Focus Archive > Page 86

Invisible Watermarking Could Help Alleviate the Wait

The next time you’re sitting in line, waiting for the cashier to find an oddly-placed barcode on the snack package the customer in front of you so desperately craves, think of this: this dismal part …

Google Invests in the Nexus of Technology and Food

Food and technology have always been intrinsically linked. As humanity expanded its ability to manipulate the world around it, food was always a logical place to apply new tools. From human ancestors learning that cooking …

Can Your City’s Food Be Fully Locally-Sourced?

Is your diet local? If not, can it be? Researchers at the University of California, Merced asked these very questions and, overwhelmingly, the answers were yes. According to the research, most American cities’ food requirements …

Private Label Canned Vegetables Sales Retain Dollar Share

Private label sales continue to control dollar share in the canned vegetable sector, according to a Food Institute analysis of data provided by IRI Worldwide. Private label products remained a top seller in many canned …

Avian Flu Price Tag Costly

The cost of avian flu has a dollar total: $1 billion. That is the combined total that researchers at the universities of Minnesota and Iowa State estimate will cost the two hardest hit states by …

Alternative Beverages on the Rise

As sales of staples such as soda decline, contenders are appearing across the beverage industry. Dairy hasn’t gone untouched, with plant-based alternatives growing rapidly. Other botanical beverages are trying to ride the same wave that …

Millennial Habits May Eventually Shift to Past Norms

While Millennials have been shifting the landscape with their unique spending habits, they tend to shift to reflect older generations’ after they settle down and start families, according to a study by Goldman Sachs. Younger …

Florida Orange Forecast Drops Below 100 Million Boxes

As the USDA forecast for oranges continues to drop, the industry’s citrus department is asking the state for money for their budget next year. USDA reduced this season’s orange crop by 5%, a total of …

GMO-Free Certification Process Coming from USDA?

In what appears to be a major victory for the anti-GMO movement, a leaked USDA letter from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent to employees indicates that the department is creating a GMO-Free certification and labeling …

Consumers Willing to Use Digital Tech in Stores

The world is adapting to the rise of online shopping options, including the use of digital options for brick-and-mortar trips. Each region has proven an early adopter of certain technologies over others, and North American …

American Consumers Ready for Healthy Vending Machines

Despite America’s newly-found desire for healthier food, there is one facet of food retail that remains almost entirely stocked by high-sugar products and unhealthy choices: vending machines. But the tides are changing for the long-established …

Fast Food Approaches Vary on Social Media

Different fast food chains are finding success in different aspects of social media, according to a study by Unmetric. While all the major chains have a presence, they vary in how they respond to messages, …

Could GMO Livestock Affect Future Food Security?

I’m unsure if any word conjures up a more spirited debate in the food industry than “GMO.” Genetically modified organisms have been a hot topic in the industry, with critics claiming they are unnatural and …

Are Avocado Supplies Reaching a Breaking Point?

The avocado is an interesting fruit, a hold-over from a time long past. The seed is too large for most of today’s animals to properly disperse, and for two million years it barely survived on …

Younger Generations Fuel Online Grocery Growth

While online grocery is steadily growing, its pace will likely pick up as Millennials and Generation Z continue growing their purchasing power. Both generations grew up with digital technology, and the vast majority of both …

Almonds Acreage Ascends in 2014

While almonds are being scapegoated as a leading cause of drought conditions in California, acreage topped the 1 million mark for the first time. California’s 2014 almond acreage is estimated to be 1,020,000 acres, up …

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La Gran Familia Goya: Goya Foods Celebrates Opening

On Wednesday, Goya Foods President and Executive Vice President Bob and Peter Unanue invited coworkers, friends, family and the press to attend the grand opening celebration of their new Jersey City, N.J. facility. The new …

How a Chilean Volcano Affects the U.S. Salmon Market

A volcano in Chile may affect the amount of salmon available in the U.S. Official damage estimates are not available yet, but Eduardo Aguilera of the National Fishing Service says about 20 million fish have …

Sustainable Palm Oil Sourcing Presents Challenges

More and more major companies are turning away from palm oil as a bid to attract consumers concerned about environmental damage. McDonald’s made the announcement in April, joining Dunkin’ Brands and Yum! Brands Inc. in …

Bojangles’ IPO to Fuel Aggressive Growth

Bojangles’ Inc., the Charlotte-based chicken chain with a loyal following in the South, plans to offer 6.25 million shares in its initial public offering. Some analysts believe it could generate more than $106 million with …

Avian Flu Continues to Spread

The recent H5N2 avian influenza virus may affect the poultry industry for years to come, according to USDA’s chief veterinary officer Dr. John Clifford. Although Dr. Clifford said new cases should drop to close to …

Removal of GMOs, Antibiotics From Supply Increasing

Consumer demand for healthier and more transparent products is shaking up the entire supply chain, from producers through retailers and foodservice outlets. Sales of Non-GMO Project Verified products topped $11 billion in 2014, while Chipotle …

Sweet Corn IMEX Up While Peas Decline

The import and export of sweet corn increased while peas decreased in certain sectors in a year-to-date comparison ending Feb. 28. Imports for frozen sweet corn jumped 29% in volume to 9.2 million-lbs. and 18% …

GrubHub Data Analysis Reveals Urban Dining Trends

Even with restaurant chains offering the same meals across the country, certain foods are more popular in some areas than other. Spread Sheet took a look at meal-ordering patterns on GrubHub across the country, analyzing …

As Bees Disappear, So Too Does Our Choice of Foods

The news hasn’t been very good for bees in recent years. Colony collapse disorder, an epidemic that some have argued is curtailing as of late, alarmed bee keepers who found loss rates above 19% more …

Rise of Nutraceuticals May Lead to More Mergers

The continued merging of food and health could lead to an increase in merger activity as both food and drug companies jump on board the trend to take advantage of the booming market. The market …

Fast Food Chains Use Heat to Win Over Millennials

The fast-food landscape in America has changed. Powerhouses like McDonald’s are losing their market share as younger consumers begin to demand food products beyond the traditional fare that their parents ate. Struggling operations have been …

California Almond Industry Defends Water Usage

The almond industry is fighting back against the notion that it is a major user of water in drought-stricken California. Entering its fourth year of drought, the state recently imposed for mandatory statewide water cutbacks …