Normally, MyFive is MY five: a very personal list of MY five favorite somethings. This week, however, someone else’s five blew across my desk…and I think it’s worthy of your attention!
Every summer the NASFT (the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade) holds a huge convention on the East Coast—usually in New York, this June in Washington D.C. Thousands of new products are offered at a mass walk-around tasting over 3 days, and many new importers find new retailers (there are lots of other “finding” configurations, as well). The show is the largest marketplace for specialty foods and beverages in North America, with 180,000 products on display including cheeses, sauces, snacks, oils and natural and organic products from the US and 80 countries and regions.
Exciting news…I recently received a list of the top 5 trends in general, as picked by a panel of distinguished industry judges. We can all learn a lot about what’s soon to be hot by perusing this list…
1) Small Batch Mixers:
Morris Kitchen – Ginger Syrup
Royal Rose – Simple Syrup
Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods – Cherry Drinking Balsamic
Gingras Vinegar – Gingras Extraold Apple Cider Vinegar
2) Local Global:
Chulita’s Famous – Sofrito
Taste of Ethiopia – Misir (spicy red lentils)
Wild Thymes Farms – Moroccan BBQ Sauce
That Indian Drink – Blueberry Orange Cardamom
3) Cookie Cracker Crunch:
Seth Greenberg’s Authentic New York Brownie Crunch
HannaMax Baking – All Natural Cookie Chips
Trump’s Food Interest – Slims Dessert Crackers
Effie’s Homemade – Sea Salt and Lavender Crackers
4) The New South:
RR Enterprises – Rodger’s Banana Pudding Sauce
Callie’s Charleston Biscuits – Pimiento Cheese
Steve’s Ice Cream – Bourbon Pecan Pie
Luquire Family Foods – Carolina Creole
5) Chocolate Change Ups:
Stonewall Kitchen – Chocolate Raspberry Jam
Tea Forté – Coconut Chocolate Truffle Tea
Sea Salt Superstore – Chocolate Fleur de Sel
Droga Confections – Put Your Money on Honey Caramels
Other trends identified are pistachio, in butters and desserts; beer as an ingredient in jams, chocolates and crackers; coffee and chocolate combinations; and rosemary in sweets.
Photos Via: NASFT
