April 2008 Crop Progress Report
| U.S. hard red spring wheat planting is ahead of last year and near the five-year average. Twenty percent of the total U.S. crop has been planted, compared to 12 percent last year and the five-year average of 23 percent.
The most progress has been made in South Dakota where 34 percent of the crop has been planted, followed by Montana at 28 percent, North Dakota at 15 percent and Minnesota at only 2 percent. Warm, dry conditions throughout the region kept producers in the fields and allowed good planting progress. No major planting delays have occurred, except in some eastern portions of the region where producers are still waiting for fields to dry out. (View rest of story) | |
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" The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."
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Health magazine's Top 10 healthiest chain restaurants
- Uno Chicago Grill
- Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes
- Mimi's Cafe
- P.F. Chang's China Bistro
- Bob Evans Restaurants
- Ruby Tuesday
- Romano's Macaroni Grill
- Chevys Fresh Mex
- Olive Garden
- Denny's
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Dates:
May 17 - 20 - NRA Show 2008, the world's largest foodservice & hospitality event.
McCormick Place -Chicago.
The NRA Show 2008 site.
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Commodity update
(Source - Milling & Baking News -Various tables)
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Ingredient |
April 23, 2008 |
Year ago |
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$/Cwt |
$/Bu |
$/Cwt |
$/Bu |
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Semolina |
44.00 |
18 |
16.95 |
6.50 |
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Hard Red Spring Wheat 15% |
31.70 |
12.30 |
16.85 |
5.24 |
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Eggs - Dried: Whole ($/ lb) |
4.55 |
2.17 |
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Eggs - Dried: Whites ($/ lb) |
6.87 |
4.65 |
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Eggs - Dried: Yolks ($/ lb) |
3.51 |
1.45 | |
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Name brands holding own
By SHAILA DANI, Associated Press
Consumers are still willing to pay up for name-brand food items even as overall spending is slowing. The market share for grocery stores' private-label and branded items has remained steady, writes Citi Investment Research analyst David Driscoll. About 21 percent of U.S. packaged food sales are private-label, while about 79 percent go toward branded purchases.
Packaged food makers are benefiting as consumers cut down on dining out. Rising costs for ingredients in food have leveled the playing field, writes Driscoll. Most private-label foods are cheaper than branded foods, but both have had to boost prices amid higher input costs. "Private label pricing is up at a faster rate than that of the brands, which is prompting a small decline in the price gap between the brands and private label," says Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher Growe.
Our division, Conte Luna Foods produces private label pasta and co-packs as needed! |
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Foodservice company promotes low carbon diet, carbon footprint calculator
By Alicia Karapetian on 4/22/2008 for Meatingplace.com
Bon Appetit Management Co., a Palo Alto, Calif.-based foodservice management company, has launched the Low Carbon Diet, a commitment to lower the carbon footprint of food served in the company's cafes and restaurants by 25 percent.
The low carbon menus, in 400 outlets across 28 states, will feature reduced amounts of beef and cheese purchased and served; meats and vegetables exclusively sourced from North America, a preference for local and seasonal foods and decreased purchases of tropical fruits.
What's more, the company has unveiled a new food carbon footprint calculator, available at www.eatlowcarbon.org, so consumers can calculate the environmental impact of a meal.
Low carbon diet means less meat & cheese (more pasta!) |
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UNO adds healthy menu items - Gets back customers
Health Magazine likes the chain's whole-grain pasta and brown rice, organic coffee and tea, and the fact that Uno's offers a salad at half price when you order a pizza. As the menu states, "We want you to get some greens in your diet." And the magazine recommends penne Bolognese, which weighs in at only 16 grams of fat, or, says the magazine, "well within the recommended max of 65 grams of fat per day for a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet."
"Healthful foods don't need to be flavorless," says Uno's executive chef Christopher Gatto, whose test kitchen works on recipes to make them healthy. Grilled mahi topped with mango salsa, served with brown rice tossed with mango and craisins, for example, is low-fat and gluten-free, says Gatto. You can also order Tuscan vegetable penne with multigrain penne, grilled chicken with rosemary, lemon basil salmon, and a side of steamed broccoli. |
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Philadelphia Macaroni Company
