SALINAS SCENE: American Agri-Women get earful on trends
SALINAS SCENE: American Agri-Women get earful on trends
Congregants at this year's 30th annual conference of American Agri-Women, held the weekend of Nov. 12 in Monterey, CA, heard much about changing trends in food at retail and in foodservice.
Roberta Cook, marketing economist with the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics with the University of California at Davis, touched on numerous trends in a power- point presentation, which relied heavily on data from Food Marketing Institute as well as other sources.
The following are highlights from her talk:
Surveys show that having high-quality fruits and vegetables rate highest among consumers' priorities in choosing a primary supermarket, followed by high-quality meat, a clean and neat store and low prices. "We're moving from economies of scale to economies of skill," she said. "Greater vertical coordination between suppliers and buyers is driving greater horizontal coordination between suppliers to achieve scale and year-round supply."
More suppliers are acting as sourcing agents for retailers. Higher sales helps cover higher overhead costs.
In 1996, supermarkets accounted for 12 percent of takeout food, while fast-food restaurants accounted for 48 percent; in 2004, supermarkets accounted for 27 percent of takeout food, and fast-food restaurants accounted for 35 percent. Foodservice fresh produce and fresh-cut demand is rising. Subway is the No. 1 buyer of fresh tomatoes; McDonald's is now the top foodservice apple buyer and a top-five foodservice buyer of spring salad mix and grape tomatoes.
This year saw the continued growth and proliferation of home-meal replacement companies offering prepared entrees that are fresh or chilled.
Consumers are turning to carry-out gourmet meals, some of which are now available in the local grocery store. Sales of organic food in the United States climbed from $1 billion in 1990 to $10.9 billion in 2004.
Total Hispanic buying power in the United Statesis approaching $700 billion and is expected to reach $1 trillion in 2010. Hispanics visit grocery outlets 26 times per month compared with nine times for non-Hispanics.
More and more, large year-round grower-shippers may become the sourcing entities for retailers, procuring volume above and beyond their own production via geographic diversification, including imports. Smaller, seasonal players will need to find niche markets.
Mann Packing named a Top 100 supplier
Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. has been named a Top 100 supplier by foodservice marketing and distribution company SYSCO Corp. Award recipients at SYSCO's 2005 Supplier Recognition awards ceremony were selected from a group of more than 2,000 eligible suppliers worldwide.
Abby Taylor takes top post with Ag Against Hunger
Abby Taylor, communications specialist for the Watsonville, CA-based California Strawberry Commission, is the new executive director of Castroville, CA-based Ag Against Hunger.
Ag Against Hunger collects fresh produce donations from growers and shippers throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties and distributes them to food banks and community pantries, locally and nationally.
Ms. Taylor replaces Bernadette O'Keefe, the group's executive director for the past nine years.
(Contact Western Editor Brian Gaylord at 831/757-4000 or [email protected].)
Roberta Cook, marketing economist with the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics with the University of California at Davis, touched on numerous trends in a power- point presentation, which relied heavily on data from Food Marketing Institute as well as other sources.
The following are highlights from her talk:
Surveys show that having high-quality fruits and vegetables rate highest among consumers' priorities in choosing a primary supermarket, followed by high-quality meat, a clean and neat store and low prices. "We're moving from economies of scale to economies of skill," she said. "Greater vertical coordination between suppliers and buyers is driving greater horizontal coordination between suppliers to achieve scale and year-round supply."
More suppliers are acting as sourcing agents for retailers. Higher sales helps cover higher overhead costs.
In 1996, supermarkets accounted for 12 percent of takeout food, while fast-food restaurants accounted for 48 percent; in 2004, supermarkets accounted for 27 percent of takeout food, and fast-food restaurants accounted for 35 percent. Foodservice fresh produce and fresh-cut demand is rising. Subway is the No. 1 buyer of fresh tomatoes; McDonald's is now the top foodservice apple buyer and a top-five foodservice buyer of spring salad mix and grape tomatoes.
This year saw the continued growth and proliferation of home-meal replacement companies offering prepared entrees that are fresh or chilled.
Consumers are turning to carry-out gourmet meals, some of which are now available in the local grocery store. Sales of organic food in the United States climbed from $1 billion in 1990 to $10.9 billion in 2004.
Total Hispanic buying power in the United Statesis approaching $700 billion and is expected to reach $1 trillion in 2010. Hispanics visit grocery outlets 26 times per month compared with nine times for non-Hispanics.
More and more, large year-round grower-shippers may become the sourcing entities for retailers, procuring volume above and beyond their own production via geographic diversification, including imports. Smaller, seasonal players will need to find niche markets.
Mann Packing named a Top 100 supplier
Salinas, CA-based Mann Packing Co. has been named a Top 100 supplier by foodservice marketing and distribution company SYSCO Corp. Award recipients at SYSCO's 2005 Supplier Recognition awards ceremony were selected from a group of more than 2,000 eligible suppliers worldwide.
Abby Taylor takes top post with Ag Against Hunger
Abby Taylor, communications specialist for the Watsonville, CA-based California Strawberry Commission, is the new executive director of Castroville, CA-based Ag Against Hunger.
Ag Against Hunger collects fresh produce donations from growers and shippers throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties and distributes them to food banks and community pantries, locally and nationally.
Ms. Taylor replaces Bernadette O'Keefe, the group's executive director for the past nine years.
(Contact Western Editor Brian Gaylord at 831/757-4000 or [email protected].)
