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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 …

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 …

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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 …

Restaurant Sales Are Making Inroads

While sales of food for at-home consumption at $147.3 billion totaled over 50% more than eating and drinking place sales in the first two months of 2015 according to The Food Institute, eating and drinking …

Changes in Fish Choices Coming To Your Local Store

What type of fish that U.S. consumers eat and where it is caught will be changing in the near future. USDA plans to propose standards for the sale of U.S.-raised organic fish and shellfish later …

Vegetables, Seafood Gain as Meat Consumption Falters

Traditional sources of beef and protein such as beef, pork, chicken and turkey are losing ground as consumers more regularly eat meals without them. Sixty-two percent of consumers eat a meatless meal at least once …

Whole Foods Distances Itself from Chicago Competitors

When Whole Foods Market opened its first Chicago shop in 1993, direct competition was minimal. Jewel-Osco, Dominick’s and some natural-food stores sold organic fare, but none of them could offer the wide range of organic …

Grocery Sales Trump Restaurants As Landscape Changes

Americans are not spending more dining out than for groceries, contrary to a report by Bloomberg. They are, however, not always doing so at their local supermarket. The 87-year old Food Institute has been tracking retail …

Florida’s Grapefruit Crop to Be Lowest in 79 Years

The projected crop for Florida grapefruits was dropped by over 10% in USDA’s March estimate. USDA reduced the 2014-15 projected Florida grapefruit crop by 2 million boxes to 13 million boxes, a 13% drop from …

Harsh Winter Takes Toll on Dunkin’ Donuts in NE Cities

Last winter’s snowfall in the Northeast was bad enough that it could hurt more than regional chains, with Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. expecting its same-store sales down by 1 to 1.6 percentage points thanks to …