The previous few years has seen a rising development in the direction of more healthy snacking, with shoppers more and more demanding traceability, too.
Answering these calls for, one nut appears to be dominating as a key ingredient.
“Almonds are an amazing supply of minerals akin to magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorous, and are additionally free from ldl cholesterol and salt, making them an amazing addition to any eating regimen,” stated David Carvalho, CEO of Vercruz Almonds.
The common-or-garden almond is predicted to expertise wholesome progress over the following couple of years, extra so than another nut. In 2022, the worldwide almond merchandise market was calculated to be valued at $7.9bn, in line with Future Market Perception, anticipated to tip over $2bn by 2024.
The principle driver behind the growth of this humble nut is its adoption in a wide range of merchandise – from a milk various in drinks, to including a well being halo to snacks.
“Two handfuls of complete almonds present 14% of our day by day dietary fibre wants, important for a wholesome intestine and to manage ldl cholesterol,” stated Carvalho.
“That quantity represents 28 to 30 grams of almonds, sufficient to additionally assist stop sure varieties of most cancers, in addition to containing 37% of vitamin E necessities.
“When complete, almonds are richer in fibre and supply 5 instances extra phenolic compounds than when blanched. Put merely, they’re an extremely highly effective antioxidant.”
New style profile
Nonetheless, he cautions that – like every ingredient – consuming carefully is the important thing to acquiring all the advantages of this superfood.
“Whether or not as a snack, in your plant-based milk, in pastes and recipes, almonds are your day by day associate in a nutritious diet.
“At Veracruz, we’re dedicated to producing the very best Mediterranean almond varieties, together with Belona, Soleta, Avijor and Guara.
“The flavour profile may be very completely different to the overwhelming majority of American-grown almonds, giving shoppers a brand new, thrilling choice to strive, that’s each nutritious and attractive.”
The significance of transparency
Carvalho famous transparency at present is a vital part to all meals – not to mention snacks – amongst shoppers.
He advises that the producer guarantee their whole manufacturing course of might be traceable: from seeding to harvesting and even packaging.
“Finish-to-end transparency is significant in speaking the standard of our product,” stated Carvalho.
“Expertise akin to blockchain and synthetic intelligence all play an important position in good meals traceability, transparency and security.”
He famous that blockchain, for instance, is a crucial instrument in boosting traceability, because it permits every product’s journey from farm to fork to be traced with time-stamped data.
“The expertise, which collates interlinked information on important elements – from sowing seeds and harvesting, to processing and distribution – permits farmers to observe your complete lifecycle of their manufacturing course of and provides the producer, business, distribution and the buyer entry to dependable details about each step of the meals’s journey.
“Blockchain then shops this information is a safe manner, which can’t be modifications or falsified. This data can then be shared with everybody within the provide chain, from distributors and retailers to finish shoppers.
“When the product reaches the top consumer, all this data on the meals’s journey might be accessed by way of good labelling applied sciences, akin to QR codes.”
Strolling the speak
Carvalho stated Veracruz has begun recording manufacturing information, which means all of the almonds grown in its orchards might be traceable.
“Our goal is for the shoppers to quickly have the ability to learn a QR code on the packaging and entry a web site with the document concerning the almond that they’re consuming.
“Each participant on this intensive and complicated chain will know the trail our almonds take and be assured that they’re protected and wholesome for all to take pleasure in.”
