The Whole Grains Summit was recently held in Minneapolis, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend. Organized by the Grains for Health Foundation, the intended purpose for the summit was to develop a strategic plan for research, integration, communication and implementation to advance consumption of whole grains.
Christine Cochran, president of the Commodity Markets Council (CMC) in Washington, D.C., is the new executive director of the Grain Foods Foundation (GFF), Ridgway, Colo. GFF operates as an independent organization jointly trusteed by the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the North American Millers’ Association.
June marks the final month of the Grain Foods Foundation’s (GFF) spring campaign, RISE, through which we are highlighting the important connection between grains and energy. As I discussed in my April column introducing RISE, we have enlisted the support of former Olympian, soccer star and mom Mia Hamm as our spokesperson. It’s been an extremely successful campaign, and I’d like to use this column to share an update of our activities to-date.
Though the bread market is a bit on the downswing, bakers are still on course with a bevy of new products, healthful ingredients, quality touches, artisan processes and more.
June 18, 2012
It’s golf season, and that means it’s State of the Industry time. Have things changed much since last year? The sluggish economy is still bearish and has had an effect on bakers, though they continue to iron out new products and spin old favorites.
Baked goods have been a part of peoples’ diet for thousands of years, far longer than golfers have been hitting a little ball across a grassy surface with a long stick. As ingredients, production methods, distribution and a host of other factors have evolved, consumers at all income levels have been able to enjoy staples like breads and rolls, as well as sweet treats like cookies and pies.
A joint petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of folic acid in corn masa flour has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration by Gruma Corp., the Spina Bifida Association, the March of Dimes Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Royal DSM N.V. and the National Council of La Raza.
DuPont Nutrition & Health is focusing on whole grain bread in a drive to help industrial bakers optimize raw material use, reduce waste and cut their carbon footprint overall.
There’s more than one way to coat a pretzel and some manufacturers are leaving the simple salt behind for bolder, richer and even sweeter options for the popular snack item.
These days, pretzels aren’t just your average bar snack. Manufacturers are producing their savory snacks with a bit of a twist, reaching the consumers who crave bolder flavors, a better-for-you snack or an innovative accompaniment to an everyday meal.
Hudson Bread is more than a bakery. With an adjacent bake shop called the Breadman Café, the North Bergen, N.J., self-described artisan bakery supplies bread, rolls, boules, flatbread and more.
May 16, 2012
There’s something to be said about artisan craftsmanship. Hudson Bread, North Bergen, N.J., knows that quite well. With a view of New York City’s skyline, the bakery uses only the best ingredients to produce a wealth of fresh bread creations daily, and top sellers including French baguettes, seven-grain loaves and hand-cut loaves Francaise, which are signature rustic items.
Historically, wholesale prices don’t go down, but flattening prices for grains, especially wheat, should bolster margins as the impact of lower or stable commodity prices should be more apparent in the second half of 2012.