FI Spotlight: 3 Smart Gardens Reviewed by a Plant Expert

Technology has paved the way for growing fresh produce anywhere, but which smart garden is best for your needs? Join us on FI Spotlight as Tyler Mason, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Oklahoma State University, ...

FI Spotlight: How Seraphim Social Beverage Elevates Drinking Minus The Alcohol

With trends like the sober curious movement and Dry January, the move to drink without a buzz is growing by the second, and Seraphim Social Beverage shines in this spotlight. It’s a non-alocholic wine that ...

FI Spotlight: Hawaiian Cuisine Is Exploding—Here’s Why Everyone Wants a Taste

Hawaiian cuisine is making waves in the U.S., with Hawaiian barbecue and mac salad skyrocketing in popularity. Learn what’s fueling this surge, how businesses are capitalizing on it, and why consumers crave island flavors. Watch ...

FI Spotlight: Unveiling The Truth About Food Fraud

It’s not just limited to handbags, shoes, and clothes. Fraud has been affecting the food industry, worldwide, in a big way. But just how bad has it gotten? How much money are we losing to ...

FI Spotlight: What Makes Clean Label Products Clean?

Organic, Non-GMO, Keto, Paleo - the list of phrases that are now on many food products goes on and on. Here's another one - clean-label certified. What does that mean? Why is it important? The ...

FI Spotlight: What’s Behind Final Boss Sour’s Social Media Domination?

The umami flavor has had its moment. The spicy flavor has had its moment. Now, it's the sour flavor's turn. According to co-founder James Hicks, that was part of the motivation for the creation of ...

FI Spotlight – Life Smoothies: Reviving The Beverage Category

Appetizing flavors, conveniently packaged, 100% natural - these are just some of the phrases to describe Dubai-based company Life Smoothies. The Food Institute CEO and Managing Partner Brian Choi got an inside look at the ...

FI Spotlight: Why People Got Sweet on the Sour Flavor of Pickles

2024 was dubbed “The Year of the Pickle” by many, with influencers on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram going crazy for anything dill or dill-flavored. And the trend isn’t slowing down – we’re still seeing a ...

FI Spotlight: How Nordic Culture Inspired This Food Trend

Check out this better-for-you product that is popping off in the snack category. Jöey Seed Crisps are gluten-free, packed with protein, and inspired by Swedish Crispbread. Produced By the FI Video Production Team: Susan Choi and Brittany ...

FI Spotlight: Unboxing the Specialty Food Association’s New Winter FancyFaire Show

It’s the ultimate unveiling - join The Food Institute as we do a deep dive into The Speciality Food Association’s new Winter FancyFaire show! From immersive food experiences to ultimate industry networking opportunities, this new ...

FI Spotlight: How Steeped is Disrupting the Coffee Game

Forget Coffee Makers, French Presses, Scales, or Grinders - now, all you need is a bag. That's the concept behind Steeped, a single serve method of brewing coffee which steeps in a cup of hot ...

FI Spotlight: How AI Powered Solutions Are Transforming the Shopping Experience

Want to look into the latest innovations in retail tech that were showcased at NRF’s 2025: Retail’s Big Show? Join The Food Institute as we give you a quick roundup of the exhibitors we found ...

FI Spotlight: Food Delivery Robots Take Over Campus

Are you considering incorporating robotic delivery into your business? Join FI Reporter, Brittany Borer, at UNC Charlotte in North Carolina to see how this school campus utilizes robots for restaurant food deliveries. Learn how autonomous ...

FI Spotlight – Jackfruit: A Climate Friendly Food Solution

What’s the big deal about Jackfruit? What makes it the ideal plant-based meat alternative? How climate-friendly is this food solution? These are questions that Annie Ryu, Founder & CEO of The Jackfruit Company and Jack ...

FI Spotlight: An Inside Look at the 2025 Winter Fancy Food Show

Beverages, snacks, spreads and more - it’s that time again for the Specialty Food Association’s annual Winter Fancy Food Show. Leana Salamah, Senior VP of Marketing for The Specialty Food Association joins us to discuss ...

FI Spotlight – Breaking into the Gluten Free Market: Tips for CPG Success

Interested in breaking your Gluten-Free CPG product into the market? Carolyn Haeler, CEO of Mightylicious Inc., joins us to share her experience in launching her line of gluten-free cookies. There may not be a one-size-fits-all ...

FI Spotlight – Edible Insects: The Future of Sustainable Food

Join The Food Institute as we dive into the fascinating world of edible insects. With global interest in sustainable food solutions on the rise, we explore how insects are emerging as a nutritious and environmentally ...

FI Spotlight: What You Need to Know About CES 2025

Step into the future of food service at CES 2025, where cutting-edge tech exhibitions showcase the latest innovations. Let's dive into what's changing at the upcoming show and the top themes in this exciting FI ...

FI Spotlight: This Might Be The Best Latin Seasoning on Store Shelves

Clean, organic, Latin spices, non-GMO Adobo and Sazon - it’s no dream, it’s reality. Meet Loisa, a CPG line of Latin seasonings for the home cook that wants to dive in and explore all that ...

FI Spotlight: Reinventing a CPG Brand: Here’s What Happened

Once upon a time, Stephen Caldwell had the world at his feet. His product, Rosti Stuft Spuds, was one of the hottest CPG products in the game, and big name retailers were predicting worldwide domination. ...

FI Spotlight – Soil vs Hydroponics: What’s the Best Way to Grow Microgreens

What are microgreens and why does everyone want them? Let’s learn more about the rising trend of microgreens in the food and beverage industry! Discover how these nutrient-dense plants, cultivated through controlled environment agriculture (CEA) ...

FI Spotlight: What does it take for Plant-Based Seafood to Succeed?

Overfishing, seafood fraud, high prices - those are just some of the reasons why one would turn to a promising idea like plant-based seafood. But can the idea actually become a successful reality? Kelli Wilson ...

FI Spotlight: Transforming School Lunches: A New Era of Nutrition & Taste

Join The Food Institute as we dig into the state of school lunches during National School Lunch Week. We will explore how school lunches have evolved with healthier options and increased variety. We will also ...

FI Spotlight: Exploring Southern Cuisine at the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston

Join FI Reporter Brittany Borer and Chef Maneet Chauhan at Charleston's inaugural Food & Wine Classic. Discover why this historic city was chosen to host this event, the significance of Southern cuisine in the American ...

Grocery Shop 2024: What’s the Best Choice for Future Food?

If you want to stay on top of the latest innovations and trends in the Grocery and CPG worlds, look no further than the GroceryShop 2024 show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Join The Food Institute ...

FI Spotlight: Bringing A Restaurant Back To Life

Since 1966, Steak & Ale was a beloved restaurant chain, known for its tableside service and its affordability, enabling patrons to treat themselves to dining outside of the home, once known as an unattainable luxury. ...

FI Spotlight: The Game-Changing Power of Regenerative Poultry Farming

Discover how regenerative poultry farming is revolutionizing the farming industry from Paul Greive, Founder of Pasturebird. Learn about the benefits to the environment, the challenges that conventional poultry farmers face when switching to regenerative farming, ...

FI Spotlight – Fall’s Great Debate: Is Pumpkin Spice In or Out?

It's that time again - with every fall season, that Pumpkin Spice Flavor pops up everywhere. Is it still a beloved trend, or is it on its way out? Watch the latest episode of FI ...

FI Spotlight – Cold Snap: The Hard Earned Success Story of Crazy Mason Milkshakes

Get the inside scoop on how The Crazy Mason's brand defied economic odds through the pandemic to achieve remarkable growth. Despite current inflationary challenges in the consumer market, The Crazy Mason has not only survived ...

FI Spotlight: Can Foxtrot Succeed the Second Time Around?

Foxtrot started in 2013 as a promising alcohol and food delivery service. But by April 2024, they were filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. What went wrong? What are the lessons learned? And can they hit success ...

FI Spotlight: Mastering Cellular Health & Reducing Biological Age

In this episode of FI Spotlight, we explore biological vs. chronological age, effective strategies for managing cellular health, and the role of calcium AKG supplements. Discover practical insights and evidence-backed methods for enhancing health span ...

FI Spotlight – Souped Up: How MìLà Turned Soup Dumplings into Frozen Gold

MìLà, a Seattle-based dumpling company opened up in 2018 to rave reviews but quickly had to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a line of frozen dumplings and reopening their shop. ...

FI Spotlight: Navigating Soaring Food Prices: Will Inflation Ever Subside?

U.S consumers are seeing the highest food inflation rates in decades. Prices continue to soar while bank accounts remain stagnant. Many are left wondering if prices will ever return to pre-COVID levels. Watch the latest ...

FI Spotlight: Can Plant-Based Proteins Alone Build Muscle Mass?

In recent years, the plant-based lifestyle has become more prevalent in consumers' eating habits. But how about an exclusively plant-based diet that can build muscle mass? That's the case Dotsie Bausch puts forward. Join The ...

FI Spotlight: How Global Flavors Impact the At-Home Consumer

Born into a Korean immigrant family and raised in the American South, New York Times Columnist Eric Kim has lived a life rich in culinary experiences. Join The Food Institute as we hear the story ...

FI Spotlight: SIAL Paris 2024: Inside the World’s Largest Food Show

With thousands of exhibitors and hundreds of thousands of attendees, SIAL Paris is undoubtedly the biggest food trade show in the world. Join The Food Institute as we talk to Audrey Ashworth, Director of SIAL ...