The Cracker magazine, November 2013

Cracker The

November 2013 Edition 60, No.3

The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

MELBOURNE WELCOMES 2014 INC CONGRESS

NEW! WORLD TRADE MAP DEBUTS 2014 INC RESEARCH FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE www.nutfruit.org

Image Capture

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Cracker The

November 2013, Edition 60 INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Giles Hacking - Chairman CG Hacking & Sons Limited, UK Pino Calcagni - Vice Chairman V. Besana S.P.A., Italy Mark Mariani - Vice Chairman Mariani Packing Company, USA Jordi Martí - Treasurer and General Secretary Borges S.A.U., Spain Thomas Apfel Max Kiene GmbH, Germany Asadollah Asgaroladi Hassas Export Co. Ltd., Iran Cheng Hung Kay CHK Trading Co. Ltd., Hong Kong Mark Jansen Blue Diamond Growers, USA Zhou Jinkui Fenzhou Yuyuan Native Produce, China Barry Kriebel Sun-Maid Growers of California, USA Ashok Krishen Olam International Limited, Singapore Maarten Leerdam Intersnack Group GmbH & Co. KG, Germany Jack Mariani Mariani Nut Company, USA Mark Magnesen Planters / Kraft Foods, USA Stephen Meltzer Balcorp Ltd., Canada Pratap Nair Vijayalaxmi Cashew Company, India Osman Oz Aegean Exporters Associations, Turkey Antonio Pont - Honorary President Borges S.A.U., Spain Sabit Sabir Sabirlar Findik Ihracat Ltd. Sti., Turkey Berton Steir Paramount - Roll International Corp., USA Dick Walden The Green Valley Pecan Company, USA Michael Waring MWT Foods, Australia Cuneyd Zapsu Balsu A.S., Turkey Bian Zhen-hu/ Chen Ying China Chamber of Commerce, China EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Giles Hacking – Chairman Pino Calcagni - Vice Chairman Mark Mariani - Vice Chairman Jack Mariani Antonio Pont Berton Steir Michael Waring Cuneyd Zapsu Goretti Guasch - Executive Director SENATORS

Hubert Berrebi, France Helmut Dankert, Germany Raoul Gamon, France Chris Hacking, UK Walter F. Payne, USA Abbas Rafii, Luxembourg Don Soetaert, USA James Swink, USA Jack Taillie, Netherlands Frank Vaerewijck, Belgium Doug Youngdahl, USA THE CRACKER EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Giles Hacking – Chairman Susan Brauner – Editor Goretti Guasch – Executive Director Graphic Design by:

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The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

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FEATURED ARTICLES

INDEX

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WORLD NEWS

19

INC Ambassadors

Mediterranean diet: Cognitive benefits study; Cocoa flavanol health claim becomes EU law; U.S. manufacturers required to put controls in place as allergens cause more recalls; price hike looms for cocoa; aging population in Europe grows as more emphasis is put on nutrition research.

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Statistical Outlook

23 CLIMATE CHANGE World Bank analysis of a warming trend in world markets examines impact of more extreme weather events by looking inside Ethiopia for dramatic results on income, infrastructure, supply chains, population variations and GDP.

26 GAUDI AND NUTS New information about the life and work of famous architect leads to revelations about dried fruit and nuts as a favorite food source in his diet, especially raisins! Evidently, these were favorite snacks of many artists and musicians known for extraordinary talent!

85 Advertisers

Cracker The

November 2013 Edition 60, No.3

The Official Voice of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation for the World Nut and Dried Fruit Trade

MELBOURNE WELCOMES 2014 INC CONGRESS

28 CHILE EXPANDING WALNUT EXPORTS As Chile grows in world leadership, it looks to exporting a larger portion of its supply.

With mechanical cracking and emphasis on quality increasing, the country is looking toward China and the Middle East for increased demand.

31 MELBOURNE CONGRESS It’s the #1 destination place in Australia and INC invites members to join the meetings in Melbourne at the famous Crown Palladium 20-22 May 2014. Pre-post tours, special social venues and visits to tree nuts and fruit farms are all waiting.

39 SECRETARIAT NEWS

NEW! WORLD TRADE MAP DEBUTS 2014 INC RESEARCH FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE www.nutfruit.org

COVER PHOTO:

Courtesy of INC Secretariat.

Memories of ANUGA and 14 co-exhibitors who made the INC Pavillion a big success; INC superheroes unveiled; new World Trade Map opportunities for marketing; INC wraps up MycoRed project.

68 WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS CA Almond Board unveils humorous North American ad campaign; Bristish pro cyclist Mark Cavendish joins American Pistachios as his “Official Snack”; Mid-November promotions kick off the holiday season of “Dried Fruit for Well-Being” campaign by Nucis Italy; Nucis Germany adds new members; Walnut Board launches new global campaigns

PERMANENT SECRETARIAT OF INC

Goretti Guasch, Executive Director Carrer de la Fruita Seca 4, Polígon Tecnoparc, 43204 Reus, Spain Tel: +34 977 331 416 | Fax: +34 977 315 028 E-mail: inc@nutfruit.org | Web: www.nutfruit.org The Cracker is published three times a year by the International Tree Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation (Fundacio Privada International Tree Nut CIF G-43738475). This magazine including all articles and illustrations, is copyright protected.

Any utilization beyond the light limits set by the Copyright Act is subject to publisher’s approval.

All trademarks, brand identities and graphic images shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

While the publishers believe that all information contained in this publication was correct at the time of going to press, they can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may appear or loss suffered directly or indirectly by any reader as a result of any advertisement, editorial, photographs or other materials published in the Cracker.

November 2013 | The Cracker

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CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTARY

Greetings from London!!

It has been a whirlwind season both commercially and for INC. It’s also been a bit unsettled in our industry as we continue to face the new challenges of this year’s crops for myriad reasons.

We are beginning to better understand, for example, that water shortages in California can affect crop production and even actual nut sizes! And just as we begin to comprehend the situation, we are also anticipating how winter weather challenges may affect next year’s crops!

One fact is certain, as you will read about in this issue of The Cracker, the great nutrition news about tree nuts continues to fuel world demand as positive research results are unveiled either at INC-sponsored conferences or as various industry organizations continue to publicize why consumers should be increasing their consumption. This good news is on almost every page of this issue!

For example, I recently attended the IUNS 20th International Congress of Nutrition in Grenada, Spain where INC sponsored a symposium about “Nuts in Health and Disease.” Presentations were made by four of the most prominent researchers in nutrition to a gathering of over 100 health and nutrition professionals. We also distributed a new INC sponsored supplement, “Health and Nuts,” which details the outcome of the Predimed Study. We extensively publicized this wealth of information to global media organizations in five languages! You can read more about this inside the magazine.

In addition, 14 co-exhibitors from China, Tunisia, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey and the United States joined the INC Pavilion at ANUGA in Koln, Germany this year where a one-stop shop simplified the organizational process for members. We’re expanding our space available to members next year for SIAL PARIS 2014! Be sure to reserve your space early.

INC is also making a World Trade Map available to the industry for the first time. The map illustrates trade flow of dried fruit and nuts, production, supply, value, exporting countries and other valuable data. At this stage, I am going to make a shameless pitch for why I believe this is a good marketing opportunity! There is a one-off opportunity to be the sole sponsor of this map which will only be produced once every two years. It could potentially be displayed on the walls in offices of over 600 INC members worldwide for at least two years with your company name on it! Please contact the INC secretariat in Reus for map dimensions and other details.

Finally, I am currently en route to Melbourne Australia to check on preparations for our 33rd annual congress, to take place the 20-22 May 2014. Once again, we expect to sell out our space in Australia’s #1 destination venue at the Crown Palladium.

Check out our social venues and extensive pre-post tours (to nut and dried fruit producing areas) in one of the world’s most exciting places in this issue and look for your registration packets to come in the mail!

Meanwhile, until I have a chance to visit with you again, our INC family wishes you and your family all of the best for a wonderful holiday season.

Yours Sincerely,

Giles Hacking INC Chairman

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The Cracker | November 2013

N CO EX N T GR IN ES C S

We look forward to seeing you in

20-22 May 2014

More information at

www.nutfruit.org

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS KEEP uP wiTH CuRREnT EVEnTs fROm THE inTERnaTiOnal nuT & DRiED fRuiT inDusTRy mEDiTERRanEan DiET:

COGNITIvE BENEFITS Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may be associated with better cognitive functions and lower rates of cognitive decline, a systematic review of the evidence reveals. Published in Epidemiology, the review is the first systematic analysis research relating to the Mediterranean diet and cognitive functions, and reveals a positive impact on cognitive function, but an inconsistent effect on mild cognitive impairment.

Led by Iliana Lourida from the University of Exeter in the UK, the team analyzed 12 eligible pieces of research, 11 observational studies and one randomized control trial. In nine out of the 12 studies, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with better cognitive function, lower rates of cognitive decline and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, results for mild cognitive impairment were inconsistent, said the team.

"Mediterranean food is both delicious and nutritious, and our systematic review shows it may help to protect the ageing brain by reducing the risk of dementia. While the link between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and dementia risk is not new, ours is the first study to systematically analyze all existing evidence," said Lourida.

The review also highlights 'inconsistencies' in the literature and the need for further research, she said - noting, in particular, that "research is needed to clarify the association with mild cognitive impairment and vascular dementia."

"It is also important to note that while observational studies provide suggestive evidence we now need randomised controlled trials to confirm whether or not adherence to a Mediterranean diet protects against dementia," said Lourida.

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The Cracker | November 2013

The research team identified 12 studies (11 observational studies and one randomized controlled trial) that met their inclusion criteria.

"Despite methodological heterogeneity and limited statistical power in some studies, there was a reasonably consistent pattern of associations," said Lourida and her colleagues - noting that a higher adherence to Mediterranean diet was associated with better cognitive function, lower rates of cognitive decline, and reduced risk of Alzheimer disease in nine out of the 12 studies.

"Long-term randomised controlled trials promoting a Mediterranean diet may help establish whether improved adherence helps to prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer disease and dementia."

The research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care in the South West Peninsula (NIHR PenCLAHRC).

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

BILL TO PROTECT STUDENTS AT RISk FOR FATAL ALLERGIC REACTIONS The U.S. House of Representatives passed The School Access To Emergency Epinephrine Act, a measure that may allow schools to be better prepared for students who develop anaphylactic reactions–sudden and profound life-threatening allergic reactions, often caused by foods, especially nuts, as well as bee stings. The measure’s aim is to give asthma grant preferences to states that come up with policies to make epinephrine– a drug used to treat anaphylactic shock-available in schools.

The proposed legislation would also encourage schools to allow trained personnel to administer epinephrine (via EpiPen AutoInjectors) to students who are felt to be having anaphylactic reactions, while additionally ordering states to examine their liability laws to make certain that trained personnel have reasonable legal safeguards when they help students who are felt to be having such life threatening reactions.

Anaphylactic shock can develop in minutes after consuming such foods as peanuts, shellfish, eggs, milk or eggs, as well as from bee stings. Epinephrine injected in the lower extremity through a device called an EpiPen Auto-injector is effective in reducing the

potentially lethal swelling affecting the tongue and tissues in the throat and upper airway.

Nearly 6 million children suffer from food allergies—or 1 out of every 13 children under age 18. Though some states do allow children with a known history of allergies to bring certain medications to school, roughly 25 percent of cases of anaphylaxis occur in schools among students with no previous history of a documented allergy or a previous allergic or anaphylactic reaction. Having emergency epinephrine readily available can save lives.

William T. Durkin, Jr., MD, MBA, FAAEM, President of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), who endorsed the bill, explained the significance of such

a measure. “As emergency physicians, we understand that prompt action is imperative in the situation of anaphylaxis. The bill allows for a potentially life-saving treatment to be administered immediately onsite rather than wait for EMS personnel to arrive on scene. At times, the extra time lost can make a difference between life and death. The Academy is pleased to have been a sponsor of this bill that will truly make a difference in the health and well being of the public.”

An analogy made by the lawmakers compared availability of epinephrine to the availability of emergency defibrillators in schools. Both interventions are time sensitive and lifesaving in nature.

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November 2013 | The Cracker

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

MANUFACTURERS PUT ON ALERT TO CONTROL ALLERGENS Undeclared allergens caused 60 percent of food and beverage recalls from the Food and Drug Administration recalls from the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the second quarter of 2013, according to a quarterly recall index published by Stericycle ExpertRecall, Indianapolis, in mid-August. The issue of undeclared allergens has been one of the leading sources of recalls during the past few years. As full implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act nears, food and beverage manufacturers will be challenged to develop programs that minimize the potential for cross contamination or product mislabeling.

A study published Sept. 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Pediatrics calculated the economic impact of childhood food allergies to be an estimated $25 billion annually. The report said food allergy is a growing public health issue in the United States that affects about 8 percent of children. The condition results in significant medical costs to the health care system but also inflicts substantial costs on families for special diets and allergen-free foods.

The issue of allergens in food has not gone unnoticed by regulatory agencies. In December 2012, the Food and Drug Administration took steps to develop regulatory thresholds or action levels for such major food allergens as milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soybeans as well as food ingredients that contain protein derived from such foods. The agency’s goal in developing the action levels is to determine what type of enforcement action is appropriate when specific problems are identified at manufacturing plants. The thresholds also will help the F.D.A. determine when the presence of an allergen in a product does not pose a risk to human health or does not contain an allergenic protein.

Allergens also have been identified as a hazard reasonably likely to occur under the Food Safety Modernization Act. As a result, companies that use allergens in their products must include allergen control in their preventive control program. Such a program may include a written hazard analysis that shows what the risks may be of handling allergens and the appropriate measures required to prevent contamination of products with an undeclared allergen.

The issue of undeclared allergens is a global challenge throughout the product development, production and packaging operations of a food company. An allergen control program starts with product

development where education and training are implemented prior to the manufacturing process so that processes are in place to control it.

This includes receiving, product development, formulating, training the processing staff, the Q.A. staff and even the people who are buying the ingredients. Someone needs to understand the supplier of an ingredient and the risk of working with a particular supplier. Are they handling other allergens in their operations, and what are they doing to avoid cross contact?

Within manufacturing, it is imperative the processing staff is knowledgeable about the handling and use of ingredients and be familiar with the ingredient and the control measures that relate to it.

After production, then cleaning and sanitation become important. In the end, it’s about how well a cleaning crew cleans a piece of equipment to ensure the allergen’s protein residue is removed. This can involve a visual inspection and a testing procedure to verify the cleaning has been done properly.

Packaging and labeling are the sources of many recalls for undeclared allergens due to wrong product in the package. Areas within packaging that need to be addressed include the receiving of new labels for inspection to assure the allergen is listed properly. Extra attention also is needed at the end of a production run to ensure all of the film is removed from the machine and stored properly. A Q.A. step at the end of the packaging line to assure the labels on products are correct is critical.

While only a small percentage of the U.S. population has a food allergy, as the Pediatrics study shows the cost to those with a food allergy is high. Consumers with a food allergy tend to be very brand loyal once they find a product that fits their needs, but the onus is on the company to maintain loyalty with a strong allergen control program.

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The Cracker | November 2013

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

FDA CAUTIOUS ON WHOLE GRAINS CLAIMS The Food and Drug Administration will consider individually food manufacturers’ claims that consumption of whole grains and foods made with whole grains can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In a letter responding to a qualified health claims petition filed by ConAgra Foods, Inc., FDA Acting Director, Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Philip C. Spiller writes: “FDA concludes there is very limited credible scientific evidence for a qualified health claim for whole grains and type 2 diabetes, provided that the qualified claim is appropriately worded so as not to mislead consumers.”

Consequently, Spiller writes, the agency will continue its enforcement discretion for two qualified health claims, similar in language, in labels of foods with grain ingredients consisting solely of whole grains: “Whole grains may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes,

although the FDA has concluded that there is very limited scientific evidence for this claim.”

However, he adds, the agency acknowledges that current evidence supports a qualified health claim on labels of whole graincontaining foods about the association between consuming whole grains and lowered risk of type 2 diabetes.

In its petition, filed in March 2012, ConAgra presented data from both observational trials and randomized controlled trials in the U.S. in support of two model health claims: “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that whole grains (three servings, or 48 grams per day), as part of a low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet may reduce the risk

COCOA FLAvANOL HEALTH CLAIM BECOMES EU LAW

of diabetes mellitus type 2,” and “Scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include three servings (48 grams) of whole grains per day may reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus type 2.”

Spiller’s letter notes that during the 60day comment period following posting of ConAgra’s petition on the FDA website, three of 11 comments opposed the company’s proposed qualified health claims.

Whole grains led the list of most desirable health claims on packages in 2010, according to the Institute of Food Technologists, followed by claims about fiber, sodium, fats, sugar, calories, additives, preservatives and cholesterol

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Barry Callebaut has propriety rights to the health claim for five years and will use it for cocoa powder and chocolate produced through its flavanol-preserving ACTICOA method. Barry Callebaut submitted the health claim in early 2012 and received a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in July 2012. In January this year, the claim was reworded in a draft decision by the Commission.

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS feature story feature story

GEnERal mills:

ENROLLMENT COMPLETED FOR FIRST PHASE OF PATCH TEST FOR PEANUT ALLERGY

The CIA’s of Flavor International Conference & The Worlds CIA’s Worlds of Flavor International Conference & Lettuce-Wrapped Spicy Spicy Lettuce-Wrapped Festival® is in itsis 14th the U.S. (www.worldsofflavor.

Festival® in itsyear 14thin year in the U.S. (www.worldsofflavor.

AlmondAlmond Chicken, Chicken, com) and is widely as America’s most influential com) and is acknowledged widely acknowledged as America’s most influentialPhoto Credit: CIA CIA Photo Credit: professional forum on world food cultures and flavor professional forum on cuisines, world cuisines, food cultures and flavor trends. trends.

Each year conference includesincludes more than chefs, Eachthis year this conference more70than 70 chefs, culinaryculinary experts,experts, and other from allfrom overall theover world andpresenters other presenters theand world and welcomes more than attendees including chefs, journalists welcomes more700 than 700 attendees including chefs, journalists and food restaurant and foodservice management and critics, food critics, restaurant and foodservice management executives, corporate menu decision-makers and a wide executives, corporate menu decision-makers and arange wide range of suppliers, from leaders in agriculture and manufacturing to of suppliers, from leaders in agriculture and manufacturing to A peanut allergy study that's underway could help eliminate government agenciesagencies and topand consumer brands.brands. government top consumer that risk of a life-threatening reaction to the nut. The research The CIA’s WorldsWorlds of Flavor ASIA®ASIA® International The CIA’s of Flavor International aims to desensitize people allergic to peanuts using a patch Conference & Festival will bewill dedicated to the tocuisines, Conference & Festival be dedicated the cuisines, containing a peanut protein. The study, sponsored by French bioflavors flavors and food of Asia ofand their to inspire andcultures food cultures Asia andpotential their potential to inspire pharmaceutical firm DBV Technologies, is being conducted in chefs and consumers around around the world. program is being chefs and consumers the The world.

The program is being 24 centers worldwide. Currently, there is no method, other than designed to be the premier all-Asiaall-Asia professional culinary designed to be the premier professional culinary avoidance, to combat the condition. The allergy's symptoms can conference.

Initial attendance is expected to be 800 to 800 1,000to 1,000 conference.

Initial attendance is expected to be range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction. culinaryculinary and hospitality professionals drawn from overallAsia and hospitality professionals drawnallfrom over Asia About 3 million Americans, or 1percent of the general population, and theand Pacific—including China, India, the Pacific—including China,Japan, India, Korea, Japan, Southeast Korea, Southeast have a nut allergy. That condition remains the greatest concern Asia, and Australia—with a significant outreach to the United Asia, and Australia—with a significant outreach to the United among clinicians who treat patients with food allergies.

States, Europe and Latin as well.asThis program is slatedis slated States, Europe andAmerica Latin America well.

This program Broad popularity of grain snack bars on an international scale Enrollment for the study was completed last July, and the data are to kick offkick in early to off in2014. early 2014. will underpin prospects for the future of General Mills. The expected to be fully collected by July 2014. Although the results Worlds ofand Healthy Flavors andseen Worlds of Flavor, along Worlds of Healthy and Worlds of Flavor, along with cereal snack major Flavors has strong growth in its with US snack could have far-reaching implications, it will take a few years to additional CIA leadership initiatives, are with a part of the strategic leadership initiatives, areretail a part of the strategic bar additional business inCIAfiscal 2014 already sales up almost determine whether the patch is effective, said Amal Assa'ad, the initiatives industry leadership division of the college headed &toindustry leadership of the college headed 10%initiatives but& plans strengthen its hold division internationally, particularly primary investigator of the study at Cincinnati Children's Hospital up by of the division.

Mr. Drescher up byDrescher, Greg vice president of the division.

Mr. Drescher in Greg Canada and Drescher, thevice UK.president Medical Center. is responsible for the college's thought leadership, strategic is responsible for the college's thought leadership, strategic Newpartnerships product and launches have strengthened General partnerships anddevelopment initiatives, industry conferences, and new media and initiatives, industry conferences, and new media The study's ultimate goal is to make people with a peanut allergy segment so programs far,and according to the company. andMills’ is the creator ofbarthese other "think tank" andUS issnack the creator ofprograms these andCIA other CIA "think The tank" tolerant of peanuts, even if they were to stop wearing the patch. sturdy US hashisbeen predominantly initiatives.

He growth assumed current title in title 2011underpinned asstrongas initiatives.

He assumed his current inafter 2011serving afterbyserving In recent years, studies to treat peanut allergies have aimed to earlyexecutive sales fordirector Nature Valley soft-baked squares, launched executive director of strategic initiatives for oatmeal the CIA. Mr. Drescher of strategic initiatives for the CIA. Mr. Drescher desensitize participants to peanuts through under-the-tongue lastthe June. joined CIAthe in CIA 1995,in and served nearly 10 years10asyears the first joined 1995, and served nearly as the first or oral therapy. Although the treatments have been effective director of education thegrowth college's campus in St. Helena, of education for the oncollege's campus inscale St. in Helena, Thedirector firm intends to for spark an international the for some people, others have experienced side effects, including CA, same where he the product development of the CIA at Greystone’s CA,way where he new oversaw the development of the CIA atMills Greystone’s –oversaw with developments.

General plans stomach pain and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic program of continuing education and advanced studies. program of continuing education advanced studies. to introduce new protein varieties forand Fiber One and Nature Valley reaction. Compared with other food allergies, peanut allergies All in leadership initiatives led byofthe CIA, are supported partnerships sponsorships.

Program sponsors have have Canada and newinitiatives flavors its Nature Valleya Sweet &college, Nutty college, bars All leadership led by thea not-for-profit CIA, not-for-profit are supported by partnerships and sponsorships.

Program arebymore severe andand persistent.

The allergy may also besponsors growing opportunities make impact on the future our industry and receive invaluable exposure of their products and brands to industry in the UK. to help to opportunities helpanmake an impact on the of future of our industry andmore receive invaluable exposure of their products and brands to over industry common because it has been reported in more children decisiondecision makersmakers and opinion leaders.leaders.

Parties Parties interested in becoming program sponsors may contact Cathy Jörin, Director of Special ProjectsProjects and opinion interested in becoming program sponsors may contact Cathy Jörin, Director of Special The new ALT protein bars are also scoring well. There are plans the years. For many with nut allergies, the issue becomes easier and Planning, Strategic Initiatives, CIA, at CIA, cathyjorin1@aol.com or 707.537.7742. and Planning, Initiatives, cathyjorin1@aol.com to broaden flavorsStrategic and expand distribution atbeyond natural and or 707.537.7742. to handle with age.

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The Cracker | November 2013

Cafe Gourmet aG277 / SwiSS Gourmet Cafe aG Gourmet Tel. Gourmet +41 43 99 55/ SwiSS Fax: +41General 43 277 Str. 99Wille 57 General Wille 201Str. 201 switzerland@swissgourmet.com CH-8706 Feldmeilen CH-8706 Feldmeilen Switzerland Switzerland HONGKONG OFFICE: Tel +41 43 277 99 277 55 99 55 Tel +41 43 Tel. +852 2615 0080 Fax: 2615 0650 Fax +852 +41Fax 43 277 99 277 57 99 57 +41 43 hongkong@swissgourmet.com Mobile +41 79 +41 700 79 45 700 90 45 90 Mobile Email switzerland@swissgourmet.com www.swissgourmet.com Email switzerland@swissgourmet.com

MarchMarch 2012 |2012 The Cracker 21 | The Cracker

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

HEALTH CANADA’S STAND ON NUT OILS Health Canada released a position in Food Allergy last June on highly refined oils that are derived from food allergen sources. According to new food allergen labeling rules that took effect in August 2012, food manufacturers must declare when one of Canada’s top 11 allergens is an ingredient (or a component of an ingredient) in a packaged food. However, since it is the protein in an allergenic food that triggers reactions, Health Canada says in its updated position on labeling that “ingredients that are derived from a food allergen but which have been processed in a way that removes the protein are not themselves considered to be food allergens.”

HERE aRE sOmE Of THE KEy POinTs in THE POsiTiOn On fOOD Oils: • PEanuT Oil: The Canadian government agency says that, even when highly refined, manufacturers will still need to label for peanut allergen if peanut oil is an ingredient (or component) of a food.

• TREE nuT anD sEsamE Oil: Health Canada says both forms of oil are often not highly refined, so they will continue to need to be labeled as allergens.

• sOybEan Oil: A big change is that food manufacturers

will no longer need to declare most soybean oil as an ingredient.

Health Canada writes: “The residual amounts of protein in highly refined soybean oil are very low, such that they are considered to be of no health significance for soy allergic individuals. This has been corroborated by food challenge studies. Therefore, highly refined soybean oils will not be considered food allergen sources

and will not have to be labelled according to the enhanced allergen labelling regulations.”

The agency can, however, require food manufacturers to provide evidence that the soy oil is, in fact, highly refined.

(If not, it needs to be declared as an allergen if there is a “contains” allergy statement.)

Also, on a package label highly refined soy oil could be described as either “soybean oil” or “vegetable oil”, but the soy would not have to be listed in a “contains” allergy statement.

• fisH Oil: Health Canada finds that fish oil is usually highly refined. As with soy oil, manufacturers will not need to declare this ingredient as an allergen. The agency adds that “if, however, a fish oil product was not highly refined, then the enhanced allergen labelling regulations would apply.”

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

2014 NUT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ADDED TO INTERNATIONAL HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS The Australian Nut Industry Council (ANIC) has negotiated for a nut symposium to be included in the scientific program during the week-long International Horticultural Congress 2014 in Brisbane, 17-22 August. Held every four years at various sites around the world and attracting more than 2,000 delegates, the Congress is a world forum covering all aspects of horticulture and horticultural science. In its 29 years of existence, this is only the second time the Congress will come to the southern hemisphere This is a call to action for those in the industry to encourage nut researchers who would like to participate.

The call for abstracts closes 1st November 2013 for the "Go Nuts" Symposium. Please follow the link http:// www.ihc2014.org/symposium_52.html for the themes for papers and posters. For researchers who may have submitted abstracts already to another symposium and wish to participate in the Go Nuts symposium, abstracts can easily be moved to Go Nuts through the presenter portal.

A number of international researchers are already scheduled to be attending, so this is a great opportunity to network extensively with both nut and other horticultural researchers worldwide. General IHC 2014 information can be found at http://www.ihc2014.org/index.html

PRICE HIkE LOOMS FOR COCOA The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) has slightly reduced its cocoa deficit forecast for the current crop year and says there are ample stocks for chocolate manufacturers, but a deficit next year could raise prices. The ICCO previously forecast a 60,000 metric ton (MT) supply and demand shortfall for the crop year (Oct 12-Sept 13).

That deficit has now been cut to 52,000 MT as world production is projected at 3,986m MT and world grindings at 3,998m MT. The ICCO recently estimated that last year’s crop yielded more than previously, creating a 87,000 MT surplus – which is enough to cover this crop year’s deficit.

problems, but the economics director said it would take time since the country was so large. Grinding is expected to increase next year.

Demand is increasing in emerging markets for cocoa and chocolate and the economic situation in developed markets is improving.

The ICCO has yet to publish forecasts for the 2013/14, but another small cocoa deficit is expected according to ICCO. Cocoa prices this year have been falling, but have risen slightly in September because of an expected deficit next crop year due to lack of rainfall.

Processing activity in Indonesia has surged in recent years. Around 270,000 metric tons (MT) of cocoa were processed in Indonesia in 2012/13, up 28 percent per year for the past three years, making it the sixth largest grinding nation. Cocoa processing in the country is expected to grow further as Barry Callebaut opened a 30,000 MT facility in Makassar in September and Cargill is building a 70,000 MT plant in Gresik due to open in mid-2014.

About 70 percent of the world cocoa is grown in West Africa with the Ivory Coast and Ghana the largest producing nations. Indonesia is the third largest producer, but forecasts there are pessimistic due to pests and diseases. Major investments have been made to tackle these

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November 2013 | The Cracker

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

NUTRIENT INTAkE DIFFERS FROM PERCEPTION There is a significant disconnect between whether Americans believe they are getting sufficient nutrients and the reality of their diets, show the findings of the International Food Information Council’s Functional Foods Consumer Survey.

For nutrients such as vitamin D, 68% perceive to be getting enough vs. the 32% who actually are, when measured by the Dietary Reference Intakes recommended by experts. There is also a stark disconnect in the case of potassium (61% vs. less than 3%) and fiber (67% vs. 5%). But the opposite is true of B vitamins, with a smaller percentage perceiving that they consume an adequate amount (60%) vs. the percentage that actually do (90%).

The study also reveals gaps in knowledge and consumption of functional components like omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, flavonoids and zeaxanthin, with one-third or less of the population saying they’re not consuming enough of these components to meet their needs or to get a health benefit.

Still, consumer interest in learning about functional foods — defined by IFIC as foods that have benefits beyond basic nutrition, such as blueberries, yogurt, fortified milk, bread and cereal — remains high. Almost nine in 10 (86%) are interested in learning more about these foods. Similar to 2011, almost half of consumers (45%) are “very interested.”

In addition to lacking knowledge about these foods, consumers cited other obstacles to consumption. When presented with a list of 16 potential reasons for not consuming more of these foods, price was the most common barrier selected by respondents, with more than half identifying it as a major reason.

Other barriers include skepticism of manufacturers’ motives for adding health components to products, preference for the purity of basic foods, and taste.

CHina, mExiCO anD bRazil:

kEY INTERNATIONAL MARkETS FOR HERSHEY Hershey’s second quarter international performance was strongest in China, Mexico and Brazil and the company is planning launches to foster overseas growth. The company previously identified China as its “number one international priority”, but Mexico and Brazil are also high on its expansion agenda with net sales up solid double digits on a percentage basis versus last year. The chocolate category in China is up 11percent so far this year and is continuing to grow led by instant consumable and take-home pack types accelerating and outpacing gifting.

Analysts say the Chinese chocolate market registered a slowdown down after a growth rate of 15 percent last year. Chocolate had penetration among 300-400m people in China and with a population of 1.3bn there is opportunity for growth. Hershey recently launched its first Chinaexclusive brand earlier this year with premium milk candy product Lancaster. The milk candy segment in China is about $1.2 billion.

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The Cracker | November 2013

Hershey recently opened a new R&D facility in China to create products tailored to domestic tastes. It is planning to launch Kisses Deluxe and Hershey's Drops chocolates in China in Q4 this year. The company’s China output comes from a factory held in a joint venture with Korean confectioner Lotte. This factory has reached capacity and Hershey hopes to build a new plant in Asia, with China the likeliest destination.

Mexico and Brazil also present future prospects for the company. In Mexico, there is strong growth in the Hershey's and Kisses franchises.

In the modern trade, year-to-date chocolate retail takeaway was almost double the category rate, resulting in a market share gain of 1.2 points.

Hershey bars and tablets were ahead of targets in Brazil, where sales for the firm have grown in low double-digits in the first of the this year.

The company plans to launch Hershey's Mais candy in Brazil in Q4.

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

NEW DIETARY STRATEGIES FOR EUROPE’S SENIORS The European Commission’s agency, Eurostat, estimates that the percentage of people in Europe aged 65 and older will increase from 17 percent to 30 percent by 2050.

In response to this burgeoning concern the NU-AGE project, with funding from the European Union, has been conducting studies to create healthier diets for an ageing population.

Aurelia Santoro, NU-AGE scientific manager and researcher based at the University of Bologna said: “The selected talks at ICN [have described] the first steps of the project, illustrating the details of the NU-AGE diet and relationships, from the socio-economic status of elderly individuals to their dietary choices and health statuses. Metabolomic and metagenomic scientific data will be used to discover which diets and foods are of most benefit to elderly European populations.”

Discussing the potential impacts of the studies included in the event, one of the speakers Lisette de Groot, professor in nutrition and ageing at Wageningen University, told NutraIngredients: “It will contribute to policy changes, depending on the outcome of course.”

Metabonomics can be used to identify biological pathways affected by drugs, and could lead to personalized therapies. This would entail

individuals being grouped by metabonomic phentotypes, arranged by factors such as physiological response to the environment, diet, lifestyle and genetics.

Meanwhile, Paul O'Toole, professor in microbial genomics at University College Cork discussed elderly people’s gut microbiome – the bacterial ecosystem in the intestines – and its dependency on diet, and connection to health, ageing and well-being. His study on the topic is the largest yet.

The talks also looked at the influence of socio-economic factors on diet, and this effect on the aging process. Xavier Irz, professor of economic analysis of food markets at MTT Economic Research in Finland, claims that we do not know enough about how food choices, health and diet quality affect dietary change and healthy ageing.

Current research into older people in four EU countries shows that on average diet quality is low.

Professor Lisette de Groot, presented her on-going study on dietary intervention in European elderly people. The one year trial involving 1,250 volunteers in five EU countries is the first to look at the effects of a whole diet on health and quality of life in people aged 65- 80.

The study, which will be completed by late 2014, will see participants receiving dietary advice towards a Mediterranean diet including vitamin D supplementation while a control group receives no advice.

November 2013 | The Cracker

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

BARRY CALLEBAUT OPENS CHOCOLATE PLANT IN TURkEY Barry Callebaut has opened its first chocolate factory in Turkey, while SunOpta has completed a organic and specialty cocoa processing facility in the Netherlands. Barry Callebaut’s $17m Turkish plant in Eskisehir will have an annual capacity of 14,000 metric tons (MT) of chocolate.

According to Callebaut, Turkey ranks among the top five fastest growing chocolate confectionery markets in the world. There is significant growth potential as demand for high-quality chocolate, technical services and new innovations is growing fast.

Turkish chocolate consumption is still on the lowat 2 kg per capita, but the market has grown its volumes by 50% in the last five years to 125,000 (MT) and the market is forecast to grow volume at 6% per year from 2013 to 2018, according to Euromonitor International.

SunOpta’s new speciality cocoa plant in Middenmeer, Netherlands will process cocoa beans into cocoa liquor, butter and powder. The company had previously outsourced this type of production. The factory will have an annual capacity of 9,000 MT of raw cocoa.

SNACkERS SEEk 'PERMISSIBLE INDULGENCE' Hoping to elevate snack foods out of junk territory and into a healthier zone, more companies are offering ingredients with ironclad nutritional credentials, including black beans, brown rice, seaweed and parsnips, even if serving sizes are minuscule, or that calorie, fat or sodium profiles can rival or exceed those of oldschool pretzels and potato chips. That’s according to research at Netherlands-based Innova Market Insights.

The snack-food aisle's neon-colored bags contain cheesy, spicy fare designed mainly for guys in their teens and 20s. The new munchies are directed at a potentially larger group—consumers who want to eat better but also love salty chips.

The proportion of consumers reporting that they eat three to four snacks a day in addition to meals rose to31 percent in 2013, up from 19 percent in 2010. To help people feel better about snacking amid concerns over childhood obesity, many companies have been working to eliminate trans- fats and reduce saturated fats in products.

The percentage of U.S. snack foods making at least one health claim rose to 71 percent in the first half of 2013, up from56 percent

two years earlier, according to Innova. There were 51 new snacks containing beans and legumes, up from 28 a year earlier.

Good-for-you doesn't equal all-you-can-eat.

A one-ounce serving of nacho cheese tortilla chips has 146 calories, seven grams of fat and 174 milligrams of sodium, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database. That isn't very far from 140 calories, seven grams of fat and 140 milligrams of sodium for a one-ounce serving of Beanitos Nacho Cheese tortilla chips. This calls for strict adherence to serving sizes.

Serving sizes for alternative snacks can be just as unrealistic as they are for regular snacks.

A serving of sesame-flavored seaweed snacks may have just 30 calories, 2.5 grams of fat and

70 milligrams of sodium. But a serving size is 5 grams, equivalent to about 10 sheets— and a fraction of the 28-gram serving size (or about 1 ounce, with 150 calories) for pretzels, chips and crackers.

A chain of 25 stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, says it has created "healthy snacks" displays within the produce section.

Customers are looking for 'healthy' in healthy departments versus it being lost in the snack aisle, according to the chain.

At the same time, consumers are shifting away from three square meals a day and increasingly snacking. They also want real food values and real food ingredients that they traditionally find in regular meals.

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November 2013 | The Cracker

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WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

THE SANEST FOOD CHOICES EvER — NUTS! “Novelist Franz Kafka (maybe a little nuts himself) explained the relationship between tree nuts and good health better than anyone: "God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them." That part is up to you, and boy, is it worth the effort!” That’s according to Dr Michael Roizen, famed associate of U.S. celebrity, Dr Oz who has a popular television program.

According to Roizen, “Eating nuts regularly can help cool body-wide inflammation, reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome (a heart-risky precursor to Type 2 diabetes), lower blood pressure, reduce heart attack risk by 30 to 50 per cent, shrink your waist (more than 102 centimeters for men and 89 centimeters for women means you're obese), aid digestion and protect your brain. Eating a quarter to a half of a cup of nuts a day may lower total cholesterol by up to 21 per cent and LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) by up to 29 per cent.

“So here's our scoop on nuts. And remember, substitute nuts for unhealthy carbs and fats in your diet, don't add them to what you already eat."

“Almonds, 28 grams equals 23 nuts; 160 calories; six grams of protein; 14 grams of fat (one gram saturated); more calcium than any other nut, vitamin E, riboflavin, magnesium and manganese."

“Hazelnuts, 28 grams equals 21 nuts; 176 calories; four grams of protein; 17 grams of fat (one gram saturated); a good source of vitamin E, copper and manganese."

“Pecans, 28 grams equals 19 halves; 195 calories; three grams of protein; 20 grams of fat (two grams saturated); a good source of manganese."

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The Cracker | November 2013

“Pistachios, 28 grams equals 49 nuts; 160 calories; six grams of protein; 14 grams of fat (two grams saturated); and thiamine, B-6, copper and manganese."

"Walnuts, 28 grams equals 14 halves; 185 calories; four grams of protein; 18 grams of fat (two grams saturated); the most alphalipoic acid of any nut and the only nut with appreciable amounts of omega-3s, plus copper and manganese."

"lET's GET CRaCKin'!"

Mehmet Oz, MD, is host of the Dr. Oz Show and Mike Roizen, MD, is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Wellness Institute. For more information, go to www.sharecare.com.

WORLD NUT & DRIED FRUIT NEWS

DECLINE IN US MILk SALES SPUR NON-DAIRY DRINkS US dairy processors are countering declines in fluid milk consumption by processing non-dairy beverages including almond and other ‘milk’ beverages. That’s according to the PMMI (The Association of Packaging and Processing Technologies) in its new Dairy Industry market assessment for 2013, which summarizes conversations with 50 dairy professionals.

Continuing trends since the last PMMI survey in 2009 include industry consolidation, more ‘mega’ dairy farms with a shift to west coast regions, increased consumption of dairy products and use of more sustainable packaging materials.

With global dairy sales forecast to reach $494bn in 2015 – and the US accounting for around 25% - these processors want to counteract these declines by developing added-value products.

While the popularity of Greek yogurt has helped contribute to the rise in overall consumption of dairy products in recent years, one prominent product category, fluid milk, has faltered.

The association noted that consumer concerns center on perceptions of high fat and lactose content, while there is stiffer competition from protein and energy drinks.

Within the dairy world itself, consumers want innovative products, new flavors and improved packaging to satisfy their demand for healthier, onthe-go lifestyles, according the PMMI, while retailers want innovative, sustainable packaging that “pops off the shelf.” Forty-eight percent of dairy processors are responding to consumer demand for healthier food choices with low fat, fat free, reduced sugar and sodium, lactose free or organic products; they are also using probiotic cultures or fortifying products with nutrients, calcium and protein.

GMO-free dairy demand is also rising, while fluid milk is increasingly being processed into cheese (43 percent of US milk) yogurt and milk powders. Greek yogurt is enjoying “explosive growth”, as growth for cheese, new ice cream and milk flavors, milk by-products (whey, protein concentrates), powdered milk (given Asian demand) and almond ‘milk’ continues to climb.

INC AMBASSADORS • Michael Waring - Chairman, Australia • Oscar E. Vergara, Argentina • Christopher Joyce, Australia • Frank Vaerewijck, Belgium • José Eduardo Camargo, Brazil • Francisco Assis, Brazil • Ranjeet Wallia , Canada • Siegfried Von Gehr, Chile • Chen Ying, China • Alexis Summar, France • Richard Monnier, France • Thomas Apfel, Germany • Cheng Hung Kay, Hong Kong • Pratap Nair, India • Pankaj Sampat, India • Asadollah Asgaroladi, Iran

• Vitali Levy , Israel • Alessandro Annibali, Italy • Kazuo Julian Tagawa, Japan • Mbugua Ngugi , Kenya • Hani Akzam, Lebanon • Parissa Rafii, Luxembourg • Fiodor Slanina, Moldova • Khalid Bennani, Morocco • Kees Van De Sandt, Netherlands • Kees Blokland, Netherlands • Christopher Harlem, Norway • Oliver Sio, Philippines • Jorge Carqueja, Portugal • Kourosh Mojibian, Russia • Rustam Kushu, Russia • Amit Khirbat, Singapore

• Carl Henning, South Africa • Alex Whyte, South Africa • Miquel Borràs, Spain • Stefan Boden, Sweden • Varee Phonphaison, Thailand • Ahmed Boujbel, Tunisia • Sezmen Alper, Turkey • Muzaffer Taviloglu, Turkey • Hasan Sabir , Turkey • Jafar Moallem, UAE • Roby Danon, UK • Marc Rosenblatt , USA • Jeffrey Sanfilippo, USA • Mr. Stephen Sousa, USA • Jim Warner, USA

November 2013 | The Cracker

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COMMENTARY

NUTS: THEIR DIETARy AND THERAPEUTIC VAlUE

By Prof. David Jenkins, Canada Research Chair in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario Canada; Director of the Clinical Nutrition Risk Factor and Modification Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, and 2013 INC Award for Excellence in Research.

Perhaps more than any other foods nuts have had more dramatic reversals in perceived health benefits. Early on the view was that nuts and seeds were a basic part of the diets of early humans and their ancestors and they would therefore remain time honored components of the human diet. As concerns began to be expressed over fats in general and the risk of heart disease and low fat diets became the therapeutic norm, nuts also as fatty foods fell from grace with nutritionists. This view was strengthened as overweight and obesity became more of a problem and fatty foods were seen as high in calories and a contributor to overweight. However with the advent of Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, the situation changed. The Atkins adherents claimed that carbohydrate not fat was the cause of obesity and subsequent studies demonstrated the ability of high fat diets to achieve weight loss, in the shorter term, to a greater extent than high carbohydrate diets. Furthermore, the fat in nuts was “healthy” fat not the saturated fat of the high animal product Atkins diet. The nutritional door was therefore opened again for nuts. Nuts had always been known to have low glycemic indices.

Now they were also shown to lower LDL-C, not to increase body weight and even form the basis for a vegan Atkins diet (Eco Atkins diet), to reduce oxidative damage, improve diabetes control and most recently to reduce cardiovascular disease confirmed in a randomized controlled trial (PREDIMED) what had been found at the turn of the century in Cohort studies. There is no question that the PREDIMED

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The Cracker | November 2013

trial established the value of nuts (walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts) in reducing cardiovascular disease especially stroke, reduced carotid arterial damage assessed by ultrasound and lowered the incidence of type 2 diabetes as a major problem of the 21st century. This trial has been an inspiration to those of us in the nutrition field after the disappointment of other large randomized trials of healthy lifestyle to prevent CVD such as the Women’s Health Initiative and weight loss and exercise in diabetes in the Look AHEAD trial.

Our appreciation of the value of nuts started when we were testing foods for glycemic index in the diet in the late 1970’s and noted the fact that even the peanut (a legume) had a very low glycemic index. Later Gene Spiller involved us in his testing of almonds in participants with moderately raised serum cholesterol that resulted in significant LDL-C lowering.

By the end of the 1990’s there was growing interest in the evolution of the human diet. At that time it became apparent that nuts and seeds were likely part of the ancestral diet for a large part of human evolution. To test this concept we developed a diet devoid of starchy foods representing a late Miocene type diet of 4-5 million years ago. The diet contained 70g of nuts (almonds and hazelnuts) daily and 63 servings of fruits and vegetables. This diet lowered serum cholesterol as potently as a statin (35% reduction) in 2 weeks and confirmed in our minds the power of diets of which nuts formed an integral part.

COMMENTARY

Early in the Century we started studies funded by the California Almond Board. The flagship study was a dose response study of almonds taken on a self selected diet in participants who had moderately raised blood lipids. The studies demonstrated a dose response similar to the metabolic diets of Joan Sabate carried at the same time.

Interest in our almond study in Circulation encouraged us to assess possible additional cardioprotective aspects of nuts. To this end in a series of experiments we explored the ability of nuts to reduce oxidative damage especially after intake of nuts with carbohydrate foods, specifically bread. We noted that the postprandial flattening in glycemic response by almonds related to the reduction in oxidative damage to plasma proteins (thiols). The data confirmed the low glycemic index of nuts which proved difficult to test due to the low carbohydrate content of nuts and the large volume needed to be eaten, but also demonstrated the ability of nuts especially almonds and pistachios to reduce the rise in blood glucose when consumed with bread.

These studies encouraged us to include nuts with viscous fiber foods, soy protein foods and plant sterols in margarine to form the basis of a potent cholesterol-lowering diet which we termed a dietary portfolio, after the concept of a financial portfolio. This dietary portfolio when fed under metabolic conditions produced reductions in LDL-C equivalent to a statin, Lovastatin 20mg/d with which it was compared. As a result of publication of these data, the nut containing dietary portfolio was the only dietary approach referenced in the NCEP ATP III guidelines update published in Circulation in 2004 (Grundy, S et al.).

This study in turn triggered a series of dietary portfolio publications culminating in a multicentre trial in 4 centers across Canada involving over 340 participants that over a 6-month period demonstrated 1314% reductions in LDL-C. The study also demonstrated that this level of reduction could be achieved with only one extra visit during the six months not statistically different from when participants attended the clinic monthly over the course of the trial. Interestingly, both the level of dietary adherence and the LDL-C reduction differed between centers with the best effect seen in the center with the highest concentration of health food stores and vegetarian restaurants (Vancouver – West Coast). It may therefore be that increased health awareness drives a greater availability of plant foods including nuts and as shown with PREDIMED, and in turn the availability of nuts drives consumption of healthy plant foods including nuts resulting in better overall health and cardiovascular health.

As a result of this study, the recent (2012-2013) Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the prevention of CVD recommend the portfolio dietary pattern along with the Mediterranean and DASH diets and specifically mentions the components of the portfolio individually. Nuts therefore are recommended specifically.

We believe our studies have contributed over the years to interest in nuts and we hope to be involved in more large trials such as PREDIMED which are the ultimate drivers of consumption of nuts and other healthy plant foods.

almonds brazil nuts cashews dehydrated fruit dried fruit hazelnuts macadamia nuts peanuts pecans pine kernels pistachios pumpkin seeds sunflower seeds walnuts

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November 2013 | The Cracker

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FEATURE STORY

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR LONG TERM SURvIvABILITY There is now widespread scientific consensus that the global annual average temperature is likely to be 2ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2050. A 2ºC warmer world will experience more intense rainfall and more frequent and more intense droughts, floods, heat waves, and other extreme weather events. This will have dramatic implications for how countries manage their economies, care for their people, and design their development paths.

Countries will need to adopt specific measures to adapt to climate change. In 2010, the World Bank began building on an analytical effort about the implications of climate change on a large set of countries. We will explore some of these implications by looking inside Ethiopia, a country which has experienced vibrant growth in recent years, but has historically been plagued by climate extremes (particularly droughts), resulting in large income swings; and is expected to be exposed to even more pronounced and frequent climate shocks in the future.

At the global level, studies to date have provided only a wide range of estimates of climate change impacts and adaptation costs, from USD 4 billion to USD 109 billion a year. A recent, more systematic analysis by the World Bank of adaptation actions across a range of sectors suggests a narrower cost range of USD 70–100 billion per year, with some USD 18 billion for Sub-Saharan Africa.

For example, in Ethiopia, agriculture, which accounted for 46 percent of Ethiopian GDP in 2006, is highly sensitive to seasonal variations in temperature and moisture; roads which are the backbone of the country’s transport system, are often hit by large floods, which cause serious infra-structure damage and disruptions to supply chains; and the dam infrastructure sub-sector which provides hydropower and irrigation, and if suitably expanded can become an important source of foreign currency through energy exports, is affected by large precipitation swings.

Results of a study in Ethiopia predicted that by 2050 climate change could cause GDP to be 8–10 percent smaller than under a noclimate change baseline; it could induce a two-fold increase in variability of growth in agriculture; and it would affect more severely the poor and certain parts of the country. The report also finds that adaptation to climate change might cost an annual average of USD 0.8–2.8 billion; and an additional USD 0.4 to 3.0 billion for residual damages which

may not be addressed by adapting existing development plans. It also indicates that rapid development of Ethiopia’s hydro-potential, upgrading of the road design standards, and gradual diversification of the economy away from the more climate vulnerable sectors are likely to be important elements of any climate-resilient development strategy.

Because Ethiopia's climate is diverse and erratic, plagued with both massive flooding events and intense periods of drought, the unpredictability of weather patterns severely hinders economic development, particularly for lower income countries reliant upon their agricultural sector for national income.

With 46.4 of Ethiopia's labor force employed in agriculture services, the cost of extreme weather events can be astronomical.

As the study suggests, Ethiopia will need millions of dollars, if not billions, to spend on infrastructure and programs in the next three decades in order to adapt to future climate

patterns. An increase in annual droughts could end up costing Ethiopia anywhere from US$7.3 million to US$1.2 billion by 2040, while total infrastructure costs could exceed US$2.8 billion annually. Water scarcity will increase, demanding more irrigation infrastructure and energy to pump water across the country.

Furthermore, Ethiopia's population continues to grow. This year Ethiopia's population hit a benchmark of 90 million people.

Higher populations combined with growing urbanization rates will increase national food demands in the future. These stresses will exacerbate change adaptation costs even further.

How can the country alleviate the future stress of climate change include? The report suggests they will need to invest in irrigation to increase yields in rain-fed areas, develop new technologies to better predict regional temperature changes, and enhance design strategies for paved roads vulnerable to adverse weather conditions.

November 2013 | The Cracker

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COMMENTARY

UC PROFESSOR PERSPECTIvE ON CHINA IN TRANSITION As China’s phenomenal economic growth of the last three decades is slowing, Chinese leaders are committing to a new round of reforms, a University of California, San Diego expert recently explained at a recent California Chamber of Commerce trade meeting.

Market-oriented economic reform is one of three possibly contradictory priorities for the president of China, according to Barry J. Naughton, UC San Diego professor of Economics specializing in the Chinese economy.

Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China since last November, is trying to reinvent the style of the current regime and distinguish it from its predecessor, Naughton noted. One element of Xi’s agenda is a dramatic anti-corruption effort, said Naughton, commenting that the Chinese people see corruption as the biggest problem in China today because it “undermines their sense that they have a future, that they can get ahead through hard work and creativity.” The anti-corruption campaign includes strict limits on spending by Chinese officials and an increase in the number of officials being charged with corruption. A second “basket” of Xi’s effort, according to Naughton, is a push for “increased ideological conformity.” That effort involves tightening controls on the Internet and China’s Twitter (weibo).

Making the transition to a more diverse economy with economic power distributed more equally “will demand things of the Chinese system that it has never succeeded in providing in the past,” Naughton said. The processes driving change in China over the next five years are known, he observed. What’s unknown is how Chinese leaders will respond to short-term economic shocks that are likely to occur as the Chinese economy shifts.

In 2012, China continued as California’s third largest export destination, with more than $14 billion in exports. Chinese direct investment in California is increasing..The Rhodium Group estimates that Chinese firms now employ 27,000 people in the United States, up from fewer than 10,000 five years ago.

The economic reform program, the third “basket” of Xi’s agenda, is being developed now behind closed doors by six writing teams and will be presented at the November gathering (Third Plenum) of the Chinese Communist Party, Naughton said. Based on past Chinese efforts, Naughton predicted that the market reforms will work around the massive state-owned enterprises, and will instead focus on “creating more equal competitive conditions” through financial reforms (capital markets and interest rates); fiscal reforms; pricing of natural resources and energy; and reducing legal discrimination against rural Chinese.

In implementing their economic reforms, China’s leaders will encounter opposition from lots of people who are making money from the current system, Naughton commented. So far, China has dealt with the slowdown in economic growth by ramping up government investment in areas such as infrastructure (high speed rail) and housing, Naughton said.

Another transition that has begun already, according to Naughton, is a decline in the working-age population—a consequence of China’s strict policy of one child per family, in force since the early 1980s. The labor force grew rapidly through the 2000s, but peaked and began to decline in 2010. At the same time, there has been a sharp increase in the number of high-skilled Chinese workers with science and engineering backgrounds (either college degrees or technical school graduates), he said.

“The low-wage China is a thing of the past,” Naughton observed, adding that the change marks a shift to a “middle-income society” where labor conditions matter more. The simultaneous increase in wages coupled with a decline in the labor force distinguishes China from other Asian growth miracles, such as Japan and Korea, Naughton commented.

November 2013 | The Cracker

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FEATURE STORY

GAUDÍ AND NUTS

By Abel Mariné, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Food Science Food Campus, School of Pharmacy. University of Barcelona

One of the reasons for visiting Barcelona is the iconic buildings and construction by Antoni Gaudí, notably the Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà (la Pedrera) and Park Güell. This world-renowned architect, an emblematic figure of Modernism, endowed his rigorously executed work with imaginative structures and forms, both exterior and interior.

His work remains an object of study and the subject of new publications, which also touch on personal aspects of a man who was characterized not only by a strict professionalism, but also a civic and religious spirit.

Journalists Gemma Aguilera and Àlex Milian have recently published new information about the life and work of Gaudí, unearthed by the investigative work of Mariano Marín and Manuel Medarde, which include interesting revelations about his diet.

Gaudí (1852-1926) was born in the region of Reus, near Tarragona and 100 km south of Barcelona, in a traditional nut-producing area. Whether for this reason or another, the great architect was an avid consumer of nuts. Every morning he would leave home with a handful of walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and raisins in his pocket, a daily routine revealed by a circular oily blemish on his trousers, as observed by those who knew him.

This combination of nuts and dried fruit - raisins in this case - is traditional in Catalonia, where it is known as “the musician’s dessert”.

Apparently, this was a favoured snack for musicians and other artists before a performance or during intermission, since these snacks are nutritious, quick to eat and did not require sitting down at the dinner table: among the many benefits of nuts and dried fruit!

Gaudí consumed nuts at other times of his day, as well. According to the diary account of one of his assistants, Pere Viñas, “Don Antoni, except occasionally when he would have a bit of cheese, nearly always snacked in the afternoon on some dried figs and toasted almonds or hazelnuts, which he carried in his pockets”.

In short, Gaudí perfectly fulfilled the dietary recommendation that eating nuts - about 25-30 grams or more, 3-7 times a week - is good for you.

If well integrated into a balanced diet, nuts provide calories without causing weight gain due to their capacity to satiate. They are also nutritious, suitable for diabetic patients, promote cardiovascular health and lower cholesterol.

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There is some evidence that they also positively influence intellectual functioning. So in addition to satisfying his hunger by combining nuts and dried fruit in his diet for healthy snacking, nuts perhaps also contributed favourably to feeding the famous architect’s ideas and imagination! If the virtues of food can be associated with celebrities, nuts already have their icon: Antoni Gaudí.

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The Cracker | November 2013

Voice Vale - France, S.A.R.L. Telephone: 33-140502-480 Fax: 33-140502-488 Tanto Corporation - Japan Telephone: 81-3-4360-5336 Fax: 81-3-4360-5794 CALDIC - Sweden AB Telephone: 46-40-698-1130 Fax: 46-40-698-1101 Food Source, Inc. - Middle East Telephone: 001-630-887-8590 Fax: 001-630-887-8599

4/19/2013 10:45:48 AM

November 2013 | The Cracker

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FEATURE STORY

CHILEAN WALNUT CONSOLIDATES ON THE WORLD SCENE

Today Chile is the nº1 Walnut exporter in the southern hemisphere and ranks 3rd place globally. It is expected that by 2015 Chile will exceed 60.000 tons of exported walnuts.

During the past years Chilean agriculture has reached great relevance on a global basis, especially because of the production and exports of the Chilean walnut. Due to its high demand this fruit has become one of the leaders of Chile’s export portfolio experiencing an average growth of 10%.

Chilean Walnut Commission forecast indicates that by the year 2015 the nuts and dried fruits category exports could reach USD 1 billion (considering walnuts, prunes, hazelnuts, almonds and raisins) where only the walnuts would produce almost US$400 million.

“Chile counts with over 30.000 hectares of walnuts and a very small domestic market.

This builds a challenge for this country to become a key player in the walnut market all over the world”, says Andrés Rodríguez, Chairman of the Chilean Walnut Commission (www.chileanwalnut.com).

The incorporation of the Asian Market to Chilean walnut export destinations, leaded

by South Korea, has allowed Chile to export over 2.757 tons of walnut to Korea followed by 1.850 tons exported to Hong Kong.

For this year 2013, Chile expects a production of 41.000 tons of walnuts of which 95% is expected to be exported. These numbers have positioned our country as the nº 1 exporter in the southern hemisphere and globally the third, only after USA and Ukraine.

“Chile is now focused in developing new opportunities in Asia and this aim is helped by adding the mechanical cracking, added to the hand cracked walnut that Chile also has.

This opens great opportunities for us in the demanding markets”, explains Rodríguez.

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The Cracker | November 2013

Andrés Rodríguez, Chairman of the Chilean Walnut Commission

FEATURE STORY

During the past 12 years the exports have multiplied over 9 times their value, meaning that in 2.000 the exports reached almost US$ 22 million and in 2012 they reached over US$ 196 million. This increase continues projecting for the years to come.

The Chilean Walnut Commission, industry association that gathers the main walnut exporters and processors in Chile, estimates that due to the relevant increase of the planted area, which has doubled during the last 10 years and includes over 30.000 hectares all over the country – the national production will surpass the 60.000 tons per year in 2015. All of this due to the main production zones found in the Metropolitan Region, V, VI region and even in the low scale plantations found in IV, VII and VIII region of Chile.

MECHANICAL CRACkING:

THE fORmula TO aCCEss nEw maRKETs It is important to highlight that today one of the main aims of the Chilean Walnut Commission has been to position the Chilean Walnut all over the world. This has been achieved by following strict quality standards which are regulated through the creation of a quality standard for the walnut exports. (Note: This standard can be downloaded from the ChWC website www.chileanwalnut.com) This standard establishes parameters for different aspects of the walnut quality in its diverse presentations; inshell and shelled and hand or machine cracked. By the use of this standard, we can offer homogeneity in the quality of the exported product so that the importer knows what to expect and demand from the Chilean exports.

“Chilean walnuts count with unbeatable characteristics such as their flavor, color, and shelf life. This has given the product an international prestige. Nevertheless, we believe that it is important to maintain this prestige throughout the years and our way of doing this was the creation of the Quality Standard of the Chilean Walnut Commission”, explains Rodríguez.

Additionally, the Chilean Walnut Commission developed complementary elements to the standard, such as the color chart and the damage exemplification poster.

Damage & defects Damage present in the shell:

Open shell: Shell that is partially separated in the suture line which is noticeable without pressing the fruit.

Slight stains: Alterations consisting in a black, brown, reddish brown, gray or other color in pronounced contrast with the background color of the shell which in total represent between 10% up to 20% of the shell surface.

Cracked walnut: Fruit which shows a fractured shell, without any missing parts.

Broken walnut: Fruit where there is a part of the shell missing, in a surface diameter greater than or equal to 6 mm.

Split walnut: Fruit that shows the two halves separated.

Serious stains: Alterations consisting in a black, brown, reddish brown, gray or other color in pronounced contrast with the background color of the shell which in total represent over 20% of the shell.

Adhering hull presence: Existence of hull over the hard shell; it is considered a defect when it affects more than 10 % of the shell surface.

Imperfect shell: Anomalous development of some shell sections that resemble abrasions or erosions that usually show small perforations. It is considered a defect when the affected surface either alone or added up with the rest, is more than 1 cm2.

Slight shriveling: Walnut which shows at a glance a certain degree of dehydration (wrinkling) to an extent which affects more than 12.5% and less than 25% of its surface.

Serious shriveling: Nut that shows a visible dehydration (wrinkling), which is greater or equal than 25% of its surface.

Damage present in the kernel:

Slight stains: Areas in pronounced contrast with the kernel background color and that fail to meet the commercial colors affecting more than 12.5% and less than 25% of its surface.

Serious stains: Areas in pronounced contrast with the kernel background color and do not match characteristic colors, affecting more than 25% of its surface, alone or combined.

Insects damage: Presence of dead insects, no matter their living stage, within the nut. Visible and noticeable damage produced by insects or insect traces (webs, feces).

Empty nuts: Nuts without endosperm (edible part) in their kernels.

Presentation:

Halves: Kernel halves, including the ones that have up to 12.5% (1/8) of the kernel missing, providing that the kernel maintains its characteristic form.

Inactive fungus: Fungal presence of dry aspect and moldy characteristic, visible at first sight.

Active fungus, indication of decay: Visible presence in vegetative forms of diverse fungi that affects the kernel, producing humid decomposition of its tissues.

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Quarters or large pieces: Kernel piece held by a sieve of 13mm and that is smaller than a half of a kernel.

Pieces or medium pieces: Kernel pieces which shall pass through a 13 mm sieve and cannot pass through 9 mm sieve.

Referential images. Elaborated by Fundación para el Desarrollo Frutícola for ChWC.

Story Continues on Page 30

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FEATURE STORY Story Continued from Page 29

“This new quality standard, besides trying to promote the high quality of our walnut, intends to be a reliable tool for all the importers of this product. This way, the walnut sector is reinforced and is able to compete in the international markets through the excellence of its quality”, says Rodríguez.

ChWC

Versión 01 Dic. 2012

THE DEliGHT Of THE miDDlE EasT There is no doubt that the decision to enter the Middle East market was a great success. This market has become one of the most important niches for the Chilean exporters. For this reason, there has been a considerable increase of the quantity of the exported walnuts to this region which has made de public and private sectors very satisfied.

The numbers show positive for this season as well. As Andrés Rodríguez declares, by week 39 of this season 2013/2014 the walnut exports to Dubai

had increased almost in 33% over the last season and the exportation to Turkey for the same week had increased in 38% in comparison to the past season.

“We have been able to see an important progress in the recovery of the Middle East market, especially given the upturn of the re-export markets. This has boosted the two biggest hubs of distribution: Turkey and Dubai”, explains Rodríguez.

SECTOR BRAND:

walnuTs fROm CHilE To enhance the walnut industry in Chile the public and the private sector formed an alliance and gave birth to the sector brand “Walnuts from Chile”. The intention with this brand is to promote the benefits of the Chilean walnut around the world.

“The creation of this sector brand is very important because it is very difficult to reach the international markets through individual efforts of each company. The creation of a sector brand promotes a team work between the private and the public sector which implies they can share the costs and work together for the image of Chile”, says Andrés Rodríguez, Chairman of the Chilean walnut Commission.

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The Cracker | November 2013

MELBOURNE WELCOMES THE INC

Network with the industry’s best at INC World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress, Melbourne 2014 Following the record attendance of the INC 30th Anniversary World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress -Barcelona 2013, the INC is in preparations for an exciting Congress in Melbourne 2014. Mark your calendar now to join us 20-22 May 2014 at Australia’s largest destination venue: Crown Complex in Melbourne, for the global mustattend event in the nut and dried fruit industry.

• 1,000+ professionals from over + 55 countries • Top level managers in the nut and dried fruit industry • Enhance your brand, increase your exposure, and take advantage of unique opportunities to network with your target audience by sponsoring the Congress.

• A stimulating three-day program to discuss about market development, supply, consumption, innovation, food safety, nutrition and research.

• INC Awards: Highlighting the Best of the Industry

November 2013 | The Cracker november

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The meeting point for the nut and dried fruit businesses to seek industry opportunities, make deals, learn and network.

Dear friends, Following the memorable 30th Anniversary World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Barcelona 2013, we are in preparations for an exciting Congress in Melbourne, Australia, 20-22 May, 2014.

Voted multiple times as the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne -the capital of Victoria- is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a seaside setting on Port Phillip Bay offering the very best in major events, shopping, nightlife, food and wine.

Crown Palladium will be the venue for the Congress sessions. Situated in the Southbank area in the central business district, the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex combines state of the art meeting facilities with a wide range of nearby hotels, restaurants and bars.

Attendees can take advantage of the many activities that make up this industry-leading event. World-class thoughtleadership sessions will debate the present and future of our industry in-depth through round tables, satellite meetings, seminars and keynote speakers. Moreover, the event will feature an exhibition area with companies around the globe.

In addition to technical sessions, the INC Congress would not be complete without a program of social events. The Welcome Cocktail will be held on Tuesday, May 20th; the Casual Dinner will take place on Wednesday, May 21st at the National Gallery of Victory, Australia’s oldest public

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The Cracker | november November 2013

art gallery, and the traditional Gala Cocktail, Dinner and Ball will close the Congress on Thursday, May 22nd at the splendid Crown Palladium.

There is a lot to see and do in Australia, and you may be interested in extending your stay beyond the Congress dates.

For this reason, we have launched a program of pre- and post-Congress tours to explore Australia’s nut industry: a pre-tour to Southern Australia -the iconic Australian Outback, with visits to walnut, pistachio, almond and vine fruit / stone fruit growing regions, and a post-tour to Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland to “get on farm” and visit macadamia processing facilities. Those delegates with interest in Pecans, (some farms covered in the post tour) can add to the post tour with a Stahmann Farms guided tour of their plantation near Moree (NSW).

It’s all happening in Australian Horticulture. Save the dates for the must-attend event in the nut and dried fruit industry.

If you are a part of the industry, you don’t want to miss it.

Yours sincerely, Organising Committee Michael Waring, Congress Chairman Giles Hacking, INC Chairman Jack Mariani, INC Past Chairman Goretti Guasch, INC Executive Director

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM MONDAY, 19 MAY Daytime Registration at Crown Palladium TUESDAY, 20 MAY Daytime: Registration at Crown Palladium Booth Exhibition Congress Opening Parallel Sessions Round Tables and Working Sessions Evening: Welcome Cocktail for all Congress Participants WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY Daytime: Spouses Tour Booth Exhibition Round Tables and Working Sessions Coffee Break Sponsored by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc. Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Rajkumar Impex Pvt Ltd. Evening: Casual Buffet Dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria THURSDAY, 22 MAY Daytime: Spouses Tour Booth Exhibition INC General Assembly Coffee Break Sponsored by Crain Walnut Shelling Round Tables and Working Sessions Buffet Working Lunch Sponsored by Sun-Maid Growers of California Evening: Gala Reception, Dinner and Ball at Palladium.

Bring your brand to the top. Take a sponsorship and ensure your brand is seen by all +1000 world-class industry leaders and professionals.

SPONSORS

November 2013 | The Cracker

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MELBOURNE: Named the Most Liveable City in the World Visitors will find that Melbourne is an exciting city to explore. Modern architecture and design is juxtaposed with heritage buildings reflecting Australia’s unique history. But beneath the city’s impressive façade, lies the true heart and soul of the city; laneways which snake the city grid to reveal cafés and bars, fashion houses, boutiques, innovative cuisine, galleries, theatres and museums.

Within an hour’s drive of the city, visitors can enjoy some of Australia’s most spectacular coastlines, wildlife reserves, wineries, temperate rainforests, surf beaches and historic townships. Also on offer in and around Melbourne is the opportunity to learn about Australia’s Indigenous past and present.

MELBOURNE IS THE PLACE TO BE • Australia’s multicultural hub represents 233 ethnic communities with 180 languages spoken • A great walking city which is compact and easy to get around • Safe and secure • A wide range of quality accommodation, offering value for money • Skybus leaves Melbourne Airport every 10-15 minutes direct to the Central Business District (CBD) • A free City Circle Tourist Tram, Tourist Shuttle Bus and water taxis • More than 6,500 restaurants, cafes, bistros, bars and brasseries within 15 minutes of the CBD – undoubtedly Australia’s culinary capital • Home to five of the six most significant annual sporting events held in Australia including the Spring Racing Carnival which includes the world-famous Melbourne Cup horse race, the Australian Open Tennis Championships, Boxing Day Cricket Test, the Australian Formula 1TM Grand Prix and the Australian Football League Grand Final.

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The Cracker | november November 2013

CONGRESS VENUE Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River. One of the central features of the Southbank area in the central business district, and fronting onto the waterfront as part of Southbank Promenade.

The entire complex has a space of 510,000 sq. m which is equivalent to 2 city blocks, making it the largest casino complex in the southern hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. Featuring over 14 Premium Restaurants, 14 Casual Restaurants, 13 Bars/Nightclubs and next to Southbank with over 40 additional restaurants.

Crown Palladium will be the venue for the INC 2014 sessions. This is Australia’s premier ballroom and one of Australia’s most technologically advanced venues. Most impressive, the Palladium at Crown is the venue of choice for some of Australia’s most prestigious events, including the TV Week Logie Awards, the Australian Football League Brownlow Medal, and the Official Australian Grand Prix Ball.

Accommodation at Crown Delegates will have the opportunity to enjoy accommodation at 2 of Crown’s hotels.

Crown Towers, Crown’s 5-star luxury hotel. Located within the Complex, it houses 481 rooms and villas over 38 floors. Located on the banks of the Yarra River, it overlooks the city centre, Kings Domain, Port Phillip and Docklands. 31 Villas offer guest unparalleled opulence and grandeur, exceeding any premium accommodation in the world.

Crown Promenade offers 465 rooms on 23 floors. It is located on the block behind Crown Towers and is connected to the main complex by a pedestrian overpass across Whiteman Street.

Delegate overflow will then move to Crown Metropol, Australia’s largest hotel by number of rooms. This 5-star hotel houses 658 rooms across 28 floors. Like Promenade, Metropol is connected with the Crown Entertainment Complex by a pedestrian overpass passing over Whiteman Street.

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PRE- AND POST-CONGRESS TOURS There is a lot to see and do in Australia. Extend your stay beyond the Congress dates, and explore Australia’s nut industry and distinctive landmarks.

Pre Tour Southern Australia - Southern New South Wales/Northern Victoria/South Australia Thursday 15 May - Sunday 18 May (4 days)

Photograph courtesy of the Almond Board of Australia

Your opportunity to visit the walnut, pistachio, almond and dried grape growing regions of Australia. Experience the iconic Australian growing region that is the avenue to the Australian Outback.

Firstly, this tour will take you to Walnuts Australia Pty Ltd’s Leeton Orchard and new processing facility in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Furthermore, you will visit the Shearer’s Hall of Fame, a new exciting Interpretative Center devoted to the culture, stories, and passion of Australian sheep farming and shearing. You will visit CMV’s pistachios orchard and Australian Pioneer Pistachio Company at Tol Tol, which pioneered the growing of Australian pistachios in the early 1980’s. The visit will be followed by an inspection of Select Harvests’ almond orchards at Wemen and Olam’s new hulling and shelling plant at Carwarp –the largest in Australia and one of the largest in the world. We will wrap up the tour with a visit to the dried grape / stone fruit industry in the region surrounding Mildura.

Post Tour Northern New South Wales / South East Queensland Friday 23 May - Wednesday 28 May (5 days)

“Get on Farm” and visit “key Australian Macadamia Processing” facilities. The Northern Rivers of New South Wales grows over 60% of the Australian macadamia crop and is home to some of the most advanced macadamia processing and handling facilities in the world. South East Queensland Coast and Central Queensland Coast (about 20% of the Australian production) boasts the largest commercial macadamia plantations in the world, utilizing the latest horticultural practices, varieties and methods.

The region is home to the words largest and newest macadamia processing facility, and other key industry participants.

The tour includes visits to MPC factory, Pacific Farm, Eltham Pantry Pecan farm, Steinhardt Farm (Macadamias Australia), Consolidated Nuts (MMI) processing factory -newest and largest macadamia shelling plant in the world, and Hinkler Park (macadamia) farm or peanut farm visit. If Pecans are your interest, and although covered already with some farm visits in the tour, then discuss with Stahmann Farms about a visit to Moree (NSW) to experience hospitality on farm. Just a commercial flight from Sydney away.

Renowned for its classic iconic beaches, rolling green hills and extensive tourism industry, this region of Australia is a must see. Included in the program is an opportunity to visit Byron Bay, The Gold Coast, The Great Barrier Reef, and much more.

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The Cracker | november November 2013

A sustainable future can start with small steps.

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Scan the QR code above to see the results of our groundbreaking NSF verification and Eco-Efficiency Analysis. Hilltop Ranch is dedicated to leading the almond industry to a sustainable future. In fact, we’ve reduced our land and water resource usage by 34% and energy usage by 24%, all while providing the highest-quality almonds and customer service. And with flexible packaging and shipping, as well as first-rate traceability, we help our customers keep up with the pace of change.

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

NUTS & DRIED FRUIT SHINED BRIGHTLY AT ANUGA

Thousands of food professionals, including buyers, distributors, and retailers, together with 14 co-exhibitors spotted the business reference point for nuts and dried fruit at ANUGA Koln, from 5th to 9th October 2013.

The 216 sq.m pavilion featured co-exhibitors from China, Tunisia, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey and the United States, who gave a very positive response to the experience. The Pavilion offered a full-service package designed to minimize preparation time and maximize the effectiveness of their show participation, based on a turnkey service and comfortable facilities.

This second edition of the INC Nuts and Dried Fruit Pavilion has consolidated its position as the largest, only space exclusively dedicated to the nut and dried fruit industry.

The Pavilion included a specific area dedicated to facilitate the connection between exhibitors and visitors. The hospitality area offered a business friendly atmosphere for face-to-face meetings reaching the major players, decision-makers in the nuts and dried fruits business.

The INC Pavilion is in good shape -it was fully booked in short term and INC had to open a waiting list. For SIAL Paris 2014, INC already booked 100 sq.m more (315 sq.m total) to satisfy the growing demand.

Thank you for choosing the INC Pavilion at ANUGA! november 2013 | The Cracker

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

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The Cracker | November 2013

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

INC PAVILION AT SIAL PARIS 2014:

RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! Only for INC Members!

For SIAL Paris 2014, INC increases space to satisfy the growing demand: 315 sq.m total.

The INC launches a booth package with exclusive services and amenities to make your SIAL participation a successful venture, so you can focus on generating new businesses and sales.

Following the success of the INC Nuts & Dried Fruit Pavilion at SIAL Paris 2012 and ANUGA 2013, the INC is glad to host a pavilion in Paris, 19-23 October 2014.

INC offers a full-service Pavilion to deliver a superior service matchless by any other booth. The Pavilion offers companies the prestige and visibility of exhibiting with other industry-related companies, while maintaining their own identity with an individual booth. With the spotlight on high-traffic, open concept, new products and new forms of consumption, INC expects +18,000 visitors, mainly decision makers and top managers.

ExHIBITING INCLUDES • Pre-show planning and promotion support services, including promotion in The Cracker magazine, newsletter, website and a broad marketing program in INC events.

• ONE FREE DELEGATE REGISTRATION FOR THE WORLD NUT AND DRIED FRUIT CONGRESS. • Hospitality lounge with complimentary refreshments.

• Furniture, welcome desk and storage room.

• Catering: Refreshments and lunch for exhibitors during the entire fair.

• Multilingual personnel: English, French, Italian and Spanish.

• Support by INC staff on-site.

• Company listing in the official catalogue, website and online tools provided by SIAL. • Assistance in one-way shipping through partner.

• Assistance in accommodation and travel through partner.

i

For more information, please contact us at +34 977.331.416 or marketing@nutfruit.org

NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS: NEW SUPERHEROES CARTOONS INC lauNChes a CampaIgN IN the form of CartooNs arouNd the CoNCept “superheroes aNd superpowers” based oN the NutrItIoNal faCts paCked IN Nuts aNd drIed fruIts. the mIssIoN of the vIdeo Is to spread the health message worldwIde aNd eNtertaIN kIds wIth hIghlIghts oN the powers of Nuts aNd drIed fruIts.

The video will be disseminated through the INC web site and major Social Media channels, such as Youtube, Vimeo, Facebook and Twitter.

Seventeen superheroes team up to fight diseases and highlight the importance of a healthy diet supplemented with nuts and dried fruits. This 1-minute video is intended for children ages 6 and older.

The cartoons illustrate the role of the powerful nutrition facts, packed in nuts and dried fruits, in a balanced diet. In their adventure, the 17 superheroes explore an unusual universe where they face diseases (enemies) and learn about the essential nutrients (superpowers) that each superhero possesses. These essential nutrients are presented as powerful weapons that everybody can obtain by consuming tree nuts, peanuts and dried fruits.

November 2013 | The Cracker

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NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

INC ExECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING The INC Executive Committee met in San Diego on September 15th to review the year’s financial and ongoing projects within the INC Strategic Plan of Actions and Budget. The members of the Executive Committee discussed the reports and activities developed within the Ambassadors Committee, as well as the activities of the Scientific and Government Affairs Committee, the World

Forum for Nutrition Research and Dissemination, and the ad-hoc working groups: Global Cashew Council and Macadamias Committee. The Committee also reviewed current and new projects for 2014. The meeting concluded with the report of the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congresses, past and future.

INC RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FROM THE CALIFORNIA WALNUT INDUSTRY

The California Walnut Commission and Walnut Marketing Board have recognized INC as the recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Service Award, the US walnut industry’s most prestigious award. The ceremony took place in Sacramento, September 12, with the presence of the INC Executive Committee.

INC has been awarded in recognition of its role as the industry’s global forum for discussion among producers, importers and marketers of nuts and dried fruit, and its influence in the direction of international governing bodies in the areas of food safety and trade quality standards.

The California walnut industry applauds INC’s communications efforts in expanding the awareness and image of the represented industries enhancing their position with the worldwide customer base for nuts and dried fruit, and acknowledges the leadership which has been provided by the INC in the promotion of nuts and dried fruit internationally.

The Distinguished Service Award was established in September 1989 by the California Walnut Commission and the Walnut Marketing Board to honor significant contributions to the California walnut industry.

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The Cracker | November 2013

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

WORLD NUTS & DRIED FRUITS TRADE MAP INC is pleased to announce its first World Trade Map, a folding world map that is aimed at becoming a must for nuts and dried fruits import & export departments, traders and international analysts.

Trade statistics are an essential tool in market research to analyze international trade ¬flows, trends, export performances and suppliers.

advertIsINg beNefIts: • Recognition from a large, targeted audience: supply chain, logistics and procurement professionals.

• 24 months online exposure.

INC’s world trade map wIll gIve a quICk aNd Clear overvIew of the world’s Nuts aNd drIed fruIts trade flows.

25,000 € map advertIsINg: exClusIve spoNsorshIp (only one opportunity offered).

Map features include a central world map of tree nuts trade flows; a world map of dried fruits trade; a world map of peanuts trade flows; a map of Europe’s tree nuts exports, and various charts of world production, supply value, top importers; world exports volume and value, and top producing countries by product groups.

The map (72x102 cm) will be distributed to +1000 top managers in the nuts and dried fruit industry; government and official authorities in agriculture, economy, and trade, both nut and dried fruit producing and consuming countries; producing, distributing and marketing companies.

World Nuts & Dried Fruits Trade Map

USA USA Canada USA Mexico

USA USA USA

MT 2.514 1.786

TURKEY Turkey EU+EFTA Turkey Russian Fed. TURKEY Turkey EU+EFTA

MT 56.807 18.888

EU+EFTA Japan

TURKEY Turkey EU+EFTA Turkey USA Turkey Russian Fed.

MT 39.993 3.847

World Dried Fruits Production, 2006-2012

Dried Fruits Supply Value, 2006-2012

MT 181.641

3.000

MT 36.699 13.032 11.471

9.000.000

Metric Tons

World map of dried fruits trade flows between top trading countries.

USA MT USA EU+EFTA 24.232 USA Japan 11.517

2.500

2006 2007

8.000.000

2008 2009 2010

7.000.000

TURQUIA IRAN TUNISIA

ISRAEL

TUNISIA MT Tunisia EU+EFTA 36.311

Dried Apricots (HS code: 081310)

UAE UAE India

Dried Figs (Sitc Rev.1 code: 05202) Dried Grapes (HS code: 080620)

CHINA China EU+EFTA China Japan

UAE

ISRAEL MT Israel EU+EFTA 28.998

Table Dates (HS code: 080410)

CHINA

PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN MT Pakistan India 94.413

MT 161.365

IRAN Iran UAE

MT 22.584 10.712

Billion USD

2.000

USA

MT 20.578

CHILE Chile EU+EFTA

ARGENTINA MT Argentina Brazil 12.571 Argentina Russian Fed. 9.225

4.000.000

500

MT 28.356

MT 20.905

CHILE Chile EU+EFTA Chile Mexico

5.000.000

IRAN MT Iran Russian Fed. 20.921 Iran EU+EFTA 20.689

3.000.000

0

SOUTH AFRICA

ARGENTINA Argentina Brazil

SOUTH AFRICA MT South Africa EU+EFTA 8.754

2012

1.500

1.000

ARGENTINA

CHILE

Prunes (HS code: 081320)

2011 6.000.000

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Dried Grapes

1.601

1.921

2.291

1.754

2.032

2.576

2.687

Table Dates

1.585

1.855

1.686

1.991

2.120

2.375

1.954

Prunes

815

518

576

627

903

890

939

Dried Apricots

298

370

441

470

603

736

717

Dried Figs

475

352

460

443

445

369

366

2.000.000

1.000.000

0

Table Dates

Dried Grapes

Prunes

Dried Apricots

Dried Figs

MT 27.070 8.707

European map of tree nuts export flows.

Top 10 Dried Fruit Importers, Metric Tons, 2007 vs 2011

Due to space limitation, tree nuts have been grouped.

Data, Tree Nuts exports. Metric Tons.

India

BELGIUM MT Belgium Germany 6.457 Belgium France 5.001 Belgium Netherlands 1.066

NETHERLANDS Netherlands Germany Netherlands Belgium Netherlands France Netherlands UK Netherlands Sweden Netherlands Denmark

UK

UK UK Germany UK Netherlands UK Italy UK Ireland

FRANCE France Germany France Spain

MT 28.661 21.930 9.542 7.103 2.327 1.917

UK Germany

NETHERLANDS

MT 3.058 2.864 1.203 1.052

USA USA USA USA USA USA

GERMANY

GERMANY MT Germany Luxembourg 6.110 Germany Spain 4.229 Germany Italy 4.066 Germany Austria 3.250 Germany France 3.200 Germany Denmark 2.643

FRANCE

MT 1.316 1.129

Russian Fed.

Pistachios Inshell (HS code: 080250)

BELGIUM

China EU+EFTA Australia Israel Canada

France

MT 38.516 37.057 4.168 3.750 2.826

Netherlands UAE Canada

ITALY

Australia

SPAIN MT Spain Germany 18.621 Spain Italy 11.606 Spain France 10.161 Spain Netherlands 3.776 Spain Belgium 2.555

ITALY Italy Germany Italy France Italy UK

SPAIN

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232)

MT 8.168 4.103 2.450

USA USA USA USA USA USA

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232)

MT 25.971 10.909 9.814 7.128 5.476

EU+EFTA Japan Korea Rep Canada Mexico

Japan

UKRAINE Ukraine Russian Fed. Ukraine EU+EFTA Ukraine Iran Ukraine Syria

0

MT 9.606 5.507 3.500 2.589

Tree Nuts Supply Value, 2006-2012

Pecans Kernel (USDA code: 0802901500, INC) USA USA USA USA USA

7.000 6.000

EU EU EU EU EU EU EU

5.000

Billion USD

MOLDOVA Moldova EU+EFTA Moldova Iraq Moldova Turkey

Almonds Kernel (HS code: 080212)

MT 6.348 4.186 2.046 1.197

EU+EFTA Canada Mexico Israel

CANADA

4.000

MT 1.660 1.042 600 600 507 400

USA Russian Fed. Morocco Tunisia Lebanon Algeria

MT 6.903 663 454

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Almonds Shelled

3.071

4.300

3.900

4.100

4.595

4.750

6.128

Pistachios In Shell

2.412

2.614

3.320

4.000

3.851

3.679

5.938

Walnuts Shelled

2.508

2.995

3.398

2.900

3.107

4.029

4.367

Cashews Shelled

1.775

2.332

3.553

3.000

3.110

4.483

3.464

Hazelnut Shelled

2.773

3.200

2.470

2.683

2.466

2.393

3.328

951

1.100

1.104

979

1.011

Pecans Shelled

495

828

Macadamias Shelled

396

372

256

301

367

455

728

Pine Nuts Shelled

148

207

371

550

639

618

529

Brazil Nuts Shelled

101

88

128

176

211

181

165

USA

Almonds Kernel (HS code: 080212) USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

TURKEY Turkey EU+EFTA

MT 112.067 9.578 4.991 2.162 2.147 2.061

MEXICO Mexico

World Tree Nuts Production, Metric Tons, 2006-2012

USA

TURKEY Turkey

AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan Russian Fed. Azerbaijan EU+EFTA

KOREA DPR (NORTH) Korea DPR China

MT 8.756 3.899

GUATEMALA

Metric Tons

2009

China EU+EFTA Russian Fed. UAE Iraq Viet nam Turkey India

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232) USA

1.500

1.000

Pistachios Inshell (HS code: 080250) CHINA China Viet nam China USA China India

COLOMBIA

USA EU+EFTA UAE Japan Saudi Arabia Singapore Australia

400.000

PERU Peru Peru Peru

USA EU+EFTA Russian Fed.

CHINA China EU+EFTA China Japan China UAE

Viet nam Australia

VIET NAM Viet nam USA Viet nam EU+EFTA Viet nam China Viet nam Australia Viet nam Russian Fed. Viet nam Canada Viet nam Thailand

TANZANIA

200.000

Brazil Nuts Kernel (HS code: 080122)

BRAZIL

BOLIVIA

BRAZIL Brazil Brazil Brazil

BOLIVIA MT Bolivia EU+EFTA 11.207 Bolivia USA 4.380 Bolivia Australia 1.016 Bolivia Colombia 585 Bolivia Russian Fed. 256

Almonds Pistachios Cashews Hazelnuts Walnuts Pecans Macadamias Brazil Nuts Pine Nuts Kernel Basis Inshell Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis Kernel Basis

TANZANIA Tanzania Viet nam

USA EU+EFTA Canada

CHINA China China China China

MT 45.753 40.088 39.554 12.023 6.427 5.087 3.121

EU+EFTA USA Australia Israel

Saudi Arabia

MT 4.495 2.918 623 529

Iran

UAE

Algeria 2012

Spain

2007

Iraq

Turkey

Pakistan

MT 1.557

China 0

200.000

400.000

600.000

800.000

SOUTH AFRICA South Africa China South Africa EU+EFTA South Africa USA South Africa Japan South Africa Viet nam

MT 5.975 3.673 2.181 508 392

Pecans Kernel (USDA code: 0802901500, INC)

Macadamias Kernel (HS code: 080260)

SOUTH AFRICA MT South Africa Hong Kong 1.525

AUSTRALIA Australia China Australia Japan Australia EU+EFTA Australia USA

MT 1.186 1.114 846 334

MT EU+EFTA India USA UAE China

USA USA USA USA USA

Canada Mexico EU+EFTA Japan

USA

CHINA

CHILE Chile EU+EFTA Chile Brazil

EGYPT

MT 4.681 2.547

MT 32.963 16.796 4.509

ARGENTINA MT Argentina EU+EFTA 141.332 Argentina Russian Fed. 33.098 Argentina Algeria 19.923 Argentina USA 11.101 Argentina Mexico 8.804 Argentina Canada 8.732

BRAZIL

100.000 2011

150.000

200.000

250.000

2007

BRAZIL MT Brazil EU+EFTA 26.992 Brazil Russian Fed. 8.369

Top 10 Peanut Importers, Metric Tons, 2007 VS 2011

World Peanut Production, Metric Tons, 2006-2012

Top Tree Nuts Producing Countries. MT

Tree Nuts Exports Volume and Value 12.000

Mexico

30.000.000

China

Indonesia Viet nam Malaysia Philippines China Thailand EU+EFTA Mexico Ukraine

MT 273.143 148.375 92.190 52.593 38.801 28.970 21.920 19.430 15.359

USA

Malaysia

Iran

INDIA India India India India India India India India India

India

2.000

Nigeria

1.500

25.000.000

UK

India

Indonesia

Total Value Million USD* Tree Nuts Exports (1000 MT)

MT 7.186

China

Netherlands

8.000

6.000

MALAWI MT Malawi Tanzania 15.794 Malawi Kenya 9.097 Malawi South Africa 5.919

Top Peanuts Producing Countries. MT

Peanut Exports Volume and Value

Indonesia 35.000.000

Turkey

SOUTH AFRICA South Africa EU+EFTA

MT 11.997

MALAWI

2.500

40.000.000

USA 10.000

SOUTH AFRICA ARGENTINA

INDIA

EGYPT Egypt Syria

NICARAGUA

NICARAGUA Nicaragua Mexico Nicaragua EU+EFTA Nicaragua Colombia

UAE

Canada 50.000

1.600.000

CHINA MT China EU+EFTA 34.495 China Japan 15.647 China Russian Fed. 13.938 China Thailand 6.985

MT 70.397 39.417 17.173 8.017

Russian Fed.

0

1.400.000

MT 7.441 2.251 1.693 1.423 1.318

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232)

France

1.200.000

World map of peanuts trade flows between top trading countries. (HS code: 120220)

Almonds Kernel (HS code: 080212) AUSTRALIA Australia Australia Australia Australia Australia

MT 1.959 1.872 1.416 1.339 641 637

Netherlands Italy

1.000.000

AUSTRALIA

ARGENTINA

Brazil Argentina Mexico Venezuela EU+EFTA Colombia

2011

USA

CHILE

Almonds Kernel (HS code: 080212) CHILE Chile Chile Chile Chile Chile Chile

USA

2010

SOUTH AFRICA

Top 10 Tree Nuts Importers, Metric Tons, 2007 vs 2011

China

2009

Top Dried Fruit Producing Countries. MT

MT 13.424 1.606 726

Pine nuts kernel (INC)

MT 16.403 5.258 1.591

Macadamias Kernel (HS code: 080260)

Germany

2008

Almonds Kernel (HS code: 080212)

Macadamias Kernel (HS code: 080260) Cashews Kernel (HS code: 080132)

2007

* Source: UN Comtrade

MT 3.780 917

CHINA China Viet nam China UAE China Russian Fed.

MT 3.397 2.070 626

Cashews Kernel (HS code: 080132)

PERU

MT 2.154 478 203

CHINA China China

Egypt

MT 49.976 35.414 13.952 7.034 4.337 1.911 1.529

Brazil Nuts Kernel (HS code: 080122) MT 12.884

Macadamias Kernel (HS code: 080260)

MT 22.107 2.809 961

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232)

VIETNAM Cashews Kernel (HS code: 080132) INDIA India India India India India India India

2012

MEXICO Mexico

Total Value Million USD*

2.000

0

2011

600.000

2.500

MT 1006

EU+EFTA

INDIA MT 33.800 19.606 15.970 14.880 6.993 5.829 4.384 4.339

VENEZUELA

MT 745 550

2010 800.000

3.000

IRAN

GUATEMALA Guatemala USA Guatemala Costa Rica

2008

1.000.000

MT 2.427

KOREA

JAPAN

Pistachios Inshell (HS code: 080250) IRAN Iran Iran Iran Iran Iran Iran Iran Iran

Macadamias Kernel (HS code: 080260)

2007

3.500

500

MT 20.327

2006

300.000

Dried Fruit Exports (1000MT)

MT 804

MEXICO

0

Pine nuts kernel (INC)

Hazelnuts Kernel (HS code: 080222)

Pine nuts kernel (INC)

TURKEY

Pecans Kernel (USDA code: 0802901500, INC)

1.200.000

250.000

Dried Fruit Exports Volume and Value

MOLDOVA

EU

Pistachios Inshell (HS code: 080250)

MT 215.855 52.822 32.871 24.497 21.004 15.195 14.086 11.056 7.094 5.952 5.399

EU+EFTA China UAE Canada Japan Russian Fed. Korea Rep Turkey India Saudi Arabia Mexico

200.000

2007

4.000

EU+EFTA Canada Russian Fed. USA Brazil Egypt

CHINA

0

150.000

4.500

Hazelnuts Kernel (HS code: 080222) TURKEY Turkey Turkey Turkey Turkey Turkey Turkey

2.000 1.000

100.000 2011

UKRAINE

3.000

50.000

RUSSIA

Walnuts kernel (HS code: 080232)

2012

20.000.000

Peanut Exports (1000 MT)

1.000

2012 2007

Argentina

Russian Fed.

15.000.000

Australia

Total Value Million USD*

Canada

2007

Cote Ivoire

4.000

Viet nam Germany

500

10.000.000

Viet nam

2.000

Brazil

Philippines Italy 0

2007

* Source: UN Comtrade

2008

2009

2010

2011

5.000.000

South Africa

China

0

Syria

0 0

0

200.000

400.000

600.000

800.000

1.000.000

1.200.000

1.400.000

1.600.000

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

50.000

100.000

150.000 2011

2007

200.000

250.000

300.000

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

* Source: UN Comtrade

Nicaragua 0

2.000.000

4.000.000

6.000.000

8.000.000

10.000.000

12.000.000

14.000.000

16.000.000

18.000.000

Data sources: UNCOMTRADE (HS codes), USDA and INC.

For more information, please contact Marta Ballesté at +34 977 331 416 or inc@nutfruit.org.

November 2013 | The Cracker

43

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

INC WRAPS UP 4-YEAR PROJECT MYCORED the eu-fouNded large CollaboratIve projeCt myCored (Novel INtegrated strategIes for worldwIde myCotoxIN reduCtIoN IN food aNd feed ChaINs) fINIshed after four aNd a half years of NoN-stop researCh, eduCatIoN, traININg aNd dIssemINatIoN work.

The project, aimed at developing strategic solutions to reduce contamination by mycotoxins of major concern in economically important food and feed chains, achieved excellent results with lots of publications, new findings, wide dissemination, training, etc.

On the other hand, new Mycotoxins are emerging every year, more mycotoxigenic strains of the moulds are being discovered, and the prevalence of Mycotoxins in food is increasing due to climate change, which indicates that Mycotoxins are a rising concern.

w w w. n u t f r u i t . o rg

On September 20th, the INC presented its Final Report on Economic Evaluation of Mycotoxin Contamination in Nuts, Dried fruits and Cereals. The Economic Evaluation report, which was the largest INC deliverable in the Mycored project, included an estimation on the global economic losses caused by mycotoxins in nuts, dried fruits, maize, wheat grapes and wine.

Almonds

Global Statistical Review 2007-2012

Production In season 2012, world production of almonds is estimated at 1,060,911 metric tons, 6 percent down from the previous year, but 10 percent up compared to the five-year average, which confirms the upward trend over the last years. The United States of America with 834,411 metric tons (79% share), Australia with 70,000 metric tons (7% share) and Spain with 40,000 metric tons (4% share) remain the major producers, accounting for 89 percent of world’s almond production.

2012 ESTIMATED ALMOND PRODUCTION KERNEL BASIS / METRIC TONS

USA 834.411 / 79% Australia 70.000 / 7% Spain* 40.000 / 4% Turkey 16.000 / 1% Tunisia 12.500 / 1% Chile 12.000 / 1% Italy 12.000 / 1% Others 64.000 / 6% * Processing for turrons

WORLD ALMOND PRODUCTION KERNEL BASIS / METRIC TONS 1.130.266 1.060.911 882.270 768.021

2007

2008

922.113

6 YEARS AVERAGE ALMOND PRODUCTION KERNEL BASIS / METRIC TONS

826.600

2009

2010

2011

2012*

USA, 747.776 / 80% Australia, 44.671 / 5% Spain*, 43.167 / 5% Turkey, 13.458 / 1% Tunisia, 11.417 / 1% Chile, 9.867 / 1% Italy, 10.245 / 1% Others, 51.097 / 6% * Processing for turrons

In the study, INC developed an estimation on the Governments and industry losses due to mycotoxin contamination. The toxicity of the mycotoxins and their implication in some diseases and the food safety expenditures were evaluated to calculate the Governments costs. Border rejections of the commodities, destruction of goods, and routine analysis were evaluated for the industry losses estimation.

The industry losses were evaluated with the real border rejections of the EU-27 countries plus Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Iceland, Japan, United States of America and Australia, which all of them account for a high share of global imports. A questionnaire was distributed to the main exporters to estimate the costs of routine analysis, fees, demurrage at ports, staff and extra costs on transportation due to border rejections.

The total costs due to mycotoxin contamination for the processing industry reaches up to 60.000.000 US$ annually, besides the costs of wheat and maize growers and livestock farmers.

*Estimated

10

NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

To estimate the global losses due to border rejections, thorough knowledge of the international trade is needed. Therefore the INC continuously collected data on trade and production of nuts and dried fruits and gathered it in its annual Global Statistical Review. The book contains worldwide statistics of nuts and dried fruits classified by product, year, producing country, exports, imports and main transit countries. A consumption study for each product is also included.

Government’s cost on public health related to mycotoxin ingestion was evaluated with the incidence of mycotoxins on different illnesses, the rate of implication of those illnesses on the disability-adjusted life years (WHO) and the health expenditure per capita of the most affected countries by uncontrolled mycotoxin exposure. Estimating the lowest percentage of implication (1%), this cost reaches 2 billion US$.

44

The Cracker | November 2013

NEWS FROM THE INC SECRETARIAT

NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS EU RASFF NOTIFICATIONS REPORT INTERNATIONAL NUT AND DRIED FRUIT COUNCIL

2012 PEANUTS (GROUNDNUTS)

MONTHLY CUMULATIVE NOTIFICATIONS

REASONS FOR NOTIFYING PEANUTS (GROUNDNUTS) IN 2012 (%)

2012

0,71% 1,42%

200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

2,13% AFLATOXINS

3,55%

ALTERED ORGANOLEPTIC CHARACTERISTICS HEALTH CERTIFICATE

92,20%

INSECTS

NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS

FOREIGN BODY

2012 EU RASFF NOTIFICATIONS REPORT

FEB

MAR APR MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG SEP

OCT NOV DEC

2011 RATE NOTIFICATIONS/IMPORTS 2012 MONTHLY NOTIFICATIONS MONTHLY NOTIFICATIONS 30

www. nutf ruit.org

JAN

2011

25

25 20 15 10 5 0

14

16

15

15 11

10 7

10 6

8 4

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

NOTIFIED COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN CHINA ARGENTINA INDIA EGYPT UNITED STATES SOUTH AFRICA BRAZIL SENEGAL PARAGUAY ITALY THAILAND OTHERS 1 2

TOTAL NOTIFICATIONS 67 38 26 16 11 8 6 4 1 1 1 4

TOT IMP 1 (MT) 34692 140795 21920 473 14291 7186 26992 5158 3939 158 6 n/d

NOT/1000 MT 1,931 0,270 1,186 33,827 0,770 1,113 0,222 0,775 0,254 6,329 166,667 n/d

2

RATE 8,688 1,214 5,336 152,175 3,463 5,008 1,000 3,489 1,142 28,473 749,778 n/d

Total imports in 2011 of the RASFF member countries from the specified country.

Ratio between each country and the country with less notifications per MT.

10

The study concluded that the biggest costs produced by mycotoxin contamination are the public health related ones in developing countries due to its high ingestion and the loss of productivity of the livestock in farms.

Moreover, on September 20th, the INC presented its Final Report on Dissemination activities of mycotoxin management practices, with a compilation of the four and a half INC activities on dissemination, as the RASFF notifications, standards and good practices dissemination through the INC website, dissemination at INC Annual Congresses, etc.

A continuous control, collection and dissemination of global border rejections due to mycotoxin contamination is an important tool to compare year by year the global situation and safety of the traded product. It is also crucial to implement right actions both in the industry and the governments. INC was continuously collecting, comparing, analyzing trends and disseminating global rejections and the situation in the industry which was published in a yearly basis in its both EU Annual RASFF Notifications Report and the Annual Australia-Japan-USA border rejections report.

Furthermore, the INC created a training video for mycotoxin sampling for dissemination in developing countries in order to reduce the total variance (error) of the mycotoxin test procedure (sampling, sample preparation and analytical determination) and disseminated standards, good practices and HACCP protocols through its webpage.

myCored fINal geNeral assembly

traININg vIdeo

November 2013 | The Cracker

45

NeWs FrOM tHe iNC seCretariat

Nuts aNd dried Fruit iN

HAUTE CUISINE

By Jordi Cruz, Executive Chef of restaurant

ABaC, Barcelona, Spain.

Jordi Cruz was born in Manresa (Barcelona) in 1978 and studied cooking at the “Escola Superior de Hostelería Joviat” in the same city. At 14 years old he began working in the restaurant Cercs Estany Clar in Barcelona, where he received his first Michelin star in November 2004, becoming, at 24 years, the youngest chef in Spain and second in the world to receive this distinction. The strong promise he represents within the panorama of Spanish Cuisine was recognised from that moment on.

Before, he won several awards among which are: the Young Chef’s Spanish Championship in San Sebastian in 2002; the International prize Cooking with Olive Oil from Jaen Paraiso Interior, made in 2003 under “Best of Gastronomy” section, also in San Sebastian, or the Championship of Spain Award for Young Values, Ciudad de Marbella, that he won in 2003. In 2006 he became champion of the first edition of “Chef of the Year” CCA. In December 2007, Cruz became manager and head chef at the restaurant L’Angle de Món Sant Benet (Barcelona). In November 2008 the restaurant was also

46

The Cracker | November 2013

awarded with one Michelin star, which is still maintained in 2013 Guide.

In May 2010, he took the lead of ABaC Restaurant & Hotel, which is now the gastronomic reference of the city and it is awarded as Best Restaurant of Catalonia 2011 by the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy, and with 2* Michelin in 2012 and 2013.

In June 2012 he opened a new restaurant in Barcelona Ten’s Tapas Restaurant, in the heart of the Born district, offers tapas and side dishes true to the philosophy of ABaC. Regarding his cuisine, the chef himself defines it as “evolutionary and restless, based on the product and where creativity and tradition are merged.” Within his profession, the coherency and clarity of his avant garde cuisine has continued to stand out from changing fashions and trends. Now in 2013, he is judge in the program Master Chef Spain in TVE1 and has been awarded as Chef de l’Avenir by the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie.

NeWs FrOM tHe iNC seCretariat

Monkfish wrapped in dry romesco with picada and sofrito cooked two ways iNGredieNts (4 serves): • 10 peeled hazelnuts • 6 quality almonds with skin • 20 g bread slices • 1.5 mm thick • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar • 1 quality dried tomato • 1 pinch of powdered ñora • Parsley chopped finely • 1monkfish loin of 1kg • Romesco wrapping • 1 egg white • 1 teaspoon roasted garlic cream

FOr tHe rOMesCO WraPPiNG. Wet the bread slices with the vinegar and toast them in the oven until they are very dry. Cut very small the nuts and dried tomatoes using a knife. Once the bread is cold, chop it very fine and mix all the ingredients in a bowl and reserve until needed.

WOrKiNG WitH tHe MONKFisH. Sear the monkfish in a very hot non stick pan until it obtains colour. This operation has to be fast so the center of the fish doesn’t get overcooked (around 2 minutes). Place the fish on a cutting board and let it temper. Work the egg white with the garlic cream, and with a brush cover the monkfish with a thin layer.

Season the fish and sprinkle with the romesco wrapping.

Lard or grease a sheet pan with some drops of oil and place the fish properly spaced. Bake in a preheated oven at 120° C until the center of the fish reaches 65° C. Remove from the oven and cut the loin into 4 portions. Serve immediately.

FOr tHe sOFritO COOKed tWO WaYs FOr tHe NaturaL sOFritO. In the very hot oil roast the garlic without obtaining any colour. After a few seconds add the diced tomato and the scallion, sear for one minute, rectify with salt and pepper, strain and cool in the arbequina oil, where the tomato and scallion will be macerating until the plating time.

• Salt and white pepper • 50 g per portion (80% of natural sofrito and 20% of tomato confit or candied) · 100 g tomato salad diced (peeled and seeded) · 100 g olive oil (Oleum Flumen Premium) · 1 garlic clove finely sliced · Chopped scallion · 50 g olive oil (Oleum Flumen Ninou) · Salt and white pepper • 100 g tomato salad diced • 1 tablespoon of olive oil (Oleum Flumen Premium) • 1 garlic clove finely chopped • Salt and white pepper • Non stick baking mold

FOr tHe tOMatO CONFit Or CaNdied.

Mix all the ingredients and place them carefMix all the ingredients and place them carefully into the mold. Confit in a preheated oven at 110° C for 4 hours, stir gently once in a while.

• 3 peeled and toasted almonds • 0.15 dl olive oil (Oleum Flumen Premium) • 0,10 dl toasted almond oil • 0,05 dl toasted hazelnut • Parsley chopped finely Others: • 4 teaspoons of roasted garlic cream • 4 peeled and toasted hazelnut • 4 almonds unpeeled • Chervil sprouts FOr tHe Nut OiL. Chop the nuts finely with a knife and mix them in a bowl with the rest of ingredients. assembly: Place the sofrito into the center of the plate. Draw a few lines with the garlic cream around the sofrito. Place the chopped nuts and the chervil sprouts attractively around the plate. Arrange the monkfish piece on top of the sofrito and finish with some salt scales and a thread of nut oil.

November 2013 | The Cracker

47

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

GLOBAL ASSURANCE FOR SAFE FOOD: GFSI CertIFICatIon

by Lori Carlson, DFA of California

“Once certified, accepted everywhere” is the Global Food Safety Initiative’s (GFSI) goal for food suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers everywhere. Is GFSI certification right for your company, and if so, which scheme best fits your organization’s food safety and quality commitment and operation? This article will provide an overview of GFSI certification and highlight key attributes for each of the benchmarked schemes.

The food industry’s awareness of GFSI certification was most heavily influenced by Walmart’s 2008 announcement requiring suppliers of its private label and other food products to become GFSI certified. However, the GFSI was formed in 2000 to encourage continuous improvement in food safety systems through the harmonization of food safety standards to promote safe food for consumers everywhere while reducing costs and increasing transparency and efficiency throughout the supply chain.

GFSI benchmarks food safety management systems (schemes) against a robust, un-biased, and HACCP based GFSI Guidance document to determine equivalency and congruency across platforms. Current GFSI benchmarked schemes applicable to dried fruit and nut processors include: BRC Global Standard for Food Safety, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000, IFS Food Safety Standard, and SQF Code.

All GFSI benchmarked schemes have common features including compliance to regulatory requirements, HACCP methodology, prerequisite programs (e.g., GMP, Sanitation, Preventive Maintenance), and food safety management systems. These common elements help assure buyers of the safety of their suppliers’ food products.

Accredited third party GFSI certification is recognized as a strong method for ensuring food safety compliance in a globally sourced supply chain.

As such, suppliers can increase their market access and overcome trade barriers by achieving GFSI certification. Furthermore, certification to a GFSI benchmarked scheme drives continuous improvement for the facility, which in turn promotes discipline, efficiency, and increased profitability. With so many benefits resulting from GFSI certification, which scheme is right for your company?

OWNERS, CEO’S, AND SENIOR MANAGERS SHOULD CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING WHEN PURSUING GFSI CERTIFICATION: • Does my customer require certification to a particular scheme?

• What is senior management’s commitment to implementing/ maintaining a food safety management system and how does this compare against management commitment requirements of the scheme?

• Are my production processes high-risk, and if so, how is this evaluated by the scheme?

• How do a scheme’s facility requirements measure against the age and structure of my facility?

• Do the facility, operational practices, and food safety plan conform to the scheme of choice? (A thorough review of all scheme requirements is highly recommended before pursuing certification.)

• Are accredited third party certification bodies in my region and can they certify to my company’s scheme of choice? (If not, travel/ expense costs for out of region auditors should be considered.)

Following is an overview and description of key attributes and differences of GFSI benchmarked schemes applicable to dried fruit and nut processors.

bRC GlObal sTanDaRD fOR fOOD safETy (issuE 6) The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a trade association for the United Kingdom’s retail industry. The BRC’s Global Standard for Food Safety was first developed in 1998 and was one of the original GFSI benchmarked schemes. The Standard encompasses risk-based requirements for food safety and quality management of food processing and packaging operations.

48

The Cracker | November 2013

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

The BRC Standard differs from other schemes in that it is prescriptive, strongly based in internal audits and risk assessment, and offers an unannounced audit scheme. BRC Certification is a straightforward process requiring an on-site audit; no precursory document audit is required. Recertification cycles are dependent upon the outcome of the audit (i.e., 1 year for A and B grades and 6 months for C grades) with audit duration equivalent to the initial certification audit.

fOOD safETy sysTEm CERTifiCaTiOn (fssC) 22000 (issuE 2011) The non-profit Foundation for Food Safety Certification, founded in 2004, developed FSSC 22000 as an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) based food safety management scheme.

FSSC 22000 is unique in that it allows integration of a firm’s quality management system according to ISO 9001 or integration to other ISO based management systems. As a result of the scheme’s ISO foundation, FSSC 22000 is the least prescriptive of the GFSI benchmarked schemes.

The FSSC 22000 certification process differs from other schemes largely in the initial certification format, certificate expiration, and recertification cycles. Initial certification requires an on-site stage-1 and stage-2 audit. Conformity assessment to the Standard results in a certificate valid for 3 years where on-site stage-2 surveillance audits at reduced duration from the initial certification audit are performed annually.

ifs fOOD sTanDaRD (VERsiOn 6)

sQf CODE lEVEl 2 (7TH EDiTiOn)

International Featured Standards (IFS) is a non-profit organization whose Food Standard was initially developed in 2003 by the German retail federation, Hauptverband des Deutschen Einzelhandels (HDE).

In subsequent years, HDE collaborated with its French and Italian retail counterparts to produce the current GFSI benchmarked version.

As such, IFS certifications are more prevalent in Germany, France, and Italy.

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program is administered by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the largest trade association of food retailers. The SQF Codes boasts two levels of certification: Level 2 (Food Safety Management) and Level 3 (Food Safety and Quality Management). The SQF Code is unique in that it is a product and process certification scheme, which allows firm’s achieving Level 3 certification to use the Quality Shield Logo on product packaging.

The IFS Food Standard assesses conformance to food safety and quality management requirements in similar fashion to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety with the inclusion of environmental and social responsibility requirements for the facility and personnel respectively.

As a result of these inclusions, management review requirements are prescriptive in requiring review of the facility, work conditions, environment, equipment, and transportation as well as other defined inputs. Two levels of certification can be achieved with the IFS scheme (i.e., Foundation or Higher Level) depending upon the outcome of the audit. Recertification cycles are annual with audit duration equivalent to the initial certification.

The most significant difference between the SQF Code and other benchmarked schemes lies in the Standard’s requirement for a designated SQF Practioner by the firm with formal training in HACCP and demonstrated knowledge of the SQF Code. Initial certification to the scheme follows the two-stage process of FSSC 22000, however, stage-1 (document audit) may be performed off-site. Recertification frequency (i.e., 6 months or 1 year) is dependent upon audit outcome.

The Safe Quality Foods Institute (SQFI) is active in supporting pending Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) legislation in the United States and contracted with Leavitt Partners Global Food Safety Solutions earlier this year for a comparison of SQF Code Level 2 requirements and FSMA’s Preventive Controls rule. The comparison document is publically available from SQFI’s website (www.sqfi.com).

CONCLUSION With four robust GFSI benchmarked food safety management schemes to choose from, firm’s should find flexibility in satisfying global assurance for safe food across the supply chain. While the initial path to GFSI certification may seem arduous, the pay-off is great when considering continuous improvement, increased operational efficiency, increased market share, brand protection, and most importantly, safe food for consumers everywhere.

DFA of California is a BRC and SQF Certification Body actively certifying U.S. processors in these schemes.

Your Distributor for Germany Work hand in hand with the nuts & dried fruits import and marketing experts.

PALM NUTS & MORE · Nuss und Trockenfrucht GmbH & Co. KG Lindenstrasse 17 · D-21244 Buchholz · Germany Telefon: +49 4181 9091- 0 · Fax: +49 4181 9091- 80 mail@palm-nutsandmore.de · www.palm-nutsandmore.de November 2013 | The Cracker

49

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WORLD CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION TRENDS N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 3 | G L O B A L S TAT I S T I C A L R E V I E W

«Statistics are also available at our website www.nutfruit.org»

Map shows 5 top producing countries.

Other major producers listed below.

MAIN PRODUCING COUNTRIES ALMONDS

BRAZIL NUTS

CASHEWS

HAZELNUTS

MACADAMIAS

PECANS

PINE NUTS

PISTACHIOS

USA Spain Syria Italy Iran Australia Chile Morocco Tunisia Greece Turkey

Bolivia Brazil Peru

India Brazil Vietnam Mozambique Nigeria Indonesia Tanzania Côte d’Ivoire Guinea-Bissau Kenya

Turkey Italy USA Spain Azerbaijan Georgia France China Chile Iran Russia

Australia USA South Africa Malawi Brazil Guatemala Costa Rica Kenya Zimbabwe

USA Mexico South Africa Australia

China Russia Afghanistan Pakistan Mongolia Spain Portugal Italy DPRK Turkey

Iran USA Syria Turkey Greece Afghanistan Italy China

WALNUTS

PEANUTS

DATES

DRIED APRICOTS

DRIED FIGS

PRUNES

RAISINS/SULTANAS/CURRANTS

China USA Iran Turkey Ukraine Italy Chile France India Romania Moldova Greece

China India Nigeria USA Indonesia Argentina Vietnam

Egypt Saudi Arabia Iran Iraq Tunisia USA Israel Algeria United Arab Emirates Pakistan Morocco

Turkey Australia Iran USA South Africa China

Turkey Egypt Iran Greece Italy USA Spain

USA Chile France Argentina Serbia Australia South Africa Italy

Turkey USA Iran Greece Chile Uzbekistan South Africa Australia Argentina China

Listed by global production as per FAO but not necessarily meaning quantities going through commercial channels.

November 2013 | The Cracker

51

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Almond · Almendra · Amande · Mandorle · Mandel · Badem USA Australian almond production in 2012 totaled 49,585 MT (kernel weight equivalent), and the estimated tonnage for 2013 is 69,000 MT.

Even with a 1.7% decline in shipments from last year, the 2012/13 crop in California was the second largest in history. Moreover, the five-year average shipment growth rate is a remarkable 8.3%.

SPAIN

Although bearing acreage has increased annually by approximately 20,000 acres, production yields have been declining the past couple of years, which has resulted in lower total production. However, increased global demand has resulted in farm prices steadily rising over the past four years.

The Spanish crop is estimated around 32,000 MT. Harvest started and confirmed good size average, and good yield among valencia and new varieties.

Regretfully the traditional marconas and larguetas were extremely limited in supply.

According to the first 2013/14 Almond Board of California’s Position Report, August shipments showed a gain of 6% versus 2012/13 crop year for the first month’s shipments of the new crop. Domestic shipments continued to show strength against prior year with growth of 5%.

AUSTRALIA

Estimated World Almonds Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons 2012 / 2013

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

USA MM lbs* USA

CROP

2013 / 2014

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

335

1.884

2.219

317

317

1.850

2.167

262

151.955

854.589

1.006.544

144.000

144.000

839.155

983.155

119.000

AUSTRALIA

0

49.585

49.585

1.000

1.000

69.000

70.000

0

5.000

45.000

50.000

2.000

2.000

32.000

34.000

1.000

TURKEY

0

16.000

16.000

0

0

15.000

15.000

0

IRAN

0

10.000

10.000

0

0

15.000

15.000

0

SPAIN

TUNISIA

500

12.500

13.000

1.600

1.600

13.000

14.600

500

CHILE

0

10.000

10.000

0

0

10.000

10.000

0

MOROCCO

0

9.000

9.000

500

500

6.000

6.500

0

ITALY

0

12.500

12.500

500

500

5.000

5.500

0

GREECE

0

8.000

8.000

1.000

1.000

5.000

6.000

0

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

0

30.000

30.000

0

0

30.000

30.000

0

157.455

1.057.174

1.214.629

150.600

150.600

1.039.155

1.189.755

120.500

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1.064.029

1.069.255

Source: Almond Board of California, Aegean Exporters’ Association, Greek Nuts Association and other INC sources.

California Almond Shipments

California Almond Bearing Acreage Crop Years 2008 through 2013

5-year Avg Annual Growth +8.3%

Shipments 1000 M T % Change from Prior Year

Bearing Acreage (1000 A cres) % Change f rom previous year

40%

1.000 861 756

800 572

600

18,3%

400

630

30%

667 13,3%

10,2%

800.000

10,0%

847

600.000

680.000 6,3%

20%

13,9%

720.000

740.000

760.000

7,5%

400.000

0%

200

810.000

5,9% 5,0%

3,9%

10%

5,9%

790.000

2,8%

200.000

2,7%

2,5%

2,5%

-1,7%

-

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/112 2011/12

Source: ABC.

52

The Cracker | November 2013

2012/13

-10%

-

Source: USDA

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012 Revised 2013 Estimate

0,0%

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Brazil Nuts · Coquito de Brazil · Noix de Vresil · Noce del Brasile · Paranuss · Brezilya Fingigi Crop estimates in Bolivia and Peru have been slightly modified since the last update. In Bolivia, the 2012/2013 crop (in shell basis) has been estimate at 67,500 MT, 5% up from the previous estimate; whilst the 2013/2014 crop is now forecast at 52,500 MT, 3% down from the previous forecast. As for Peru, the 2012/2013 crop has been

estimated at 9,240 MT, slightly up from the previous estimate of 9,000 MT. World production in 2013/2014 is forecast at 79,100 MT, 18% down from last year.

The new crop is expected to be available in April 2014.

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons . Conversion rate 1:3.

COUNTRY

2012/2013

2013/2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

750

22.500

23.250

2.500

2.500

17.500

20.000

500

BOLIVIA BRAZIL*

0

3.300

3.300

200

200

3.000

3.200

200

PERU

120

3.080

3.200

375

375

3.200

3.575

300

WORLD TOTAL

870

28.880

29.750

3.075

3.075

23.700

26.775

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

26.675

1.000 25.775

Estimated World Amazonia (Brazil) Nuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012/2013

2013/2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BOLIVIA

2.250

67.500

69.750

7.500

7.500

52.500

60.000

1.500

BRAZIL*

0

20.000

20.000

600

600

17.000

17.600

600

PERU WORLD TOTAL

360

9.240

9.600

1.125

1.125

9.600

10.725

900

2.610

96.740

99.350

9.225

9.225

79.100

88.325

3.000

WORLD CONSUMPTION (SUPPLY - ENDING STOCK)

90.125

85.325

* Brazil cracks about 10,000 MT and turns them into kernels. The other 10,000 MT is exported as in shell.“ Source: INC

2.072

2.059 1.659

1.678

1.750

1.620

1.616

1.368

2012 2013

827

1.000

818

1.500

1.184

1.073

2.000

1.152

1.547

2.500

2.343

2.063

2.440

3.000

2.349

Bolivia. Kernel Exports 2012 vs 2013 (Jan - June). Metric Tons

500

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Source: INC

November 2013 | The Cracker

53

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Cashew · Anacardo · Noix de Cajou · Anacardio · Cashewkerne · Cashew Cevizi The cashew market was more or less steady over the last weeks; however trade volumes have been generally low. The crop has been normal in most of the origins, although unseasonal rains have damaged some portion of the crop in some origins, which affected the availability of good quality raw seeds.

The Indian Rupee had depreciated by about 20% against the US Dollar from May to August 2013, and the kernel price in the local market increased proportionally. The decline in local consumption in India reflected the general weakness of the economy and the price rise. Consumption during the major festival season in India (October-November) will have a very significant influence in cashew market trends.

In Brazil, the 2012/2013 crop has been revised upwards, from 16,500 to 23,000 MT kernels. The country expects an improvement over last

year. The 2013/2014 crop forecast has been increased, up to 46,000 MT kernels (220,800 in shell), still well below the levels seen in the first decade of this century, but still up from last year. Rains were adequate in some growing areas, although nowhere abundant. One of the areas where rains were poor was Southern Piaui, where the first nuts come from, and therefore the industry did not expect an early start to the crop.

Prices for the main grades of kernels remained very stable; however large nuts became very expensive, while pieces -both large and smallbecame very cheap. The differentials between wholes and brokens, and between fancy grades and other grades, have been very large.

Estimated World Cashews Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons Brazil converted basis: 4,8 kg RCN = 1 kg kernel, all others: 4,2 kg RCN = 1 kg kernel

COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

INDIA

nil

160.476

160.476

nil

nil

171.428

171.428

nil

4.762

109.523

114.285

nil

nil

107.143

107.143

nil

VIETNAM

nil

63.050

63.050

nil

nil

63.050

63.050

nil

BRAZIL

nil

23.000

23.000

nil

nil

46.000

46.000

nil

7.143

42.000

49.143

nil

nil

42.857

42.857

nil

nil

30.952

30.952

nil

nil

30.952

30.952

nil

BENIN

1.905

19.048

20.953

nil

nil

20.953

20.953

nil

NIGERIA

238

19.048

19.286

nil

nil

19.286

19.286

nil

INDONESIA

nil

16.667

16.667

nil

nil

16.667

16.667

nil

MOZAMBIQUE

nil

14.500

14.500

nil

nil

11.905

11.905

nil

CAMBODIA

nil

11.905

11.905

nil

nil

11.905

11.905

nil

BURKINA FASO

0

8.333

8.333

nil

nil

8.333

8.333

nil

SENEGAL

nil

7.142

7.142

nil

nil

7.142

7.142

nil

GHANA

nil

5.476

5.476

nil

nil

5.476

5.476

nil

KENYA

nil

2.857

2.857

nil

nil

2.857

2.857

nil

GAMBIA

nil

1.905

1.905

nil

nil

1.905

1.905

nil

OTHERS

nil

13.810

13.810

nil

nil

13.810

13.810

nil

14.048

549.692

563.740

nil

nil

581.669

581.669

nil

COTE D'IVOIRE

GUINEA-BISSAU TANZANIA

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

563.740

581.669

Source: Global Cashew Council and INC.

Indian Data Exports (kernels)

2006

2007

2008

2009

Quantity (MT)

117.325

115.265

110.949

107.496

95.583

111.093

89.582

82.421

541

547

667

593

589

725

654

620

Value (Milion US$) Imports (Rawnuts)

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2010

2012

2011

2012

Quantity (MT) Value (Milion US$) Major Destinations Kernel Exports (%)

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

"2013 Jan-Aug

685.950

734.772

753

719

2012

"2013 Jan-Aug

USA

39,6

36,7

37,5

32,0

31,0

32,0

33,0

32,5

UAE

7,8

10,9

9,3

12,5

13,5

8,9

12,4

12,5

16,3

12,0

13,0

10,0

10,0

8,9

8,3

8,1

Japan

3,6

4,6

4,8

5,0

5,4

6,2

6,6

6,8

UK

4,2

3,5

3,5

4,8

2,4

3,2

2,6

2,5

Netherlands

Source: INC.

54

2008

"2013 Jan-Aug

The Cracker | November 2013

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Hazelnut · Avellana · Noisette · Nocciola · Haselnuss · Findik Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY TURKEY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

25.000

370.000

395.000

35.000

35.000

290.000

325.000

5.000

ITALY

4.700

39.480

44.180

5.640

5.640

56.400

62.040

2.350

AZERBAIJAN

1.288

17.167

18.455

1.717

1.717

15.021

16.738

1.288

800

12.800

13.600

200

200

14.000

14.200

400

600

11.200

11.800

1.200

1.200

12.000

13.200

800

1.000

8.000

9.000

1.000

1.000

9.750

10.750

0

USA GEORGIA SPAIN OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

901

11.261

12.162

0

0

11.261

11.261

0

34.288

469.909

504.197

44.757

44.757

408.433

453.189

9.838

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

459.440

443.352

Estimated World Hazelnuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

TURKEY

50.000

740.000

790.000

70.000

70.000

580.000

650.000

10.000

ITALY

10.000

84.000

94.000

12.000

12.000

120.000

132.000

5.000

AZERBAIJAN

3.000

40.000

43.000

4.000

4.000

35.000

39.000

3.000

USA

2.000

32.000

34.000

500

500

35.000

35.500

1.000

GEORGIA

1.500

28.000

29.500

3.000

3.000

30.000

33.000

2.000

SPAIN

2.000

16.000

18.000

2.000

2.000

19.500

21.500

0

OTHERS

2.000

25.000

27.000

0

0

25.000

25.000

0

70.500

965.000

1.035.500

91.500

91.500

844.500

936.000

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

944.000

21.000 915.000

Source: INC

Turkish exports closed season 2012 with over 300,000 metric tons kernels as the record of times due to strong demand and affordable prices.

Recent expectations about the season 2013 hazelnut crop indicate some downward corrections due to a dry summer and weaker performance of Akcakoca (western Black Sea) region. In September, trading swung between FOB 6.60-7.00 USD levels. Although TL based hazelnut prices were firm, due to the fluctuations in the FX, which were reflected to the pricing.

Since 2013’s crop is a mediocre one, with current level of demand and recent boost of the EM FX strength against USD after tapering delay of the Fed, export prices may continue to increase until the initial estimations of crop 2014.

November 2013 | The Cracker

55

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Macadamia 路 Macadamia 路 Macadamianuss 路 Makedemia 路 Cevizi SOUTH AFRICA 2013 is the eighth consecutive year of production volume growth in the South African Macadamia industry with an expected crop of 37,000 metric tons nut in shell. The growth can largely be attributed to new plantings coming into production. A third of the nuts produced in South Africa will be shipped as Nut-in-shell to the Far East (300% increase over the last 5 years). The rest of the crop will be processed to kernel and sold in traditional kernel markets of which Europe (including the UK) and the USA are the biggest. As of beginning September, more than 95% of 2013 crop was already committed for shipment.

AUSTRALIA Continued wet weather across many growing regions affected the 2013 Australian macadamia crop, announced the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) in September. As a result, AMS reviewed its forecast for the 2013 Australian crop down to 36,500 MT (in-shell) at 10% moisture. Most growing regions were devastated by the ex-tropical cyclone Oswald storms in January and February, however many regions had

since suffered the effects of even more wet weather. The previous forecast of 39,000 MT was based on historical data and factory intake to the end of May, however June and July receivals fell well short of expectations.

The initial forecast was provided from modeling developed over 7 years by the AMS and the Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, and AMS had added historical data provided by the Australian Macadamia Handlers (AMHA) to assist in the forecasting. The AMHA represent over 90% of total Australian production.

At the time of writing this report, it was estimated that 5,000 MT would be sold to China as in-shell, leaving an in-take by Australian processors of 31,500 MT. Based on sound kernel recoveries for the season, this would produce a kernel yield of 8,500 MT. The final figure for the 2013 crop will be announced by the AMS in late November.

Estimated World Macadamias Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY SOUTH AFRICA AUSTRALIA USA

2012/2013

2013/2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

10.712

10.712

155

155

11.451

11.606

0

933

11.780

12.713

987

987

8.500

9.487

0

0

6.898

6.898

0

0

6.510

6.510

0

KENYA

0

6.123

6.123

0

0

7.688

7.688

0

GUATEMALA

0

2.260

2.260

0

0

2.418

2.418

0

MALAWI

0

1.539

1.539

63

63

1.908

1.971

0

CHINA

0

930

930

0

0

1.200

1.200

0

BRAZIL

0

1.370

1.370

0

0

1.488

1.488

0

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

0

155

155

0

0

155

155

0

933

41.766

42.699

1.205

1.205

41.318

42.523

0

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

41.494

42.523

Estimated World Macadamias Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY SOUTH AFRICA

2012/2013

2013/2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

0

34.555

34.555

0

0

36.938

36.938

0

AUSTRALIA

0

38.000

38.000

0

0

36.500

36.500

0

USA

0

22.250

22.250

0

0

21.000

21.000

0

KENYA

0

19.750

19.750

0

0

24.800

24.800

0

GUATEMALA

0

7.290

7.290

0

0

7.800

7.800

0

MALAWI

0

4.964

4.964

206

206

6.156

6.362

0

CHINA

0

3.000

3.000

0

0

5.000

5.000

0

BRAZIL

0

4.420

4.420

0

0

4.800

4.800

0

OTHERS

0

500

500

0

0

500

500

0

WORLD TOTAL

0

134.729

134.729

206

206

143.494

143.700

0

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

134.523

Source: Australian Macadamia Society, South Africa Subtropical Growers Association, Tree Nut Growers Association of Malawi, Brazilian Macadamia Association, China Tree Nuts Association, and other INC sources.

56

The Cracker | November 2013

143.700

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pecan · Pecana · Noix de Pecan · Noce Pecan · Pecanuss · Pekan Cevizi Pecan consumption from USA and Mexico was up substantially over the past 12 months due to the lowest prices in about five years.

China increased their purchases from USA almost 20% and EU was up as well.

The USA crop forecast for the current season on the trees is estimated to be the shortest since 2008/09. This is mostly due to weather conditions in the Southeastern USA.

Mexico received decent rainfall during August to help improve outlook for a good quality crop result.

At the time of writing this report, piece prices had increased 15% since July and halves prices were up 18-20% since January contracting period.

In South Africa, the crop was smaller than originally expected; down to 5,500 MT (in shell basis).

Estimated World Pecans Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

24.192

73.047

97.239

37.522

37.522

42.810

80.332

19.958

1.500

37.036

38.536

2.268

2.268

38.556

40.824

2.000

SOUTH AFRICA

n/a

4.763

4.763

n/a

n/a

2.910

2.910

n/a

AUSTRALIA

214

1.097

1.311

214

214

1.400

1.614

231

OTHERS

n/a

690

690

n/a

n/a

626

626

n/a

25.906

116.633

142.539

40.004

40.004

86.302

126.306

22.189

USA MEXICO

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

102.535

104.117

Estimated World Pecans Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

54.982

166.017

220.999

85.276

85.276

97.277

182.553

45.360

3.000

70.072

73.072

4.536

4.536

77.111

81.647

4.000

SOUTH AFRICA

n/a

9.525

9.525

n/a

n/a

5.500

5.500

n/a

AUSTRALIA

420

2.150

2.570

420

420

2.800

3.220

454

OTHERS

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

n/a

1.361

1.361

n/a

58.402

249.264

307.666

90.232

90.232

184.049

274.281

49.814

USA MEXICO

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

217.434

224.467

Source: INC.

November 2013 | The Cracker

57

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pine Nut · Piñón · Pignon · Pinoli · Pinienkerne · Çam Fistigi Chinese pine nut crop this year is still small. Due to a strict ecological environment protection and organic product control, as well as the protection of wild squirrels, it is prohibited to beat pine cones from the tree until they fall off naturally. In addition, this is the third

of five years bearing cycle; next top year is expected to be 2015. Consumption of roasted and salted pine seeds is increasing tremendously in China, resulting in much less pine kernels to export.

Estimated World Pine Nuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons 2012/2013

COUNTRY

BEGINNING STOCK

2013/2014

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

6.000

8.000

2.000

2.000

4.000

6.000

200

FAR EAST (Pinus Chinensis): PAKISTAN

2.000

CHINA

14.000

2.000

16.000

2.500

2.500

2.500

5.000

500

DPR KOREA

3.000

1.500

4.500

500

500

1.500

2.000

n/a

RUSSIA

5.000

1.000

6.000

1.500

1.500

1.000

2.500

n/a

24.000

10.500

34.500

6.500

6.500

9.000

15.500

700

SPAIN

0

325

325

0

0

425

425

n/a

PORTUGAL

0

125

125

0

0

380

380

n/a

TURKEY

0

350

350

0

0

225

225

n/a

ITALY

0

200

200

0

0

175

175

n/a

OTHERS

0

50

50

0

0

80

80

n/a

SUBTOTAL

0

1.050

1.050

0

0

1.285

1.285

0

24.000

11.550

35.550

6.500

6.500

10.285

16.785

SUBTOTAL MEDITERRANEAN (Pinus Pinea):

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

700

29.050

16.085

Source: China Tree Nuts Association, Aegean Exporters’ Association, and other INC sources.

Pine Nut Kernels Imports to China. Metric Tons 3.000

2.481

2.500 2.000

2.279

1.620

1.500 1.000

604

668

500

216 2000

2001

2002

33

75

27

8

2003

2004

2005

2006

Source: Chinese Customs, Census Department of Hong Kong SAR.

58

The Cracker | November 2013

882

918

2008

2009

624

196 2007

2010

2011

2012

2013 (1-6)

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Pistachio · Pistacho · Pistache · Pistacchio · Pistazie · Antep Fistigi Estimated World Pistachios Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

USA

41.127

251.935

293.062

52.068

52.068

211.364

263.432

36.649

IRAN

5.000

180.000

185.000

10.000

10.000

160.000

170.000

4.000

TURKEY

9.280

112.000

121.280

37.280

37.280

80.000

117.280

33.280

AFGHANISTAN

0

15.000

15.000

0

0

16.500

16.500

0

SYRIA

0

25.000

25.000

1.000

1.000

15.000

16.000

1.000

CHINA

0

6.500

6.500

0

0

4.000

4.000

0

ITALY

0

2.000

2.000

0

0

3.000

3.000

0

GREECE

0

7.000

7.000

0

0

2.000

2.000

0

AUSTRALIA

0

700

700

0

0

1.650

1.650

0

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

0

500

500

0

0

500

500

0

55.407

600.635

656.042

100.348

100.348

494.014

594.362

74.929

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

555.694

519.433

Source: Iranian Pistachio Association, Greek Nuts Association and other INC sources.

USA

IRAN

The 2013/2014 pistachio crop in California appears to be significantly lower than previously forecasted, from 250,000 MT to 211,364 MT (in shell basis), and significantly smaller than the 2012/2013 crop of 251,935. The carry over is 52,068 MT, giving a total supply of 263,432 MT, down 10% the previous season.

As announced at the World Nut and Dried Fruit Congress in Barcelona, the 2012/2013 Iranian crop came up to 180,000 MT with 5,000 MT of carry over at the beginning of the season. The total supply was estimated at 185,000 MT, of which 142,000 MT were exported. Domestic consumption was 30,000 MT. About 10,000 MT remained as carry over.

US pistachios continued the upward trend in exports driven by higher production in 2012/2013, with a 7% jump in export volume, reaching 131,600 MT (September-August) according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios. Domestic shipments remained strong driven by the increased promotion in the United States.

The 2013/2014 crop forecast has been revised downwards, from 195,000 MT previously announced to 160,000 MT due to very hot weather in June-July and water shortage. The crop forecast came down to 160,000 MT, and with a carry over of 10,000 MT this would provide a total supply of 170,000 MT available early September. Domestic consumption is projected at 25,000 MT, while exports are forecast at about 135,000 to 140,000 MT maximum from September 2013 to August 2014. Ending stocks are predicted to fall to 3,000-4,000 MT.

November 2013 | The Cracker

59

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Walnut · Nuez · Noix · Noce · Walnuss · Ceviz USA The USDA NASS California Field Office released the annual crop estimate for walnuts totaling 449,056 MT. This forecast is based on the 2013 Walnut Objective Measurement Survey, which was officially conducted August 1 through August 23, 2013. The report indicated that above average rainfall in the fall helped tree build vigorous root systems, while a dry and warm spring prolonged the bloom. Healthy conditions in the orchards helped the trees withstand short periods of hot weather throughout the summer.

However, as harvest got underway, many growers started to express disappointment at the way the crop was actually being ‘received’ and, at the time of going to print it is starting to be clear that the California walnut crop is unlikely to make the estimate. With most of the crop now received, the final number is set at 417,000 In-Shell MT, or 184,000 MT kernel basis.

Walnut production has been increasing, with more than 11,000 new walnut acres planted this year, contributing to a crop that has nearly doubled in the last decade. New emerging markets, such as India, will play a vital role in developing the industry’s future consumers. In July, market access was granted allowing California walnuts to be shipped to India.

Global demand for walnuts remains at an all time high because consumer awareness of the versatility and nutritional benefits of walnuts continues to grow. With over 100 published health research papers, people are increasingly aware of the many health benefits walnuts provide. This demand helped walnuts rise to the fourth leading export from the state of California, with 62% of the crop being exported to countries on five continents. The top export markets were China (35% of exports), Germany, Japan, Korea and Turkey.

CHINA The crop forecast in China has been revised downwards, from 500,000 MT (in shell basis) to 460,000 MT. Although there was frost damage in the North and Northwest, good harvest in the South/Southwest as well as young bearing trees in new origins alleviated the shortage from those stricken areas. The subjective 2013 crop estimate is around 460,000 MT with harvest underway in most origins by early September.

An exceedingly high carry over of in shell walnuts, as high as 25,000 MT, is still available in the market, which makes the total supply availability similar to the last season.

Domestic consumption is not as strong as expected due to a slowing economy in China against high pricing. Industry and trade have become very cautious with new crop purchases for the new season.

Estimated World Walnuts Production. Kernel Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY USA CHINA TURKEY UKRAINE CHILE FRANCE MOLDOVA INDIA ROMANIA HUNGARY ITALY GEORGIA TOTAL

2012 / 2013

BEGINNING STOCK 21.498 1.000 820 0 410 410 0 0 0 0 0 0 24.138

CROP 193.395 192.000 28.700 20.500 16.400 15.580 14.350 9.430 8.200 6.150 6.300 2.460 513.465

TOTAL SUPPLY 214.893 193.000 29.520 20.500 16.810 15.990 14.350 9.430 8.200 6.150 6.300 2.460 537.603

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

2013 / 2014

ENDING STOCK 18.308 10.000 1.640 0 410 410 0 0 0 0 0 0 30.768

BEGINNING STOCK 18.308 10.000 1.640 0 410 410 0 0 0 0 0 0 30.768

CROP 184.000 184.000 29.520 22.550 16.810 16.390 15.580 10.250 10.250 6.150 5.481 3.280 504.261

TOTAL SUPPLY 202.308 194.000 31.160 22.550 17.220 16.800 15.580 10.250 10.250 6.150 5.481 3.280 535.029

506.835

ENDING STOCK 17.847 4.000 2.460 0 410 205 0 0 0 0 0 0 24.922 510.107

Estimated World Walnuts Production. In Shell Basis. Metric Tons COUNTRY USA CHINA TURKEY UKRAINE CHILE FRANCE MOLDOVA INDIA ROMANIA HUNGARY ITALY GEORGIA TOTAL

2012 / 2013

BEGINNING STOCK 49.996 2.500 2.000 0 1.000 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 0 56.496

CROP 449.755 480.000 70.000 50.000 40.000 38.000 35.000 23.000 20.000 15.000 15.500 6.000 1.242.255

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

TOTAL SUPPLY 499.751 482.500 72.000 50.000 41.000 39.000 35.000 23.000 20.000 15.000 15.500 6.000 1.298.751

2013 / 2014

ENDING STOCK 42.577 25.000 4.000 0 2.000 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 0 74.577

BEGINNING STOCK 42.577 25.000 4.000 0 2.000 1.000 0 0 0 0 0 0 74.577

CROP 417.000 460.000 72.000 55.000 41.000 40.000 38.000 25.000 25.000 15.000 13.500 8.000 1.209.500

TOTAL SUPPLY 459.577 485.000 76.000 55.000 43.000 41.000 38.000 25.000 25.000 15.000 13.500 8.000 1.284.077

1.224.174

Source: California Walnut Commission, China Chamber of Commerce for Imports/Exports of Foodstuffs (CCCFNA), Chilean Walnut Commission and other INC sources.

60

The Cracker | November 2013

ENDING STOCK 41.505 10.000 6.000 0 1.000 500 0 0 0 0 0 0 59.005 1.225.072

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Peanut · Cacahuete · Cacahuète · Arachide · Erdnuss · Yer Fistigi

The peanut market remains strong in the United States following a year with a record crop of 3.08 million MT (farmers stock basis) which had very high quality. Due to the large crop, exports have risen considerably. For the first six months of this year, US have already exported 294,086 MT (exports average 275,000 MT per year). China began importing sizeable quantities of US peanuts for the first time in 2013. For the period of January to June of this year, 78,236 MT have been imported. US exports to the European Union have more than tripled this year.

As expected, fewer acres were planted in 2013 compared with 2012.

Crop conditions in 2013 have been mixed with some areas receiving too much rain. For the 2013 crop, the US average peanut yield is forecast to decline down to 3,620 pounds per acre (4,058 kg per ha) as compared to 4,192 pounds per acre (4,699 kg per ha) in 2012, according to USDA. On an expected harvested area of 1.06 million acres (down more than one-third from last year), the yield forecast would produce a crop totaling 3.85 billion pounds (1,745,350 metric tons, farmers stock basis). Compared to last year’s record, the current peanut crop is expected to be down by 43 percent.

In USDA’s 30 August Stocks & Processing Report, total domestic peanut usage for the peanut marketing year, August 2012 through July 2013, was up 1.4%. Breaking usage down by category, peanuts used in confections were 3.2% lower than the previous year, while snack nuts increased 2.7% and peanut butter increased 2.5% for the year.

Usage of inshell peanuts also increased 8%.

In summary, the US expect to have a smaller, but still adequate 2013 crop, especially considering the carry-in from the excellent 2012 crop. The domestic market continues to grow at a modest pace. Exports should also remain strong, but will likely be somewhat lower in 2014 than 2013.

USA

Estimated World Peanuts Production. In Shell Basis. Million Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

CROP

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

CHINA

0,00

16,50

16,50

0,00

0,00

16,60

16,60

0,00

INDIA

0,00

5,00

5,00

0,57

0,57

5,00

5,00

0,57

USA

0,45

3,06

3,51

1,08

1,08

1,75

2,83

0,97

NIGERIA

0,00

1,55

1,55

n/a

n/a

1,55

1,55

n/a

INDONESIA

0,00

1,15

1,15

n/a

n/a

1,15

1,15

n/a

ARGENTINA

0,00

1,02

1,02

n/a

n/a

1,02

1,02

n/a

VIETNAM

0,00

0,55

0,55

n/a

n/a

0,55

0,55

n/a

BRAZIL

0,00

0,26

0,26

n/a

n/a

0,26

0,26

n/a

SOUTH AFRICA

0,00

0,12

0,12

n/a

n/a

0,12

0,12

n/a

NICARAGUA

0,00

0,12

0,12

n/a

n/a

0,12

0,12

n/a

MEXICO

0,00

0,09

0,09

n/a

n/a

0,09

0,09

n/a

OTHERS

0,00

7,76

7,76

n/a

n/a

7,76

7,76

n/a

WORLD TOTAL

0,45

37,18

37,63

1,65

1,65

35,97

37,05

1,54

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

35,98

35,51

Source: American Peanut Council, Argentine Chamber of Commerce and other INC sources.

US Peanut Supply and Disappearance. 1000 Metric Tons YEAR BEGIN. AUG. 1 2011/12 2012/13 (*) 2013/14 (**)

SUPPLY

DISAPPEARANCE

BEGINNING STOCKS

PRODUCTION

IMPORTS

TOTAL

688 455 1.257

1.660 3.058 1.683

115 54 30

2.463 3.567 2.970

Total Supply

2.582

2.388

Production

1.571

1.666

2006/07

2007/08

2.848 2.341

2008/09

DOMESTIC FOOD 1.272 1.241 1.277

2.673

2.715

1.675

1.886

2009/10

2010/11

CRUSH 274 298 227

SEED & RESIDUAL 214 230 187

EXPORTS

TOTAL

247 542 318

2.007 2.311 2.009

3.567 3.058 2.463

1.683

1.660

2011/12

2.970

2012/13 (*)

2013/14 (**)

(*) Estimated. (**) Forecast. Last update: September 13, 2013. Source: USDA.

November 2013 | The Cracker

61

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Date · Dátil · Datte · Dattero · Dattel · Hurma Overall, world production of dates grows from one year to another mainly due to the new plantations over recent years in producing countries. Only 9% of the world production is consumed beyond the

borders of producing countries. Whilst India is the first importer, Iraq is the first exporting country in volume; Tunisia is the first exporter in value.

Estimated World Table Dates Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

90.000

1.180.000

1.270.000

100.000

100.000

1.250.000

1.350.000

115.000

EGYPT

100.000

1.250.000

1.350.000

140.000

140.000

1.180.000

1.320.000

120.000

IRAN

50.000

1.095.000

1.145.000

80.000

80.000

1.110.000

1.190.000

85.000

UAE

35.000

785.000

820.000

50.000

50.000

820.000

870.000

50.000

PAKISTAN

10.000

750.000

760.000

8.000

8.000

760.000

768.000

7.000

ALGERIA

7.000

720.000

727.000

12.000

12.000

730.000

742.000

12.000

IRAQ

15.000

560.000

575.000

15.000

15.000

550.000

565.000

10.000

SUDAN

15.000

430.000

445.000

20.000

20.000

435.000

455.000

25.000

OMAN

11.000

270.000

281.000

80.000

80.000

280.000

360.000

10.000

TUNISIA

6.000

185.000

191.000

50.000

50.000

175.000

225.000

6.000

MOROCCO

5.000

120.000

125.000

4.000

4.000

130.000

134.000

5.000

LIBYA

4.000

100.000

104.000

6.000

6.000

85.000

91.000

3.000

ISRAEL

700

21.500

22.200

200

200

22.000

22.200

200

USA

180

21.000

21.180

800

800

20.000

20.800

5.000

SAUDI ARABIA

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

24.000

180.000

204.000

25.000

25.000

175.000

200.000

25.000

372.880

7.667.500

8.040.380

591.000

591.000

7.722.000

8.313.000

478.200

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

7.449.380

7.834.800

Source: INC.

Dried Apricot · Orejón · Abricot Sec · Albicocca Secca · Getrocknete Aprikose · Kuru Kayisi TURKEY Turkey’s production of dried apricots in 2013/14 season is forecast at 110,345 MT, down 38% from the previous season.

At the end of the 2012/2013 season, Turkish whole type dried apricots exports of 2012’s crop had reached 113,928 MT (including whole, diced and industrial apricots) up 18.5% from the previous season.

Estimated World Dried Apricots Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY TURKEY IRAN

2012 / 2013

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

20.000

176.718

196.718

30.000

30.000

110.345

140.345

n/a

n/a

24.000

24.000

n/a

n/a

22.400

22.400

n/a

CHINA

n/a

6.000

6.000

n/a

n/a

5.700

5.700

n/a

SOUTH AFRICA

n/a

1.600

1.600

n/a

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

USA

n/a

1.500

1.500

n/a

n/a

1.600

1.600

n/a

AUSTRALIA

n/a

700

700

n/a

n/a

600

600

n/a

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

n/a

28.500

28.500

n/a

n/a

28.800

28.800

n/a

20.000

239.018

259.018

30.000

30.000

170.945

200.945

n/a

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock) Source: Aegean Exporters’ Association and other INC sources.

62

2013 / 2014

The Cracker | November 2013

229.018

200.945

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Dried Fig · Higo Seco · Figue Sec · Fico Secco · Getrocknete Feige · Kuru Incir TURKEY Turkey’s 2012/13 production forecast has been revised as 61,500 MT and 2013/14 season production forecast has been declared as 61,909 MT. The first shipment date for 2013/14

season dried figs was September 25th, 2013. As of September 19th, Turkish whole types dried figs exports of 2012 crop had reached 61.702 MT (including whole, diced, industrial figs and fig paste), up 23.2% from the same period the previous season.

Estimated World Dried Figs Production. Metric Tons 2012 / 2013

COUNTRY

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

3.500

61.500

65.000

0

0

61.909

61.909

0

IRAN

n/a

22.000

22.000

n/a

n/a

22.600

22.600

n/a

USA

n/a

9.250

9.250

n/a

n/a

10.000

10.000

n/a

TURKEY

GREECE

n/a

7.600

7.600

n/a

n/a

7.600

7.600

n/a

SPAIN

n/a

6.000

6.000

n/a

n/a

5.800

5.800

n/a

ITALY

n/a

3.900

3.900

n/a

n/a

3.800

3.800

n/a

OTHERS

n/a

2.000

2.000

n/a

n/a

2.000

2.000

n/a

3.500

112.250

115.750

0

0

113.709

113.709

WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

115.750

0 113.709

Source: Aegean Exporters’ Association and other INC sources.

Prune · Ciruela Seca · Pruneau · Prugna Secca · Backpflaume · Kuru Erik · Pruna Seca USA The 2013 prune harvest is far short of the projection issued by the US National Agriculture Statistics Service on June 3 of 95,300 MT (105,000 US short tons). With harvesting completed, total production is now estimated as high as 77,110 MT (85,000 short tons) and

low as 63,500 MT (70,000 short tons). Causes for the shortage include spring heat spikes followed by colder nights, lack of precipitation and mature trees “taking a break” after two larger than expected crops. Quality and sizing appear to be good to excellent with high sugar levels in most fruit. Smaller to medium sizes are expected to be in shorter supply.

Estimated World Prunes Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

USA

51.000

124.600

175.600

40.823

40.823

77.110

117.933

n/a

CHILE

6.000

75.000

81.000

2.774

2.774

50.000

52.774

n/a

4.600

18.000

22.600

3.000

3.000

20.000

23.000

n/a

23.000

41.000

64.000

20.000

20.000

35.000

55.000

n/a

ARGENTINA FRANCE AUSTRALIA

600

2.700

3.300

500

500

3.000

3.500

n/a

0

3.000

3.000

0

0

3.500

3.500

n/a

SERBIA ITALY

180

1.000

1.180

200

200

1.200

1.400

n/a

0

1.100

1.100

0

0

1.200

1.200

n/a

85.380

266.400

351.780

67.297

67.297

191.010

258.307

SOUTH AFRICA TOTAL

CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

284.483

n/a 258.307

Source: Chile Prunes Association and other INC sources.

November 2013 | The Cracker

63

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Raisins, Sultanas & Currants · Uva Pasa · Raisin Sec · Uvetta · Rosine · Kuzu Üzüm

Estimated World Raisins, Sultanas & Currants Production. Metric Tons COUNTRY USA TURKEY

2012 / 2013

2013 / 2014

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

BEGINNING STOCK

PRODUCTION

TOTAL SUPPLY

ENDING STOCK

113.814

268.105

381.919

114.112

114.112

325.680

439.792

100.000

3.500

310.000

313.500

30.000

30.000

190.000

220.000

2.635

0

165.000

165.000

5.000

5.000

145.000

150.000

0

INDIA

0

172.900

172.900

28.573

28.573

160.000

188.573

25.000

IRAN

5.000

155.000

160.000

5.000

5.000

150.000

155.000

5.000

CHINA

SOUTH AFRICA CHILE

0

37.900

37.900

5.000

5.000

56.000

61.000

5.000

500

75.000

75.500

5.000

5.000

50.000

55.000

1.000

GREECE

5.000

26.000

31.000

3.500

3.500

27.000

30.500

3.500

UZBEKISTAN

1.000

35.000

36.000

1.000

1.000

35.000

36.000

1.000

ARGENTINA

0

27.000

27.000

n/a

n/a

10.000

10.000

n/a

AUSTRALIA

0

10.000

10.000

0

0

10.000

10.000

0

1.000

41.500

42.500

1.000

1.000

43.000

44.000

1.000

129.814

1.323.405

1.453.219

198.185

198.185

1.201.680

1.399.865

OTHERS WORLD TOTAL

WORLD CONSUMPTION (T. Supply - End. Stock)

1.255.034

Source: USDA, Raisin Administrative Committee, Aegean Exporters’ Association and other INC sources.

USA In California, the 2013 crop forecast has been revised upwards, from 280,000 MT previously predicted to 325,680 MT. The forecast supply also increased, from 391,400 MT to 439,792 MT. It has been a good drying season with hot, dry weather and adequate labor. Early results indicate the crop quality is good. The official crop estimate by the Raisin Administrative Committee was scheduled for October 5th.

TURKEY At the end of the 2012/13 dried grape season, Turkey’s 2012/13 production forecast was revised as 310,000 MT. The 2013 crop forecast has been significantly reduced from 250,00 MT announced in July to 190,000 MT. At the end of 2012/13 season, 2012 Turkish crop seedless dried grapes exports reached 248,321 MT, up 15% from the same period the previous season.

CHINA In China, the crop forecast has been revised down to 140,000-145,000 MT. The main growing area was affected by spring frost, and production is expected to be down 10-15% in 2013 (10% down for dark raisin; 20% down for green).

64

The Cracker | November 2013

144.135 1.255.730

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Special Report: Australia Import Statistics 2007-2012 Australia Production. Metric Tons Tree Nuts Almonds Kernel Macadamias Kernel Walnuts Inshell Pecans Kernel Pistachios Inshell Total Dried Fruits Dried Grapes Prunes Dried Apricots Total

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Est 2013

37.000 10.282 874 1.080 800 50.036

46.100 10.500 1.350 1.500 1.700 61.150

38.370 10.455 1.740 1.004 800 52.369

50.000 7.800 2.431 1.622 1.000 62.853

49.896 11.400 5.288 1.097 700 68.381

78.000 8.500 7.096 1.400 1.650 96.646

10.000 3.400 450 13.850

14.000 1.550 450 16.000

15.000 4.000 600 19.600

6.400 1.652 650 8.702

16.500 2.700 700 19.900

14.000 3.000 600 17.600

Tree Nuts Production. Metric Tons 80.000 70.000 60.000 50.000 40.000 30.000 20.000 10.000 2008

2009

2010

2011

Est 2013

2012 Almonds Kernel

Macadamias Kernel

Pecans Kernel

Pistachios Inshell

Walnuts Inshell

Australia Imports. Metric Tons Peanuts Tree Nuts Cashew Kernel Pistachios Walnuts Kernel Hazelnuts Kernel Almonds Kernel Brazil Nuts Kernel Macadamias Kernel Pine Nuts Kernel Total Dried Fruits Dried Grapes Dates Dried Apricots Prunes Dried Figs Total

2007 14.126

2008 8.126

2009 9.921

2010 3.478

2011 4.816

2012 11.492

14.553 2.349 3.624 1.695 2.353 910 1.158 271 26.913

14.075 1.890 3.982 1.752 1.150 1.399 1.251 174 25.673

13.759 2.203 4.611 1.503 965 1.381 1.107 515 26.044

14.158 2.479 3.857 2.333 1.277 1.350 986 427 26.867

14.160 2.930 4.253 2.271 1.773 1.111 1.452 636 28.586

15.935 2.800 5.838 2.400 2.855 1.442 550 31.820

21.536 1.297 4.545 3.840 1.399 32.617

26.487 5.037 6.252 2.084 730 40.590

27.456 5.122 5.985 3.500 777 42.840

20.939 6.396 5.809 2.885 1.074 37.103

31.202 6.793 5.652 3.096 957 47.700

25.710 5.921 5.245 2.298 1.502 40.676

Tree Nuts Imports. Metric Tons 16.000

2007

14.000

2008

12.000

2009

10.000

2010

8.000

2011 2012

6.000 4.000 2.000 Cashew Kernel

Pistachios

Walnuts Kernel

Hazelnuts Kernel

Almonds Kernel

November 2013 | The Cracker

65

GLOBAL STATISTICAL REVIEW

Export Statistics 2007-2012 Australia Exports. Metric Tons Tree Nuts Almonds Kernel Macadamias Kernel Walnuts Kernel equiv.

Pistachios Inshell Cashews Kernel Hazelnuts Kernel Pecans Kernel Brazil Nuts Kernel Total Dried Fruits Raisins Prunes Dates Dried Apricots Dried Figs Total

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

7.626 6.756 138 757 90 127 290 210 15.994

8.727 8.224 28 506 148 104 81 54 17.872

13.852 6.924 171 286 49 20 165 25 21.492

16.367 5.930 344 427 148 39 213 92 23.560

16.971 4.488 595 467 172 51 275 13 23.032

20.988 3.711 1.415 383 205 44 122 14 26.882

5.700 144 136 91 29 6.100

4.146 69 131 85 15 4.446

4.483 99 66 81 7 4.736

2.761 198 105 110 27 3.201

784 351 158 81 8 1.382

1.158 478 99 154 3 1.892

Tree Nuts Exports. Metric Tons 20.000 2007 15.000

2008 2009 2010

10.000

2011 2012

5.000

Exports 2012: Macadamias, Shelled.

Metric Tons Japan China Belgium Taiwan China, Hong Kong USA Rep. of Korea Singapore Kuwait New Zealand Thailand Norway Netherlands Canada Others

66

Exports (MT) 1.265 695 238 230 179 173 142 118 108 87 72 67 62 49 226 3.711

Exports 2012: Almonds, Shelled.

Metric Tons USA

Exports (MT) 3.270

UAE

2.693

Spain

2.289

Netherlands

1.995

Italy

1.907

Germany

1.450

New Zelanad

1.320

India

999

Malaysia

978

UK

713

Egypt

527

Sweden

518

Thailand Others

The Cracker | November 2013

466 1.863 20.988

Exports 2012. Macadamias, Shelled. Metric Tons Japan China Belgium Taiwan China, Hong Kong USA Rep. of Korea Singapore Kuwait New Zealand Thailand Norway Netherlands Canada Others

Exports 2012. Almonds, Shelled. Metric Tons USA UAE Spain Netherlands Italy Germany New Zelanad India Malaysia UK Egypt Sweden Thailand Others

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

THE ALMOND BOARD OF CALIFORNIA’S NEW NORTH AMERICAN CONSUMER ADvERTISING:

CRUNCH ON!

October marks the launch of the Almond Board of California’s new North America consumer advertising campaign launching in a variety of magazines, on television and online.

The ads feature consumers in a variety of situations that are fairly “everyday” with a twist of exuberance or humor – a man fully costumed as he plays with his daughter; a woman keeping up with her energetic son, who’s apt to dance with street performers; a lady running errands by longboard; a couple laughingly washing their dog as he decides to stand on top of their car; and a businessman on the bus who can’t stand still while he’s listening to music on his headphones.

The scenarios are marked with copy such as, “There’s passion for life in the crunch of almonds. Get 6g of protein, 4g of fiber and essential nutrients in every heart-healthy handful to really bring it all day, every day. Learn more at Almonds.com.”

Bold and lively images, copy and font treatment reinforce the message that almonds are a powerful, crunchy and nutritious snack. Whole natural almonds are featured in a substantial pile. And the campaign’s tagline, “Crunch On,” speaks to an attribute in almonds that helps our target consumers do the activities they need and want to do with joy and passion for life and health.

In preparation for campaign development, ABC and its advertising agency, the Sterling-Rice Group, conducted consumer research throughout 2012, which revealed that heavy almond consumers were

68

The Cracker | November 2013

motivated in part by almonds’ crunch, which they viewed as substantial, differentiating and powerful.

“People who eat almonds a lot often know that when crunching into an almond, they’re getting valuable nutrients to help them accomplish their goals, whether that means staying energized at their desk all afternoon or training for race,” said Molly Spence, ABC’s Regional Director of North America.

So, the new campaign’s intent is to “appeal to heavy and light consumers alike by portraying almonds and their powerful crunch in a way that is bold, vibrant and active,” Spence said. “At the same time, it was important to stay true to almonds’ image in the target consumers’ minds as highly nutritious and as the ‘sophisticated’ nut.”

The campaign benefits from the use of Almonds.com, a new domain name for ABC that replaces AlmondBoard.com in North America.

To see the ads and learn more about the campaign, visit Almonds.com.

Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces of almonds as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. A one-ounce handful has 13g of unsaturated fat and only 1g of saturated fat.

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

ALMONDS THE PREFERRED NUT!

ReseaRch shows Almonds pRefeRRed oveR otheR Nuts IN globAl new product introductions New research by Innova Market Insights shows that almonds are the number one nut in new food products worldwide, having grown 148% since 2005.i In fact, consumers worldwide report almonds as the nut they eat most often in foods such as chocolate, cereals, bakery items and manufacturers have taken notice.

Almonds are hot and people everywhere are taking notice; from eating almonds as a snack, using as an ingredient and even enjoying a delicious rich chocolate and almond bar. According to research by Innova Market Insights, almonds are the number 1 nut in new food products worldwide, up 148% since 2005.1 In fact, consumers around the world report that almonds are the nut they eat most often as an ingredient in other foods2 such as chocolate, cereals and bakery items – AND manufactures have taken notice.

almonds

PeaNut

#1

hazelNut

Nut

CaShew

in global introductions—and are widening the gap between other nuts

walNut

6,000

5,000

4,000

And what consumers want, manufactures want to deliver; almonds’ unique flavor profile and wholesome appeal resulted in increased global almond introductions in key volume-driving categories, including snacks +24% over 2011, followed by cereals +13% and desserts and ice cream +11%.

The growth in snack products is especially significant in that it greatly outpaces all new nut introductions +13% in this category. 1

3,000

2,000

1,000

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

8% OtheR 6% DeSSeRtS & ICe CReaM 33% CONfeCtIONeRy

Top 5 almond-relevant categories

14% SNaCkS

make up 92% of total almond introductions.ii 17% CeRealS

22% BakeRy

Chocolate is the leading category for almond

ConfeCTionery

introductions in 3 out of 5 world regions.ii

middle

st &

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middle

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almonds are the number one nut consumers choose to include in their ideal chocolate bar.iii

Almonds are the ideal snacking item and a great pairing with chocolate – they on the move and with increased consumer demand; almonds will continue to be the nut of choice!

New product trends opportunities for almonds include:

• bigger inclusions • California provenance • multiple textures at once

i

ii iIi

Innova New Product Introductions Database, Innova Market Perceptions Insights, 2012 Global Study, SRG, 2013 Global Chocolate Study, SRG, 2013.

NEW EvIDENCE FINDS SNACkING ON ALMONDS DECREASES APPETITE, IMPROvES NUTRIENT INTAkE This study at Purdue University involved 137 adults, 18-60 years, for a four week randomized, controlled trial and was just published. This is the first study of its kind to focus on the impact of 42g/1.5 oz of almonds consumed daily as a snack on blood glucose levels, measures of hunger and appetite and weight. They separated into four diet intervention groups (with breakfast or lunch, as a morning or afternoon snack) and a control group. Overall, the findings demonstrate that almonds lowered serum glucose levels after eating, with the effect most prominent in the snack group. Eating almonds as a snack reduced hunger and desire to eat levels during these acute feeding sessions. In addition to these measurements, it was noted that there was no weight gain over the four weeks of this study. It appears that the participants naturally and spontaneously compensated for the additional daily calories provided by the almonds.

Tan, S-Y. and R.D. Mattes. 2013. Appetitive, dietary and health effects of almonds consumed with meals or as snacks. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr.

DOI#10:1038/ejcn.2014.184.

November 2013 | The Cracker

69

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The use of almonds continues and the growth trend for chocolate and almonds is no exception up +113% in the last five years (2007 to 2012). In fact two-thirds of consumers worldwide stated they are more likely to buy chocolate with almonds than without; consumers also choose almonds as the number one ingredient to include in their ideal chocolate bar.3 Clearly, almonds and chocolate make the perfect, tasty pair.

alMOND

continue to lead the pack as the

ic

Snacks are popular everywhere and when it comes to innovation; almonds are often the ingredient of choice for global product developers. The number of new almond snacks continues to grow introducing lightly flavored almonds with sea salt to exotic flavors to unique texture combinations that delight consumers everywhere. “Consumers are looking for products that are natural and health, but also fit with their increasingly busy and on-the-go lives,” said Kate Thomson, Director Insights and Strategy and for Sterling-Rice Group. “Our consumer research shows that almonds’ nutritional profile and portability really fit the bill.”

natural, great tasting and nutritious.

A

The unique attributes of almonds are helping to fuel this increase in new products.

According to Innova’s research, almond product introductions grew faster in 2012 +9.7% vs. all food and nut introductions; +5.3% and 7.1% respectively. We continue to see an increase use of key descriptors on packages such as “Almond Crunch” and “California Grown” as manufacturers leverage almonds’ origin, texture and nutritional profile directly on product labels to increase the consumer appeal.

Globally, more than 75% of respondentsi associate almonds with being

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

PRO CYCLIST MARk CAvENDISH DECLARES AMERICAN PISTACHIOS HIS "OFFICIAL SNACk" The fastest man on two wheels endorses health, active lifestyles, and the nutritious American pistachio.

During the annual harvest for U.S. pistachio farmers, American Pistachio Growers (APG) announced the addition of British pro cyclist Mark Cavendish MBE* to its world-class athletic ambassador team. Cavendish has declared the nutritious, American-grown pistachio nut as his “Official Snack.”

Cavendish, who has 25 stage wins at Le Tour de France and is regarded as one of pro cycling’s top sprinters, is an outspoken proponent of healthy lifestyles and cycling for everyday well-being. He’s also a believer in proper nutrition for optimal performance, whether for athletic gains or everyday life. This focus on health and nutrition led him to American pistachios, which are a nutritious addition to a well-balanced diet, particularly for those who participate in active lifestyles.

“I’m proud to support America’s pistachio farmers in this educational campaign and to add my voice to the growing group of advocates who encourage people to exercise and be mindful of what they eat,” said Cavendish. “The fact that I eat pistachios because I love them and because they’re recommended by my dietician makes it easy for me to say they’re my Official Snack.“ Cavendish’s dietician, Nigel Mitchell, who is also the dietician for the British National Cycling Team, prescribes American-grown pistachios as part of a cyclist’s diet. He is a strong advocate for including whole foods as fuel for athletic performance.

“Mark needs a high-protein diet and requires certain nutrients throughout each day and before and after races,” said Mitchell. “He trains five hours a day and is one of the fastest sprinters alive. His body is in a constant state of exertion and recovery. Pistachios fill a nutritional need and just as important, they’re a convenient, delicious snack that he likes to eat.”

In addition to Cavendish, big mountain snowboarder and National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year (2013) Jeremy Jones claims American-grown pistachios as his Official Snack, along with the gold and silver Olympic medal-winning women and men’s USA Water Polo teams. These athletes share a focus on proper nutrition and a desire to promote healthy, active lifestyles. *MBE: “Member of the Order of the British Empire,” a British national order of chivalry.

BRITISH ALE LOvERS GO NUTS FOR BEER AND AMERICAN PISTACHIOS AT THE GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIvAL Over 51,000 ale lovers attended the Great British Beer Festival held at London’s Olympia, August 13-17. Hosted by the Campaign for Real Ale, the festival’s goal was to get more consumers drinking beer with more of their favorite foods.

With over 8,000 different ales brewed by more than 1,000 British breweries, there is a huge range of flavors to match just about any dish or snack. To help demonstrate how real ale can be paired with a variety of pub snacks, the Great British Beer Festival hosted the first ever “Nuts & Beer” tutored tasting sessions.

American Pistachio Growers and Beer Sommelier Jane Peyton joined the effort and hosted “Nuts about Beer” tasting sessions highlighting the snacking

70

The Cracker | November 2013

occasions of pistachios and beer as well as the health benefits of both. They also paired different beer styles with different flavored American pistachios including teriyaki, garlic and thyme. Attendees were given samples of pistachios and recipes for each of the flavors tasted. Over 450 consumers attended the testing sessions. According to Peyton, “In Britain, real ale is back in fashion and ‘beer and food’ matching is popular. By raising the profile of beer and food pairings, the Great British Beer Festival hopes to encourage thousands of beer lovers to start spreading the word to their friends and local pubs all across Britain.”

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

niGEl miTCHEll:

NUTRITION AMBASSADOR FOR AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS

Nigel Mitchell, one the most respected experts in the practical application of sports nutrition, has been supporting the nutrition goals of elite athletes for twenty years. Among his roster of clients is Mark Cavendish, whom Nigel has coached since the 28-year old cycling star was just 17. Nigel is the head of nutritional services for British Cycling and the British Professional Cycling Team ‘Sky Pro Cycling.’ In 2012 he provided nutritional support for the historical Bradley Wiggins Tour de France Win and for British Cycling at the 2012 London Olympiad. His role involves leading and providing specialist nutritional services to a variety of world class athletes and sportspeople.

Nigel qualified as a registered dietician in 1991 and since then

has worked in a variety of clinical sports roles. Nigel recognizes and values the contribution that innovation and research provides to sports nutrition and is currently involved in partnerships with universities on academic projects this have included projects with Portsmouth University where he holds the honorary position of Senior Lecturer. He has worked with a wide variety of sports/ athletes including winter Olympic athletes. He specializes in performance-focused diets to help people realize their greatest capabilities, whether they be gold medals or just top condition.

Due to his practical approach to proper nutrition through nutritious whole foods for active lifestyles, Nigel is now an educational Ambassador for American Pistachio Growers.

APG’S BRAND AMBASSADOR MISS CALIFORNIA CRYSTAL LEE FIRST RUNNER UP IN 2014 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT APG’s brand ambassador Miss California, Crystal Lee, won first runner-up in the 2014 Miss America pageant. She competed against fifty-two other women representing the United States, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A San Francisco native, Miss California is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree from Stanford University in four years. Her talent is ballet and her platform is “Women in STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Story Continues on Page 72 November 2013 | The Cracker

71

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS Story Continued from Page 71

a RunninG suCCEss: AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS TEAMS UP FOR A SECOND YEAR WITH GERMANY’S WOMEN’S RUN SERIES Germany’s Women’s Run Series covers the four German cities of Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich. Due to popular demand, American Pistachio Growers sample packs were included in race goody bags for the second running season.

APG FUELS CYCLIST AT vATTENFALL CYCLASSICS 2013, EUROPE’S LARGEST BIkE RACE Nearly 160 professionals and 22,000 amateur cyclists competed in the Vattenfall Cyclassics, while 800,000 spectators cheered them on.

American Pistachio Growers provided the athletes and the guests in the VIP lounge with healthy pistachio sample packs.

HIkERS DISCOvER THE “POWER OF PISTACHIOS” AT THE TOURNATUR FAIR IN DUSSELDORF Over 5,000 hiking destinations, previews of the latest in hiking gear, and expert advice on topics ranging from how to pack your backpack to what foods are best to eat when hiking attracted over 35,000 to TourNatur - Germany’s popular hiking and trekking fair. Held from September 6-8 in Düsseldorf, more than 2,000 APG sample packs and nutritional flyers were distributed.

MEN’S HEALTH & APG URBANATHLON TAkE ON EvERY OBSTACLE The 2013 Men’s Health Urbanathlon in Hamburg was sold out in a record-breaking four days. Athletes who missed the registration had a chance to participate in APG’s raffle to win one of ten race entries promoted in the popular magazine Laufen.de. Over 4,500 fitness enthusiasts participated in the Urbanathlon’s 12K run obstacle course with 13 obstacles and more than 1,000 stairs reaching over 820 feet high.

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The Cracker | November 2013

mauriziopatscot

...now offering the best fruit with the best chocolate... bellissimo! www.besanaworld.com

November 2013 | The Cracker

73

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

PisTaCHiO HEalTH insTiTuTE:

ASIAN MARkETS EMBRACE PISTACHIO HEALTH MESSAGE In China, the pistachio is known as the “happy nut” because it looks like its smiling.

The Chinese lead the world in total pistachio consumption at 200 million pounds per year, and U.S. shipments to China have doubled since 2009.

and concerns about weight management similar to what is seen in the United States, making them a perfect audience for healthy snacking messages.

In South Korea, Daeboreum (or “Full Moon Day”) is celebrated each February as friends and families gather to drive away evil spirits with the sounds made by cracking open pistachios. Plus, Korean international pop star PSY’s recent starring role as a pistachio pitchman, has turned even more of his countrymen on to the healthy snack.

To support growth in these East Asia markets, the Pistachio Health Institute, the leading online source of information on the health and nutrition benefits of pistachios, hosted a five-day media tour in June with stops in Seoul and Beijing featuring Dr. James E. Painter, a prominent behavioral nutrition researcher, a member of the Pistachio Health Institute scientific advisory board, and founder of the “Pistachio Principle.”

in-shell pistachios over shelled pistachios may help reduce calorie intake, because the visual cue of leftover shells potentially helps to curb portion size without feelings of deprivation.

China and South Korea represent two of the most promising international markets for pistachios. Both countries’ burgeoning middle class are showing an interest in healthy eating

The “Pistachio Principle” is a simple, mindful eating concept that may help you to “fool yourself full, without feelings of deprivation.”

Painter’s research suggests that simply choosing

Painter’s research wowed journalists in both countries. In South Korea, weight management is often perceived as a choice between eating and staying famished.

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WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS Painter discussed how it’s possible to smartly manage portion size without sacrificing snacking satisfaction. In China, where “healthy” and “snacking” are incongruous ideas, he emphasized that snacking can, in fact, be both nutritious and delicious.

“Snacking is an important part of a healthy diet, because it can curb cravings between meals,” Painter said. “But people can easily over-eat with snacks like chocolate or potato chips. Choosing in-shell California pistachios instead of shelled nuts is one easy way to decrease calorie consumption without restricting your diet. This is in keeping with existing research that suggests but does not prove that when a person has visual cues of 'leftovers,' such as pistachio shells, they can see how many or how much they have eaten, potentially encouraging them to control portion size and consumption.”

Painter’s Asian media tour generated more than 60 positive stories on the health benefits of pistachios in local television, newspaper, magazine and online outlets including features in two influential Korean newspapers Chosun Ilbo and Maeil Business Newspaper,

and a feature article in GQ Korea. Korea’s largest television networks, SBS, MBC and YTN, aired interviews with Dr. Painter explaining his mindful eating technique. More than 10 stories are due to run in China, including government-owned health magazine, Health Times, and China’s version of Good Housekeeping.

abOuT PisTaCHiOHEalTHinsTiTuTE.ORG PistachioHealthInstitute.org is the leading online source of information on the health and nutrition benefits of pistachios for both consumers and health professionals. It houses a comprehensive research library, with research updates and information from leading experts in the field of health and nutrition, including the Health Nut blog, Ask Our Expert section, and educational materials. The Institute is committed

to advancing the understanding of the health benefits of pistachios, and continues to invest and support research at leading institutions around the world. “Like” PistachioHealthInstitute on Facebook and follow @ PistachioHealth on Twitter. For more information about the health benefits of pistachios, please visit www.PistachioHealthInstitute.org.

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WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

PERFECT FOR EvERYBODY, IDEAL FOR SOME. DRIED FRUIT BECOMES "SPECIAl" IN THE NEW COMMUNICATION OF NUCIS ITAlIA.

For years dried fruit and nuts have been widely considered a category of food rich in fats and calories, to be consumed only occasionally and with moderation. Only in recent years nutritionists have rediscovered their innumerable qualities, thus recognizing their well-deserved importance for the human nutrition.

Recent studies and research keep on recording the healthy qualities of with good nutritional values, ideal for any well-balanced daily diet. this food so precious for our diet. Dried fruit and nuts are in fact rich For many years Nucis Italia informative campaign has been promoting in proteins, vitamins, minerals, essential fats and fibers: an ideal food among consumers the correct consumption of dried fruit and nuts for all to be consumed at breakfast or as snacks and an excellent ally within a balanced diet, availing itself of qualified testimonials in a balanced diet, particularly for the absence of cholesterol, for the from Physicians who adhere to the project, and through the use of contribution of precious elements such as minerals and for the content informative materials whose contents are meticulously checked and of the so-called "good" fats. validated by the Scientific Committee that supervises the project Dried fruit and nuts are also an excellent source of energy and easy to carry along as they do not need refrigeration, and represent a perfect snack before sports activities, as athletes know well!

Naturally, and as for all foods in general, it is necessary to pay attention to the quantities in order to enjoy only the healthy aspects.

One "portion" (about 30 grams) a day of dried fruit and nuts is the daily quantity that various scientific studies have demonstrated is effective to protect from pathologies such as obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This quantity allows a limited intake of calories

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"Dried Fruit is Wellbeing".

The new informative campaign that Italian consumers will see starting from the second half of November in over 1.700 points of sale that have already adhered to the initiative, will introduce again the concept of daily portion, because it is really on the quantity of dried fruit and nuts to be consumed every day that the attention of the food experts focus: dried fruit and nuts are a very tasty but concentrated food and this is why it is easy to exaggerate in their consumption and go beyond the recommended quantities.

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

FRUIT Almonds Hazelnuts Walnuts Pine Seeds Pistachios Cashews Plums Apricots Figs

RECOMMENDED PORTION* OF SHEllED/STONED FRUIT 30 g = 23 almonds 30 g = 26 hazelnuts 30 g = 5 walnuts 30 g = 120 pine seeds 30 g = 25 pistachios 30 g = 20 cashews 40 g = 5/6 dried plums 40 g = 5/6 dried apricots 40 g = 4/5 dried figs

For this reason the message elaborated by Nucis within the project has simplified in the consumer communication the concept of "Dose", expressing for every kind of fruit the recommended quantity in number of fruits. (see chart above) * defined by the USDA-United States Department of Agriculture 1 oz = 28,5 gs for dried fruit. 1/4 cups = 43 gs for dehydrated fruit This year’s campaign also suggests that each fruit has a privileged target, that is a category of consumers for which a particular fruit becomes "special".

Today, choosing the proper "daily portion" becomes very simple: one can decide to consume 5 walnuts - perfect for Students and Senior people for their contribution of Omega 3, Omega 6 and phosphorus - or 23 almonds that are "especially recommended" to Senior people and Athletes because of the vitamins of the B group and the vegetable proteins, or 5-6 apricots, perfect for Women and Students because they are rich in vitamin A and C and so on, everyone can make up their own "wellness mix" based on dried fruit and nuts. A provision of pleasure, taste and

healthy nutrients to bring along everywhere: at school, at the office, to the park and in the gym, to recommend to friends and suitable for the whole family.

The 2013/2014 Nucis informative program includes a first action on the main super and hypermarkets of the peninsula that will decorate their shelves with the informative materials from November and for the whole winter.

A second communication campaign is foreseen in spring, especially dedicated to the resumption of open-air activities, with special initiatives to be carried on some points of sale that will see the presence of an experienced Nutritionist available for consumers to give suggestions and advice on the most suitable products for everyone’s needs, and to illustrate in a simple but exhaustive way the nourishing qualities of dried fruit and nuts.

To support the activity of education to consumption an on line campaign has been developed on www.nucisitalia.it website, where it is possible to retrieve all infos for consumers and operators who support the action; the facebook page is available to all consumers and has already been a big success.

The project "Dried Fruit is Wellbeing" is contributing to consolidate the growing

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WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

NEW MEMBERS jOIN NUCIS GERMANY Following this year’s INC Congress in Barcelona where Nucis presented information about its activities an association and a company decided to support the work of Nucis Germany and became members.

NUCIS IS PROUD TO WElCOME THE AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS AND EUROFINS ANAlyTIK GMBH - WIERTzEGGERT-JöRISSEN. Mr. Richard Matoian, Executive Director of AMERICAN PISTACHIO GROWERS describes his association as follows: “American Pistachio Growers is an agricultural trade association representing members who are pistachio growers, processors and industry partners in the states of California, Arizona and New Mexico. These states represent 100% of domestic commerical pistachio production.

APG also conducts pistachio nutrition research and domestic and international marketing and PR activities. APG is also an advocate for growers at the state and federal levels and works on a wide variety of issues that affect the growers’ ability to grow, harvest, ship and market their product. For more information, visit www.

AmericanPistachios.org “ With the commitment to support nutrition research and international marketing and PR activities there is a perfect match and a common base. Nucis informs about the health benefits of nuts and it is very interested in learning more about pistachios for our target group. Nucis uses multiple teaching methods and motivates people to consume nuts. That means more support for the nut industry.

THE COMPANy EUROFINS ANAlyTIK GMBH AlSO JOINED NUCIS GERMANy. Ms. Wiebke Puschmann, General Manager of Eurofins Analytik GmbH said about her motivation to join Nucis Germany: “I find that the most helpful aspect of being a member of Nucis e.V. is new opportunities to network with both local and international specialists. The information that I receive through the monthly newsletters and the website contain vital news about research projects, and important upcoming events.

The laboratory Eurofins Analytik GmbH - Wiertz-Eggert-Jörissen, situated in Hamburg-Harburg, is part of the globally active Eurofins Group offering chemical and biological analysis as well as competent consultancies for food, non-food-products and pet food. With its independent services, it helps customers to avoid buying goods which are not aligned with legal obligations, minimizes risks, checks the marketability and optimises the quality of products, all in order to enable them to market products as quickly and safely as possible. Additionally, Eurofin offers to create and check product labels according to the legal obligations concerned to ensure that they fulfil all legal requirements towards the marketability and safety of food products. They are the experts concerning analysis and safety control of nuts and dried fruits, oils and fats, cereals, coffee, cacao & sweets as well as other foods.

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It specialises in cooperating with major trading companies like creating testing schedules according to legal obligations, NGO requirements and trading specifications and works with customer specific IT-interfaces.

Through innovative technologies and specialists, new methods for the customer even within very limited time frames are developed.

Due to the continued support of long-standing and new members Nucis will conduct many activities in 2014. Nucis thanks all members for their help and positive feedback. For more information please see www.nucis.de.

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DOMESTIC MARkETING UPDATE fOODsERViCE aDVERTisinG PROGRam is iniTiaTED In effort to expand outreach to the foodservice sector in the United States, the California Walnut Board launched a new print and online advertising campaign in November. The campaign positions California walnuts as contemporary and on-trend in ads such as the one shown here pairing California walnuts with "Sustainable Seafood". Six different executions of the campaign will run in the 2013-14 fiscal year in print publications such as Food Arts and Plate Magazine and in online outlets such as Restaurant SmartBrief.

Trending >>

TwO nEw REsEaRCH sTuDiEs PublisH On PROsTaTE CanCER anD HEaRT DisEasE walnut panko crusted chilean

New research titled A walnut-enriched diet reduces initiation and progression of LNCaP human prostate cancer xenografts in nude mice from Dr. Russel Reiter at the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio published in Cancer Investigation. It showed that eating a modest amount of walnuts (the equivalent of 2 ounces per day for humans) can protect against prostate cancer. As described by the journal, “researchers at the UT Health Science Center injected immune-deficient mice with human prostate cancer cells. Within three to four weeks, tumors typically start

www.prunesco.com

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The Cracker | November 2013

seabass california walnuts | wild rice

In your business, if you’re | chimichurri not staying abreast of the latest food trends, competition. One trend you’re falling behind your that’s caught on big is cooking with wholesome Adding walnuts is a great ingredients like Californ way to add natural taste ia Walnuts. and texture.

And an even better way to keep you on-trend.

to grow in a large number of these mice. The study asked whether a walnut-enriched diet versus a non-walnut diet would be associated with reduced cancer formation. A previous study found this to be true for breast cancer. Three of 16 mice (18 percent) eating the walnut-enriched diet developed prostate tumors, compared with 14 of 32 mice (44 percent) on the non-walnut control diet. Also of note, the final average tumor size in the walnut-fed animals was roughly For more visit: Walnut

s.org

WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

one-fourth the average size of the prostate tumors that developed in the mice eating the control diet." Further research will be need to confirm these results on humans. This research has resulted in over 383 million impressions to date in domestic and overseas markets.

The Journal of the American College of Nutrition published Effects of walnuts on endothelial function in overweight adults with at least one factor of metabolic syndrome. Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale Griffin Preventive Research Center and the principal investigator of the study found convincing evidence that consuming walnuts may help protect against heart disease. His group studied the effects of consuming two ounces of walnuts per day over eight weeks and found a significant improvement in blood vessel function (endothelial function) among adults who were overweight and at risk for developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Please note, due to the homogeneity of the participants, the findings cannot be generalized to the general consumer. This study built upon existing walnut research by Dr. Katz in the area of heart disease and diabetes, and coverage to date has resulted in over 330 million impressions.

HEalTHCORPs sTuDEnT finDs suCCEss wiTH CalifORnia walnuT bOaRD sCHOlaRsHiP

nEw wEbinaR wiTH THE amERiCan insTiTuTE fOR CanCER REsEaRCH In addition to co-funding research projects, the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the California Walnut Commission are partnering on a new webinar that aired live on October 29. The webinar, titled "Eating Patterns to Lower Cancer Risk: More than One Route to a Plant-Based Diet," was presented by Karen Collins, MS, RDN, CDN and Sharon Palmer, RDN. Registered dietitians and dietetic technicians, registered will receive free continuing education credit. The webinar explored several different dietary patterns: the research behind them and ways that they can be used or adapted to make it easier for people to find a diet to lower cancer risk that works for them as a long-term healthy lifestyle. Following the air date, this webinar will be available on demand on AICR's website at www.aicr.org.

The California Walnut Board has partnered with America's favorite Doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife Lisa's foundation HealthCorps since 2009 to support nutrition education for high school students in the State of California. Last year, the Board decided to reach schools across the country and offer a culinary scholarship to one of the students in the HealthCorps program who best fit the qualification criteria. In June of 2012, the California Walnut Board awarded a culinary scholarship to attend The International Culinary Center (formerly the French Culinary Institute) to student Ariel Martinez from Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey.

On September 24, the California Walnut Board hosted a media event in collaboration with HealthCorps® and its co-founder Lisa Oz, and The International Culinary Center. The event was a Healthy Breakfast Competition at Cliffside Park High School that celebrated the achievements of Ariel Martinez, a recent graduate and recipient of the California Walnuts Culinary Scholarship. Ariel has now graduated from the prestigious International Culinary Center (ICC) in New York where she completed the Classic Culinary Arts plus Farm-to-Table curriculum, and she is now working at a local resort and fulfilling her dream of improving food service menus. This breakfast event, featuring two teams of students from Cliffside’s advanced culinary program, was to introduce current students to the importance of a nutritious breakfast and the fun of cooking. Lisa Oz moderated the competition in which Ariel Martinez led one team and competed against another team led by her ICC Chef-Instructor. The teams’ recipes included a Walnut Stuffed French toast and a Fig and Walnut Filled Crepe. In addition to approximately 100 students in the audience, media attended and covered the event.

Scholarship Winner Ariel Martinez works with her team of students.

Jennifer Olmstead, Ariel Martinez, and Lisa Oz

November 2013 | The Cracker

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WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

INTERNATIONAL MARkETING UPDATE nEw aDVERTisinG CamPaiGns launCHinG in sPain anD sOuTH KOREa The CWC began a new advertising campaign in Spain designed to highlight the versatility of walnuts. The campaign will run in local supermarkets with advertising wrapping in-store security alarms, ads on shopping carts, and in-store banners as well as on key sites online. The ad creative shows different ways to use walnuts in a variety of recipes such as salads, entrées, and desserts, with the headline “OH! Discover the difference” on a gingham background, evoking the idea of a fresh meal idea that is unique and exceptional.

In South Korea the CWC developed an ad campaign which focuses on making the right and healthy choice for the ones you love. Two different ads with this same theme target the primary shopper in the family, mom, and the second targets young single adults. The campaign shows pictures either posted on the refrigerator or in picture frames of various family members with the message that choosing the very best means choosing California walnuts.

The campaign will be running on bus billboards, subway train door screens, bus shelters, and in select print magazines. Additionally the ads will be featured in the Busan subway station and the Busan baseball stadium.

EERILY DELICIOUS:

GERman fall CamPaiGn Just in time with the upcoming fall season, the CWC will be running two online campaigns in Germany focusing on pumpkin and Halloween recipes. In order to make Halloween a yummy event for the whole family, this campaign will promote spooky walnut recipes that are great to prepare (and of course also to enjoy) together with kids. Lovers of the autumn cuisine may be exited about our eerily tasty recipes with pumpkin and California walnuts. Classic or creative – the respective landing pages provide recipes for every taste – and of course also perfectly fitting for Halloween. The ads will be placed on relevant premium websites like woman.brigitte.de, Essen-und-trinken.de, and eltern.de, as well as in the Google Adwords search and display network.

CalifORnia walnuTs PREsEnCE in THE CHinEsE DiGiTal lanDsCaPE In May of 2013 the California Walnut Commission began an active campaign on China’s top social media site, Weibo. CWC followers have grown from 545 to over 44,000, an increase of over 7,900%. The result was achieved by continuous daily engagement, 2 successful campaigns launched in Summer and Fall (California Walnut Recipe Campaigns), and connecting with key influencers on Weibo, such as bakers, bloggers, and media reporters.So far, the CWC has earned more than 3 million exposures, 55,000 comments and 120,000 re-tweets from users.

Apart from campaigns that align with California Walnut recipes, 3 Weibo mini programs (#California Walnut is Coming#, #California Walnuts Origin Education# and #California Walnuts Benefit Education#) were designed to encourage more user interactions and sharing. Multi-media and interactive content such as info-graphics, videos, gif, voting polls etc. were developed to introduce California Walnuts to the Chinese audience along the way. These communication efforts have generated positive feedback and resulted in more active user sharing on the platform.

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WORLD INDUSTRY NEWS

CalifORnia walnuT COmmissiOn GiVEs DR. ROs a DisTinGuisHED sERViCE awaRD

Dennis Balint (left) and Jack Mariani (right) award Dr. Ros (center) with a distinguished service award

Dr. Emilio Ros, Director of the Lipid Clinic, Endocrinology & Nutrition Service at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, received the Distinguished Service Award for his work on the landmark PREDIMED project, a long-term nutritional intervention study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The award was presented at the Scientific Advisory Council Meeting.

Dr. Ros has been instrumental in the success of the California Walnut Commission health research program. In addition to the PREDMIED study Ros has published numerous papers studies on the effects of walnut consumption and the promotion of health as well as review papers on walnuts as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Congratulations Dr. Ros for an award well deserved!

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TOMRA Sorting NV. ........................84

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BRAzIL

Incus Technology S.L.....................74

BELGIUM

Caiba IND. E COM. S/A...................13 Pistachio Meats

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CHILE Exportadora Anakena LTDA. .........14

THE NEXT publications schedule for the cracker WILL BE...

March 2014 • JulY 2014

Swiss Gourmet AG ................................ 10

Prunesco. .......................................80

TURkEY

CHINA

Hazelnut Promotion Group.............2

Sino Jet International .....................1

Uk

FRANCE

Bühler Sortex Ltd...........................24

Eurobroker .....................................15

Kenkko Commodities PLC. ............21

Somercom ........................................8

Toximet LTD. ..................................75

GERMANY

USA

Eurofins .........................................93

Borrell ............................................83

Palm Nuts & More KG....................49

Cablevey Conveyors .......................85 Campos Brothers Farms ................37

Cablevey is a registered trademark of Intraco, Inc. 06/2013

TO ALL INC MEMBERS, ADvERTISERS AND SUBSCRIBERS:

Joan Escoda S.A..............................11

ITALY

Chico Nut Company.......................91

Connect S.R.L.................................77

Crain Walnut Shelling, INC. ..........18

V. Besana S.P.A................................73

Fisher Nut Company ......................16

jAPAN

Grower Direct .................................22

Tanto Corporation .........................29

Harrell Nut Company... ..................30 Heat and Control, INC... ..................9

MEXICO Grupo Premier de Occidente SA ....77

Hilltop Ranch, INC................25 & 38 Hughson Nut, INC. .........................12

MOROCCO

Key Technology ..............................50

Santis S.A.R.L. ...............................20

Primex INTL.......... Back Outside Cover

SPAIN

Satake USA, INC. ..Front Inside Cover

Borges S.A.......................................89

Setton INTL Foods ..... Inside Back Cover

Crisol de Frutos Secos, SAT ............67

The Green Valley Pecan CO. ......26 & 27

Frutos Secos Ramon Llop. .............17

VICAM, A Waters Business ................7 Young Pecan Company..................79

Detailed information will be sent and posted to our website: www.nutfruit.org November 2013 | The Cracker

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INC WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

Chaired by Prof. Jordi Salas-Salvad贸

NUTS REDUCE THE RISK OF MORTALITY IN INDIVIDUALS AT HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: LAST RESULTS OF THE PREDIMED STUDY JORDI SALAS-SALVAD贸 AND MARTA GUASCH-FERR茅 HUMAN NUTRITION UNIT, FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES, ROVIRA I VIRGILI UNIVERSITY, REUS, SPAIN.

Nuts are an important component of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, minerals (potassium, calcium and magnesium), vitamins (folate and tocopherols) and other bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols and polyphenols (1, 2). The healthy benefits of nuts have been attributed to their unique nutritional composition.

Previous studies have suggested that frequent nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of several cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and also cardiovascular disease (3). A small protective effect on all-cause and cancer mortality has been suggested, however the beneficial effect might be more robust in Mediterranean regions, where nut consumption per person is relatively high compared to other countries.

The main aim of the PREDIMED study, which included 7,447 elderly men and women at high cardiovascular risk, was to test the efficacy of two Mediterranean diets (one supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and another with nuts: walnuts, almonds and

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hazelnuts), as compared to a control diet (advice on a low-fat diet), on primary cardiovascular prevention; the results have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and have shown lower risk of stroke (in the nut supplemented group) and a 30% relative risk reduction in major cardiovascular events in those individuals following a Mediterranean Diet enriched with either olive oil or nuts compared to the control group (4). Furthermore, a recent study conducted by our Human Nutrition Research Unit in the framework of the PREDIMED Study has been published in BMC Medicine.

In this manuscript our aims were only to assess the association between baseline consumption of nuts (that is, the consumption of nuts previous to starting the intervention) and total mortality, cardiovascular and cancer mortality (instead of cardiovascular events). We have additionally included the repeated measurements for the consumption of nuts during follow-up as another exposure, regardless of the allocated arm of the trial; this is in contrast with the original PREDIMED study, which used an intention-to-treat analysis.

In our longitudinal cohort study of individuals at high cardiovascular risk from the PREDIMED Study, THE FREqUENCY OF NUT CONSUMPTION WAS INVERSELY RELATED TO

INC WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

TOTAL MORTALITY (ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY) after 4.8 years of follow-up (5).

Although our findings are in agreement with previous epidemiologic studies relating nuts, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and we have hypothesized that there will be a significant effect of nuts on mortality, we have been surprised that THE INVERSE ASSOCIATIONS bETWEEN NUTS, CARDIOVASCULAR, CANCER AND ALL-CAUSE MORTALITY WERE SO STRONG. The reduction in total mortality for those participants consuming more than 3 servings of nuts per week were of 39%, and also a 55% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality was shown compared to those who never consumed nuts. In our study, 28 grams of nuts were considered one serving. The results on cancer mortality (showing 40% reduction in cancer death for those who consume >3 servings per week) were relatively new as few studies have evaluated this associations before. We have also observed that relative risk reductions were similar for the upper baseline category of nonwalnut nuts (34%) or walnut consumption (45%), and when we evaluated the repeated measurements of total nut consumption and all-cause mortality over time (32%). Those subjects consuming more nuts at baseline and allocated to the intervention with a MedDiet supplemented with nuts showed a significantly reduced risk of total mortality of 63%. As we have observed that consuming more than 84 grams of nuts per week are beneficial in preventing mortality; it must be pointed that previous studies have also shown that consuming higher amounts of nuts do not lead to an increase in body weight, increased risk of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases (6).

The healthy nutritional profile and the unique composition of nuts may account for the inverse associations observed between nuts, chronic disease and mortality. Nuts are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, fiber, minerals, vitamins and many bioactive compounds

(1, 2); all these nutrients are beneficial for health and may partly explain its effects on cardiovascular disease and mortality. The frequency of nut consumption has been inversely related to several chronic prevalent conditions, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and CHD, among others (3, 7). These inverse associations can be influenced by various mechanisms; nuts improve the blood lipid profile and appear to decrease insulin resistance, and there is also evidence suggesting that they can modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function (8). As a large body of evidence supports the beneficial effects of frequent nut consumption on many health outcomes, it is plausible that nuts protect as well against all-cause mortality. A possible explanation that may account for the inverse relationship between walnuts and cancer mortality could be that walnuts were richer in free and total polyphenols than all the other nuts. As walnuts are usually consumed raw, and roasting can cause a decline in the efficacy in the antioxidant capacity, it has been shown that raw walnuts, as consumed in the PREDIMED study, had the highest antioxidant efficacy among all the nuts (9); this could play a beneficial role in the prevention of cancer.

Our study provides further evidence of the inverse relationship between the frequency of nut consumption and the risk of mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk with relatively high nut intake. The message that could be given based on our findings is mainly that the consumption of more than 3 servings per week (1 serving = 28 grams of nuts) is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular and cancer mortality and also all-cause mortality in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk. Even though the scientific evidence regarding this issue is consistent, further research would be helpful for understanding better the mechanisms by which nuts exert protective effects.

1. Salas-Salvado J, Bullo M, Perez-Heras A, Ros E: Dietary fibre, nuts and cardiovascular diseases. Br J Nutr 2006, 96:S46-S51.

2. Ros E, Tapsell LC, Sabate J: Nuts and berries for heart health. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2010, 12:397-406.

3. Ros E: Health benefits of nut consumption. Nutrients 2010, 2:652-682.

4. Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvado J, et al.: PREDIMED Study Investigators: primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet. N Engl J Med 2013, 368:1279-1290.

5. Guasch-Ferre M, Bullo M, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, et al.: Frequency of nut consumption and mortality risk in the PREDIMED nutrition intervention trial. BMC Med. 2013 Jul 16;11:164.

6. Sabate J, Ang Y: Nuts and health outcomes: new epidemiologic evidence. Am J Clin Nutr 2009, 89:1643S-1648S. 7. Salas-Salvado J, Fernandez-Ballart J, Ros E, et al.: PREDIMED Study Investigators: effect of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts on metabolic syndrome status: one-year results of the PREDIMED randomized trial. Arch Intern Med 2008, 168:2449-2458.

8. Sabate J, Oda K, Ros E: Nut consumption and blood lipid levels: a pooled analysis of 25 intervention trials. Arch Intern Med 2010, 170:821-827.

9. Vinson JA, Cai Y: Nuts, especially walnuts, have both antioxidant quantity and efficacy and exhibit significant potential health benefits. Food Funct 2012, 3:134-140.

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INC WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

NUTS FEATURED IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION The INC hosted the symposium “Nuts in Health and Disease” on Thursday, September 19 at the 20th International Congress of Nutrition in Granada, Spain. The session welcomed over 200 health professionals from around the globe who learnt what has happened with regard to nut research over the last years.

The International Congress of Nutrition is a meeting which is organized every four year by the International Union of Nutritional Science (IUNS), the federation of national nutritional societies. This symposium marked the second INC-IUNS educational collaboration, following the First World Forum for Nutrition Research Conference in May. THE INC SESSION bROUGHT TOGETHER GLObAL ExPERTISE AND INSIGHT ON NUTS IN RELATION TO CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH, bODY WEIGHT, CHRONIC DISEASES AND METAbOLIC SYNDROME. Chairing the session were

Prof. Miguel A. Martínez-González, University of Navarra, Spain, and Prof.

Jordi Salas-Salvadó, University Hospital of Sant Joan, Pere Virgili Institute for Health Research, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain.

In opening the symposium, guest speaker Dr. Mònica Bulló from Rovira i Virgili University, Spain pointed out how nuts may exert a protective effect on insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Dr. Bulló reviewed large-prospective studies and clinical trials that have examined the association between nut consumption and the risk of T2DM. Dr. Joan Sabaté, School of Public Health at Loma Linda University, California listed published studies on nut intake and body weight.

Currently, the available data do not indicate that free-living people on self-

selected diets including the frequent consumption of nuts have a higher body mass index (BMI) or a tendency towards weight gain. Dr. Sabaté outlined that randomized trials are needed to evaluate the effects of nut consumption on energy balance and changes in BMI. From Harvard’s School of Public Health, Prof. Frank Hu presented a review of epidemiologic studies on nuts and chronic diseases. Several prospective cohort studies have found an inverse association between nut consumption and risk coronary heart disease. In addition, higher nut consumption has been associated to a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and lower weight gain. Recent analyses from large cohort studies have found that regular consumption of nuts including peanuts and tree nuts is associated with decreased total and cause-specific mortality.

Finally, Dr. Linda Tapsell from University of Wollongong, Australia, talked about the metabolic syndrome, a condition involving a cluster of risk factors associated with diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Consumption of tree nuts has not been associated with weight gain, but has been associated with improvements in blood lipids. Importantly, they have been shown to be an integral part of dietary patterns associated with a favorable impact on metabolic syndrome and the associated disease end points.

The event provided the opportunity to spread the benefits of nuts to the biggest group of nutrition professionals. Prof. Salas-Salvadó echoed the sentiment of participants by stating, “THIS MEETING WAS AN

ExCELLENT FORUM FOR THE ExCHANGE OF SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT AND OPINION TO bROADEN MINDS AND IDEAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH IN NUTS”.

IN ADDITION, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED ONE FREE UNIT OF THE SUPPLEMENT “HEALTH & NUTS” AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE NUTS AND DRIED FRUITS AT THE AFTER SESSION COCKTAIL.

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INC WORLD FORUM FOR NUTRITION RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

OPEN CALL FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS The INC is making available grant funding for research projects commencing in 2014. INC’s Call for research proposals aims to promote scientific research that may contribute to enhance the understanding of the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits.

200,000 EUR IS AVAILAbLE FOR THE 2014 RESEARCH GRANT.

INC has a specific wish for cooperative projects that bridge different research areas, as the interaction of disciplines and research groups often lead to new knowledge and understanding of correlations. The Call will prioritize studies conducted with more than one type of nut or dried fruit.

The Call also encourages cooperative research implying INC associate members. Proposals are welcomed from public and private institutions, as well as not-for-profit organizations.

2014 RESEARCH PRIORITIES:

1. Nuts and/or dried fruits and cognitive function 2. Nuts and/or dried fruits and body weight and adipose tissue distribution 3. Nuts and/or dried fruits and glycemic load 4. Nuts and/or dried fruits in exercise performance 5. Intervention trials on relevant clinical end points 6. Meta-analysis of clinical trials 7. Nuts and/or dried fruits as part of a healthy diet All fund requests must be submitted using the application form available at http://www.nutfruit.org/en/research-grants_66869. Applications due by: 31 January 2014.

Proposals presented under the Call will be evaluated by the INC World Forum for Nutrition and Research Dissemination, consisting of eminent experts from the fields of nuts and dried fruits consumption, health and nutrition.

HEALTH & NUTS MAGAZINE HEALTH & NUTS IS THE NEW INC’S MAGAZINE FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, NUTRITIONISTS, DIETICIANS AND CAREGIVERS THAT FOCUSES ON THE ROLE OF NUTS IN THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES AND CHRONIC DISEASES. The INC works to spread the health benefits of nuts and dried fruits. For this, the association publishes informative handouts, leaflets and other materials on various topics linked to Health and Nutrition. The information is provided by scientific studies published in prestigious medical journals.

The issue number 1 of the magazine Health & Nuts incorporates the latest scientific data and advices from the landmark study PREDIMED -published in the February issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The spotlight of the publication Health & Nuts is the prevention and disease management through the consumption of nuts in a typical Mediterranean Diet.

The contents are presented in several sections. The chapters “About PREDIMED Study”, “Other PREDIMED Study Findings” and “Resources for Health Professionals” provide up-to-date information and outcomes from the PREDIMED as regards cardiovascular diseases, oxidation, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, atherosclerosis, mortality risk, cognitive function, renal functions and inflammatory markers. This is followed by a set of key messages and guidelines designed to spread the health message among patients. The final section provides additional information of interest to consumers, as well as ideas and tips to incorporate nuts in the diet.

You can download the magazine at http://www.nutfruit.org/predimed-brohure_76581.pdf

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COPIES OF THE MAGAZINE ARE AVAILAbLE AT NO COST FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, WITH THE AIM TO SPREAD THE HEALTH MESSAGE, AND HELP TO STAY UPDATED ON THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC NEWS.

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NEWS FROM THE NUTRITION RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

By Maureen Ternus, M.S., R.D. INC NREF

By Maureen Ternus, Executive Director M.S., R.D. INC NREF Executive Director In 2015 an updated version of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be released. Over the next year or so INC NREF will be submitting to the

Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, both oral and written comments regarding the health benefits of tree nuts. Both sets of comments will focus on several areas of research including cardio-metabolic health, which includes research on nuts and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (a name for a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes) and weight and satiety. In addition, INC NREF will be focusing on the need to increase overall consumption of nuts and the use of nuts as a healthy snack.

inC nREf VERbal COmmEnTs fOR THE 2015 u.s. DiETaRy GuiDElinEs aDVisORy COmmiTTEE: “While the FDA qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease recommends 1.5 ounces of nuts per day, few people actually consume this amount on a daily basis. Moreover, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ 2,000 calorie food pattern recommends only four ounces of nuts, seeds and soy products per week—well below the health claim amount. Clearly, Americans need to increase their consumption.

Since 2010, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of studies showing the positive impact of nuts on cardio-metabolic health and on weight and satiety. Over 32 research articles have shown that mixed nuts can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome: • In a pooled analysis of 25 intervention trials, those who consumed ~2 ounces of nuts per day saw a 5% decrease in total cholesterol, nearly 7½% decrease in LDL cholesterol and an 8% decrease in the LDL/HDL ratio. The effects of nut consumption were dose related and different types of nuts had similar effects on blood lipid levels.

With regard to weight and satiety, more than 11 epidemiological and clinical mixed-nut studies published since 2010 have shown that nut consumption is not associated with higher body weight.

In fact, in a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) analysis nut consumers had lower body mass indices (BMIs) than non-nut consumers. Moreover, a meta-analysis published earlier this year, looked at 33 clinical trials and the pooled results showed that nut-rich diets compared with different control diets do not increase body weight, BMI or waist circumference.

Potential reasons? (1) Satiety value of nuts; (2) incomplete fat absorption; and (3) new research has shown that some nuts, if not all, are actually less caloric than originally thought.

• In a recent meta-analysis on nuts and diabetes, researchers examined 18 randomized controlled feeding trials and found that diets containing ~ two ounces of tree nuts per day, for an average of 12 weeks, significantly improved fasting insulin levels compared with isocaloric control diets.

When it comes to the role of nuts in the diet, approximately 60% of the nuts consumed are as snacks. According to the 2007-2008 What We Eat in America/NHANES survey, snacks provide about 25% of daily calories. If we could replace snacks high in refined carbohydrates with just 1/4 to 1/2 cup of nuts per day we could have a positive impact on the nutrient density of the diet.

• In a study looking at Seventh Day Adventists, just one ounce of tree nuts per week was significantly associated with 7% less metabolic syndrome.

Finally, the organizations represented by INC NREF are committed to supporting sustainability programs that include Good Agricultural Practices on the farm. Planting an orchard is a long term endeavor and management of resources is key to the successful production of nuts.”

Meanwhile, INC NREF continues to disseminate tree nut research and educational materials to various health professional groups. Recently, INC NREF exhibited at national meetings of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Both groups were very receptive to the materials and many of the attendees stated that they regularly recommend consumption of nuts to their patients.

In the next two years 11 INC NREF-funded research projects will be completed and publicity efforts will focus on publicizing new research findings on nuts and cancer, consumption, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. All of this research should help further promote the overall health benefits of tree nuts.

For more information on any INC NREF project please contact Maureen Ternus at maureen.ternus@gmail.com.

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GUT FLORA IMPLICATED IN METABOLIC DISORDERS There is a distinct link between the composition of gut bacteria and incidence of obesity related conditions including heart disease and diabetes, according to new data from the MetaHIT project. The new findings, published in Nature, find a link between the ‘richness’ of bacterial species in the gut and susceptibility to metabolic complications related to obesity.

Led by Professor Jeroen Raes from VIB, the Netherlands, the MetaHIT team demonstrated that people with fewer bacterial species in their intestines are more likely to develop complications, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Such flora, with decreased bacterial richness, appear to function entirely differently to the healthy varieties that have greater diversity, said the team.

The team found that the group with lower species richness in the intestinal flora was more susceptible to developing obesity-related conditions and chronic inflammation – with the obese people in this group are more at risk of cardiovascular conditions than the obese people in the group with a higher diversity of gut bacteria.

Eurofins_Anzeige_TheCracker_Trampe_version2.1 Dienstag, 20. April 2010 16:16:32

Over the past five years the EU-funded MetaHIT project has advanced DNA analysis and bioinformatics methods to map the human intestinal bacteria. The team previously showed that gut flora comes in three distinct types known as enterotypes, and that these enterotypes are linked to diet .

Now, a genetic analysis of intestinal bacteria from 292 Danish people shows that around a quarter of those tested had a lower ‘richness’ of gut bacteria – with around 40% less gut bacteria genes and correspondingly fewer bacteria than average. The team said that this lack of bacteria also seems to lead to a preponderance of bacteria which have potential to cause mild inflammation in the digestive tract and in the entire body, and that this is reflected in blood samples that reveal a state of chronic inflammation.

This low level chronic inflammation is known to affect metabolism and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, said the team. Professor Oluf Pedersen from the University of Copenhagen, co-author of the study, noted that the team also found that people who belong to the group with less intestinal bacteria, and have already developed obesity, will also gain more weight over a number of years.

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NUTRITION RESEARCH UPDATE

NEW EvIDENCE FINDS SNACkING ON ALMONDS DECREASES APPETITE, IMPROvES NUTRIENT INTAkE STUDY ALSO FOUND EATING 43 GRAMS OF ALMONDS DAILY HAD NO EFFECT ON BODY WEIGHT

A new study published in the October issue of the European journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants who consumed a 43-gram serving of dry-roasted, lightly salted almonds every day for 4 weeks, either as a snack or as part of a meal, experienced improvements in dietary intakes of monounsaturated (“good�) fat and vitamin E, which contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, compared to subjects who did not consume almonds.

This is a notable finding, particularly since vitamin E intakes were below the recommended level in several of the groups at the start of the study. Better still, at the end of the 4-week study, caloric intakes and body weights in participants who consumed almonds remained similar to those in control subjects who did not consume almonds, suggesting that subjects compensated for the energy provided by the almonds.

The researchers also found that, during an 8-hour feeding study, there were significantly greater reductions in the daylong ratings of hunger and desire to eat in subjects who consumed almonds either as a snack (mid-morning + mid-afternoon snack groups, combined) or as part of a meal (breakfast + lunch groups, combined) relative to control subjects who consumed no almonds, with more pronounced effects when almonds were consumed as a snack as opposed to as part of a meal.

Since snacking has become more common behavior in the UK, where the snack foods market is expected to grow by a huge 30.5% in the next five years, it is important to identify snacks that pose little risk for weight gain while providing health benefits. Snacking, in general, has been reported to increase the risk for weight gain; however, this broad generalization may mask different responses to select foods.

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The 4-week randomised, controlled clinical study (with an 8-hour feeding study component) was led by Dr. Richard Mattes and Dr. SzeYen Tan at Purdue University in the US, represent the most recent investigations of the effects of almond consumption on body weight and appetite. This new research joins another European study that was conducted last year which found that including almonds in the diet as a snack may improve nutrient intake without increasing calorie intake.

The Mattes/Tan study included 137 adult participants at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. At study entry, participants were randomly allocated to 1 of 5 groups: a control group that avoided all nuts and seeds, or 1 of 4 almond groups in which 43 grams of almonds were consumed either with breakfast, with lunch, as a mid-morning snack, or as a mid-afternoon snack. The participants took part in an 8-hour feeding study, as well as a 4-week feeding study. On the day of the 8-hour feeding study, all of the subjects were administered a standardized breakfast and lunch. The control group consumed no almonds and had no snacks. The remaining almond groups consumed their 43 grams of almonds at their designated time. For subjects consuming the almonds as a snack, the time of consumption was approximately two hours after their last meal and 2 hours before their next meal.

NUTRITION RESEARCH UPDATE Although meals and snacks were standardised during the 8-hour feeding study, during the 4-week feeding study, participants were not given any other dietary instructions other than to follow their usual eating patterns and maintain their usual level of physical activity.

Despite consuming approximately 250 calories from almonds every day for 4 weeks, participants did not increase their daily total calorie intake over the course of the study. In fact, in total, study participants consumed nearly 7,000 calories from the daily almond serving over the study period of 4 weeks and did not gain weight.

“This research suggests that almonds may be a good snack option, especially for those concerned about weight,” says Richard Mattes, PhD, MPH, RD, distinguished professor of nutrition science at Purdue University and the study’s principal investigator. “In this study participants compensated for the additional energy provided by the almonds so daily energy intake did not rise and they reported reduced hunger levels and desire to eat, particularly when almonds were consumed as a snack.”

This study demonstrates that almonds can be consumed with main meals or as snacks without increasing daily caloric intake or body

weight, which supports the findings of a recently published metaanalysis. The benefits of almonds in increasing satiety have been demonstrated in both normal weight and overweight subjects.

Further, a recent digestibility study found that almonds contain 20% fewer absorbable calories than what was previously thought.

According to these new study results, the consumption of almonds either as a snack or as part of a meal resulted in a significant reduction in the daylong ratings of hunger and desire to eat relative to the consumption of no almonds. Over the 4-week period, almonds, consumed either as a snack or as part of a meal, did not result in increased caloric intake or body weight relative to the control group that did not consume almonds. Almonds are nutritionally dense, and their consumption over a 4-week period resulted in significant improvements in the intakes of vitamin E and monounsaturated fat.

Almonds can be incorporated strategically in a diet plan, either as a snack or as part of a meal, to decrease hunger and desire to eat. The convenience of almonds makes them an easy snack to pack-and-go for an extra nutritional punch.

sTuDy aT a GlanCE 24-hour dietary recalls; physical activity, personality and eating behaviour questionnaires; and appetite sensation ratings (i.e., hunger, fullness, and desire to eat) using visual analog scales.

THE STUDY: •

The study was conducted to determine the effects of almonds eaten at a meal or as a snack on glycaemic control, appetite, and body weight and composition. In total, 150 adults at increased risk of type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups: •

a control group that did not consume nuts or seeds;

•

two meal groups that consumed 43 grams of whole almonds at breakfast or lunch; and

•

two snack groups that consumed 43 grams of whole almonds as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.

•

The same study subjects participated in two, identical 8-hour feeding studies (conducted at baseline and at the end of the 4-week study) as well as a 4-week feeding study.

•

Each 8-hour feeding study involved consecutive blood samplings after the ingestion, by fasted subjects, of standardised breakfast and lunch meals, as well as the consumption of either no almonds (control) or 43 g of almonds, consumed in accordance with the designated time to which the subjects had been assigned (breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, or mid-afternoon).

•

During the 4-week study, subjects were instructed to consume either no almonds (control) or their daily 43-gram serving of almonds, in accordance with the designated time to which the subjects had been assigned (breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, or mid-afternoon). The subjects were instructed to follow their usual eating patterns and maintain their usual level of physical activity.

Measurements throughout the 4-week study included body weight; body mass index; body fat; waist circumference; blood pressure;

THE RESULTS: •

Of the 150 randomised subjects, 137 (48 men and 89 women) completed the study.

•

In the 8-hour feeding study:

•

•

Compared to the control group that did not eat a snack, eating almonds as a mid-morning snack significantly decreased hunger and the desire to eat 1 hour later.

•

When daylong (i.e., area-under-the-curve) ratings were calculated, ratings of hunger and desire to eat were significantly reduced in the combined (mid-morning + mid-afternoon) snack groups and the combined (breakfast + lunch) meal groups relative to the control group, with the most pronounced reductions observed in the combined snack groups.

In the 4-week study: •

Compared to baseline levels and the control group, monounsaturated fat and vitamin E intakes were significantly increased in all almond groups.

•

Despite the daily consumption of 250 calories from the 43gram serving of almonds for 4 weeks, neither daily caloric intake nor body weight increased among participants, findings which may be attributed to spontaneous energy compensation.

THE CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that 43 grams of almonds, when consumed daily as a snack or with a meal, helped participants meet the recommended dietary intake for vitamin E, all without affecting caloric intake or body weight. In addition, compared to eating no snack, eating almonds as a mid-morning snack significantly curbed hunger and desire to eat an hour later. Eating almonds as a snack or as part of a meal reduced both daylong ratings of hunger and desire to eat, relative to not eating almonds, with more pronounced reductions after eating almonds as a snack. These findings suggest that almonds make a great nutritional addition to any diet, whether consumed as a snack or as part of a meal.

To learn more about incorporating almonds into a healthy eating plan, please visit www.AlmondBoard.co.uk.

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NUTRITION RESEARCH UPDATE

HAzELNUTS IMPROvE DIET WITHOUT WEIGHT GAIN According to research results in the journal of Nutrition, 12 June, 2013 issue the first randomized controlled trial specifically designed to assess the effects of varying doses of nuts on inflammatory markers reveals that consuming hazelnuts significantly improved blood lipid profiles and cell adhesion molecules compared with baseline, although these changes were not significantly different from the changes in the participants who consumed the control diet. Because weight gain is often cited as a barrier to nut consumption, it is important to note that there was no evidence that hazelnut consumption (up to 60 g/d) adversely affected body composition. In addition, consuming a serving of nuts (30 g/d) on a regular basis was found to be a sustainable behavior, whereas 60 g/d of nuts resulted in monotony.

Previous studies investigating the effects of nut consumption on inflammatory markers have reported mixed results, with 4 studies showing a significantly lower CRP after a nut-enriched diet, whereas another 9 studies showed no significant differences between a nutenriched diet and baseline or a comparison diet. The researchers stressed that “it is important to note that of the 6 studies that have shown improvements in these biomarkers, 4 were tightly controlled metabolic feeding trials and 2 modified the background diet.

Participants in these 6 studies consumed a nut-enriched diet that was low in SFAs (5–10%), while high in MUFAs (12–20%) and PUFAs (7–16%).

In addition, recent studies suggest that dietary intervention concomitant with energy restriction or weight loss may be necessary in order to improve obesity-related inflammatory markers. It appears the simple inclusion of MUFA-rich nuts into the usual diet, without any other dietary advice under free-living conditions, is not sufficient to improve these markers in weight-stable overweight and obese individuals.

The absence of a beneficial effect on blood lipids and lipoproteins with regular nut consumption in the present study could be explained by several factors. First, the magnitude of cholesterol reduction appears to be dependent on the baseline concentrations, with the majority of the studies showing cholesterol- lowering effects being carried out in hyper-cholesterolemic participants. Second, studies conducted in normocholesterolemic participants showed that improvements in blood lipid profiles with diets enriched in nuts were only apparent when dietary MUFAs from nuts were used to replace SFAs . Third, recent evidence suggests that insulin-resistant overweight and obese people are less responsive to cholesterol-lowering dietary treatments, possibly due to reduced intestinal cholesterol absorption, elevated endogenous cholesterol synthesis, and decreased LDL-C receptors.

Hazelnuts are a rich source of a-tocopherol. However, the present study showed no significant differences in plasma a-tocopherol concentrations among the groups. Previous research suggests that it is more appropriate to report a-tocopherol adjusted for cholesterol concentration (50). Indeed our study showed a pattern of increasing a-tocopherol: LDL-C ratio with increasing nut dose (control, 30 g/d, and 60 g/d).

There were no significant between-group differences in the changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the non-hypertensive overweight and obese population. An epidemiologic study reported an inverse association between nut consumption and risk of hypertension only in lean individuals (51), and most of the smaller randomized controlled trials showed no apparent effect of nut consumption on blood pressure.

The present study found that a reported 600-kJ/d increase in energy intake with the hazelnut-enriched diets over 12 wk did not adversely

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affect body weight. The predicted weight gain with the addition of 30 and 60 g/d of hazelnuts to the diet over 12 wk without making any dietary compensation was calculated to be 2.05 and 4.10 kg, respectively. This study showed no significant weight change for both nut groups over the study period. In line with this finding, 2 previous studies reported that an increment of 557 to 663 kJ/d of energy from nuts over a 3- to 6-mo period had minimal influence on participants' body weight (up to +0.4 kg only).

One explanation could be the high dietary fiber and protein content of nuts, which results in dietary compensation. In addition, recent studies suggest that the metabolizable energy from nuts is 9 to 32% lower than that calculated by using Atwater factors. Furthermore, it should be noted that despite the use of the ‘‘gold standard’’ method for dietary assessment, i.e., weighed diet records, there are inherent limitations in dietary assessment, which may result in reported energy intakes that differ from actual intakes. Overall, the evidence shows that the addition of nuts to the usual diet does not promote weight gain.

Previous research reported that nut consumers had improved diet quality compared with non–nut consumers. This study confirms that nut consumption enhances diet quality in a dose- response fashion. Although effects were more pronounced with higher intakes, the behavioral and practicality of consuming such amounts need to be examined. The present study showed that 12-wk consumption of 30 g/d of hazelnuts did not influence participants' desire and liking, whereas 60 g/d of hazelnuts led to a significant decrease in both indices over time.

The strengths of the current study include its robust study design, a sufficient sample size to detect effect sizes of interest, a long intervention period, and measurements of a wide range of biochemical indices. A novel aspect of this study was the evaluation of the acceptability of different doses of nuts over the long term. However, this study was not without limitations. One limitation is that the study relied on self-reported compliance.

Nevertheless, this was in agreement with the increase in a-tocopherol: LDL-C ratio after nut consumption.

In the present study, the lack of improvement in biochemical indices with regular nut consumption could be due to the overall good clinical status of the participants.