FMI CONNECT & UNITED FRESH 2016

(FMI Connect 2016 photo by www.abasto.com)

I had the pleasure of attending the recent FMI Connect, which is the singular most important event for grocery store retail professionals and all-things food retail.  This year’s event was held at Chicago’s McCormick Place (June 20^th to June 23^rd).  There were approximately 400 exhibitor companies, drawing some 12,500 global professionals.  In addition to exhibitor companies, there were numerous educational workshops on food technology, safety, trends, advancements, and food demonstrations featuring celebrity chefs.  Co-located with FMI Connect were United Fresh 2016, the International Floriculture Expo, and the Global Gold Chain Alliance; the latter is a professional organization that represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled logistics.  Although I enjoyed checking out all of the floral and plant exhibitors at the International Floriculture Expo, my main goal at this year’s event was to find foods and taste experiences that were healthy, convenient, and readily available, whether online or at local markets.  The following exhibitors from this year’s event generously provided me with products to further test and experience in my home environment.  Enjoy my experiences!  For more information on both events, visit their websites http://www.fmiconnect.net http://www.unitedfreshshow.org

~ Palate Pleasing Tastes ~

(Photo by T. Herman)

Chia Vito Chia Seed Extra Virgin Oil Extract ~ These tiny seeds are an ancient superfood; they’re usually grown organically, are non-GMO and naturally gluten-free. They’re nutrient dense with fiber, protein, and Omega-3 fatty acids.  Now you can get the benefits of this superfood in a Chia Seed Extra Virgin Oil Extract.  The Oil Extract is cold pressed, which preserves the optimum nutritional value and taste.  The flavor is intense and a little of this goes a long way.  My Take:  It’s great drizzled sparingly on fresh pasta with grated Parmesan cheese, mashed potatoes, pizza, or salads.  Use like a condiment and as a flavor enhancer, and remember, a little goes a long way; treat it like liquid gold.  For more information, visit http://www.chiavito.com

(Photo by T. Herman)

Frieda’s Specialty Produce White Dragon Fruit, Red Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit, Key Limes, Meyer Lemons, Jicama, and Watermelon Radish ~ These were some of the freshest, superior quality pieces of fruits and vegetables I’ve ever eaten.  There is a definite difference between the overall quality of Frieda’s Specialty Produce and what most people purchase from their grocery store, or specialty food market; all of these products are nutrient dense and packed with fiber and flavor.  My Take:  I made a delightful herbed yogurt with plain non-fat yogurt, sweet basil pesto, dried oregano, garlic and onion powder, dried parsley, and Himalayan pink salt; I first peeled and then sliced the Jicama into thick matchsticks; I also peeled and then sliced the Watermelon Radish into circles; the herbed yogurt was perfect as a dipping sauce for these veggies.  For the Passion Fruit, I scooped out the creamy center and ate it that way; it was also delicious.  For the Key Limes and Meyer Lemons, I used the juice from both and then added to water to make my own unsweetened and refreshing flavored citrus water.  For both the Red and White Dragon Fruit, I made a few different recipes, but I’m including a simple one where I used the Red Dragon Fruit. 

(Photo by T. Herman)

Here’s my recipe for Red Dragon Fruit & Yogurt Parfait…this exotic beauty’s color is a real visual Wow!… this was my first time ever eating Red Dragon Fruit…I cut the fruit lengthwise and scooped out the beautiful intense ruby-red seeded pulp…I placed spoon-sized scoops in a wine glass…in layers, I alternated with the Red Dragon Fruit, Greek yogurt, and walnut pieces…I then topped off the final layer with a bit more of the yogurt and nuts, and then drizzled Aunt Sue’s Raw Wild Honey (Sue Bee Honey)…the honey brought out the natural juices of the Red Dragon Fruit, and added just the right amount of subtle sweetness to this exotic fresh fruit dessert…Dragon Fruit is a nutrient dense fruit, rich in Vitamins A, B  and C, plus polyunsaturated fatty acids…it’s also delicious…can be added to fruit salads, granola, etc.  While at the show, I got a chance to taste an unusual breakfast treat using Frieda’s Specialty Produce…purple sweet potato, peanut butter, banana, walnuts, maple syrup, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon; sounds like an odd combination, but it works and it’s delicious; check out the recipe for the “Purple Power Breakfast Bowl” by visiting http://www.friedas.com/purple-power-breakfast-bowl/  For more information, visit http://www.friedas.com

Nuts for Drinks Crunchy Roasted Peanuts Nuts for Lager Spicy Chutney, Nuts for Stout Coffee & Dark Chocolate, Nuts for IPA Aromatic Citrus, and Nuts for Wheat Ale Sweet & Zesty ~ These delicious Crunchy Coated Peanuts are the first of their type to have blended seasonings and coatings that pair well with different types of beers, ales, IPAs, wines, and other alcoholic beverages.  Gone are the days when you just had a single choice of the sweet and salty coated Beer Nuts, although I still enjoy these from time to time.  Nuts for Drinks Crunchy Roasted Peanuts elevates the humble peanut to gourmet status with its four distinctly seasoned recipes for specific to these drink types.  Nuts for Lager Spicy Chutney is a sweet and savory spicy hit that pairs well with crisp and delicate flavored Lager style beers, and white wine.  Nuts for Stout Coffee & Dark Chocolate has light molasses and roasted coffee notes that pairs well with denser flavored Stout or Porter beers, and red wine.  Nuts for IPA Aromatic Citrus has citrusy herbal notes that pairs well with IPAs, and white spirits.  Nuts for Wheat Ale Sweet & Zesty has hint of spice, as well as tropical and fruity notes that pairs well with Wheat beer, tropical mixed drinks, and sparkling wine.  For more information, visit http://nutsfordrinks.com

PB Crave Peanut Butter Choco Choco, Razzle Dazzle, Coco Bananas, and Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter ~ PB Crave elevates this time-honored tasty and nutritious spread with four superior tasting unique recipes that elevate ho-humble peanut butter to a gourmet spread taste experience.  Each variety delivered an intense peanutty taste complemented with individual recipes that added a unique flavor profile.  Choco Choco is made from roasted peanuts, organic honey, and sweet and dark chocolate chips.  Razzle Dazzle is made from roasted peanuts, organic honey, dark chocolate chips, white cocoa butter drops, and natural raspberry flavor.  Coco Bananas is made from roasted peanuts, organic honey, chocolate chips, and natural banana flavor.  Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter is made from roasted peanuts, organic honey, chocolate chips, and cookie dough flavor.  My Take:  I love peanut butter on just about anything; I’ll even add it to my plain yogurt, or hot oatmeal, or use it as a dip for pretzel sticks, veggie sticks (jicama, celery, or carrot); try microwaving some of the peanut butter and then dip away.  These are also great added to cream cheese and then spread on muffins, or toast; for an added treat, add one of these flavors to your frostings to add that wow-factor to your cake or cupcake.  Lastly, I loved eating the stuff right off of a spoon; no matter how old you think you are, the kid is always inside!  PB Crave is a women owned company that donates a portion of their proceeds to Project Peanut Butter, a global outreach program that benefits malnourished children.  For more information, visit https://www.pbcrave.com

Sue Bee Honey Aunt Sue’s Raw-Wild Natural Honey, Premium Orange Blossom Honey, Clover Honey Table Server, Premium Clover Spun Honey, Premium Clover Spun Honey, and Original Style Honey Barbecue Sauce ~ All Sue Bee Honey products are made with pure honeys from USA-based honey bee farms.  Other honeys sold are often a mix of multiple types of honeys that have been sourced from multiple countries, or have corn syrup added as a sweetener; what results is that quality of the honey suffers and the product isn’t pure and doesn’t taste pure.  In reviewing each of their products, I was struck with how rich and sweet the Sue Bee Honey products tasted, compared to other honeys I’ve purchased.  Aunt Sue’s Raw-Wild Natural Honey is rich and delicate tasting.  My Take:  This was just the right sweetener to add to recipe for My Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Mustard…forget the store-bought stuff…make you own...it’s easy and you know exactly what the ingredients are…in a bowl, I whisked together Canola oil, Rice Wine vinegar, raw honey (Sue Bee brand), Dijon mustard, ground black pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano, dehydrated minced onion, and dehydrated parsley…once I reached a nice stage of emulsification, I tasted the mixture to balance the ingredients and seasoning…I then transferred the vinaigrette into a recycled glass jar and refrigerated…this is a quick and easy vinaigrette to throw together…you can make it your own by adding other ingredients and seasonings…this vinaigrette will be perfect for dressing salads of all types (garden greens, pasta, bean, etc.); also note the use of the Aunt Sue's Raw-Wild Natural Honey in the recipe in the Frieda's Specialty Produce section above.  Premium Orange Blossom Honey and Clover Honey Table Server both these delicious tasting honeys were the perfect add to my plain yogurt, hot oatmeal, and peanut butter slathered toast.  These delicious products elevated the flavor profiles of each simple dishes; the Server is a convenient product, because it’s inverted and ready to pour.  Premium Clover Spun Honey is an ideal product for folks who want the convenience of a spreadable honey product.  This worked great with mixing into softened butter, or cream cheese, and then spreading on toast, muffins, or crackers.  It was also tasty as a dip for pretzels, sticks of jicama, carrot and celery, and apple and pear segments.  Original Style Honey Barbecue Sauce is rich and delicious mildly sweet Barbecue Sauce that complements any grilled, roasted, or baked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.  It’s also delicious added to a baked bean recipe; for an interesting twist, add this to your chili recipe to really perk up the flavor profile.  It’s also good to know that Sue Bee Honey is allied with the Sioux Honey Association and its nearly 300 current U.S. beekeeper members that produce the honey for the Sue Bee Honey products.  Sue Bee Honey was also recently awarded the 2016 Women’s Choice Award as America’s Most Recommended Honey.  There really is no one singular way to enjoy the versatility of these pure Sue Bee Honey products, because no matter how you use them, the reward is a superior tasting experience.  For more information, visit http://suebee.com

~ In Closing ~

(United Fresh 2016 photo by m.andnowyouknow.com)

Explore tastes and ways to prep and present…expand your culinary horizons.  Be sure to visit each website, explore all of their offerings and where you can purchase each item; next time you go grocery shopping, explore the aisles for many of these delicious products.  Be sure to also checkout their social media platform, including signing up to receive their emails, newsletters and special offers. 

That’s it for this edition.  Until the next one, remember to always celebrate yourself and your culinary curiosity.  Happy creating…happy cooking…happy eating!

By Terry Herman

TERRY HERMAN continues perfecting her passion for food and wine.  She has been covering culinary related for many years as it relates to wellness and a healthy lifestyle.  Her popular blog, Terry's Spa, Beauty and Wellness Go-To has featured formidable reviews of cookbooks, restaurants, wine and food, food prep and tools, chef interviews, and coverage of prestigious events such as International Home+Housewares Show, National Restaurant Show, Sweets and Snacks Expo, and Food Marketing Institute.  She has served as a food judge at the Bellavita Italian Expo Excellence Awards (Chicago).  She has been published since the mid-1990s in both consumer and trade publications, and is regarded as an expert in spa, beauty, wellness, travel and lifestyle, and is frequently interviewed by publications for her expert content.  She has also presented at major industry conferences, and has served with distinction on numerous governing and advisory boards.  She has a background in strategic and qualitative management, consulting, and motivational speaking.  In addition to her blogs, her social media outreach also includes Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to “Like” her Facebook Page, Terry’s Second Helpings.  Please note that the “Comment Section” has been disabled.  For additional information, email her at terry.herman@gmail.com.

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(Photo credits as indicated, or as represented by the specific brand.)