in the same space that is already being maintained by our association of Chilean walnuts,” commented Rodriguez.

“Chile represents only 2% of the global almond market, which does not make us very relevant at a global scale at the moment, however, our industry is of real importance to our neighboring countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, those being our main destinations. With these countries –except for Colombia – we have tariff advantages, which allows us to maximize our income when it comes to competing with other origins,” the Commercial Manager of Pacific Nut, Benjamin Herreros explains.

Commercially, the Chilean almond has two noteworthy advantages. The first is that Chile offers a better selected fruit and second, that it is a complement of the California almond because of its fresh production harvested in counter-season when the American is at the end of its season.

In Chile, the 4th region of Coquimbo is the one with the best climactic conditions for the growth and productivity of almond trees, however it presents limitations when it comes to soil and water availability, which is why this industry grows slowly but has a great export potential, especially for being in the counter-season with attractive prices.

Currently there are over 8.545 hectares planted, of which 23% is in the initial stages of its production. Chile today has a volume of production around 12.000 tons and forecasts a stable increase year to year in the future seasons.

According to the Hazelnut Committee, the export of hazelnuts with shell is taking a relevant place in the Chilean export of nuts, and they have registered an 11,6% of increase in the first eight months of 2012, its export season almost completed. “The increase in production in the last decade has been impressive. The current season will reach volumes of 7.500 tons and

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The commercial projections are wide and cover many markets. From those that consume shelled and inshell hazelnut, to those that need more elaborate hazelnuts as raw material for the different products they make.

Once again the counter season keeps being a factor that benefits this crop in our country.

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This year the Hazelnut Committee was created, under the wing of the Chilean Walnut Commission, which constitutes an important milestone in the development of this industry. “This association will allows us to deal comprehensively with the quality parameters of purchase and sale of the product. Also it will help us standardize technical criteria in the supply of hazelnuts, which delivers an important professionalism to our industry, maintaining the good concept of nuts originating from our country,” pointed out the president of Agrícola La Campana, Jaime Armengolli, who was the pioneer of hazelnut trees in Chile in 1989.

Hazelnuts, in shell production (MT) HAZELNUTS, IN SHELL PRODUCTION (MT)

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Hazelnuts: a new product for export

we forecast to be close to 15.000 tons of production in the next 3 years. The development of this industry in terms of volume and the best quality are the main challenges” said Andrés Rodríguez.

“The prospects of this crop in our country are excellent. There is a great quantity of land with adequate climactic conditions available, both in the hands of farmers and investors. Besides it is a crop that requires a low amount of labor, since a laborer can cultivate several hectares which is an attractive advantage when compared to other crops, although this might also be machine harvested,” said the businessman.

special report

Today in Chile there are at least four companies that are participating in hazelnuts exports, which have managed to achieve a critical mass of production which has led to having an interesting export offer as a country. “Now we have set ourselves the goal of tackling new markets to make the quality of our hazelnuts known and become a trustworthy supplying alternative,” concluded Armengolli.

Prunes and other dried fruits Prunes represent a milestone for this year’s marketing, their exports being projected to levels over 72,000 tons. Thus, Chilean export currently takes first place worldwide.

By Chile Prunes Association In order to refresh the image of the Chilean Prunes Processors and Exporters Association, its acronym APECS was modified to Chile Prunes Association. "The goal of Chile Prunes Association is to continue enhancing the image and quality of the Chilean prune at the International level, achieving that its origin become a differentiating element, that ensures, above all, product quality; strengthening its presence on Markets, and stimulating sales in destinations abroad," said Executive Vice President of Chile Prunes, Andrés Rodríguez.

Chile is currently the largest exporter of prunes in the world, with shipments to 72 countries in the five continents, the main destinations being Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Poland and Italy, and with total volumes exceeding the 72,000 tonnes at the end of this season.

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The dynamics of production and exports of prunes from Chile has shown a steady increase in recent years, despite the many difficulties that have arisen: dollar price, availability of labour in harvesting and higher costs associated with the operation and availability of energy to dry. Thus, this sector not only shows consolidation, but new and higher growth prospects.

Prunes production (MT) PRUNES PRODUCTION (MT)

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"This outstanding position represents a big step for the country's agricultural exports.

In this sense, our growth prospects point to the overseas marketing. Our prunes are desired by the international market, due to the geographical and climatic characteristics, the conditions of production and processing, which results in a high quality produce, with high standards that allow us to offer a premium line produce", stated Rodriguez.

Story Continues on Page 29

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November 2012 | The Cracker

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The Cracker | November 2012

Pantone 255c

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Pantone 2582c Pantone red 032c

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and to a lesser amount Autumn Royal, Black Seedless, Crimson Seedless, Red Globe and Superior.

The major challenge facing the industry in its evolutionary stage was the fact that the sizes Chile was producing were rather larger compared to those of other producing countries, so that Chile had to position its size on purchasing markets.

The prominent raisins market Due to its extensive production of grapes, Chile is the largest producer of raisins in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the leading producers and exporters in the world along with the United States, Turkey, China and Iran.

Today Chile has exports of raisins of around 70.000 tons and in the future the perspective is stable.

"Because Chile does not work exclusively for the production of raisins, we have larger sizes because the fresh fruit business is having a good size grape. Therefore we are recognized, especially in Europe, for our "jumbo" size raisins. In new markets such as Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and others, likes Chilean grapes for its large sizes. And the medium raisins go to other destinations such as the United States and Latin America for cereals and bakery industry", said general manager of Frutexsa, Javier Plaza.

As this industry projections, Plaza believes that in the short term there will be no further significant increases in production, "although some producers are beginning to see the alternative of leaving grape vines exclusively for raisins, they are not a significant amount, therefore we cannot say that there will be an increase in raisins production yet�.

Although in Chile, there are almost no plantations exclusively dedicated to the production of raisins, Chilean shipments have grown steadily in the past ten seasons.

Therefore, Plaza believes that next year export volumes and prices will be similar to this year and noted that although the values have risen in foreign markets over the past two years, to a competitive price, they have no problem placing its raisins volumes in different markets.

The fruit and vegetable agro industry revealed that the most used varieties in Chile for the production of raisins are Flame Seedless, Thompson Seedless

All this shows that Chile is also at the forefront and marking pattern with its high standards of quality in the dried fruit industry.

almonds brazil nuts cashews dehydrated fruit dried fruit hazelnuts macadamia nuts peanuts pecans pine kernels pistachios pumpkin seeds sunflower seeds walnuts

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November 2012 | The Cracker

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BARCE Dear friends,

We are planning an unforgettable celebration next May 2013, for INC’s 30th Anniversary World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress and the Grand Opening of the New INC Home.

The emblematic Hotel Ritz-Carlton Arts in Barcelona, located right on the seashore, will host the traditional technical sessions, meetings and exhibition from 21st to 23rd May 2013, while the modernist city of Reus, situated 106 km South of Barcelona in a famous hazelnut growing area, will embrace the First World Forum for Nutrition Research Conference and the inauguration of the New INC Home on 20th May. The theme of the Conference will be “Mediterranean Food on Health and Disease”, and will include a nuts and dried fruit session on Monday 20th afternoon, preceding the inauguration of the new INC headquarters in the Techno Park of Reus.

The Barcelona Congress will be the only international meeting that will debate industry’s most relevant and hottest topics, from market dynamics to innovation, food safety, health and nutrition. The Congress is attracting growing interest thanks to its wide range of delegates, exhibitors, activities and networking opportunities. Near one thousand professionals from more than fifty countries are expected.

The program includes social events designed to delight! The Welcome Cocktail on Tuesday, 21st May, will be held at the Opium Bar, an exclusive beach lounge close to Hotel Arts, followed by the Casual Dinner on Wednesday 22nd at the Poble Espanyol, a small Spanish Village full of charm to get a taste of Spain, and the traditional Gala Dinner and Ball on Thursday 23rd at the superb Hotel Arts.

After the Congress, there will be a selected program of tours with destinations of great interest, such as Santiago de Compostela, destination of a thousand-year-old pilgrim route; Mallorca, the pearl of the Mediterranean Sea; a wine tour to the most important wineries in El Priorat, and a cultural tour to the neighboring cities of Figueres and Girona.

Do not miss this doubly happy occasion, as we will embrace the joy of our anniversary and the inauguration of the new headquarters.

We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona.

Yours sincerely, The Organizing Committee Antonio Pont Jr., Congress Chairman Giles Hacking, INC Chairman Goretti Guasch, INC Executive Director

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ELONA 30th Anniversary World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress PRELIMINARY PROGRAM SUNDAY, 19TH MAY Daytime

Registration at Hotel Arts Barcelona

Daytime:

Registration at Hotel Arts Barcelona Buses depart from Hotel Arts to Reus

MONDAY, 20TH MAY

9:00am 10:30-11:00am 11:00-11:30am 11:30-12:00pm 12:00-12:30pm 12:30-1:00pm 1:00pm 2:00-3:00pm 3:00-3:30pm 3:30-4:00pm 4:00-4:30pm 4:30-5:00pm

Evening:

FIRST WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH CONFERENCE IN REUS Inauguration. Mediterranean diet: health and science Weight loss with Mediterranean diet Coffee Break Fruits, vegetables and cancer Bread and overweight Glycemic index, glycemic load and Mediterranean diet Lunch Debate Session. Frying for cooking: pros and cons Effects of nuts on cardiovascular responses to stress in type 2 diabetes Coffee Break Nut antioxidant components and health Nuts and cardiovascular disease

Grand Opening of the New INC Home in Reus Buses depart from Reus to Hotel Arts Barcelona

TUESDAY, 21ST MAY Daytime:

Evening:

Registration at Hotel Arts Barcelona Congress Welcome and Booth Exhibition INC Scientific Committee and Nutrition Research Update Dried Fruit Seminar Peanuts Round Table Ambassadors Meeting Welcome Cocktail at Opium Bar Sponsored by V. Besana S.P.A.

WEDNESDAY, 22ND MAY Daytime:

Evening:

Spouses Tour. Contemporary Architecture Tour Booth Exhibition Congress Officially Opens Coffee Break Sponsored by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. Round Tables on Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Hazelnuts, Macadamias, Pine Nuts and Pistachios.

Parallel sessions: Almonds and Macadamias / Hazelnuts and Cashews Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Sun-Maid Growers of California Casual Buffet Dinner at Poble Espanyol Sponsored by Paramount Farms.

THURSDAY, 23RD MAY Daytime:

Evening:

Spouses Tour. Montju誰c Tour: History, Culture and Emotion Booth Exhibition INC General Assembly Coffee Break Sponsored by Sunsweet Round Tables on Cashews, Pecans and Walnuts Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Rajkumar Impex Pvt Ltd. Gala Reception, Dinner and Ball at Hotel Arts Co-Sponsored by Incus Technology S.L. and Campos Brothers Farms

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First World Forum for Nutrition Research Conference The Grand Opening of the new headquarters will be held in Reus on Monday, 20th May 2013. Earlier that afternoon, the new Congress Center of Reus will host the First World Forum for Nutrition Research Conference: Mediterranean Food on Health and Disease (www.worldnutrition2013.com). The event is co-organized by the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, the Mediterranean Diet Foundation, the International Union of Nutritional Science, the Latin American Nutrition Foundation, and the Spanish Federation of Nutrition Societies.

The Conference will focus on the healthy benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research developments. Several nut symposiums will be held on 20th May, preceding the inauguration of the New INC Home: “Effects of nuts on cardiovascular responses to stress in type 2 diabetes”; “Nut antioxidant compowww.worldnutrition2013.com nents and health” and “Nuts and cardiovascular disease”. Many distinguished scientists around the globe are joining us in Reus, where papers will be presented in the form of plenary sessions, symposia, oral communications and posters. The Conference is chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Chair of the INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, and Chair of Human Nutrition, at Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain.

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Grand Opening of the New INC Home The INC will celebrate the opening of the new headquarters on Monday, 20th May 2013, with an evening rich in activities and entertainment. The new office will hold an open doors day starting at 6 pm to mark the inauguration of its 466 sq m facility in the Techno Park of Reus.

The INC will honor the Donors who made the new headquarters possible with a cocktail reception and delegates will have the opportunity to visit the facilities at Carrer de la Fruita Seca (Tree Nuts Street, w/n) and the 2,500 sq m arboretum, a living collection of a large variety of worldwide nut and dried fruit trees.

We look forward to seeing you in! For this is more than just a home for the INC. It is also a home for the nut and dried fruit industry.

The Congress Venue Hotel HOTEL RITZ-CARLTON ARTS***** Considered one of the leading venues in Barcelona, the Hotel Arts is one of the premier luxury hotels in Spain as you experience the exhilarating culture, architecture and cuisine of Spain’s second-largest city. From world-renowned structures to the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean Sea, artistic masterpieces to award-winning dining, this luxury hotel’s accommodations provide guests with convenient access to all this one-of-a-kind destination has to offer.

PULLMAN SKIPPER HOTEL***** The Pullman is only 2 minutes walk from the Hotel Arts, and only 50 meters from the beach. The hotel’s extensive common areas natural Mediterranean light and offer a luxurious view of its private interior garden. The hotel also has a large terrace with sun loungers and three cocktail bars. The hotel’s glass-roofed restaurant Syrah Mediterrani serves a range of national and international cuisine. All rooms are touched with contempomal comfort.

Stay tuned for preferential room rates in INC’s website www.nutfruit.org

Be recognized worldwide exhibiting in the INC Congress Why should you exhibit?

• Three years of record attendance: Access to one thousand potential customers and business partners.

• Meet with the leaders of the industry: Conduct face-to-face meetings with decision makers.

• Reach your target audience: Meet your business objectives.

• Increase brand awareness: Booth at the Congress and your company logo on INC Congress banner, The Cracker sponsorship ad, INC website and newsletter.

• Get 1 free delegate registration.

Cement your position as a major player by joining us in Barcelona 2013.

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Have you ever been to Barcelona? If so, there is always more to see. Trendy, contemporary, traditional and vibrant Barcelona is filled with sights, attractions, lifestyle and cultural treasures.

The INC plans a social program to enjoy a relaxing environment and experience exceptional food, art and architecture. We will be sure to surprise and delight you.

Buffet Casual Dinner at El Poble Espanyol WEDNESDAY, 22ND MAY

One of the most interesting places in the hills of Montjuïc is the Poble Espanyol. The so-called “Spanish Village” was designed by the modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch for the 1929 International Exhibition. The village was an architectural experiment –creating an “ideal” model for a village which would represent popular Spanish architecture. Enjoy your visit to this open-air museum and architectural village in a warm and casual atmosphere.

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Welcome Cocktail at Opium Mar TUESDAY, 21ST MAY Opium Mar has a wonderful location on the beach, close to Hotel Arts. It is one of the biggest clubs in Barcelona and best know for its beautiful seaside terrace. It combines a sophisticated restaurant with a bar, where you can enjoy an evening of relaxed elegance. Join the Welcome Cocktail on Tuesday, May 21st, and meet fellow attendees in a welcoming atmosphere while enjoying the views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Cocktail, Gala Dinner and Ball at Hotel Arts THURSDAY, 23RD MAY

Café Veranda’s Garden Terrace at Hotel Arts will host the cocktail reception prior to the traditional Gala Dinner and Ball. It is the best place to start off the Gala Dinner with a glass of cava, the Catalan champagne. The Gala Dinner will be held at Saló Gaudí where delegates will enjoy a creative menu that combines seasonal ingredients and traditional cooking techniques with the most advanced interpretations of Mediterranean flavors and ingredients.

Spouse Tours Contemporary Architecture Tour WEDNESDAY, 22ND MAY.

Discover Barcelona’s recent architectural heritage. From the Hotel Arts, in front of Frank Gehry’s sculpture “The Fish”, we will visit the Gas Natural Building, La Fàbrica del Sol, the Litoral Park, the Biomedical Research Park and the Forum. At the maritime façade, you will admire the World Trade Centre and the W Hotel. You will visit the Olympic Village, the Agbar Tower and the new technological district Diagonal Mar and 22@, Can Framis, the National Theater of Catalonia and the Park of l’Estació del Nord. We will then go to the Sagrada Família. After the tour you will enjoy a magnificent paella at El Cangrejo Loco.

Montjuïc Tour: History, Culture and Emotion THURSDAY, 23RD MAY.

The tour will start at Plaça d’Espanya, with Neptune´s monument and Maria Cristina´s Avenue, which is dominated by two Venetians towers that lead the way to the Catalan National Art Museum. You will visit the Olympic Ring, the nerve center of the 1992 Olympic Games, with the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, Picornell swimming arena, the National Physical Education Institute and Santiago Calatrava’s telecommunications tower. The tour will take you to Joan Miró Foundation and the Castle of Montjuïc.

Post Congress Tours Santiago de Compostela (4 Days and 3 Nights) FRIDAY, 24TH MAY. One of the most important places of pilgrimage in the world, Santiago de Compostela has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO thanks to its multicultural nature. This city is the final destination of a thousand-year-old pilgrim route: the Way of Saint James, which has transformed the city into a meeting place of Western faith and thinking.

Mallorca: Experience The Mediterranean (4 Days and 3 Nights) FRIDAY, 24TH MAY. The Pearl of the Mediterranean has the honor of being the happy protagonist of the most pleasant memories of millions of tourists. Mallorca, with its majestic mountains, lush pine forests and unique landscapes, keeps the peace that earned him the nickname “island of calm”. Thanks to its small size, you can easily visit the most beautiful of its geography, like the Caves of Drach, the Formentor headland or the unbeatable Valldemossa.

One Day Tour: Priorat Wine Tour FRIDAY, 24TH MAY. Our one day Wine Tour from Barcelona to Priorat combines great wine, beautiful nature and local gastronomy. We will visit two of the most important wineries in the appellation and enjoy a wonderful lunch in the small village of Gratallops. El Priorat is widely considered the Spanish wine region that has most intelligently transformed itself to focus on offering only top-quality wines. The strategy has paid off, and today the region boasts the highest quality designation awarded in Spain, DOQ Priorat (Qualified Designation of Origin).

One Day Tour: Figueres and Salvador Dalí & Monuments of Girona FRIDAY, 24TH MAY. This tour combines the work of Salvador Dalí with a heritage tour around Girona. You will visit the Dalí Museum in Figueres, which features masterpieces such as Galarina, the Spectre of Sex Appeal or Atomic Leda, and surrealist installations such as the Rainy Taxi or the Mae West room. The tour of Girona includes the Jewish Quarter, the Cathedral of Girona -which has the widest Gothic nave in the world, the houses and bridges of the River Onyar and other emblematic monuments.

November 2012 | The Cracker Cracker Month Year

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT FIRST NUTS & DRIED FRUIT PAVILION IN SIAL PARIS TASTES SUCCESS The INC Nuts and Dried Fruit Pavilion was strategically located within the Fruits and Vegetables Hall, and drove many visitors to the booths.

Thousands of food professionals, including buyers, distributors, and retailers, together with 12 co-exhibitors spotted the business reference point for nuts and dried fruit at SIAL Paris, from 21st to 25th October 2012. The 216 sqm pavilion featured co-exhibitors from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey and the United States, who gave a very positive evaluation. INC offered a full-service package designed to minimize preparation time and maximize the effectiveness of their show participation, based on a turnkey service and comfortable facilities, including a bus shuttle. In addition, the INC area provided a friendly base for exhibitors and visitors to do business.

Exhibiting at the INC Pavilion offered co-exhibitors the prestige and visibility of exhibiting under the INC’s umbrella, while keeping their own identity and a full assistance service before, on-site and after the event.

The pavilion proved a magnet to numerous visitors from around the world arriving to see what INC and its co-exhibitors members had to offer.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

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The Cracker | November 2012

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

INC PAVILION AT ANUGA 2013.

JOIN US NOW! The INC launches a booth package with exclusive services and amenities to make your ANUGA participation a successful venture, so you can focus on generating new business and sales.

Following the success of the INC Nuts & Dried Fruit Pavilion at SIAL Paris 2012, the INC is glad to host a pavilion in ANUGA, Cologne, October 5-9, 2013.

EXHIBITING INCLUDES: Pre-show planning and promotion support services, including promotion in The Cracker magazine, newsletter, website and a broad marketing program in INC events.

One free delegate registration for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress.

Hospitality lounge with complimentary refreshments.

Furniture, welcome desk and storage room.

Match your company with the right target.

Catering: Refreshments and lunch for exhibitors during the entire fair.

Multilingual personnel: English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

The pavilion will be the highlight for international buyers, distributors and other food professionals in the nuts and dried fruit business. It will provide its exhibitors a highly visible platform in one of the most important exhibits in the international food sector.

Support by INC staff on-site.

Company listing in the official catalogue, website and online tools provided by ANUGA. Assistance in one-way shipping through partner.

Assistance in accommodation and travel through partner.

Only for INC Members!

Exhibit Space

Early Bird 1st December 2012

Standard Rate after 1st December 2012

9 sqm Booth*

9,975 €

10,550 €

VAT included. *Corner booths are charged 1,025 € extra per corner.

Booth allocation will be determined on first come basis.

Early Bird: 1st December 2012.

For more information, please contact us at +34 977.331.416 or marketing@nutfruit.org

Photograph: INC Pavilion layout.

Photograph: Koelnmesse.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

THE INC POSITIONS ITSELF AT THE VANGUARD OF INNOVATION WITH THE NEW HEADQUARTERS After fourteen months of construction work, the new building stands as a landmark example of a modern, innovative headquarters.

The construction works on the building have progressed between July and October. After fourteen months of construction works, the INC presents its new headquarters at the cutting edge of innovation.

The 19th century modernist home of Doctor Barrufet has undergone internal and external refurbishment works in order to maintain the artnouveau architectural elements in the windows, doors, frameworks and molding indoors. The architect and the construction team have kept the historical character of the house, as an emblematic building inspired by traditional Catalan modernist architectural traditions.

The new headquarters provides 466 square meters of prime space, and access to a 2500 square meters space for the Arboretum. This garden will be the living collection of a large variety of worldwide nut and dried fruit trees.

The building is distributed in three floors. It combines Secretariat offices on the ground and first floors with a conference and board meeting room on the second floor, topped off with a historical art-nouveau tower.

The building benefits from sunlight all day long and is equipped with the latest technologies in order to meet energy efficiency and respect for the environment. In this regard, besides the orientation, energy-saving systems have been fitted with programs that can optimize energy consumption. All this goes hand-in-hand with the use of energy-saving, high-performance light fittings, along with water efficiency systems.

The colors of the faรงade are inspired in the original palette. The overall design conveys an attractive image dominated by translucency and movement through the use of glass elements integrated in the art-nouveau elements.

DO NOT MISS THE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! The INC will celebrate the opening of the new headquarters on Monday, 20th May 2013, with an evening rich in activities and entertainment. The new office will hold an open doors day to mark the inauguration of the new facilities in the Techno Park of Reus.

Delegates will have the opportunity to visit the facilities and the arboretum at Carrer de la Fruita Seca (Tree Nuts Street, w/n). The ceremony will also honor the Donors who made the new headquarters possible with a cocktail reception.

We look forward to seeing you all in the INC Headquarters! For this is more than just a home for the INC. It is also a home for the nut and dried fruit industry.

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The Cracker | November 2012

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

Donors Wall To date, 68 donors have signed up for the New INC Home. The INC honors the contributors who make the new headquarters possible with a plaque

at the entrance of the building. In addition, a virtual Donors Wall has been published in the website, the newsletter and The Cracker magazine.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

6TH INTERNATIONAL MACADAMIA SYMPOSIUM The International Macadamia Symposium, which is held triennially, brought together hundreds of players in the global macadamia industry in Brisbane, 18-20 September 2012.

Under the theme “The Nut Rush - Prospecting for Gold”, the symposium focused on driving increased productivity in order to capitalize on the growing global demand for nuts.

More than 300 international participants from over 12 countries discussed about biosecurity, machinery, marketing, demand and supply.

Participants learnt about the latest industry research and developments, and gained insight into Australian innovation through field trips to some of the leading macadamia farms and processing plants.

The INC Macadamias Working Party met in Brisbane on September 19th to discuss common priorities and follow-up on the group strategies. Participants reviewed the international data collection program, and discussed the nominations for the Macadamias Health Research Committee.

An exciting selection of internationally acclaimed keynote speakers explored investment in horticulture, international partnerships, global retail trends and production.

ANIC AUSTRALIA NUT INDUSTRY RESEARCH FORUM The city of Brisbane in Queensland Australia hosted the Australian Nut Industry Council Research Forum on September 21st, 2012.

Across the Australian tree nuts industry R&D projects.

The event was aimed at providing a forum for communication on R&D projects; promoting collaboration across the seven Australian tree nut industries; and debating short, medium and long term R&D priorities.

The INC was Silver Sponsor and presented the session “Update on INC Scientific Committee R&D Priorities”. The INC also, updated researchers on the priorities and introduced the recently launched INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination.

42

The Cracker | November 2012

Goretti Guasch presents to the Australian Nut Research Forum, Brisbane, September 2012. Photo courtesy of the Australian Nutgrower Journal.

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

WMFmeetsIUPAC The 7th Conference of the World Mycotoxin Forum and the 13th IUPAC International Symposium on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins (WMFmeetsIUPAC) were jointly organized in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, from the 5th to the 9th of November 2012.

WMFmeetsIUPAC offered an excellent way to network and share ideas, providing a reference source for experts in the field of natural toxicant contamination in agricultural commodities, and discuss potential risk management options, technologies and strategies for minimized contamination.

Presentations at WMFmeetsIUPAC will be published in a special issue of the �World Mycotoxin Journal�.

The EU funded research project MycoRed (Novel integrated strategies for worldwide mycotoxin reduction in the food and feed chains) organized a scientific session on November 7th that included a presentation by the INC on the economic impact of aflatoxin contamination in nuts and dried fruit. The INC also presented the Training Video on Mycotoxin Sampling, the main goal of which is to reduce the total variance (error) of the mycotoxin test procedure (sampling, sample preparation and analytical determination), and it is intended for food and feed regional training courses and dissemination in developing countries, mainly Africa and South America.

INTERNATIONAL MPU WORKSHOP The INC participated in the International Workshop Plant Protection for the Quality and Safety of the Mediterranean Diet, held from 24 to 26 October 2012 in Bari, Italy.

The workshop brought together scientists focused around the common themes of protecting quality and safety of the Mediterranean diet.

Plant protection for the quality and safety of the Mediterranean Diet.

The Chair of the Program was Dr. Antonio Logrieco from CNR ISPA and Coordinator of the project MycoRed (Novel integrated strategies for worldwide mycotoxin reduction in the food and feed chains).

The program included stimulating presentations and discussions about the role of Government institutions for the quality and safety of Mediterranean foods; Challenges and prospects in food security, safety, and quality through crop health management; Advanced safe technologies for post-harvest disease and pest management; and concluded wit a session about influences of food processing on quality and safety of crop products.

The INC participated in this last session with a presentation on the economic impact of mycotoxins.

November 2012 | The Cracker

43

News FROM THe INC seCReTARIAT

NuTs ANd dRIed FRuIT IN

HAUTE CUISINE

By Joan Bosch, Chef and Owner of the 1 Michelin Star Restaurant Can Bosch, Cambrils, Spain.

Many traditional recipes in the Mediterranean region, and the coastal town of Cambrils in particular, include nuts and dried fruits, which have played a key role in the evolution of typical tastes and flavors.

Many of these recipes were originated by sailors in their fishing boats, while preparing the daily meals for the fishermen on board.

Our dishes never forget our closest products, such as almonds and hazelnuts -what we call “0 Km” cuisine.

The leading characters of the dishes were the excellent seafood and shellfish well paired with chopped nuts, among other ingredients, such as hazelnuts and almonds, which were abundant and characteristic of the Mediterranean region. This traditional coastal cuisine has always been enjoyed in the open sea, but now can also be found in solid ground. It has become one of the most representative features of the gastronomy of the port of Cambrils. There are so many lovers of these traditional dishes, they have become a tourist attraction.

One of the pioneers of this cuisine is restaurant Can Bosch, whose founders -my parents Maria Lourdes and Joan Baptista Bosch- had opened its doors as a fishermen’s bar in 1969. They served the first warm “tapas” at the counter. Nothing to do with the current ones. But let’s go step by step: five years later, after renovating the building, the bar became a canteen, and the new kitchen started serving traditional maritime dishes that included nuts. It was in 1980 that Can Bosch would become a restaurant, and I became Executive Chef in 1988.

At Can Bosch, we combine the most exciting modern culinary techniques with a traditional point of view and impeccable ingredients.

Our dishes never forget our closest products, such as almonds and

44

The Cracker | November 2012

hazelnuts from the Baix Camp area, to achieve what we call a “zero kilometer” cuisine. We have been awarded for this extraordinary work with a Michelin Star and a 9/10 in the Guide Gourmand.

Our menu has two distinct sections, traditional dishes in one side and innovative dishes in the other side, as result of the evolution and creativity in our cuisine. Starting from the daily supply of the local market, I focus my attention on the selection of products, which mostly come from the Baix Camp area: seafood, olive oil, farm products, and of course nuts. Because of all of this, Can Bosch is recognized as a unique restaurant where customers enjoy the excitement of what the chef cooks, surprising with creations based in seafood products of our seaside and land, among which you can find nuts from the Baix Camp.

News FROM THe INC seCReTARIAT

salad of scallops, crispy sausage from Perol, cabbage, hazelnut mascarpone and arugula INGRedIeNTs:

PRePARATION:

• Arugula • Mascarpone • Hazelnuts • Crispy sausage from Perol • Cabbage • Scallops

1. Marinade 1/2 pint of water, 100 g of salt, 100 g of sugar and 100 g of vinegar.

2. Boil the marinade and then pour it over 1/4 of chopped cabbage. Keep it for two weeks in the refrigerator.

3. As for the stewed cabbage, fry gently 1/2 kg of onions, with 1/2 kg of apples, butter and 70 g of sugar with the cabbage marinated.

4. Serve with mascarpone, arugula and toasted hazelnuts.

Hazelnut delights with textures and contrast

Scum of hazelnuts:

Hazelnuts crunch:

• • • •

• Milk chocolate • Hazelnut praline • Feullatine

Hazelnuts powder Cream Sugar Egg white

Heat up 100 g of cream and mix in 50 g of sugar with 80 g of hazelnut powder and 60 g of egg white. Grind it and put it in a siphon.

Melt 60 g of milk chocolate, mix with 100 g of hazelnut praline and 50 g of feullatine. Fill in tins and freeze.

Hazelnuts cocoa sticks:

Hazelnuts sponge cake in the microwave: • • • •

Egg white Hazelnuts Yolk Flour

Grind 60 g of egg white, 40 g of hazelnuts, 40 g of yolk and 10 g of flour, drain through a trainer and put in the siphon. Make three little incisions in a plastic cup. Fill half of the cup with the mixture from the siphon. Put in the microwave for 30-40 seconds.

• • • •

Fondant Glucose Chocolate 70% cocoa Chopped hazelnuts

Cook 70 g of fondant with 30 g of glucose until 160ºC. Remove and let it cool down at 140º. Add 10 g of chopped hazelnuts and 10 g of chocolate (70% cocoa). Stir it and dump it on a Silpat and stretch.

Cut in sticks.

November 2012 | The Cracker

45

World Industry News

Exporter’s Combat 2012 Peak Season Challenges

By Erika Tarr, Director, Specialty Crop Trade Council

Exporters serving the dried fruit and tree nut industry have faced a host of challenges and changes in 2012. With peak season approaching, it is imperative for exporters to forecast potential issues in developing a strategic plan in combating future challenges. Things to consider:

Higher Fuel Costs In August 2012, the new low-sulfur fuel requirements were enforced for vessels operating along the U.S. and Canadian coasts. This resulted in a cost that was passed on to many shippers almost immediately to offset the increased fuel costs and operational costs that the carriers faced by being required to burn fuel with 1 percent or less sulfur.

Bunker fuel cost has continued to rise in 2012 and shippers may continue to see this cost increase through the export season. Bunker fuel is becoming more difficult to find in the U.S. as a result of older refineries that are closing. Typically, older refineries can yield as much as 15 percent bunker fuel from one barrel of oil; however, the newer refineries can process oil more efficiently and generate only four percent as bunker fuel. This will certainly lead to challenges for the carriers in the future and may force carriers to source more bunker fuel from other countries.

Chassis Changes Havoc was expected to hit as West Coast carriers started moving away from supplying chassis, however drayage companies and chassis pools have made the 2012 transition smoother. Carriers Capacity in TEU MSC Maersk UASC COSCO APL HMM Hanjin Shg CSCL Yang Ming CMA CGM Hapag-Lloyd Hamburg Sud K Line Evergreen MOL Wan Hai PIL SITC NYK OOCL Others/Open

46

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000 21

21 8 14 8 6 6 10 9 4 4 10 5 3 4

Size Ranges Below 3,000 teu 3,000-5,100 teu 5,100-10,000 teu Above 10,000 teu Units

9 3 11 2 1

The Cracker | November 2012

ALPHALINER

have opted to move away from supplying chassis due to the cost of maintaining safe and operational chassis.

To ease this change, many of the drayage companies now utilize a chassis pool to provide equipment to shippers.

This ensures greater efficiency in the deployment and management of chassis.

With this change, many shippers have adjusted their scheduling to eliminate chassis pick-up on Friday for a Monday load, alleviating a daily charge for chassis rentals.

Global Fleet The size of containerized vessels has grown immensely since first introduced in 1956, which carried a mere 500 TEU’s (Twenty foot equivalent unit). Many of the vessels utilized by carriers today are part of fifth generation (2000 – 2005) and sixth generation (2006 to present) ships, which can typically hold between 5,000 and 14,500 TEU’s for transocean routes. Today, we’re seeing many carriers investing in new vessel that can accommodate at minimum 10,000+ TEU’s: a vast change from 1956!

However, with larger vessels new challenges develop. Most recently, the

World Industry News

largest containerized vessel was introduced with a capacity of 18,000 TEU’s. In transporting, “mega-ships” are the obvious choice however, there are necessary improvements at most ports to accommodate these larger ships such as dredging and other infrastructure upgrades to avoid loading and off-loading delays. Furthermore, carriers may also be forced to use smaller vessels in some shipping channels to manage their profit margins.

Moderate Export Growth Traditionally, the fourth quarter is the heaviest export shipping period for dried fruit and tree nut exports; however containerized trade may grow at a more moderate pace than in recent years. Many industry analysts have reduced projections for shipments due to the economic concerns in Europe. Economist, Mario Moreno, in the Journal of Commerce, reduced his forecast for growth in containerized exports this year to 2.3 percent from his earlier projection of 3.5 percent.

Members of the Specialty Crop Trade Council (SCTC) exported 10.4 percent more in 2011 versus 2010, due to the growth in the Asia trade, however, given the current volume totals, SCTC should be in line with Moreno’s conclusions providing shipments are strong in the third and fourth quarter.

Idle Vessels and Equipment Availability Each year carriers manage their fleets to minimize or avoid losses which typically results in slow steaming, pulled loops and idle vessels.

Although 2012 does not compare to 2009, where there were more than 500 idle ships, exporters still faced some challenges with vessel schedules and vessel capacity in 2012.

In many ways, West Coast dried fruit and tree nut exporters are fortunate not to have the equipment availability issues that other exporters’ experience, however 2012 presented interesting challenges when 20 foot reefers virtually became obsolete and impossible to find. Although equipment is very tight during the peak exporting season, in most cases exporters are able to get the equipment and space needed for their cargo in spite of the number of idle ships.

In effort to assist exporters’ projected container availability, USDA/ARS has begun publishing a weekly Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) which gives an overview of container availability for the current week and subsequent two weeks for westbound Transpacific trade lanes at select intermodal locations around the country. The data provided in the report is from the nine member carriers in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA). Although dried fruit and tree nut exporters are often booking cargo four to six weeks prior to shipping, the OSCAR report does aid in the export process.

In conclusion, once exporters become more familiar with recent changes, many challenges seem less daunting and eventually become part of the general exporting experience. While it is “normal” to have concerns about factors affecting export outcomes, if shippers become more aware of the potential issues of the export season, a proactive plan can be put in place to help combat such challenges.

Idle Container Ships (Units Idle Breakdown by Size Range) 600 ALPHALINER

500

Size Ranges Over 7,500

400

5,000-7,499 3,000-4,999 2,000-2,999 1,000-1,999

200

500-999

100

2012 Jan

2011 Jan

2010 Jan

0 2009 Jan

Vessel Count

300

Source: Alphaliner

November 2012 | The Cracker

47

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Peanuts Peanuts

Dried Dried Fruit Fruit

Nuts & Nuts & Dried Dried Fruit Fruit

Seeds Seeds

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WORLD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION TRENDS N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 2 | G L O B A L S TAT I S T I C A L R E V I E W

«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

BRAZIL NUTS

CASHEWS

HAZELNUTS

MACADAMIAS

PECANS

PINE NUTS

PISTACHIOS

USA Spain Syria Italy Iran Australia Chile Morocco Tunisia Greece Turkey

Bolivia Brazil Peru

India Brazil Vietnam Mozambique Nigeria Indonesia Tanzania Côte d’Ivoire Guinea-Bissau Kenya

Turkey Italy USA Spain Azerbaijan Georgia France China Iran Russia

Australia USA South Africa Malawi Brazil Guatemala Costa Rica Kenya Zimbabwe

USA Mexico South Africa Australia

China Russia Afghanistan Pakistan Mongolia Spain Portugal Italy DPRK Turkey

Iran USA Syria Turkey Greece Afghanistan Italy China

WALNUTS

PEANUTS

DATES

DRIED APRICOTS

DRIED FIGS

PRUNES

RAISINS/SULTANAS/CURRANTS

China USA Iran Turkey Ukraine Italy Chile France India Romania Moldova Greece

China India Nigeria USA Indonesia Argentina Vietnam

Egypt Saudi Arabia Iran Iraq Tunisia USA Israel Algeria United Arab Emirates Pakistan Morocco

Turkey Australia Iran USA South Africa China

Turkey Egypt Iran Greece Italy USA Spain

USA Chile France Argentina Serbia Australia South Africa Italy

Turkey USA Iran Greece Chile Uzbekistan South Africa Australia Argentina China

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

November 2012 | The Cracker

49

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Almond · Almendra · Amande · Mandorle · Mandel · Badem USA

shipments. China, the leading export destination, rose by 41% to reach 107,000 MT (236 million pounds).

Global demand for California almonds reached new heights in crop year 2011/12, setting new production and shipment records. Production re- SPAIN flected a 24% increase over 2010/2011 –becoming the largest crop on record. Production records are forecast to break the mark again this year The Spanish crop has been slightly reduced to 45,000 MT due to with an estimated 953,000 MT (2.1 billion pounds). a severe drought in summer. Almond yield has been reduced by about 4% in most varieties, however quality reports to be excelOverall shipments were up 13.9%, reaching 861,400 MT (1.899 billion lent. pounds) and marking the sixth consecutive year of record shipments across domestic and export markets. For the third year, California shipped AUSTRALIA over 453,600 MT (1 billion pounds) to export destinations. Domestic shipments were up 11.6% over the prior year, at 248,000 MT (546.7 million The Australian 2013 crop forecast has been announced at 70,000 MT by pounds). The U.S. accounted for 29% share of total shipments, with the the Almond Board of Australia. The forecast is based on plantings data base remaining 71% destined for more than 90 countries around the world. by average. Yields for tree age indicated 76,000 MT, but some trees were not as advanced as should be following the drought years. Very good inciThe top five export destinations (China, Spain, India, Germany and the dence of bloom between varieties leading to good pollinations conditions.

United Arab Emirates) account for approximately 53% of total export Fruit retention appeared favorable.

Estimated World Almonds Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons 2011/2012

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

USA MM lbs*

CROP

2012/2013

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

254

2.020

2.274

335

335

2.100**

2.435

282

USA*

115.195

916.266

1.031.461

151.955

151.955

952.554**

1.104.509

127.914

SPAIN

0

50.000

50.000

5.000

5.000

45.000

50.000

5.000

AUSTRALIA

0

50.000

50.000

0

0

70.000

70.000

0

TURKEY

0

16.000

16.000

0

0

16.000

16.000

0

TUNISIA

1.600

12.000

13.600

1.600

1.600

12.500

14.100

1.600

ITALY

500

12.000

12.500

500

500

12.000

12.500

500

IRAN

0

12.000

12.000

0

0

12.000

12.000

0

CHILE

0

10.000

10.000

0

0

12.000

12.000

0

MOROCCO

0

9.000

9.000

0

0

9.000

9.000

0

GREECE

500

8.000

8.500

0

0

8.000

8.000

0

SYRIA

0

5.000

5.000

0

0

5.000

5.000

0

OTHERS

0

30.000

30.000

0

0

30.000

30.000

0

117.795

1.130.266

1.248.061

159.055

159.055

1.184.054

1.343.109

135.014

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1.089.006

1.208.095

* USA Crop accounts for 2.0% inedible & process loss. **The early harvest information would suggest that the objective estimate of 2.1 billion Ibs (952,554 MT) used above, could well be overstated by approximately 10%.

OTHERS: Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan, Portugal, Israel and China. Source: Almond Board of California, Almond Board of Australia and other INC sources.

Exports by Region

US Exports by Product Type. Metric Tons 800.000 600.000

Shelled Manufactured

Inshell Western Europe 35% Middle East / Africa 17% Canada / Mexico 5% Central / Eastern Europe 4% Asia Pacific 39%

400.000 200.000 0

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

Source: ABC.

2 50

The Cracker Cracker || November Month Year2012 The

2010-2011

2011-2012 Source: ABC.

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Brazil Nuts · Coquito de Brazil · Noix de Vresil · Noce del Brasile · Paranuss · Brezilya Fingigi The 2012 Amazonia nut crop is larger than last years. It has been estimated at 26,800 MT (kernel basis), up 13% from 2011 and well above the last 10 years average. October was still too early to guess the 2013/2014 crop; the INC will announce new crop estimates in the next issue of The Cracker (March 2013).

Export shipments reached 21,600 MT in 2011 (Amazonia nuts shelled), according to the U.N. Commodity Trade Database. The United States continued as the leading export market for Amazonia nuts with 6,500 MT shipped in 2011. The United Kingdom was the second largest export market with 6,000 MT, followed by Germany with 2,360 MT (up 75% over 2010).

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

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

BOLIVIA

0

19.000

19.000

BRAZIL

0

1.600

1.600

PERU

0

3.073

WORLD TOTAL

0

23.673

0

0

21.000

21.000

n/a

0

0

3.300

3.300

200

3.073

0

0

2.500

2.500

n/a

23.673

0

0

26.800

26.800

200

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

23.673

ENDING STOCK

26.600

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

BOLIVIA

0

57.000

57.000

0

0

63.000

63.000

n/a

BRAZIL

0

4.800

4.800

0

0

16.000

16.000

600

PERU

0

9.200

9.200

0

0

7.500

7.500

n/a

WORLD TOTAL

0

71.000

71.000

0

0

86.500

86.500

600

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

71.000

ENDING STOCK

85.900

Source: INC

Top Importers. Amazonia Nuts. Shelled. Metric Tons 2010

2011

% Var

USA

7.430

6.536

-12%

UK*

6.216

6.093

-2%

Germany

1.353

2.366

75%

Netherlands*

1.275

1.884

48%

Australia

1.336

1.104

-17%

Colombia

600

596

-0,7%

Italy

651

505

-23%

Russia

403

475

18%

Spain

434

384

-12%

Canada

316

336

6%

Others

1.636

1.288

-21%

2011 Amazonia Nuts (Shelled) Importers

USA 30% UK 28% Germany 11% Netherlands 9% Australia 5% Colombia 3% Italy 2% Russia 2% Spain 2% Canada 2% Others 6%

*Transit country.

Source: UN COMTRADE.

November 2012 | The Cracker

51

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Cashew · Anacardo · Noix de Cajou · Anacardio · Cashewkerne · Cashew Cevizi The cashew market was very quiet and inactive in August. A decline in consumption had affected general trade volumes and market levels had been drifting downwards. Overall, processors were finding it difficult to liquidate their stocks of most grades, which had affected processing volumes in many countries.

There had been serious quality problems of raw cashews imported into India from some origins due to rain water damage, and large quantities had not yet been cleared for processing in Indian ports beginning September.

The Indian local consumption was also very low by then. The peak consumption season will be from Mid September to Mid November.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam imported 266,267 MT (RCN) and exported 150,729 MT from 1st January to 15th September 2012. The United States, the leading export destination, reached 39,665 MT in the first eight months 2012, followed by China with 26,517 MT, and the Netherlands with 15,566 MT. The top three export destinations account for approximately 54% of total export shipments.

The crop in Brazil has been revised downward to 41,500 MT, although at the time of writing this report it was too early to estimate it. The new harvest is expected to be normal to good in coastal areas, but the interior was hit by a severe drought. This year, Brazilian factories are estimated to have imported about 50,000 MT of cashews from Africa.

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

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

INDIA

nil

164.762

164.762

COTE D'IVOIRE

nil

91.667

91.667

VIETNAM

nil

71.429

71.429

BRAZIL

nil

50.000

GUINEA-BISSAU

nil

TANZANIA

nil

NIGERIA

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

nil

nil

4.762

4.762

160.476

160.476

nil

95.238

100.000

nil

nil

nil

63.050

63.050

50.000

nil

nil

nil

41.500

41.500

nil

38.095 38.095

38.095

7.143

7.143

35.714

42.857

nil

38.095

nil

nil

30.952*

30.952

nil

nil

20.238

20.238

238

238

19.048

19.286

BENIN

nil

nil

20.238

20.238

1.905

1.905

19.048

20.953

nil

INDONESIA

nil

16.667

16.667

nil

nil

16.667

16.667

nil

MOZAMBIQUE

nil

16.667

16.667

nil

nil

16.666*

16.666

nil

CAMBODIA

nil

11.905

11.905

nil

nil

11.905

11.905

nil

BURKINA FASO

nil

7.143

7.143

0

0

8.333

8.333

nil

SENEGAL

nil

7.143

7.143

nil

nil

7.142

7.142

nil

GHANA

nil

4.762

4.762

nil

nil

5.476

5.476

nil

KENYA

nil

2.381

2.381

nil

nil

2.857*

2.857

nil

GAMBIA

nil

1.429

1.429

nil

nil

1.905

1.905

nil

OTHERS

nil

13.810

13.810

nil

nil

13.810

13.810

nil

WORLD TOTAL

nil

576.431

576.431

14.048

14.048

549.787

563.835

nil

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

ENDING STOCK

562.383

563.835

* Forecast.

Source: Global Cashew Council and INC.

Indian Data Exports (kernels)

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Quantity (MT)

118.805

117.325

115.265

110.949

107.496

95.583

111.093

45.510

604

541

547

667

593

589

725

323

Value (Milion US$) Major Destinations Kernel Exports (%)

2005

2006

2008

2009

2010

2011

2011

2012 Jan-Jun

2012 Jan-Jun

USA

40,60

39,64

36,70

37,50

32,00

31,00

32,00

36,00

UAE

5,90

7,76

10,90

9,25

12,50

13,50

8,90

12,43

14,31

16,25

11,99

13,00

10,00

10,00

8,90

8,13

Japan

4,89

3,60

4,61

4,75

5,00

5,40

6,20

5,43

UK

5,41

4,20

3,49

3,50

4,75

2,40

3,20

2,55

Netherlands

Source: CEPCI.

52

2007

2010

The Cracker | November 2012

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Hazelnut · Avellana · Noisette · Nocciola · Haselnuss · Findik TURKEY

As usual, the price will change according to supply/demand levels in the upcoming months.

Last season’s production figures have been revised upwards from 450,000 to 490,000 MT (in shell). The estimated carry over also increased, from 10,000 to 20,000 MT. The crop forecast in 2012/13 stands at 750,000 MT, a 53% increase over 2011.

Prices increased in season 2011/12 due to the short crop. Despite higher-than-expected exports, which reached up to 230,000 MT kernel levels, since 2012 indicated a bumper crop, prices declined sharply in June-August, coming down to USD 500/100 kg levels (FOB/ FOT for class 1, 11/13 and 13/15 size in 80 kg gross/net jute bags).

2012 crop prices opened at the same levels. If there is any price increase for the 2012 crop, it might be realized after January/February, if 2013’s crop shows a shorter than normal season, which would be 650,000 MT in shell levels.

Prices are expected to remain stable in 2012 -even if 2013’s crop shows a good stand, due to grower resistance to low price.

In 2011 crop season, Turkish domestic consumption declined to around 80-85,000 MT in-shell. Due to lower prices, a domestic consumption of 110-120,000 MT may be possible in this 2012/13 season.

There is no government intervention to the market via TMO or FKB, which is aimed to help the Turkish hazelnut market development in coming years. The government is expected to extend the area based support of 150TL (83 USD) per decar for another 3-year period.

USA The Oregon NASS field office forecasts the 2012/13 hazelnut crop at 36,000 MT (40,000 short tons), slightly up over 2011 and 47% above 2010’s 24,500 MT. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the last season ended in June with increases in both shelled and in shell hazelnut exports, up 63% and 15% respectively.

SPAIN The Spanish crop has been slightly reduced from 20,000 to 18,000 MT due to a severe drought in summer. At the time of writing this report, harvesting just started and quality was reported to be good.

Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

TURKEY*

35.000

245.000

280.000

10.000

10.000

375.000

385.000

55.000

ITALY

14.100

65.800

79.900

4.700

4.700

51.700

56.400

4.700

AZERBAIJAN

1.720

23.650

25.370

1.288

1.288

19.397

20.684

2.146

GEORGIA

1.400

12.000

13.400

800

800

16.000

16.800

2.000

500

14.000

14.500

600

600

14.400

15.000

600

0

10.000

10.000

1.000

1.000

8.000

9.000

0

900

12.150

13.050

900

900

12.150

13.050

0

53.620

382.600

436.220

19.288

19.288

496.647

515.934

64.446

USA SPAIN OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

416.932

451.488

Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

TURKEY*

70.000

490.000

560.000

20.000

20.000

750.000

770.000

110.000

ITALY

30.000

140.000

170.000

10.000

10.000

110.000

120.000

10.000

AZERBAIJAN

4.000

55.000

59.000

3.000

3.000

45.000

48.000

5.000

GEORGIA

3.500

30.000

33.500

2.000

2.000

40.000

42.000

5.000

USA

1.250

35.000

36.250

1.500

1.500

36.000

37.500

1.500 0

SPAIN OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

0

22.000

22.000

2.000

2.000

18.000

20.000

2.000

27.000

29.000

2.000

2.000

27.000

29.000

0

110.750

799.000

909.750

40.500

40.500

1.026.000

1.066.500

131.500

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

869.250

935.000

* 50,000 MT in shell are not included in the table (from TMO, will be crushed to oil).

Source: INC.

November 2012 | The Cracker

53

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Macadamia · Macadamia · Macadamianuss · Makedemia · Cevizi AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AFRICA

The Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) has left the estimates of the 2012 crop unchanged at 38,000 MT in shell. In May the Australian Macadamia Handlers Association (AMHA) already estimated a crop of around 38,000 MT in-shell based on the season and their collective experience. Forecast kernel supply has been estimated at 10,500 MT. The figure is based on actual and projected data to the end of July from the AMHA who represents 90% of all macadamia handling in Australia. Receivals to the end of July historically represent 80 to 90% of the final crop depending on weather conditions. Demand remains firm across the domestic and most export markets. A further report will be provided by the AMS at the completion of the season in late November.

The Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) has announced an expected crop of 34,000 MT of dry nut-in-shell, an 8% increase over last year’s harvest of 31,500 MT, which was affected by adverse weather. This year’s crop is in line with forecasts based on new plantings coming into production.

Estimated World Macadamias Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA USA KENYA MALAWI GUATEMALA CHINA BRAZIL ZIMBABWE COSTA RICA ECUADOR NEW ZEALAND OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK 1.505 0 0 225 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.730

CROP 7.800 8.514 4.700 2.400 1.639 1.427 1.120 780 240 200 25 29 165 29.039

TOTAL SUPPLY 9.305 8.514 4.700 2.625 1.639 1.427 1.120 780 240 200 25 29 165 30.769

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2012/2013

ENDING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BEGINNING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CROP 10.500 9.520 4.200 3.330 1.964 1.388 1.250 880 250 200 30 29 170 33.711

TOTAL SUPPLY 10.500 9.520 4.200 3.330 1.964 1.388 1.250 880 250 200 30 29 170 33.711

30.769

ENDING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33.711

Estimated World Macadamias Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA USA KENYA MALAWI GUATEMALA CHINA BRAZIL ZIMBABWE COSTA RICA ECUADOR NEW ZEALAND OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CROP 28.500 31.500 21.000 17.500 6.035 7.200 3.750 3.450 800 1.000 125 100 750 121.710

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

TOTAL SUPPLY 28.500 31.500 21.000 17.500 6.035 7.200 3.750 3.450 800 1.000 125 100 750 121.710

2012/2013

ENDING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 121.710

Source: Australian Macadamia Society, Subtrop South Africa, TNGA of Malawi and other INC sources.

54

The Cracker | November 2012

BEGINNING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CROP 38.000 34.000 19.000 18.500 7.140 7.185 5.000 3.750 900 1.350 150 125 600 135.700

TOTAL SUPPLY 38.000 34.000 19.000 18.500 7.140 7.185 5.000 3.750 900 1.350 150 125 600 135.700

ENDING STOCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 135.700

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pecan · Pecana · Noix de Pecan · Noce Pecan · Pecanuss · Pekan Cevizi After two years of record high prices, the market was adjusting back to more palatable pricing in September. Prices had dropped by 15% since January, due mostly to slowing consumption, again due to high prices.

The new crop outlook was good for the United States and Mexico, with a good crop on the trees. Harvest had begun in the Southeastern USA and will continue across USA and Mexico for October-December. Carry-out from the States was higher than anticipated, due to

the slowed consumption during 2012. South Africa had a good sized crop, compared to last year.

Interest and purchases from China/HK at end September had begun to pick-up in USA with the lower prices.

Bottom line, pecans prices are predicted to reach the lowest levels in two years, and consumption was already picking up in September, due to these lower prices.

Estimated World Pecans Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

18.561

54.167

72.728

26.345

26.345

56.881

83.226

24.640

1.320

32.943

34.263

1.320

1.320

37.228

38.548

1.100

53

2.592

2.645

58

58

4.608

4.666

62

AUSTRALIA

0

1.622

1.622

197

197

1.678

1.875

110

OTHERS

0

792

792

0

0

660

660

0

19.934

92.116

112.050

27.920

27.920

101.055

128.975

25.912

USA MEXICO SOUTH AFRICA

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

84.130

103.063

Estimated World Pecans Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY USA MEXICO SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

43.120

123.106

166.226

59.875

59.875

129.275

189.150

56.000

3.000

74.870

77.870

3.000

3.000

84.610

87.610

2.500

110

5.400

5.510

120

120

9.600

9.720

130

95

2.950

3.045

358

358

3.050

3.408

200

0

1.800

1.800

0

0

1.500

1.500

0

46.325

208.126

254.451

63.353

63.353

228.035

291.388

58.830

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

191.098

232.558

Source: INC.

November 2012 | The Cracker

55

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pine Nut · Piñón · Pignon · Pinoli · Pinienkerne · Çam Fistigi World supply is not sufficient to cope with the strong demand of pine nuts around the world. The scarcity of the new crop in China was forcing prices up at the beginning of September. Domestic demand of roasted in shell pine nuts is estimated at 40-50,000 MT in 2011/12, and 20,000 MT in 2012/13.

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

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK

2012/2013

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

200

5.000

5.200

2.000

2.000

10.000

12.000

2.000

500

20.000

20.500

5.000

5.000

7.000

12.000

800

1.000

4.000

5.000

2.000

2.000

3.000

5.000

0

FAR EAST (Pinus Chinensis): RUSSIA CHINA PAKISTAN DPR KOREA

100

3.000

3.100

1.000

1.000

2.500

3.500

500

1.800

32.000

33.800

10.000

10.000

22.500

32.500

3.300

TURKEY

0

650

650

0

0

1.100

1.100

0

SPAIN

0

845

845

0

0

700

700

100

PORTUGAL

0

650

650

0

0

500

500

100

ITALY

0

200

200

500

500

300

800

100

OTHERS

0

100

100

0

0

100

100

0

TOTAL MED.

0

2.445

2.445

500

500

2.700

3.200

300

1.800

34.445

36.245

10.500

10.500

25.200

35.700

TOTAL FAR EAST MEDITERRANEAN (Pinus Pinea):

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

25.745

Source: INC.

2012/2013 Chinese Red Pine Production (In-Shell) 6.000

6.000

5.000 4.000

4.000

2.000

0

China

Source: 2012 China International Tree Nuts Conference.

56

The Cracker | November 2012

Russia

3.600 32.100

DPR Korea

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pistachio

· Pistacho · Pistache · Pistacchio · Pistazie · Antep Fistigi

USA

IRAN

The pistachio crop in California is anticipated as the largest ever: 272,700 MT (600 million pounds) in shell basis. The American pistachio industry is projected to produce 454,000 MT (1 billion pounds) by 2020 at the latest.

The Iranian 2012 crop forecast has been revised downward, from 200,000 to 210,000 MT dried pistachios, inshell basis. The province of Kerman is forecast to produce 113,000 MT, followed by Khorasan (35,000 MT) and Yazd (20,000 MT). Other provinces are expected to reach 32,000 MT total. Domestic consumption is estimated at about 45,000 MT.

Export and domestic shipments broke previous volume records with over 160,700 MT August YTD (354.5 million pounds), according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios. Exports were up 16% over the prior year, at 90,966 MT (200.5 million pounds).

TURKEY Turkey’s estimate for this year “on” crop remains at 112,000 MT. All pistachio producers have an “on” crop this year, and the industry predicts a quite market in short term.

Estimated World Pistachios Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK

2012/2013

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

USA

62.800

203.600

266.400

37.700

37.700

272.700

310.400

58.300

IRAN

0

160.000

160.000

5.000

5.000

200.000

205.000

n/a

TURKEY

21.440

57.600

79.040

9.280

9.280

112.000

121.280

16.640

SYRIA

10.000

25.000

35.000

5.000

5.000

52.000

57.000

n/a

0

15.000

15.000

0

0

15.000

15.000

n/a

AFGHANISTAN GREECE

1.000

5.000

6.000

200

200

7.000

7.200

n/a

0

6.000

6.000

0

0

6.500

6.500

n/a

CHINA ITALY

0

2.500

2.500

0

0

2.000

2.000

n/a

AUSTRALIA

0

1.000

1.000

0

0

550

550

n/a

95.240

475.700

570.940

57.180

57.180

667.750

724.930

TOTAL

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

513.760

74.940 649.990

Source: INC

November 2012 | The Cracker

57

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Walnut · Nuez · Noix · Noce · Walnuss · Ceviz CHINA

USA

China expects an average walnut crop this year, however the yield might be reduced by 10% compared to the last season. Nut sets are widely lower due to an alternative bearing cycle, but the size is larger with sound kernels.

The USDA NASS California Field Office released the annual crop estimate for walnuts totaling 426,000 MT (470,000 short tons).

This forecast is based on the 2012 Walnut Objective Measurement (O.M.) Survey, which was officially conducted August 1 through August 23, 2012. The report indicates that weather during pollination was reasonable with only a few areas reporting frost. While spring weather conditions were ideal allowing for the nuts to size without delay.

During the walnut conference in Kunming, the Chinese Tree Nuts Association adjusted the crop size from 450,000 to 500,000 MT, which is considered more objective due the the vast plantation over the years. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to set the real crop size in China.

At the time of writing this report, prices were firm in view of two national holidays in China (Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day).

California walnuts account for 99% of the commercial U.S. production and three quarters of world trade. Final shipments for the 2011 indicate that 42% of available product shipped domestically and 58% shipped to export markets, making California walnuts a leading California export. Market demand remained from key markets including Japan, Korea, Turkey, China/Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.

Estimated World Walnuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY CHINA USA TURKEY UKRAINE CHILE MOLDOVA FRANCE INDIA ROMANIA HUNGARY ITALY GEORGIA TOTAL

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK 1.000 15.910 410 0 410 0 410 0 0 0 0 0 18.140

CROP 176.000 178.450 28.085 24.600 15.170 18.450 12.300 10.250 12.300 8.200 5.330 4.100 493.235

TOTAL SUPPLY 177.000 194.360 28.495 24.600 15.580 18.450 12.710 10.250 12.300 8.200 5.330 4.100 511.375

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2012/2013

ENDING STOCK 1.000 19.350 820 0 410 0 410 0 0 0 0 0 21.990

BEGINNING STOCK 1.000 19.350 820 0 410 0 410 0 0 0 0 0 21.990

CROP 200.000 183.339 28.700 20.500 16.400 14.350 10.250 9.430 8.200 6.150 4.510 2.460 504.289

TOTAL SUPPLY 201.000 202.689 29.520 20.500 16.810 14.350 10.660 9.430 8.200 6.150 4.510 2.460 526.279

489.385

ENDING STOCK 1.000 24.183 1.640 0 410 0 410 0 0 0 0 0 27.643 498.636

Estimated World Walnuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY CHINA USA TURKEY UKRAINE CHILE MOLDOVA FRANCE INDIA ROMANIA HUNGARY ITALY GEORGIA TOTAL

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK 2.500 37.000 1.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 42.500

CROP 440.000 415.000 68.500 60.000 37.000 45.000 30.000 25.000 30.000 20.000 13.000 10.000 1.193.500

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

TOTAL SUPPLY 442.500 452.000 69.500 60.000 38.000 45.000 31.000 25.000 30.000 20.000 13.000 10.000 1.236.000

2012/2013

ENDING STOCK 2.500 45.000 2.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 51.500

BEGINNING STOCK 2.500 45.000 2.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 51.500

1.184.500

Source: China Tree Nuts Association, California Walnut Commission, Chilean Walnut Commission and other INC sources.

58

The Cracker | November 2012

CROP 500.000 426.370 70.000 50.000 40.000 35.000 25.000 23.000 20.000 15.000 11.000 6.000 1.221.370

TOTAL SUPPLY 502.500 471.370 72.000 50.000 41.000 35.000 26.000 23.000 20.000 15.000 11.000 6.000 1.272.870

ENDING STOCK 2.500 56.240 4.000 0 1.000 0 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 64.740 1.208.130

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Peanut · Cacahuete · Cacahuète · Arachide · Erdnuss · Yer Fistigi CHINA Peanut production is expected to stabilize at 16 million MT, unchanged from the last year. The planted area is estimated at 4.7 MHa, with yields averaging 3.4 MT/Ha, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA expects exports to remain stable at 800,000 MT. INDIA According to the USDA, India’s 2012/13 peanut production has been forecast at 4.95 million MT, down 18% from last year. According to the Indian Oilseeds and Produce Export Promotion (IOPEPC), peanut exports totaled 384,400 MT from April to October 2011, up 200,000

MT from the same period in 2010. Exports to Indonesia, the largest shipment destination, reached 117,000 MT. Vietnam (74,900 MT) and Malaysia (61,500 MT) completed the top three exports.

USA According to the Economic Research Service (USDA ERS) U.S. peanut production is expected to reach an all-time record of 2.7 million MT (5.9 billion pounds) based on sharp acreage increases and record yields this year. Peanut acreage has been revised upward to 1.64 million acres. Abundant moisture throughout the Southeast is forecast to lead to record yields in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. The national average yield is forecast up to 3,714 pounds per bushel.

Estimated World Peanuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

CHINA

0

16.000.000

16.000.000

INDIA

58.000

6.015.000

6.073.000

USA

687.600

1.649.300

2.336.900

0

1.550.000

1.550.000

NIGERIA

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

0

16.000.000

16.000.000

0

33.000

33.000

4.950.000

4.983.000

n/a

455.000

455.000

2.685.000

3.140.000

977.000

0

0

1.550.000

1.550.000

0

INDONESIA

54.000

1.250.000

1.304.000

57.000

57.000

1.250.000

1.307.000

55.000

ARGENTINA

13.000

1.033.000

1.046.000

88.000

88.000

941.000

1.029.000

13.000

VIETNAM

30.000

441.000

471.000

52.000

52.000

530.000

582.000

40.000

BRAZIL

55.000

227.000

282.000

2.000

2.000

295.000

297.000

25.000

SOUTH AFRICA

9.000

87.000

96.000

1.000

1.000

120.000

121.000

5.000

NICARAGUA

2.000

120.000

122.000

2.000

2.000

108.000

110.000

4.000

MEXICO

24.000

70.000

94.000

21.000

21.000

70.000

91.000

20.000

OTHERS

461.000

7.354.000

7.815.000

248.000

248.000

7.648.000

7.896.000

220.000

1.393.600

35.796.300

37.189.900

959.000

959.000

36.147.000

37.106.000

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1.359.000

36.230.900

35.747.000

Source: USDA, Argentine Chamber of Commerce and other INC sources.

OTHERS: Sudan, Senegal, Myanmar, Chad, Burkina Faso, etc.

At the time of writing this report, it was too early to estimate the 2012/2013 crop in the southern hemisphere.

US Peanut Production and Supply. Metric Tons SUPPLY

YEAR BEGIN. AUG. 1

BEGINNING STOCKS 829.600 687.600 455.400

2010/11 2011/12 (*) 2012/13 (**)

DISAPPEARANCE

PRODUCTION

TOTAL

1.885.600 1.649.300 2.685.000

2.715.200 2.336.900 3.140.400

DOMESTIC FOOD 1.288.200 1.272.300 1.333.100

CRUSH 266.300 274.000 269.900

SEED & RESIDUAL 227.700 203.700 263.100

EXPORTS

TOTAL

ENDING STOCKS

274.900 242.700 328.900

2.057.100 1.992.700 2.195.000

687.600 455.400 977.000

US Peanut Production. 1000 Metric Tons 3.000 2.000 1.000 0

1.571

1.666

2006/07

2007/08

2.341

2008/09

1.675

1.886

1.649

2.685

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12(*)

2012/13(**)

(*) Estimated. (**) Forecast. Source: USDA, September 13, 2012.

November 2012 | The Cracker

59

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Date · Dátil · Datte · Dattero · Dattel · Hurma World production of dates as a whole increases from one year to another in spite of the observed decline in some major producing countries such as Iraq. The continuous increase is due to new plantings over the last twenty years, particularly in the Middle East. It has been estimated approximately a one million MT increase in global production over the last decades. This

production is 90% self-consumed in producing countries. Exports are currently estimated at about 750,000 MT, and the number is also steadily increasing. Some varieties such as Deglet Noor and Medjool enjoy a high demand in the international market and achieve relatively high prices for sale compared to other varieties.

Estimated World Table Dates Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY EGYPT

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK

2012/2013

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

125.000

990.000

1.115.000

100.000

100.000

1.250.000

1.350.000

130.000

SAUDI ARABIA

80.000

1.100.000

1.180.000

90.000

90.000

1.180.000

1.270.000

120.000

IRAN

45.000

1.085.000

1.130.000

50.000

50.000

1.095.000

1.145.000

70.000

UAE

35.000

820.000

855.000

35.000

35.000

785.000

820.000

50.000

PAKISTAN

8.000

440.000

448.000

10.000

10.000

750.000

760.000

8.000

ALGERIA

10.000

600.000

610.000

7.000

7.000

720.000

727.000

10.000

IRAQ

16.000

305.000

321.000

15.000

15.000

560.000

575.000

15.000

SUDAN

14.000

320.000

334.000

15.000

15.000

430.000

445.000

20.000

OMAN

12.000

240.000

252.000

11.000

11.000

270.000

281.000

10.000

TUNISIA

5.500

194.000

199.500

6.000

6.000

185.000

191.000

6.000

CHINA

7.000

125.000

132.000

6.000

6.000

147.000

153.000

7.000

MOROCCO

4.000

82.000

86.000

5.000

5.000

120.000

125.000

4.500

LIBYA

8.000

95.000

103.000

4.000

4.000

100.000

104.000

5.000

USA

600

13.000

13.600

700

700

21.000

21.700

800

ISRAEL

200

19.000

19.200

180

180

21.500

21.680

200

25.000

170.000

195.000

24.000

24.000

180.000

204.000

25.000

395.300

6.598.000

6.993.300

378.880

378.880

7.814.500

8.193.380

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

6.614.420

481.500 7.711.880

Source: INC.

Dried Apricot · Orejón · Abricot Sec · Albicocca Secca · Getrocknete Aprikose · Kuru Kayisi TURKEY The Aegean Exporters Association has confirmed prospects for a very large crop in Turkey. Production forecast of dried apricots has been significantly increased up to 176,700 MT, much higher than previously forecast, and up 29% from the previous season.

Estimated World Dried Apricots Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

136.917

136.917

20.000

20.000

176.718

196.718

n/a

IRAN

n/a

23.500

23.500

n/a

n/a

24.000

24.000

n/a

CHINA

n/a

5.700

5.700

n/a

n/a

6.000

6.000

n/a

SOUTH AFRICA

n/a

1.550

1.550

n/a

n/a

1.600

1.600

n/a

TURKEY

USA

n/a

2.600

2.600

n/a

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

AUSTRALIA

n/a

650

650

n/a

n/a

700

700

n/a

OTHERS

n/a

28.000

28.000

n/a

n/a

28.500

28.500

n/a

0

198.917

198.917

20.000

20.000

239.018

259.018

n/a

WORLD TOTAL

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

OTHERS: Uzbekistan, Pakistan, etc.

60

2012/2013

The Cracker | November 2012

178.917

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Dried Fig · Higo Seco · Figue Sec · Fico Secco · Getrocknete Feige · Kuru Incir TURKEY Turkey’s production of dried figs in 2012/2013 has been revised upward to 56,900 MT by the Aegean Exporters Association, slightly up from the previous season. Shipments started on September 24th.

Estimated World Dried Figs Production. Metric Tons 2011/2012

COUNTRY

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK n/a

TURKEY

n/a

55.500

55.500

0

0

56.900

56.900

IRAN

n/a

22.500

22.500

n/a

n/a

22.000

22.000

n/a

USA

n/a

9.500

9.500

n/a

n/a

9.250

9.250

n/a

GREECE

n/a

7.800

7.800

n/a

n/a

7.600

7.600

n/a

SPAIN

n/a

5.800

5.800

n/a

n/a

6.000

6.000

n/a

ITALY

n/a

3.800

3.800

n/a

n/a

3.900

3.900

n/a

OTHERS

n/a

2.100

2.100

n/a

n/a

2.000

2.000

n/a

WORLD TOTAL

n/a

107.000

107.000

n/a

n/a

107.650

107.650

n/a

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

107.000

Source: Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

OTHERS: Afghanistan, Morocco, Syria, PRC, etc.

Prune · Ciruela Seca · Pruneau · Prugna Secca · Backpflaume · Kuru Erik · Pruna Seca USA

CHILE

According to the U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) the 2012 California dried plum crop is estimated at 109,000 MT (120,000 short tons). The carryover has been estimated at 51,000 MT (56,272 short tons), down 14% from the previous season. NASS also estimates 55,000 bearing acres for 2012. Growers expect a similar crop to 2011/2012, with good quality and size.

According to Chile’s Prunes Association, exports of Chilean dried plums reached up to 35,640 MT between April and August, being Russia the largest destination (7,202 MT), followed by Mexico (3.917 MT), and Poland (2.491 MT). August registered the highest exports with 9,511 MT, being Europe the largest destination (6.478 MT), followed by Latin America (2.761 MT).

Estimated World Prunes Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2011/2012

2012/2013

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

USA

59.000

119.700

178.700

51.000

51.000

109.000

160.000

n/a

CHILE

6.000

65.000

71.000

8.000

8.000

72.000

80.000

n/a

FRANCE

33.738

27.000

60.738

8.000

8.000

40.000

48.000

n/a

ARGENTINA

10.000

12.000

22.000

4.600

4.600

11.500

16.100

n/a

AUSTRALIA

2.150

1.652

3.802

600

600

2.700

3.300

n/a

0

3.000

3.000

0

0

3.000

3.000

n/a

200

1.121

1.321

250

250

1.500

1.750

n/a

SERBIA ITALY SOUTH AFRICA

0

1.230

1.230

0

0

1.100

1.100

n/a

WORLD TOTAL

111.088

230.703

341.791

72.450

72.450

240.800

313.250

n/a

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

269.341

Source: USDA, Chile Prunes Association, International Prune Association and other INC sources.

November 2012 | The Cracker

61

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Raisins, Sultanas & Currants · Uva Pasa · Raisin Sec · Uvetta · Rosine · Kuzu Üzüm USA According to the California Raisin Grape Objective Measurement Report, the 2012 California raisin-type grape crop was shaping up to be the smallest crop since 2006.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service forecasts U.S. exports to recover by 5%, up to 140,000 MT, thanks to slight gains in Europe, Japan and China. The United States is expected to remain the second largest exporter, behind Turkey.

TURKEY

According to the Raisin Administrative Committee, July 2012 Shipment Report of Natural (sun-dried) Seedless Raisins, domestic shipments from August 1st 2011 to 31st July 2012 totaled 183,703 packed tons, compared to 180,344 tons in 2011. Export shipments were 119,373 packed tons, compared to 129,197 tons a year ago, a decrease of 8%.

Production in Turkey has been slightly revised downwards, from 290,000 MT to 286,575 MT, but still up 7% from the previous year on favorable weather improving yields.

Estimated World Raisins, Sultanas & Currants Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY USA TURKEY IRAN CHINA INDIA CHILE SOUTH AFRICA GREECE UZBEKISTAN ARGENTINA AUSTRALIA OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

2011/2012

BEGINNING STOCK 102.000 12.500 5.000 5.000 0 7.000 8.000 2.000 1.000 2.000 500 1.000 146.000

PRODUCTION 320.000 268.949 155.000 120.000 153.000 60.000 28.650 27.000 25.000 23.000 6.400 20.000 1.206.999

2012/2013

TOTAL SUPPLY 422.000 281.449 160.000 125.000 153.000 67.000 36.650 29.000 26.000 25.000 6.900 21.000 1.352.999

ENDING STOCK 120.000 3.500 5.000 0 0 7.000 1.500 5.000 1.000 n/a 500 1.000 144.500

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

BEGINNING STOCK 120.000 3.500 5.000 0 0 7.000 1.500 5.000 1.000 n/a 500 1.000 144.500

1.208.499

PRODUCTION* 260.000 286.575 150.000 150.000 144.000 70.000 35.000 26.000 25.000 24.000 16.000 20.000 1.206.575

TOTAL SUPPLY 380.000 290.075 155.000 150.000 144.000 77.000 36.500 31.000 26.000 24.000 16.500 21.000 1.351.075

ENDING STOCK 100.000 n/a 5.000 5.000 0 7.000 5.000 3.500 1.000 n/a 500 1.000 128.000 1.223.075

Source: Aegean Exporters Association and other INC sources.

US Natural Seedless Raisins. Top 20 Destinations for Crop Year 2011-2012. Packed Tons YTD Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Destination USA Japan UK China* Germany Canada Australia Sweden Mexico Taiwan South Korea Netherlands Malaysia Denmark Norway Philippines Thailand Finland New Zealand Hong Kong Others Total

YTD Tonnage 8/01/117/31/12 174.381 18.727 13.282 11.949 10.788 9.322 8.511 7.033 4.015 4.007 3.730 3.608 3.563 3.504 3.305 2.311 2.123 1.726 1.652 1.642 43.912 333.091

Previous YTD Tonnage 8/01/107/31/11 169.126 17.412 18.592 12.262 13.240 11.219 7.542 5.350 5.050 4.611 4.020 2.926 3.367 4.834 3.397 2.446 1.730 1.708 1.950 1.679 51.531 343.992

Percent Gain/Loss

*Historically a large volume of China exports are transshiped directly to Japan.

Source: RAC.

62

The Cracker | November 2012

US Exports. Natural Seedless Raisins. 8/01/11-7/31/12

3% 8% -29% -3% -19% -17% 13% 31% -20% -13% -7% 23% 6% -28% -3% -6% 23% 1% -15% -2% -15% -3%

Asia 39% Europe 37% Oceania 8% Canada 7% Latin America 6% Others 3%

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Special Report: China Import Statistics 2001-2012 Source: Chinese Customs, Census Department of Hong Kong SAR, China International Tree Nuts Conference.

Pistachios (Inshell). Metric Tons 100.000 73.801

60.000 40.000 20.000

96.947

95.353

80.000

80.495

73.723 53.372

47.096

42.435

71.805

49.432

29.812

0

28.492

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012, 1-7

Almonds. Metric Tons 80.000

Inshell

60.000

5

3

6 9.8

40.000 20.000

23

8

7 8.9

0

0 .59 69 8 .60 50

Kernel

39

8.8

2

.02

13

2001

00

5

6 8.8

.5 10

2002

2

0 6.9

39

64

4.7

2003

5.4

2004

32

3.5

05

4.0

2005

2 49 .89 4.9 7 2006

6

3 75 0.4 8.1 1 2007

3 1.2

3

4

75

.6

48

0

3 3.4

3

4

.00

46

8 2 23. .76 16

2008

3

.43

11 2009

2010

2011

2012, 1-7

Pecans. Metric Tons 50.000

Inshell

40.000

Kernel

7

3

.90

08

29

.0 26

30.000

9

.03

30

.48

20.000 10.000

8

.84

43

16 40

4.3

0

45

36

5.2

2001

91

93

4.0

2002

0

50

2003

0 .33

6

5

97

2004

95

1.5

26

1.2

2005

34

4.5

12

23

2.1

2006

2007

4.3

3.7

1.4 2008

92

07

29

2.3

2009

2

.04

12

0

0

2010

2011

2012, 1-7

18.389

18.515

2010

2011

Macadamias Inshell. Metric Tons 25.000 20.000

10.000 5.000

20.394

18.276

15.000 7.921 2001

13.256

2004

2005

14.389

2006

2007

6.772

5.790

0

13.139

14.728

2002

6.047

2003

2008

2009

2012, 1-7

Walnuts. Metric Tons 50.000

Inshell

40.000

Kernel

8

3

46

1

.72

.96

.87

37

48

30.000 20.000 10.000 0

4 .05

1

2001

0 56

4 .13

1

2002

1 56

9 .11

1

2003

0 99

6

9 1.3

2004

1

7 .32

4

8 2.4

2005

1

6 .58

62

4.2

2006

0

3 2.5

26

7.9

2007

0

1 2008

2009

16

00

50

32

7.1

6.3

0 .59

0 2.7

3

.48

13

.1 11

2010

5.0 2011

76

2.2 2012, 1-7

November 2012 | The Cracker

63

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Cashews (Kernels). Metric Tons 40.000 28.231

30.000

37.712 25.645

20.000 10.000 0

10.474

2001

12.156 6.524 2002

2003

10.763

8.062 2.286

3.203

3.181

2004

2005

2006

3.339 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012, 1-7

Pine Nuts (Kernels). Metric Tons 2.500

2.481

2.000

1.000

882

918

2008

2009

668

500 0

1.680

1.620

1.500

216 2001

33

75

27

8

2003

2004

2005

2006

2002

196 2007

2010

2011

2012, 1-7

Brazil Nuts (In shell). Metric Tons 2.000

1.720

1.500

1.274

1.000 405

500 2001

960

874

2010

2011

403

0

0

1.595

170

19

0

161

2003

2004

2005

2006

2002

2007

2008

2009

2012, 1-7

Hazelnuts. Metric Tons 40.000

Inshell

Kernel

33.243

23.333

30.000 16.911

17.866

20.000

12.672

10.000 0

574

344 2001

2002

295 2003

464 2004

101 2005

14.307

11.441

10.678

346 2006

290 2007

2011 Tree Nuts Imports. Metric Tons

Pistachios IS 96.947 / 28% Almonds IS 69.590 / 20% Almonds K 50.608 / 15% Walnuts IS 48.721 / 14% Walnuts K 5.032 / 1% Pecans IS 30.039 / 9% Macadamias IS 18.515 / 5% Hazelnuts IS 14.107 / 4% Hazelnuts K 563 / 0,2% Cashews K 10.763 / 3% Pine Nuts K 2.481 / 1% Brazil Nuts IS 874 / 0,3%

64

The Cracker | November 2012

IS: Inshell K: Kernel

14.107

15.169

12.843

614 2008

312 2009

480 2010

563 2011

2.459 166 2012, 1-7

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World Industry News

Nuts in a Global Setting

Highlights of the first INC-sponsored symposium at the IUFoST World Congress The INC-sponsored symposium—Nuts in a Global Setting —was presented at the 16th World Congress of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), held in Foz do Iguaçu (Iguassu Falls), Brazil, in August 2012. This symposium marked the first INC–IUFoST educational collaboration.

IUFoST is a global scientific organization representing over 200,000 food scientists and technologists from more than 70 countries. IUFoST has five regional groupings, ALACCTA representing Central and South America, EFFoST representing Europe, FIFSTA representing the ASEAN countries, MENAFoST representing the Middle East and North Africa, and WAAFoST representing West Africa.

The Nuts in a Global Setting symposium reflected the theme of the congress—“Addressing global food security and wellness through food science and technology.” The INC session brought together global expertise and insight on nuts in relation to food security, health, trade, roasting and food safety. Chairing the session was Ezzeddine Boutrif, formerly the Director of Nutrition and Consumer Protection at FAO in Rome. Featured speakers included Dr. Karen Lapsley from the Almond Board of California, Dr. Richard Mattes from Purdue University, Julie Adams representing the INC Scientific & Government Affairs Committee, Dr. Rainer Perren from RPN Food Technology AG in Switzerland, and Dr. Anna Resurreccion from the University of Georgia.

In opening the symposium, Mr. Boutrif reviewed priorities and current international initiatives to address the increasing food insecurity in the world. Today almost one billion people are chronically hungry. Mr. Boutriff defined universality, stability, dignity, quantity and quality as the dimensions of food security. He described in detail how FAO promotes a twin-track approach to fight hunger—sustainable agriculture and rural development is combined with direct food access targeted to vulnerable groups.

According to the Rome Declaration at the World Food Summit in 1996:

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”

Speakers (L to R): Dr. Richard Mattes, Ezzeddine Boutrif, Julie Adams, Dr. Anna Resurreccion, Dr. Rainer Perren, and Dr. Karen Lapsley

Mr. Boutrif listed four major ways in which tree nuts and peanuts can play a role in improving world food security: (1) as sources of important nutrients needed for human development; (2) to enhance the nutritional quality of the diet when mixed with other foods at the right level; (3) as stable and easy-to-store foods for use when needed; and (4) as valuable cash crops for poor households.

Dr. Karen Lapsley, Chief Scientific Officer for the Almond Board of California, presented a brief overview of the role of tree nuts as a valuable source of nutrients and health benefits, from ancient trade routes to the Mediterranean diet. In the U.S., health benefit claims for nuts have increased dramatically over the past years. Dr. Lapsley showed how tree nuts are included in various dietary guidelines around the world, and also pointed out that many cuisines and cultures should make greater use of nuts.

66

The Cracker | November 2012

World Industry News

Phytonutrients — an emerging area of nutrition research Tree nut composition was compared and discussed with a special focus on the wide range of bioactives found in nuts, such as antioxidants and phytosterols that are bioaccessible and absorbed. Phytonutrients is an emerging area of nutrition research because of the broad potential health benefits. Dr. Lapsley pointed out that the phytonutrient content of foods is affected by many variables, including preharvest, postharvest and analytical factors. But we need to know how plant phytochemicals are broken down in the gut before we can determine what the health benefits might be. And, she emphasized, further research must be conducted on a wide range of topics, such as the plausible mechanisms of action, interactions with microflora, and the impact on physiological processes in individuals before useful dietary advice can be given.

The cardio-protective effect of nut consumption is well supported by the totality of the available data, as Dr. Lapsley clearly outlined. And new research is pointing to a protective role of nuts in reducing the risks of obesity and type-2 diabetes, and in improving gut health. There is sufficient evidence to continue to promote the regular inclusion of a handful (28–30 g) of nuts every day as part of a healthy diet for a variety of health benefits.

Dr. Richard Mattes, Professor in Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University (USA), is an international expert on ingestive behavior and the influence of nuts on appetite and lipid metabolism. In this symposium he presented research findings from studies of appetite, energy intake and the health outcomes of consuming an energy dense snack (nuts). He challenged the view that nut consumption is associated with weight gain or is problematic for weight management.

Moderate nut consumption not associated with weight gain or elevated BMI Dr. Mattes pointed to multi-country clinical trials indicating that including nuts in the diet does not promote weight gain nor does it undermine weight loss. Several factors may be at play to explain this lack of effect on body weight. First, nuts have a high satiety value, which helps in appetite control. Second, the energy contribution from nuts, specifically the lipid content, is inefficiently absorbed; studies clearly show that the degree of mastication (number of chews) of the nuts greatly impacts lipid bioavailability. And third, nut consumption may result in increased resting energy expenditure, which represents the amount of calories required for a 24-hour period by our bodies during a non-active period.

Global research results were summarized to highlight how nuts in the diet reduce chronic disease risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type-2 diabetes. Dr. Mattes emphasized that consumers cannot derive these potential health benefits if they avoid nuts out of concern about the energy content.

Julie Adams, Vice Chairman of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, provided an overview of INC’s mission, membership and activities, and then addressed global trends in nut production. Ms. Adams explained how infrastructure, economics, urbanization, and environmental changes have caused shifts in nut production areas, but that overall demand for nuts is growing. She noted that nut consumption patterns have changed in response to the compelling research regarding health benefits, which has resulted in increased trade in nut crops. However, new pressures associated with environmental considerations and evolving food safety and traceability demands have impacted the global marketplace for nuts.

Future trends can be opportunities or challenges Ms. Adams outlined how INC has been engaged in making a difference by providing targeted information to stakeholders on scientific and technical issues. Three key areas she addressed were aflatoxin standards, climate change, and cashew production. Aflatoxin in nuts was presented as a challenging case study that highlighted the need for global harmonization. At least 99 countries currently have various mycotoxin standards, Story Continues on Page 68 November 2012 | The Cracker

67

World Industry News Story Continued from Page 67

so what does a “positive� aflatoxin test really mean in terms of food safety and economic security? Reducing aflatoxin levels is a complex problem, but sorting technologies can now remove >95% of aflatoxin in a given lot. To address the issue of climate change, a recently launched INC project is focused on the prediction of climate variables across production areas over the decade, which will be crucial to midterm and long-term forecasting of crop yields and quality. Finally, a global collaborative project to address cashew production and supply issues and promote cashew use and consumption was described. INC and numerous cashew industry stakeholders have formed the Global Cashew Council in an effort to foster greater economic stability across producers in a variety of emerging markets.

Dr. Rainer Perren, RPN Food Technology AG, is well known globally for his expertise in roasting technologies and the effects of roasting on nut microstructure and shelf life. He began his presentation with an in-depth review of how nut color, flavor and oil stability are affected by hot air roasting. Electron microscopy images of raw and roasted nuts clearly showed how roasting damages the integrity of the microstructure—higher roasting temperatures result in a greater loss of the subcellular structure, so more of the nut oil is exposed and the potential for oxidation increases. However, by first stabilizing the nut microstructure at a moderate temperature the roasting process can be optimized to deliver higher quality roasted nuts with a longer shelf life.

Given increasing global concerns regarding microbial contamination in low moisture foods, Dr. Perren also addressed how the thermal pasteurization of tree nuts can be achieved without impacting quality, textural or nutritional attributes. He further discussed some of the new developments in dry roasting equipment that achieve optimal roasting combined with a validated pasteurization process.

Dr. Anna Resurreccion, Professor in Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia (USA), presented strategies for aflatoxin elimination in peanut products in emerging economies in Asia and Africa. The food security and economic impact of aflatoxin contamination due to diversion from food to feed channels as well as lost export revenues has been severe for some Asian and African countries.

Dr. Resurreccion described the successful research collaboration of academia, industry, and government in the U.S. and the Philippines to develop a suitable processing technology along with visual sorting for removing aflatoxin-contaminated peanut kernels to below regulatory

68

The Cracker | November 2012

limits. The case study demonstrated that after adopting the technology, the initial industry partner claimed a 30% growth in the volume of both domestic and export sales of their peanut-sauce mix. Since that time, this technology has been transferred through workshops and educational outreach efforts to many other industry partners in the Philippines and Thailand, and recently also in East Africa (Uganda) and West Africa (Ghana). According to Dr. Resurreccion, the ability to produce safe, aflatoxin-reduced products will help these countries improve their competitive position in the global market, contributing to both economic and food security.

What you see

What we see

ACCEPT

REJECT

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World Industry News

American Pistachio Growers Are Tapping a Wealth of Health Benefits to Promote Their Crop Good things really do come in small packages. Such is the case when it comes to American pistachios and their health benefits. Pistachios are a nut that has long been appreciated for its unique taste, but new discoveries in health and nutrition research are revealing the wealth of health benefits this little nut in a green suit has to offer. That’s exactly the message American Pistachio Growers are sending to athletes and active lifestyle consumers around the globe.

It has long been known that tree nuts, such as pistachios, lower blood cholesterol. An important pistachio study, published earlier this summer, indicated that including pistachios in a healthy diet may positively reduce the body’s response to the stresses of everyday life.

The results show that a healthy diet supplemented with both salted and unsalted pistachios helps decrease systolic blood pressure, peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate during acute stress.

The study was conducted at Pennsylvania State University by Drs. Sheila G. West and Penny M. Kris-Etherton and colleagues. The paper, Diets Containing Pistachios Reduce Systolic Blood Pressure and Peripheral Vascular Responses to Stress in Adults with Dyslipidemia, recently (August 2012) was recommended as being of special significance in its field by the “Faculty of 1000.” The “Faculty of 1000” identifies and recommends the most important articles in biology and medical research publications. Articles are selected by a peer-nominated global “Faculty” of the world’s leading scientists and clinicians who then rate them and explain their importance.1 West SG, Gebauer SK, Kay CD, Bagshaw DM, Savastano DM, Diefenbach C, KrisEtherton PM. Diets containing pistachios reduce systolic blood pressure and peripheral vascular responses to stress in adults with dyslipidemia. Hypertension.

2012;60(1):58-63.

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The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in 2011 suggesting that pistachios, when enjoyed with some high carbohydrate foods, decrease the blood sugar response in the body. This study reinforces that pistachios may be a smart snack choice for the prevention of diabetes and heart disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 25.8 million people in America are living with diabetes, and this statistic is on the rise due to Americans’ poor dietary habits. Ninety to 95 percent of those cases are type 2, which can often be prevented through proper diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.

Additionally, high blood sugar levels after a meal increase the risk of developing heart disease. As the leading cause of death in America, this serious health condition affects more than 81 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association.

“Pistachios are a good source of healthy fats and plant protein. When added to a carbohydrate meal, they also help to limit the rise in blood glucose, which may be a further mechanism by which pistachios reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes,” said Cyril Kendall, PhD, lead researcher at the University of Toronto and author of the study.1 Kendall C.W.C., A. R. Josse, A.Esfahani, D. J. A. Jenkins. The impact of pistachio intake alone or in combination with high-carbohydrate foods on post-prandial glycemia. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011;65(6):696-702 1

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The Cracker | November 2012

Antioxidant Health Study Confirms Release of Key Antioxidants in Pistachios Research Continues to Connect Health Benefits to Pistachio Consumption Results of new research presented in April at the American Society of Nutrition in San Diego contributes to the increasing amount of scientific evidence that underscores the health benefits of eating pistachios on a daily basis.

A study conducted at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) in the United Kingdom in conjunction with the University of Messina, Italy, confirms that key nutrients in pistachios are released during digestion and thus able to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Polyphenols, carotenoids (vitamin A) and tocopherols (vitamin E), all with strong antioxidant qualities were quantified in the study.

Giuseppina Mandalari, Ph.D., research scientist at IFR and lead investigator says, “These results are significant as they are the first that show when the bioactive compounds in pistachios are released during digestion and are available to be taken up by the body.” She continues, “This research indicates these nutrients would contribute to the beneficial relationship between pistachio consumption and healthrelated outcomes, such as heart disease.”

“In addition, these results support the findings of the 2010 nationallypublished study¹ and trials by researchers at Penn State University that addressed the positive effect of antioxidants from pistachios on LDL cholesterol,” added Constance J. Geiger, Ph.D., R.D. who serves as a nutrition research consultant with the American Pistachio Growers.

World Industry News

These new data help connect the dots between the bioactive compounds in pistachios, their release into the digestive tract and absorption into the blood. The Penn State study showed an increase in lutein and gamma-tocopherol in the blood was related to a decrease in oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol, when pistachios were eaten daily, thereby contributing to a reduced risk of heart disease.

In the present study, researchers tested raw, roasted and salted pistachios and muffins made with raw pistachios in an in vitro model of digestion which simulates the human stomach and small intestine. The bioaccessibility of the nutrients in pistachios was evaluated at various stages during the digestion process. Each measurement was performed in triplicate for the three tested models.

No significant differences in bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds were noted between raw and roasted salted pistachios in the stomach and small intestine.

About the Study The study began in 2010 and was completed in 2011. While a number of studies have demonstrated the positive effects of pistachio consumption in modifying lipid risk factors for coronary heart disease, this study is the first to characterize pistachio polyphenols, carotenoids and tocopherols and investigate their bioaccessibility during digestion. šKay CD, Gebauer SK, West SG, Kris-Etherton PM. Pistachios increase serum antioxidants and lower serum oxidized-LDL in hypercholesterolemic adults. J Nut. 2010;140:1093-98.

Industry Shipments & 2012 Crop Update

Health & Nutrition Event Schedule 2012/2013 American Pistachio Growers will have a presence at the following 2012/2013 health and nutrition conferences.

Nutritional Society of Australia Annual Conference, Wollongong, Australia, November 27-30, 2012 American Society of Nutrition Scientific Session and Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, April 20-24, 2013 World Fourm for Nutrition Research, Reus, Spain, May 20-21, 2013 World Nut & Dried Fruit Congress, Barcelona, Spain, May 21-23, 2013 International Congress of Nutrition, Granada, Spain, September 15-20, 2013

Domestic and Export Shipments for the U.S. pistachio industry crop year (September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012) has shown a 23% increase over previous year shipments. This represents record breaking movement for the U.S. pistachio industry, which had just seen its largest shipments the prior year. Shipments officially recorded by the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (ACP) indicate a total of 447,556,647 million pounds shipped during the last crop year. This shipment level was equal to the entire crop produced in 2011. This shows the continued strength of demand for pistachios from all parts of the world.

Domestic shipments from September 2011 to August 2012 were 176,450,187 million pounds, a 26 percent increase over the same time period last year.

Export shipments were 271,106,460 million pounds, a 20 percent increase over the same time period last year. Export gains have been experienced in the Middle East and Africa, and Asia. China exports (including Hong Kong) continue to outpace shipments last year. China/Hong Kong exports hit a new record of 120,485,100 million pounds, a 51% increase over last year, according to the ACP. At press time, growers were busy harvesting their 2012 crop. Reports have been very positive from processors regarding crop deliveries. The crop thus far is clean, and insect damage is low despite late season pest concerns. The size of the 2012 crop will be a record for the U.S. industry, with an estimated 550 – 575 million pounds being produced. With the large size crop, the individual size of the nuts appear to be a bit smaller than the previous two years, but more in line with expectations associated with a large crop.

With demand for product around the world remaining robust, wholesale prices continue to remain very strong. Planned marketing, PR and nutritional activities will continue to focus consumer attention on the health and nutrition value of pistachios. These efforts, along with continued individual brand promotion will ensure that demand remains resilient for the green nut.

Story Continues on Page 74 November 2012 | The Cracker

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World Industry News Story Continued from Page 73

Pistachio Power Facts One serving of pistachios has as much potassium (300mg, 8 percent) as an orange (250mg, 7 percent).

A one-ounce serving of pistachios equals 49 nuts – more per serving than any other snack nut.

Pistachios contain more than 10 percent of the Daily Value of dietary fiber and essential vitamins and minerals like B6, thiamin, copper and phosphorus.

You can obtain about as much dietary fiber from a serving of pistachios (2.9g, 12 percent) as from ½ cup of cooked broccoli (2.5g, 10 percent).

Pistachios, with 6g of protein per serving, are considered part of the Protein Group, according to the USDA MyPlate guidance system.

Pistachios, like olive oil, primarily contain monounsaturated fat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that you get most of your fats from sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.

T HE T RUST ED ANSW ER TO WORLDWIDE AFLATOXIN REGULATIONS

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Contact us today to learn more, call 417.725.6588 or visit us at www.vicam.com or email: vicam@vicam.com for your local VICAM distributor. ©2012 Waters Corporation. Waters, UPLC, VICAM, AflaTest , and The Science of What’s Possible are trademarks of Waters Corporation.

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The Cracker | November 2012

2/6/12 12:20 PM

Optical sorting solutions for nuts from the world’s leading manufacturer. The high resolution SORTEX Z+R is the most efficient sorter for all types of natural, blanched nuts including almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, pine kernels, pecans, walnuts and pistachios (kernel and in-shell). Visible bichromatic cameras, combined with InGaAs and PROfile technology, deliver outstanding performance in the removal of colour defects and contaminants such as dark, rotten and shrivelled nuts, and all FM including sticks, light stones, shells and hulls. www.buhlergroup.com

SORTEX Z+R Maximum product safety by removal of challenging foreign material (FM) Highest efficiency, maximum yield increases profitability The user-interface is simple, easy to set up and operate The climate control system allows consistant performance in harsh ambient temperatures of 0°C (32°F) to 50°C (122°F) Protects brand reputation with consistent quality Increases productivity with maximum uptime Over 20,000 SORTEX installations in 140 countries Offers highest quality, after sales service with SORTEX Total Care

Safe Food. Clean Food.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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World Industry News

NUCIS ITALIA LAUNCHES NEW PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN How do we say no to the crisp taste of walnuts and hazelnuts, or to the soft sweetness of dehydrated apricots and plums? Dried fruit and nuts are a pleasure that is hard to resist, the perfect food to stop hunger or recharge when energy is low.

Eating a small portion of dried fruit and nuts every day can be very useful, as well as pleasant - as we all know - because almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pineseeds, pistachios, apricots and plums are a source of essential nourishing substances for our diet. The high concentration of proteins, minerals, fatty acids and aminoacids make these fruits absolutely irreplaceable. But, as with any other food, we must not exceed in its consumption. So, how much of it can we eat without putting on weight and also be able to fully enjoy all the healthy aspects of this food so precious for our health?

The new communication campaign about the nourishing qualities of dried fruit and nuts promoted by Nucis Italia - the non-profit association who, through the economic contributions of its private companies finances medical studies on dried fruit and nuts and spreads information on the nutrition qualities of these products - focuses its message this year on the correct quantities of dried fruit and nuts to be included in a daily diet.

The available medical studies state that the optimal quantity of shelled dried fruit to be regularly consumed is about 30 g (1 OZ = 28,5g) for oily seeds and of about 40g (¼ Cup = 43g) for soft stoned fruit. In new informational materials from Nucis Italia, these indicative quantities recommended for integrating into our diet with proteins, vitamins and mineral salts, are simplified for consumers as a guideline.

Choosing our own "daily portion" of wellbeing is now simple: you can decide to eat 5 walnuts or 23 almonds or 5-6 apricots, or to mix the various fruits as you like to create your own "mix of wellbeing" based on dried fruit and nuts. A stock of pleasure, taste and healthy nourishing qualities that you can always bring with you: at school, at the office, in the park and at the gym. You can recommend it to your friends and it is good for the whole family.

Gateway to the German Market Work hand in hand with the nuts & dried fruits import and marketing experts.

Palm Nuts & more · Nuss und trockenfrucht GmbH & Co. KG lindenstrasse 17 · D-21244 Buchholz · Germany telefon: +49 4181 9091- 0 · Fax: +49 4181 9091- 80 e-mail: mail@palm-nutsandmore.de · www.palm-nutsandmore.de

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World Industry News

The coloured materials conceived by Nucis Italia to increase the consumption of dried fruit and nuts and to propose the daily portion as a healthy food habit, will be displayed this year on the shelves of key Italian supermarkets and hypermarkets starting in November. At some points of sale, communication will be sustained by the presence of “promoters” who will distribute flyers and give away samples of the preferred fruits.

In other locations, dried fruit and nuts will be found in "Health Corners" where space is devoted to the sale of medicines and integrators. In these places, during weekends in January and February, 2013, Nucis Italia will have a Nutrition Expert at the clients’ disposal to help consumers choose the best product for their individual needs and to illustrate the nutrition facts about dried fruit and nuts.

For those who want to know more about the concept of wellbeing, the healthy qualities of the single fruits, those who are unable to attend points of sale and listen to the Nutrition Experts, Nucis Italia offers its web site www.nucisitalia. it, updated with the most recent clinical studies - dedicated to Physicians and health operators - but also with informing articles and news on the dried fruit and nuts world .

To be nearer still to consumers, Nucis Italia goes social: beginning in November 2012, all dried fruit and nut lovers can become Nucis fans on Facebook, exchange messages and suggestions and stay informed about the latest news. On the web and on line from November,

there will also be a game dedicated to dried fruit and nuts where every day tin-boxes for your own daily portion of dried fruit can be won as a prize, including a final bonus prize: a weekend for two in a Wellness Center! The game will be simple and amusing about filling a box with the ideal mix of dried fruit and nuts, not too much but not too little, because: dried fruit and nuts are good for you!!

After all, dried fruit has enriched Italian cuisine and other Mediterranean cultures since the beginning of time. To give new life to this match in a contemporary way, Nucis Italia in collaboration with "Cucina Wellness" has organized an Educational Cooking Show with the Chefs Paolo Pivato, Luca Montersino and Pasquale d’Ambrosio at the Caruso Restaurant of the Grand Hotel of Milan.

During the evening that will take place the first week of November, the three Chefs of Cucina Wellness - the association that marries the taste of fine cuisine with wellness guaranteed by the exclusive use of healthy ingredients - will propose three innovative recipes emphasizing health, taste, and antiaging based on dried fruit and nuts. The journalists of key Italian newspapers who have already confirmed their participation to the evening, will taste the three wellness recipes in a refined and elegant atmosphere at the very heart of Milan. The nutritional aspects and various ingredients of every recipe that make it a regular dish of the “Cucina Wellness” will be illustrated.

Nucis Italia welcomes all wellness lovers to its web site www.nucisitalia.it and FB page, at its promotional events and... to our tables!

November 2012 | The Cracker

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World Industry News

NUCIS GERMANY TO STUDY EFFECTS OF ROASTING NUTS ON HEALTH In cooperation with the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena in Germany, Nucis Germany will launch the research project “Health Effects of Roasted Nuts� and is pleased to announce that all preliminary background for the study has been fulfilled successfully. Nucis will lead the project committee and receive timely updates as the project progresses.

Health benefits of nuts Nuts are known to be healthy because they represent an important source of essential macro- and micronutrients such as unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and mineral nutrients. Nevertheless, according to the recent German National Nutrition Survey II, less than one-tenth of the recommended daily amount of nuts is consumed in Germany. Traditionally, nuts are supposed to be unhealthy because of their high fat content.

Professor Stefan Lorkowski from the University of Jena assumes that this is likely one reason for the low consumption of nuts. The nutritionist recalls new investigations which prove the contrary. Due to a beneficial fatty acid pattern, a continuous consumption of nuts may help to decrease not only the risk for cardiovascular diseases and related causes of death but also prevent disorders of lipid metabolism and obesity as well as support the efficacy of diets for weight management. Professor Michael Glei from the University of Jena points out that there is also evidence for a protective impact of nuts on colon cancer as nuts are rich in dietary fiber and secondary plant products, such as polyphenols.

Roasted nuts are preferred by German consumers which is why the research teams of Prof.

Glei and Prof. Lorkowski will study the influence of the roasting process on health-relevant ingredients and properties of nuts. This new research project at the Institute of Nutrition of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena is supported by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) via the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AiF) and the Research Association of the German Food Industry (FEI).

Reseach Results May Unveil How Roasting Process Affects Nuts

German Professors Lorkowski(left) and Glei, researchers at the Institute of Nutrition at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, will analyze how roasting may affect the health attributes of nuts.

Three main questions will be assessed in the course of this project which will provide samples of hazelnuts, macadamias, almonds, pistachios and walnuts: How do different roasting conditions influence the content of valuable or toxic compounds and the taste of nuts? What is the effect of optimally roasted nuts on health-relevant parameters in the colon, particularly referring to antioxidant, antitoxic and antigenotoxic mechanisms? Do optimally roasted nuts influence atherogenic parameters which contribute to inflammation, lipid accumulation and plaque stability?

Nutritionists state that answering these questions will contribute to a better understanding of the underlying molecular modes of action of nut ingredients.

Research results will also help to optimize the roasting procedure used in the study to further improve the health related impact of nut consumption.

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Telephone: 520-791-2852 Fax: 520-791-2853

P.O. Box 7 Sahuarita, Arizona 85629 U.S.A. www.greenvalleypecan.com e-mail: sales@greenvalleypecan.com For more information on Green Valley Pecans please contact your representative: Keith Roberts - Partnership - United Kingdom Telephone: 44-1702-589958 Fax: 44-1702-587075 Gemperli - Zurich, Switzerland Telephone: 41-136-19676 Fax: 41-136-14511 Jas Trading - The Netherlands Telephone: 31-20-643-6412 Fax: 31-20-643-2127 Max Kiene - Germany Telephone: 49-40-309-6550 Fax: 49-40-309-65520

CALDIC - Denmark A/S Telephone: 45-44-57-5044 Fax: 45-44-53-5953 Voice Vale - France, S.A.R.L. Telephone: 33-140502-480 Fax: 33-140502-488 Tanto Corporation - Japan Telephone: 81-3-4360-5336 Fax: 81-3-4360-5794 CALDIC - Sweden AB Telephone: 46-40-698-1130 Fax: 46-40-698-1101

World Industry News

CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION:

DOMESTIC MARKETING UPDATE

By Jennifer Olmstead, Marketing Director, Domestic

Researcher finds walnuts improve sperm health in healthy men Two decades of research has looked at benefits of walnuts on cardiovascular health, diabetes management, cancer, and diseases of aging (i.e. cognition). In a new field of research, a study out of UCLA titled “Walnuts Improve Semen Quality in Men Consuming a Western Style Diet: Randomized Control Dietary Intervention Trial” published in August online in the journal Biology of Reproduction. Dr. Wendie Robbins from the University of California, Los Angeles conducted a randomized, parallel two-group dietary intervention trial that evaluated the affect of 75 grams (approximately 2.5 ounces) of walnuts/day on semen quality. The study included 117 healthy young men (21-35 years of age) who routinely eat a Western-style diet. Approximately half of the men consumed the 75 grams of walnuts per day for 12 weeks, while the remaining half served as the control group. After 12 weeks, compared to the control group, the walnut group experienced improvement in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology – key components in male fertility. This study also found that the higher intake of ALA from the walnuts was correlated with less frequent aneuploidy. Aneuploidy is defined as abnormal cell chromosome numbers, which can result in genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome. As this was the first study for the California Walnut Commission in the area of male reproductive health, there has been a great deal of media interest in the study. A follow up study is in the works.

Delicious New Website Design In September, the California Walnut Board launched a newly redesigned domestic website at www.walnuts.org. The site takes advantage of the latest programming language, HTML5, which allows it to automatically configure for optimal viewing on a desktop, tablet or smart phone.

The site also takes advantage of years of beautiful food and orchard photography with larger images that improve the viewer experience.

An expanded recipe search feature allows users to more easily find the perfect recipe. Users can select from criteria including season, occasion, meal part, ethnic flavor profile and more to scan hundreds of dishes for fitting options. Additionally, the site makes connecting socially a breeze with buttons to share recipes by email, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

To visit : http://walnuts.org/

International brokers and agents for Dried Fruits - Treenuts - Groundnuts Connect s.r.l. - Via Fonzaso, 6 - 20148 Milano - Italia Tel. +39 0240090088 - Fax +39 0240091744

connectsrl@connectmilano.it

Your best connection in the Italian market 78

The Cracker | November 2012

California Walnuts Partners with Blue September In September, California Walnuts partnered with Blue September, an awareness campaign dedicated to spreading the message about prostate cancer risk for men. The industry has supported animal research in the area of prostate cancer, and preliminary results with a walnut diet are promising. Dr. Paul Davis from University of California, Davis found that mice fed the equivalent 2.8 ounces of walnuts daily had a 28% lower rate of tumor growth than the control model.

In 2012, more than 240,000 men will be diagnosed and more than 33,000 men will die from prostate cancer. The Blue September campaign, which has roots in New Zealand, has spread into five countries and continues to grow. The campaign builds awareness using celebrities with blue face paint and lighting prominent city buildings in blue.

California Walnuts was included in advertising in Men's Health magazine, public service announcements, publicity events throughout California, and walnuts were distributed at an Oakland Raiders game.

World Industry News

CALIFORNIA WALNUT COMMISSION:

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES Michelle McNeil, Senior Marketing Director, International and Jennifer Williams, Assistant Marketing Director, International.

Successful launch of eighth edition of the Menus with Heart campaign Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Spain. More than 120,000 people, or one in three Spaniards, die from diseases related to cardiovascular health. Experts agree: Prevention is the solution and to follow a good diet is essential.

This is the eighth year that chefs who have revolutionized culinary Spanish scene are involved in the Menus with Heart campaign, a pioneering awareness campaign in Spain organized by both the Spanish Heart Foundation and the California Walnut Commission (CWC), to promote a healthy diet at home and out of it.

Prestigious Spanish chefs such as Enrique Medina from Apicius restaurant in Valencia; José Carlos Garcia from El Café de París restaurant in Málaga; Álvaro Garrido from Mina restaurant in Bilbao; Adolfo Muñoz from El Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid; and Ada Parellada from Semproniana restaurant in Barcelona collaborate with renowned cardiologists from the Spanish Heart Foundation to create the recipes in the newest “Menus with Heart” book. Experts advised the chefs on how to achieve the best heart healthy combinations for the dishes.

Dieticans provided nutritional information and easy advice to adapt the recipes for children.

Dr. Leandro Plaza, president of the Spanish Heart Foundation and Chef Adolfo Muñoz

The “Menus with Heart” were presented throughout September in press conferences in several Spanish cities. The campaign concluded with a press conference on World Heart Day – Saturday 29th, which is a day designed to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death. This year the focus of World Heart Day was women and children, which was also reflected in the Menus with Heart materials. The campaign included the launching of a new recipe-book with heart-healthy menus, in which walnuts are one of the main ingredients.

Within the first few weeks the campaign generated approximately 10 million impressions with more expected in the coming weeks.

Korean Nutrition Society The CWC is participating in the Korea Nutrition Society Annual Symposium on November 16, at Millennium Hilton Hotel in Seoul.

The KNS is a leading nutrition academic society in Korea, with members of food and nutrition researchers and professors of major universities in Korea.

Three presentations under the sessions are scheduled by Dr. Yong-Soon Park of Hanyang University on Metabolic Syndrome and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Dr. Connie Diekman of Washington University in St. Louis on Experiences from the PREDIMED Study and other Clinical Trials, and Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton of Pennsylvania State University on Nuts Decrease Chronic Disease Risk via Multiple Mechanisms.

The home page of the new EU trade site

With the session, the CWC will have a table-top exhibition at the symposium venue, providing health and nutrition information as well as walnut samples and recipes. Prior to the symposium, on November 15, the CWC will hold a press conference about the CWC’s session participation in KNS symposium and researches on the walnut health benefits.

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Over 200 health professionals are expected to participate in the symposium, who can further reach their students and consumers.

New European Union California Walnut Website The California Walnut Commission recently launched a new English language portal in the European Union, www.californiawalnuts.eu.

The Cracker | November 2012

World Industry News

This new site has been designed to directly address the European trade and industry.

Commercial buyers and consumers of California walnuts can find relevant technical product data as well as detailed information on topics like storage and food safety.

Also available is information on approved health claims and the current state of health research. Recipes for food professional round out the what is available to the European trade.

First International California Walnut Commission Harvest Tour Harvest can be a key element of reaching media in a memorable way. On October 2nd, the California Walnut Commission welcomed 16 guests representing media from South Korea, Spain, China, and Germany to the first International Harvest Tour. Our goal was to provide an enjoyable, educational and delicious experience so the media took away an understanding of the many flavorful and nutritious aspects of walnuts.

International media enjoying lunch with California walnut grower Jack Mariani.

The tour, based in the scenic Napa Valley, offered the media the opportunity to experience the California walnut harvest, seeing firsthand the quality orchard practices, the care given to the crop and meet one of the growers who cultivate this delicious food. The guests had the chance to see the harvest in progress, including the shaking of the trees, and enjoy unique and delightful walnut preparations at a variety of restaurants.

After visiting an orchard that was in the process of being harvested, the tour stopped at the home of Jack Mariani who spoke about the care his family puts into the harvest and processing as well as the quality of California walnuts. This care and quality was seen as the group toured a processing facility where they could see all the safety and quality measures in action.

The tour also included delicious walnut themed menus prepared by well known chefs throughout the Northern California region. California walnuts were featured in a large variety of courses from soup to meat entrees to dessert. Additionally, the media guests were able to see one of these items being prepared at the world famous Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, where they viewed a cooking demonstration featuring smoked California walnuts.

Cooking demonstration featuring smoked California walnuts by Chef Sandy Dominguez at the Culinary Institute of America.

International Harvest Tour in the orchard.

November 2012 | The Cracker

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World Industry News

PECAN INDUSTRY EMBRACES HEART CHECK PROGRAM

by Anna Carver, Communications Specialist, National Pecan Shellers Association Members of the National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA) have been pleased to embrace the AHA certification as another endorsement of the many health benefits of pecans. A number of shellers are in the process of certifying their own products and adding the AHA Heart Healthy Check Mark to their packaging. By certifying under the NPSA umbrella, shellers have been able to participate in the program at a significant cost savings. So expect to see the iconic AHA Heart Check symbol on pecan packaging this fall and winter.

The American Heart Association’s HeartCheck Food Certification Program was launched in 1995 to help grocery shoppers quickly and easily identify heart-healthy foods that can be incorporated into a sensible eating pattern. In order to earn this designation, nuts must meet certain nutritional requirements for saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and beneficial nutrients. Today, the red and white heart-healthy symbol has become the one of the most trusted and well-known nutrition icons representing heart-healthy eating.

The American Heart Association Certifies

PECANS AS HEART-HEALTHY FOOD Pecans are now designated as heart-healthy when enjoyed as part of a healthy eating pattern by the American Heart Association’s HeartCheck Certification Program (www.heartcheckmark.org), according to the National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA). Unroasted and unsalted pecan halves and pieces can now carry the Heart-Check mark to notify consumers that they meet the program’s nutritional guidelines, including criteria for saturated fat and sodium.

Dr. Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., the Bickford Green and Gold Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont and an American Heart Association spokesperson said, “We know that consumers have relied on the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark to easily identify heart-healthy foods for more than 15 years. Adding nuts, fish and other foods that are rich sources of good fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, enhances the program and gives more healthy options consumers can choose from with the same trust factor.”

“Pecans stay with you longer than high carbohydrate snacks that your body burns through quickly,” said Vickie Mabry, NPSA Executive Director. “With antioxidants as well as a tender texture, rich buttery flavor and gentle crunch, pecans make an ideal snack choice for everyone,” she added.

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World Industry News

Heart-Check Mark The American Heart Association’s HeartCheck Food Certification Program was launched in 1995 to help grocery shoppers quickly and easily identify heart-healthy foods that can be incorporated into a sensible eating pattern. In order to earn this designation, nuts must meet certain nutritional requirements for saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium and beneficial nutrients. Today, the red and white heart-healthy symbol has become the one of the most trusted and well-known nutrition icons representing heart-healthy eating.

Health Benefits of Pecans* Findings from a 2001 study conducted at Loma Linda University1 showed that adding just a handful of pecans to your diet each day may help inhibit unwanted oxidation of blood lipids, thus helping prevent coronary heart disease. Pecans also offer many other health benefits:

Cholesterol Pecans also play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease because they have an abundance of “good” heart healthy fats. These unsaturated fats can have a protective effect by lowering total blood cholesterol when eaten in moderation. Pecans contain no cholesterol and no trans-fat.

Vitamins Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals – including vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, several B vitamins and zinc. One ounce of pecans provides 10 percent of the recommended Daily Value for fiber. Pecans are also a natural, highquality source of protein that contains very few carbohydrates and no cholesterol and are naturally sodium-free.

Ways to Incorporate Pecans into a Healthy Lifestyle Pecans are easy to add to your eating plan; simply grab a handful! Pecans are healthy and delicious, and just a one-ounce serving (15- 20 pecan halves) packs more than 19 vitamins and minerals, fiber and protein to keep you going. They’re a perfect snack for both children and adults.

Often associated with indulgences and occasional treats, pecans can also be eaten in healthier forms and cooked or baked in a wide variety of foods to add flavor and nutrition. Delicious recipes can be found or created using pecans for breakfast, salads, entrees and side dishes.* * Pecan recipes and downloadable images of foods incorporating pecans can be found at www.ilovepecans.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PECAN SHELLERS ASSOCIATION The National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA), a non-profit trade association, is committed to educating culinary and health professionals, food technologists and the general public about the nutritional benefits, variety of uses and all around great taste of pecans. For more information on the health benefits of pecans and where to find them, visit www.ilovepecans.org.* Reference Rajaram, S., Burke, K., Connell, B., Myint, T., and Sabate, J. A monounsaturated fatty acidrich pecan-enriched diet favorably alters the serum lipid profile of healthy men and women, J. Nutr., 131, 2275, 2001.

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* Please note that the Heart-Check Food Certification does not apply to recipes, research or information reached through hyperlinks unless expressly stated. For more information, see the AHA nutrition guidelines at: heartcheckmark.org/guidelines.

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INC WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

Chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvadó

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS CALL ON FAT-PHOBIC AUSTRALIANS TO GO NUTS Australia is counted in the worst third of all OECD countries in its incidence of preventable chronic diseases. Obesity, coronary heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes and cancer account for approximately two thirds of the $100 billion plus spent each year on public health.

Cardiovascular disease affects one in six Australians (more than 3.4 million). One in two Australian men and one in three Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. An estimated 121,500 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year, which is set to rise to 150,000 by 2020.

that have studied nut consumption and cardiovascular risk. The association between frequent nut consumption and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality was observed for the first time in 1992. Since then, over 100 human clinical studies have evaluated the benefits of nuts, and reviewed all the possible mechanisms explaining the protective effect of nuts on cardiovascular disease. Dr. Ros also reviewed some emergent data in relation to the protective effect of nuts on cognitive decline, a subject of research that still needs to be explored in the future.

As in other developed countries, obesity can be considered an important problem of Public Health. Three in five adults (61%) and one in four children (25%) are overweight or obese, and sufficient scientific evidence has proved that obesity increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancers. As in other countries, in Australia around 30% of people attempt weight loss at least one time. In their attempts to lose weight, many exclude certain foods such as nuts, to reduce their caloric intake, in the belief that they contribute to weight gain. Similar attitudes about the role of foods in weight management have been demonstrated among health professionals. Research conducted on behalf of Nuts for Life in 2010 showed that only 46% of Australian fitness professionals and 46% of GPs surveyed thought that nuts were important for managing overweight or obesity compared to 70% of dietitians.

The INC World Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination is aware of the need to disseminate the importance of nuts in the prevention of diseases among health professionals. Nuts for Life in collaboration with the INC Forum organized a Symposium entitled “Nut consumption, cardiovascular risk, body weight and diabetes” in the framework of the 16th International Congress of Dietetics, held in Sydney, Australia, from 5th to 8th of September 2012.

This session, chaired by Lisa Yates, Program Manager and Dietitian at Nuts for Life, reviewed different aspects related to tree nuts. More than 150 participants discussed the latest studies that have associated the consumption of nuts with health. Dr. Emilio Ros from the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona reviewed all the epidemiologic and clinical trials

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Professor Jordi Salas-Salvadó from Rovira i Virgili University in Reus, Spain, and Chairman of the INC Word Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination presented the PREDIMED study, a large multicentre and randomized study conducted by different groups in Spain that aimed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet (supplemented with nuts or virgin olive oil) on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in subjects at high cardiovascular risk without events at the moment of recruitment. Prof. Salas-Salvadó reviewed the most important findings published to date on the effects of nut consumption on health in the frame of the PREDIMED trial. He also presented unpublished data from this clinical trial by mean of a baseline cross-sectional analysis of nut consumption and obesity, metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risk factors conducted in

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InC WorlD ForuM For nutrItIon researCh anD DIsseMInatIon

A Mediterranean diet enriched with a 30 g handful of mixed nuts a day can reduce the risk of diabetes by 52%.

diet moderately rich in vegetable fat has more protective effects on cardiovascular diseases”. “We think that the PREDIMED study will change Dietary Recommendations in the future, especially in those at high risk of cardiovascular disease” added Dr. Emilio Ros. Professor Linda Tapsell from the Wollongong University, Australia, and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the International Congress on Dietetics conducted an excellent review of scientific research in relation to the effect of nuts on body weight, insulin resistance and diabetes management. Prof. Linda Tapsell affirmed that “eating nuts in place of foods that are equivalent in energy does not cause weight gain”. “In fact several epidemiologic studies demonstrated an inverse association between nut consumption and weight gain or obesity”. In addition, “there are approximately 30 clinical trials that have demonstrated the beneficial effect of nut consumption on lipid profile, diabetes and other markers of disease, and most of them have not observed any negative effect on body weight”.

more than 7300 individuals before the interventions had started.

Prof. Salas-Salvadó commented that compared to participants consuming <1 serving/wk of nuts, those consuming >3 servings/ wk had 38% lower risk of obesity, 22% lower risk of central obesity, 22% lower risk of diabetes, 18% lower risk of metabolic syndrome, and 16% lower risk of hyperglycaemia.

PREDIMED has shown that a Mediterranean diet enriched with a 30 g handful of mixed nuts a day can: a) reduce the risk of diabetes by 52%; b) reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome by 13.7%; c) reduce blood glucose levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the LDL:HDL cholesterol ratio; d) decrease insulin resistance in those non diabetic individuals; e) improve biomarkers of inflammation and oxidation on the cardiovascular system, and f) reduce waist circumference.

In fact, since 2003 more than 50 scientific papers have been published on the wide-ranging health benefits of a high vegetable fat diet. In some cases, the benefits were evident after only three months, in some others after more than 4 years of follow-up.

Dr. Ros and Prof. Salas-Salvadó also participated in a Hot Session with more than 150 participants to discuss the most important results of the PREDIMED study in relation to the Mediterranean diet, especially with the consumption of two typical Mediterranean food rich in fat: virgin olive oil and tree nuts.

In fact several epidemiological studies demonstrated an inverse association between nut consumption and weight gain or obesity.

“Our nine years of research have overwhelmingly demonstrated that healthy diets rich in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids provide long-term protection from coronary heart disease, diabetes on obesity” said Prof. Salas-Salvadó and Dr. Emilio Ros. Nuts for Life also organized a press conference under the theme “International experts call on fat-phobic Australians to go nuts” on “In the last years the Dietary Public Recommendations were based occasion of the visit of both Spanish scientists, with great participation on low-fat diets. The PREDIMED study has demonstrated that a of the media.

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NEWS FROM THE NUTRITION RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

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

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

NEWS FROM THE INC NUTRITION RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

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

This past year has been a big one for INC NREF with regard to research projects. There were two INC NREF-funded nut consumption studies published in 2012. Dr. Victor Fulgoni and colleagues looked at the nutritional contribution of nuts and nut products to the U.S. population using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and determined the relationship of nuts and nut products consumption to certain health parameters, namely anthropometric measures, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood folate parameters, and C-reactive protein. Risk of metabolic syndrome was also evaluated. Two separate papers were published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition and Nutrition Research.

In addition, INC NREF funded six research projects. The first three have been discussed in previous columns: LSRO Evidence-Based Systematic Review on Nuts and Cardiovascular Disease

all of the analyses by the end of 2012 and have one or more papers submitted for publication in early 2013.

This review is looking at over 100 research articles (both domestic and international) on nuts and heart disease. The manuscript should be ready for publication in 2013.

Adventist Health Study-2

Nuts and Diabetes Follow-up Study

This analysis is a follow-up to the recent INC NREF-funded diabetes study, “Effect of Tree Nuts on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes.” The researchers, Drs. Cyril Kendall and David Jenkins, collected the necessary additional blood, plasma and serum samples and 24-hour urine collections in the original study to allow for additional analyses specifically looking at nuts and coronary heart disease risk factors. With these new measures they see the potential for a number of additional scientific publications. They hope to complete

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Dr. Joan Sabaté (author of the pooled analysis published in Archives of Internal Medicine) and his colleagues are now analyzing data from The Adventist Health Study-2 (AHS-2) at Loma Linda University. This database provides a unique base to investigate associations between nut consumption and nutrition, other lifestyle factors, anthropometrics and clinical outcomes. It is among the largest epidemiological data sets available and includes both men and women. Comparing the AHS-2 data with the previous the Adventist Health Study indicates that overall nut consumption has increased more than 50%, but the range of nut intake is very wide, from never, to two or more times daily. The goal of this project is to have a published paper that can be submitted to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

NEWS FROM THE NUTRITION RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

New Research There are three new research projects recently funded by INC NREF, all of which have just started: Nuts and Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome Meta-analyses

Dr. Cyril Kendall, at the University of Toronto, is conducting two meta-analyses. The first is on nuts and diabetes and the second is on nuts and metabolic syndrome. Dr. Kendall plans to have both papers published so that the resulting papers can be submitted to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for the 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

Nuts and Cancer

For the first time INC NREF is funding research looking at the possible effects of nuts on cancer. Researchers at Harvard and Dana Farber Cancer Institute will be conducting four different analyses looking at nuts and pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and adenoma, prostate cancer and total cancer. Preliminary results on nuts and pancreatic cancer have been very positive. This research will result in four separate papers to be submitted for publication over the next 3 years. Ideally at least one or more published papers will be submitted to the 2015 Dietary Guiltiness Advisory Committee for review.

Updated Nut Consumption Analyses

Dr. Fulgoni is currently updating the nut consumption analyses discussed above to include recently released (NHANES) data through 2010. The data in the original analyses only went through 2004. This updated information will be published and submitted to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Exhibits In 2012 INC NREF also exhibited at a number of health professional meetings targeting dietitians, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Research reprints and INC NREF brochures were distributed at the meetings and the materials were very well received.

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

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New (MiNor) DrieD Fruits aND Nuts to DiversiFy aND eNrich the Market

By Prof. Dr. Uygun Aksoy, Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture (Turkey) and Member of the INC Scientific and Government Affairs Committee.

At worldwide level, tree nut and dried fruit production is estimated as 2,657,541 tons of tree nuts and 8,228,819 tons of dried fruit as of 2011 (www. nutfruit.org). This amount includes almonds kernel, cashews kernel, pistachios in-shell, walnuts kernel, hazelnuts kernel, pecans kernel, pine nuts kernel, macadamias kernel and Brazil nuts kernel and dates, dried grapes, prunes, dried apricots and dried figs in the decreasing order.

Drying is the oldest method of preservation known to human.

Reduced water levels allow long-term storage of dried fruit and nuts under ambient conditions. High mineral, sugar or oil contents make them a major source of nutrients and energy.

Consumption trends display an increase not only in producing countries but also in importing countries although with less diversity.

Many of us are quite familiar with a wide range of dried fruit and nut species. Some of these species are noted as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;minor cropsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meaning that they are either not widely grown or consumed, even if they possess high value. The common asset of these minor dried fruit and tree nuts is generally their phytochemical composition and nutritional value. Many are produced in a specific geographic location and consumed locally for millennia as part of the traditional diet. However as scientific findings reveal their health properties they gain more popularity. Pomegranate and cranberry can be accepted as the latest examples of such new crops. Fruits of both species are marketed and consumed dried, as well.

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Minor fruit and nuts are generally wild collected or grown as low-input, dried under sun, therefore they are energy efficient, add a new taste (as snacks) and value (different functional properties) especially in mixtures (increased nutritive value, rich in fiber, minerals, phenolicsâ&#x20AC;Ś; color) and are easy to store, transport and market.

They may be seen as new in the world market, but millennia old for locals.

They are still minor but worth investigating, especially for social welfare in rural areas.

Due to their local importance, minor dried fruit and tree nuts can be a tool and a crucial part of rural development strategies, especially in developing countries, by generating rural employment and income and involving more women at harvest, drying, processing or packing processes.

There are some challenges to be faced in order to increase the market value of minor species: a low and scattered production; difficulties in providing a standard quality (even if diversity may be an added value for diversification e.g. mulberry); risks associated with optimum harvest time or lack of knowledge on good hygiene, harvest and post-harvest practices.

Every year tens or more of new species are revealed by surveys/ researches on genetic resources. However, the market for such crops either does not exist or is still a niche at world-wide level.

In order to create a demand, consumers need to be well informed about such species and their health and/or social values. As for harvests from natural flora, sustainable collection strategies must be developed.

News FroM the iNc secretariat

Examples of minor dried fruits with high market potential:

MULBERRY White Mulberry (Morus alba L.), Red Mulberry (M. rubra L.), Black Mulberry (M. nigra) White: Native to China; Red: Native to eastern USA; Black: Native to western Asia. High amounts of flavonoids (antioxidants).

Excellent source of Iron (1.85 mg/100g). Contain resveratrol.

Good amount of Vitamin A and E. PERSIMMON (Diospyros kaki; D. lotus..)

Diospyros (Ebenaceae) genus has more than 400 species.

Distributed from tropical to temperate zones in Asia, Africa and Central-South America. Historical sweetener in Japan. Generally sun dried after peeling. Rich in phyto-nutrients, flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants like catechins and gallocatechins, as well as important anti-tumor compound betulinic acid. Rich in fiber and minerals.

POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum L.) Native to Middle East and Caucasus. Widely grown in India, Iran, Turkey and USA. Development of machinery to separate arils started a new channel for arils (seeds coated with juice).

Arils are freeze or drum dried. Numerous health benefits. High in phenols. Seeds are rich in phytosterols.

JUJUBE (Zizyphus jujuba) Rhamnaceae family, distributed in the subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and America. Native to Southern Asia. Cultivated all over the world. Can be consumed dried, baked, boiled, stewed or in candied form. High anti-oxidant potential, gallic acid, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins. High potassium content. Combination of fructose, glucose, rhamnose, sorbitol and sucrose.

CORNELIAN CHERRY (Cornus mas) Member of the Cornaceae family, widely spread in southern Europe and western and southern Asia. Mostly used as an ornament. Deciduous tree/bush. Fruit harvested mid to late summer. Used in processing. Rich in flavonoid (isoflavone), carotenoids and melatonin. High potassium and Vitamin C content.

HAWTHORN (Crateagus sp.)

Gene center: Asia and Mediterranean countries. Widely distributed in the northern hemisphere. Rich in flavonoids (rutin, hiperosyte, vitexin, acetyl, vitexin and derivatives, oligomericprosiyanidins (catechin, epicatechin). High Vitamin C content.

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Maternal nut consumption may be beneficial for childhood allergies Children are around a third less likely to suffer from allergies if their mothers eat nuts during pregnancy, according to new research from Denmark. The study – published in the September, 2012, issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology – examined the relationship between maternal peanut intake during pregnancy and the development of allergy and allergic diseases children.

The links between maternal intake of nuts and risk of childhood allergy has been controversial area of research in recent years, with scientific findings offering mixed findings on whether maternal nut intake has any effect on childhood allergy incidence – and if so whether it increases or decreases risks. For example until a few years ago, women were advised to avoid nuts due to fears that they could increase the risk of their child developing a peanut allergy. However, this advice with withdrawn in the UK in 2009 when the Food Standards Agency said there was ‘no clear evidence’ of any risk.

Led by Ekaterina Maslova from Statens Serum Institute, Denmark, the researchers followed more than 60,000 mothers and their children, from early pregnancy until the children were seven – finding that consumption of nuts during pregnancy reduced the incidence of allergies and lowered the chance of a child being classed as asthmatic at 18 months by about a quarter, and a third at seven years. “We found that maternal peanut and tree nut intake one or more times per week during pregnancy decreases the risk of allergic disease in childhood,” said Maslova and her colleagues. “These results do not support avoidance of nuts during pregnancy,” they added.

Commenting on the research, the UK NHS Choices service noted that even though the study takes into account a multitude of possible factors that may influence the association between nuteating during pregnancy and child asthma, “it is difficult to ensure that they have all been fully accounted for.” However the service added: “The idea of exposing an individual to low levels of an allergen in order to decrease their sensitivity to it is not a new one, and in fact this sort of therapy (immunotherapy) is already used in the treatment of certain allergies. Therefore, it is plausible that consumption of nuts during pregnancy would expose the developing baby to the compounds that are in nuts and so may decrease the likelihood that they would develop allergy as a child.”

Maslova and her colleagues asked 61,908 women halfway through their pregnancy about their diet, including information on how often they ate nuts. The team then checked the health of the women’s babies after they gave birth, specifically looking at whether the child had been diagnosed with asthma by the time they were 18 months, or had symptoms of wheeze. This was followed by a second assessment taken when the child was 7 years old.

The main finding of the investigation was that maternal consumption of peanuts or tree nuts (defined as consumption at least once a week) was associated with a 20-25 percent decreased risk of the child being diagnosed with asthma at 18 months. Compared with never consumption, children of mothers who ate peanuts one or more times per week were also 34 percent less likely to have an asthma diagnosis recorded in the registry and were 17 percent less likely to have a prescription recorded for asthma medication at age seven. They authors said it is plausible that consumption of nuts during pregnancy would expose the developing baby to the compounds that are in nuts and so may decrease the likelihood that they would develop an allergy.

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Nutrition Research update

Almonds may provide fewer calories than previously thought A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that almonds may provide 20% fewer calories than previously thought. David Baer and his team from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) used a new method of measuring the calories in almonds, which built on traditional methods and allowed the researchers to determine the number of calories actually digested and absorbed from almonds. The study was conducted to determine the energy value of almonds in the human diet and to compare the measured energy value with the value calculated from Atwater factors, the primary method used to determine the energy content of foods.

To calculate the measured energy value of almonds, 18 healthy adults consumed one of three diets for 18 days each.

The three treatments were administered to subjects in a crossover design where the diets contained one of three almond doses: 0, 42, or 84 g/day. During the final nine days of each treatment, volunteers collected all urine and feces, and samples of diets, urine, and feces were analyzed for macronutrient and energy contents. From this, the “measured” (metabolizable) energy content of the almonds was determined. Resulting data showed a 1-oz serving of almonds (about 23 almonds) has 129 calories versus the 160 calories currently listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel.

The authors considered the potential implications of substituting other foods with almonds in a calorie-controlled study. Based on the data, when an 84-g serving of almonds was incorporated into the diet daily, the energy digestibility of the diet as a whole decreased by 5%. “Therefore, for individuals with energy intakes between 2000 and 3000 kcal/d, incorporation of 84 g almonds into the diet daily in exchange for the same number of calories from highly digestible foods would result in a reduction of available energy of 100–150 kcal/d,” wrote the authors. “With a weight-reduction diet, this deficit could result in more than a pound of weight loss per month.”

The new study’s results support previous research indicating that the fat in almonds is not absorbed as easily as the fat in most other foods, due to almonds’ natural cellular structure. This implies that traditional methods of calculating calories overstate those calories coming from almonds because they do not account for the fact that fat digestibility from nuts is less than that from other foods. The results may have implications for certain other foods as well.

www.prunesco.com

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Nutrition Research update

CAN WALNUTS BOOST FERTILITY? Consuming walnuts every day could help to improve the quality of semen in young men, according to new research data. The study – published in Biology of Reproduction – investigates whether increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), that are critical for sperm maturation and membrane function, would increase sperm quality in men consuming a Western-style diet.

Led by Dr Wendie Robbins at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, the research team reveals that eating 75 grams of walnuts a day improves the vitality, motility, and morphology of sperm in healthy men aged 21 to 35.

“Improved semen quality was associated with increases in blood serum omega-6 FA and in the plant source of omega-3 (ALA) but not with other omega-3s,” reveal Robbins and her colleagues.

“Whether adding walnuts to the diet will go beyond the shifts in sperm parameters as seen in this study to improving birth outcomes for men within fertility clinic populations or in the general population is not yet known and will require further research,” they note.

The study, which was supported by the California Walnut Commission, assessed the quality of 117 healthy men between the ages of 21 and 35. Robbins and her team split the men into two groups, with 58 avoiding consumption of all tree nuts, whilst 59 consumed 75 grams of walnuts per day for 12 weeks.

Previous studies have indicated that 75 grams of walnuts is a consumption level at which blood lipid levels would change, but at which healthy young men would not gain weight, note the researchers.

The participants’ semen quality was analyzed according to conventional parameters of male fertility, including sperm concentration, vitality, motility, morphology, and chromosome abnormalities. After 12 weeks, the team found no significant changes in body-mass index, body weight, or activity level in either group.

The men consuming walnuts, however, had significantly increased levels of omega-6 and omega-3 (ALA) fatty acids and experienced improvement in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology, explains Robbins and her colleagues.

Those eating walnuts also had fewer chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm following the dietary intervention. The control group, on the other hand, experienced no changes, they said.

Robbins noted that although her team’s research indicates that consumption of walnuts can positively affect sperm quality, it is still unknown whether such benefits would apply to men with fertility problems or whether they would actually translate into increased fertility.

Research Reveals Mediterranean Diet Keeps Weight Off Moderately obese people who ate the Mediterranean diet lost more weight than groups of people who followed either a low-fat or a low-carbohydrate diet, researchers reported. The Mediterranean group weighed almost seven pounds less than they weighed six years earlier. In the low-carb group, the total was 3.7 pounds, and the low-fat group was 1.3 pounds. The Mediterranean diet is one based on the eating habits of people who live in that part of the world -- high in produce, and including olive oil and fish.

The researchers, in a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, collected data from a two-year work-based program called the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial. They randomly assigned 322 moderately obese people, most of them men, to the three diet categories.

The participants were given education assistance about the diets.

After two years, the average weight loss was 6.4 pounds in the low-fat group, almost 10 pounds in the Mediterranean group and 10.3 in the low-carb group.

At that point, 259 people remained in the study. After six years, 67% had continued with their original diet, 11% had switched to another diet, and 22% were not dieting.

The researchers, led by Dr. Dan Schwartzfuchs of the Nuclear Research Center Negev in Israel, concluded that the workplace intervention “had long-lasting, favorable postintervention effects, particularly among participants receiving the Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets, despite a partial regain of weight.”

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Nutrition Research update

Dark chocolate could reduce heart disease risk Cocoa compounds found in dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure in the short term and could help guard against cardiovascular disease, according to a recently released study. A new systematic review in The Cochrane Library assessed 20 previous trials where daily dark chocolate or cocoa powder consumption was seen to cut blood pressure compared to a control group.

The review comes soon after The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a positive opinion on a health claim from chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut linking cocoa to improved blood flow, a move deemed â&#x20AC;&#x153;encouragingâ&#x20AC;? for the confectionery industry.

The 20 trials assessed by Australian researchers lasted between two to eight weeks and involved 856 people consuming between 30-1080 mg of flavanols in 3-100 g of chocolate each day. The researchers found that high flavanol chocolate or cocoa powder reduced blood pressure on average by 2-3mm Hg. Compounds found in cocoa called flavanols are thought to increase amounts of nitric acid in the body, which causes blood vessel walls to relax and open, consequently cutting blood pressure.

Cocoa had been thought to provide blood pressure benefits after it was discovered that the natives of San Blas Island in Central American, who drink flavanol-rich cocoa drinks every day, had normal blood pressure regardless of age.

Lead researcher Karin Ried of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine in Melbourne, Australia, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Although we don't yet have

evidence for any sustained decrease in blood pressure, the small reduction we saw over the short term might complement other treatment options and might contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease."

She said that longer term trials were needed to assess the effects on stroke and heart disease risk and determine any poetical sideeffects of long term consumption. "These trials should use flavanol-free products in the control groups to eliminate any potential effects of low-dose flavanol on blood pressure," she continued.

Around five percent of people in the 20 trials reported adverse effects of cocoa/chocolate consumption, such as gastrointestinal complaints and distaste of the trial product.

Only one percent of patients in the control groups reported complaints in comparison. The researchers said it was difficult to determine the amount of chocolate needed to achieve blood pressure benefits as flavanol levels in chocolate can vary due to changes in the chocolate making process.

A previous chocolate study reported that identified stages in chocolate processing could affect the quality of the final product, including type of cocoa tree, country of origin and pod storage.

Dark chocolate has a higher concentration of cocoa flavanols compared to milk or white chocolate, by around 60 percent, according to an earlier study. Researchers of the current review said that lower flavanol chocolate, such as milk or white varieties, may have some minor beneficial effect on blood pressure, but a subset of trials evaluated had shorter trial periods and participants knew their allocated group.

Eurofins_Anzeige_TheCracker_Trampe_version2.1 Dienstag, 20. April 2010 16:16:32

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Nutrition Research update

Nuts Better for Antioxidants, Not Supplements Far from reducing cancer risk, as a lot of people believe, high doses of some antioxidant supplements may actually increase it, evidence suggests. The discouraging news appeared in the May 16, 2012, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET, INCLUDING NUTS MAY HELP WOMEN WITH DIABETES Frank Hu and a collaborating group of researchers at Harvard University released a new study “Healthful Dietary Patterns and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.” According to the summary, they say“ we observed significant inverse associations between increased adherence to the alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and alternate Healthy Eating Index (aHEI) dietary patterns and incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in this large prospective study of women at high risk with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) and long-term follow-up. Identifying postpartum modifiable risk factors and increasing education are crucial for the early prevention of T2DM among this high risk population. Findings from the present study suggest that public health efforts targeting women with a history of GDM for the prevention of T2DM may consider encouraging diets rich in whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and protein sources such as white meat, seafood, nuts, and legumes and reducing intake of red and processed meats and sugarsweetened beverages.”

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Based on current evidence, vitamins C and E haven't been found to shield people from cancer; vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C don't seem to protect against getting or dying from cancer; selenium doesn't prevent prostate cancer; and there's no convincing evidence that betacarotene or vitamin A, C, or E supplements prevent gastrointestinal cancers. Still worse, the researchers wrote, "Some clinical trials show that some of these antioxidant nutrients may increase cancer risk."

And there's more bad news, from a study of 35,000 men reported in the Oct. 12,2011,issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association: Daily vitamin E supplementation may increase the risk of prostate cancer among healthy men. The investigators warned that the implications of their findings were worrisome given that more than half of people 60 or older take supplements containing vitamin E. Moreover, 23 percent of them take at least 400 IU per day despite a recommended daily dietary allowance of only 22IUfor adult men.

This report suggests that preventive measures are better achieved by avoiding antioxidant supplements and reducing cancer risk safely by quitting smoking, avoiding excessive drinking, and eating a healthy diet that includes plenty off fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.

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y-tomoyasu@satake-japan.co.jp November 2012 | The Cracker 99

Nutrition Research update

Rate of Severe Reactions High in Kids With Food Allergies

Results of a new National of Institute of Health (NIH) study reveal many young kids who are allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts have serious reactions after accidental exposures caused by misread labels, cross contamination between foods or mistakes in food preparation. The findings reinforce the importance of caregivers working closely with their doctors to understand how to effectively manage a child's food allergy.

or egg, or who were likely to be allergic, based on a positive skin test and the presence of moderate-to-severe eczema, a chronic skin condition. The investigators are carefully following these children to see whether their allergies resolve or if new allergies, particularly peanut allergy, develop.

The study is ongoing at research hospitals in Baltimore; Denver; Durham, N.C.; Little Rock, Ark.; and New York City.

The study was published online in the June 25 issue of the journal Pediatrics and are the latest findings from the Consortium of Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), a network established by NIAID to conduct clinical trials, observational studies and basic research to better understand and treat food allergy.

CoFAR investigators advised parents and caregivers to avoid giving their children foods that could cause an allergic reaction. Study participants also received an emergency action plan, describing the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to food and what to do if a child has one, along with a prescription and instructions on how to give epinephrine if a severe reaction occurred.

The “Big Eight" allergens—tree nuts, peanuts, soy, fish, shellfish, dairy, egg and wheat—account for 90% of all food allergies, and children are most at-risk because they usually are not the ones preparing foods or reading labels.

Almost 90% of allergic reactions to egg, milk or peanut occurred after a child accidentally ate the food. The reasons for the accidental exposures included caregivers misreading food labels, not checking a food for an allergen, and unintentionally allowing a food allergen to come into contact with other foods. The study also found that approximately 11% of allergic reactions to egg, milk or peanut occurred after a caregiver— most often a parent—provided a child the allergenic food intentionally.

"Intentional exposures to allergenic food are typically reported in teenagers, who tend to take more risks or who might be embarrassed about their food allergy," says David Fleischer, M.D., the lead study author.

"What is troubling is that in this study we found that a significant number of young children received allergenic foods from parents who were aware of the allergy."

The study also found that severe and potentially life-threatening reactions in a significant number of these children occur and that some caregivers are hesitant to give such children epinephrine, a medication that reverses the symptoms of such reactions and can save lives.

"This study reinforces the importance of doctors, parents and other caregivers working together to be even more vigilant in managing food allergy in children," said Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The research is part of an ongoing CoFAR observational study that enrolled 512 infants aged 3 to 15 months who at study entry were allergic to milk

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Data compiled from patient questionnaires and clinic visits over three years showed 72% of the children had a food-allergic reaction, and 53% of the children had more than one reaction, with the majority of reactions being to milk, egg or peanut. This translated into a rate of nearly one foodallergic reaction per child per year. Approximately 11% of the reactions were classified as severe and included symptoms, such as swelling in the throat, difficulty breathing, a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness or fainting. Almost all of the severe reactions were caused by ingestion of the allergen rather than inhalation or skin contact.

In only 30% of the severe reactions did caregivers administer epinephrine as an emergency protocol. Investigators found that caregivers did not give children epinephrine for a number of reasons including, the drug was not available, they were too afraid to administer it, they did not recognize the symptoms as those of an allergic reaction, or they did not recognize the reaction as severe.

"This study documenting the natural history of allergic reactions to three of the major food allergens in preschool children provides important new information for parents, caregivers and health care workers because of the large number of children involved and the rigorous follow-up," said Daniel Rotrosen, M.D., director of the NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation, which oversees CoFAR. "The findings not only reveal that food-allergic reactions occur at a much higher rate in young children than we thought, they also suggest that more vigilance and increased use of epinephrine is needed."

Find out how food companies develop allergen control programs for their manufacturing facilities to comply with federal regulations, and to ensure consumers are provided safe food products by viewing the “Controlling Food Allergens" slide show on Food Product Design.

Nutrition Research update

Med style diet linked to bone health Consumption of a Mediterranean style diet, enriched with olive oil, could help to protect bone health, according to new research. The study – published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism – investigated various low fat and Mediterranean style diets on markers for bone health and bone formation in elderly people.

Led by Dr José Manuel Fernández-Real of of Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta, Spain, the research team reveal that consumption of a Mediterranean diet enriched with olive oil for two years was associated with increased serum concentrations of bone formation markers (osteocalcin), suggesting a protective effect on bone health by increasing the formation of healthy bone.

"The intake of olive oil has been related to the prevention of osteoporosis in experimental and in vitro models," said Fernández-Real. "This is the first randomized study which demonstrates that olive oil preserves bone, at least as inferred by circulating bone markers, in humans."

The research team examined the effects of three set diets on markers of bone health and formation over a two year period in 127 community-dwelling men aged between 55 and 80 years. The participants were selected from one

of the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (PREDIMED) study centers. The PREDIMED study is a large, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial aimed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. All had at least two years of follow-up.

A low-fat ‘control’ diet was received by 34 participants, whilst 51 received a Mediterranean diet enriched with nuts, and a further 42 followed a Mediterranean diet enriched with virgin olive oil. The participants in this study were 127 community-dwelling men aged 55 to 80 years randomly selected from one of the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (PREDIMED) study centers who had at least two years of follow-up. The PREDIMED study is a large, parallel group, randomized, controlled trial aimed to assess the effect of the Mediterranean diet on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Biochemical measurements of osteocalcin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were performed at baseline and after two year follow-up on fasting blood samples. Fernández-Real and his team found that only consumption of the Mediterranean diet with olive oil was associated with a significant increase in the concentrations of total osteocalcin and other bone formation markers.

There were also no significant changes in serum calcium in subjects taking olive oil whereas serum calcium decreased significantly in the other two groups, they added. "It's important to note that circulating osteocalcin was associated with preserved insulin secretion in subjects taking olive oil," added Fernández-Real. "Osteocalcin has also been described to increase insulin secretion in experimental models," he added.

Organized High Fat Diet Changes Metabolism And Prevents Obesity Recent research suggests a planned high-fat diet can reduce body weight and spark a unique metabolism where ingested fats are stored and used for energy when food is not available. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Professors Oren Froy and Zecharia Madar, conducted a study with mice, and found that those with a scheduled high-fat diet had a lower body weight than mice on a low-fat diet with identical caloric intake.

Earlier research found that disrupting mammals' daily eating schedules and feeding them a high-fat diet can interfere with their metabolism and cause weight gain. The body's internal clock controls behavioral patterns, such as sleeping and eating, as well as the distribution and storage of energy and metabolism. Froy and team hypothesized that cautious scheduling of meals would regulate the biological clock, reducing the effects of a high-fat diet that normally cause weight gain.

The 18 week study, published in The FASEB Journal, separated mice into four groups: High-fat fixed schedule group; Low-fat fixed schedule

group; Low-fat unscheduled group and High-fat unscheduled group. All four groups gained weight during the study, with the highest weight gain found in the group eating the unscheduled high-fat diet. The mice on the scheduled high-fat diet finished with a lower body weight than those on the unscheduled high-fat diet. Amazingly, the ones on the scheduled high-fat diet also had a lower body weight than the mice on the unscheduled low-fat diet, despite identical caloric intake.

Likewise, the mice on the scheduled high-fat diet displayed a metabolic rate where fats were used for energy during times when food was not available, such as between meals. Professor Froy concluded: "Our research shows that the timing of food consumption takes precedence over the amount of fat in the diet, leading to improved metabolism and helping to prevent obesity. Improving metabolism through the careful scheduling of meals, without limiting the content of the daily menu, could be used as a therapeutic tool to prevent obesity in humans."

November 2012 | The Cracker

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Nutrition Research update

NUTS IN DIET REVEAL GOOD RESULTS Two new studies offer fresh insights into the best way to lose weight and keep it off. A diet based on healthy carbohydrates—rather than a low-fat or low-carbohydrate diet—offers the best chance of keeping weight off without bringing unwanted side effects, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests.

Study participants following a low-glycemic-index diet, which is similar to a Mediterranean diet and focuses on fish, fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, also saw improved cholesterol levels and other important markers that lower the risks of developing heart disease and diabetes. Such a diet might include minimally processed oatmeal, almonds, brown rice, beans and healthy fats like olive oil, among other foods.

The study was led by researchers at the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children's Hospital and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the New Balance Foundation, which is affiliated with the athletic-shoe maker. It was designed to assess how each of three common diets affects the ability to keep weight off. Participants had all of their food prepared for them, and their food intake was monitored. They ate many meals at the hospital, picking up others to eat at home.

Study participants following a low-glycemic index diet, which is similar to Mediterranean diet and focuses on fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, also saw improved cholesterol levels. David Ludwig, one of the study's authors and the director of the center, explained that most people struggle to keep weight off. Previous studies have shown that weight loss reduces the body's daily energy expenditure—or how many calories the body burns through activity and just by resting—making it easy to regain weight. Dr. Ludwig's study was designed to look at the impact of the three diets on measures of energy expenditure, in addition to assessing hormones, fat levels in the blood and other health markers.

The study's 21 participants, 18 to 40 years old, initially lost 10% to 15% of their body weight during a three-month diet that contained about 45% of total calories from carbohydrates, 30% from fat and 25% from protein. A month later, participants were placed on one of three diets for a month: a low-fat diet limiting fats to 20% of total calories; a low-carbohydrate diet modeled on the Atkins diet, limiting carbohydrate intake to 10% of total calories; and a low-glycemic-index diet, which contained 40% of total calories from

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carbohydrates, 40% from fats and 20% from protein. Participants were then switched to the other two diets during two additional four-week periods.

"The low-fat diet had the worst effect" on energy expenditure, Dr. Ludwig said.

Participants on that diet also had increases in triglycerides, a type of fat, and lower levels of so-called good cholesterol. "We should avoid severely restricting any major nutrient and focus on the quality of the nutrient," he said.

Dr. Ludwig said those on the low-carb diet had the biggest boost in total energy expenditure, burning about 300 calories more per day than those on the lowfat diet—about the same as an hour of moderate exercise. But that bump came at a cost: increases in cortisol, a stress hormone, and a measure of inflammation called CRP, which can raise the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

Those on the low-glycemic-index diet burned about 150 calories a day more than those on the low-fat diet without any negative impacts on cholesterol levels or various hormones, making it the ideal diet, Dr. Ludwig said. The glycemic index measures the impact of carbohydrates on blood-sugar levels.

A second study in the same medical journal showed that people in an 18-month weight-loss program that started with monthly meetings lost nearly as much weight as those in a much costlier program of the same duration with group sessions that initially met weekly. That study, led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, found that the monthly program cut about $600 off the cost of a $1,360 traditional weight-loss program with the weekly classes.

Members of the group taking monthly classes were mailed the same material as those who attended classes weekly, and those who failed to meet weight-loss goals could get individual counseling by phone or in person.

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