According to a recent report, there is a decided growth trend towards bolder, more flavorful snack mixes. Consumers have become accustomed to ethnically inspired cuisines that tend toward complex flavor combinations. This taste for spicy fare has apparently spilled over into the snack food category.

Offering bolder, unusual flavor combinations and fun textures continues to keep consumers engaged and indulged. In recent years, people’s taste buds have become bolder, and younger consumers are expected to look for spicier and more ethnic flavors in their snacks and snack mixes.

Read the rest of this entry »

The number of people snacking is increasing. In fact, a recent survey has shown that 53% of people in America eat two or three snacks per day. This means that the number of people snacking has nearly doubled since 2010. Experts are predicting that this number will continue to increase. There are quite a few reasons that more people are opting to eat healthy snacks such as nuts and snack mixes in between meals.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tropical Foods manufactures premium nuts products and snack mixes, and also distributes candy and a wide assortment of dried fruits, bulk and wrapped candy and specialty foods geared toward the needs within Healthcare, Education, and Travel & Leisure channels.

Retail displays are an effective way to arrange products in direct line of view of your cliental. At Tropical Foods, we provide vendors a variety of display units perfect for their customers to purchase products. When searching for the right display unit depends on the amount of foot traffic you receive daily. If you feed fewer than 500 people per day, we recommend using our retail packaged products in your location.

Read the rest of this entry »

In recent years food packaging has experienced a number of changes. Many of the changes include improving the look as well as the cost per unit of the product. Below are a few changes to food product packages.

Read the rest of this entry »

Health foods are increasing today because more and more people are realizing that everything you put into your body can potentially cause harm to it. As a result, the more people are looking into purchasing organic foods. According to the Organic Trade Association, 78 percent of US families bought some form of organic food in 2011 compared to 73 percent two years earlier.

In fact, the organic food industry in the US has grown at a rate of nearly 17% every year since 2000. Organic nuts are quickly becoming a hit for consumers as they are learning the benefits from eating organic. Below are some reasons why they are better than non-organic nut varieties.

Read the rest of this entry »

Walnuts, a tree nut, and walnut oil not only taste good, they are good for you. While many studies have been conducted on their health benefits, the surprising results shows that walnuts help reduce stress levels by lowering blood pressure.

Read the rest of this entry »

Adding Tropical Foods nuts to your diet is a good choice that will add health benefits to your life. Despite all of the negative things you have heard about eating nuts, there are plenty of positive reasons to enjoy them.

Read the rest of this entry »

National Trail Mix Day is August 31, so consider celebrating by choosing some of the delicious and healthy snacks offered by Tropical Foods. Trail mixes offer an almost infinite variety of tasty food components, the most common being nuts, seeds and dried fruit pieces. Tropical Foods offers over sixty different snack products that are hand assembled from the finest ingredients.

Read the rest of this entry »

Raw Nuts and Seeds Growing in Popularity

The raw food movement has gained momentum over the past few years as consumers are seeking out pure, fresh foods that promote a healthier lifestyle. Hartman Group, a leader in food and beverage insights, deduced through research that consumers view raw eating as being based on whole foods that are unprocessed. Consumers are less inclined to view raw as associated with a brand but more about the ultimate freshness of the food, Hartman Group concluded.  With health issues plaguing our country, many people have transformed their lives by adopting a raw food lifestyle.  Since it is low in fat content, most of the food is converted into energy, helping in weight loss and detoxification. As the toxins are flushed out of the body, the skin appears healthier and possibly younger.

Some choose to eat a 100% raw food diet, while others deem it practical to consume raw food at a more moderate level , according to a Healthy Times article. Raw nuts and seeds are the perfect snack food for a moderate level raw food diet. With healthy fats, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals, nuts pack a powerful nutritional punch in a snack size package. Popular raw nuts and seeds include almonds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, pistachios, cashews, sesame seeds and walnuts.

With the increase of high calorie and high fat meals typified by those offered at fast food restaurants, more people are choosing to pack their lunch rather than eating out for a variety of reasons but most people are wanting to either save money, eat healthier, or both.  One solution is a simple, cost effective lunchtime salad.

Salads are an appealing lunch meal because they can include a variety of items, allowing anyone to be a minute gourmand and build their dream salad. Be careful: your salad can go from “healthy” to “unhealthy”  if you don’t limit high calorie and fattening toppings including creamy salad dressings, cheese, bacon and buttery croutons.

People will agree, the toppings mentioned taste great, but there are other options that offer flavor and nutrients. Remember, not all salads have to be boring. Below are toppings that will make anyone’s taste buds ready for lunch.

Read the rest of this entry »

Many people eat their almonds toasted, but there are benefits of eating them raw. Nuts in general have fat, but they’re either polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats, and many nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which protect the heart and the arteries. They’re also good sources of minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium.

Read the rest of this entry »

Just when you thought sugar was sugar.  There are a number of products in retail that may be described as sugar free, no sugar added or reduced sugar, but what does it all mean?  Here is a basic explanation.

Strict rules are in place by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where sugars are defined. A product with less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving is considered “Sugar Free”. A product can be listed as “No Sugar Added” if no sugar is added in processing. “Reduced Sugar” can be listed if a product is produced with at least 25% less sugar than a relevant reference food.

A sugar free lifestyle can be beneficial or even necessary if you’re watching caloric intake, are diabetic or have any other health concerns. A sugar free lifestyle can include fruits, vegetables and proteins, which contain natural sugars the body needs to function. Sugar free doesn’t mean that desserts and candy are off the menu. Cookies, cakes, pies, even chocolate with no sugar or a sugar substitute can be a very sweet option.

Tropical Foods has a number of items with varying sugar claims, please ask you sales rep for more details.

Nuts are one of those wonder foods that are really tasty and really good for you. However, when buying bulk nuts, they can become rancid quickly by not storing them correctly. If stored properly, nuts can last up to a year.  This is because of the high fat content, especially when exposed to heat.

Read the rest of this entry »

Type 2 diabetes results when the body fails to break down sugars in foods into energy for cells through the production of insulin. Keeping your blood sugar in control is essential in preventing type 2 diabetes. Some foods, including nuts lowers the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. In particular, including moderate portions of peanuts (which are actually legumes, but considered nuts by most people) and peanut butter in your daily diet can help you control your blood sugar levels.

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever sat down with a bag of mixed nut or Grabeez, and half an hour later you  realized they are gone?  Nuts are such an addicting snack and wouldn’t it be nice if they were good for you too? Well the good news is that they are, as shown by many studies. Statistics show that eating nuts on a regular basis can reduce the risk of heart attack up to 60%. Why are nuts so good for your health?

Read the rest of this entry »

What are your favorite foods to dip in chocolate? Maybe it’s fresh, ripe strawberries or another delicious fruit?

Or maybe you’ve got a “too good not to share” dipping chocolate idea. Whatever it is, tell us your favorite foods to dip in chocolate.

Enter the Tropical Foods “Dipping Chocolate Deliciousness” Blogger Contest, and you could receive a prize of:

• One of ten (10) dipping chocolate gift baskets from Tropical Foods
• A $100 Visa gift card

To enter, write a 200-250 word blog post about your five favorite snacks for dipping in chocolate. Be sure to mention the Tropical Foods “Dipping Chocolates” Contest and include a link to www.dippingchocolates.com.

Go to www.dippingchocolates.com to enter!

Greetings from Tropical!

By Sheila Neisler

Whatever the occasion, there’s no better greeting than a selection of tropical nuts and fruits, by themselves or in freshly baked goods or healthy snack mixes, from Tropical Nut & Fruit Co., headquartered right here in Charlotte……….

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE

Tropical Foods has introduced a variety of top quality spices for both retail and food service.

“There has been a substantial increase in the use of herbs and spices and Tropical Foods is happy to meet that demand,” said Chad Hartman, Brand Manager for Tropical Foods. “Our spices are a great addition to our product line of more than 3,000 products.”

Tropical’s retail spices are packed in small, stackable re-sealable trays and are currently available at local grocers. In addition, Tropical offers a full line of food service spices, available in shakers, classic packs and bulk.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tropical Foods was among the top fund raisers for the 2010 Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk.  The money raised goes to three local agencies and Church World Service to provide hunger and disaster relief here in Charlotte and around the world.

Crop Walk website http://charlottecropwalk.org/

Have you been to the Sunflour Baking Company?  If not, check it out!

Sunflour Baking Company, 2001 E 7^th Street, Charlotte, NC  28204

Known as National Pistachio Day, February 26th might not be an official holiday, but to pistachio lovers, it’s a day to celebrate the history and health benefits of the nut.

Pistachio trees are native to the Middle East, with California being the major U.S. producer.  “Most people aren’t aware that pistachios grow on trees which take 7-10 years to mature,” explained Chad Hartman, Brand Manager for Tropical Foods.

During the observance of National Pistachio Day, it is believed that individuals who stand among pistachio trees and hear the shells snapping open will have prosperity, good luck and fortune.

Read the rest of this entry »

Today, snacking is more acceptable and is clearly the fourth meal of the day. Twenty one percent of all meals are snacks.—23rd Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America, September 2008

One of the next “big” trends in the confection industry for 2009 through 2014 are healthier confection options, specifically a growing demand for health benefits and ‘better for you’ ingredients. Consumers are finding new ways to incorporate traditional candy as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.–National Confectioners Association, Industry Report June 2009

Of all confectionary sales, chocolate accounts for 59% of all dollars sold, while non-chocolate candy is 31% and gum is 10%.—US Department of Commerce Census Bureau 2008

The sales of snack mixes are exploding, and there is increasing consumer demand for trail mixes as a good tasting food that has nutritional benefit. People are looking for higher-end mixes rather than traditional mixes with M&M’s in it. Consumers want something a little bit healthier, that are focused on particular functional areas like an antioxidant trail mix, a fiber mix or an energy mix.—Confection & Snack Retailing, September 2008

As of March 2009, the sales of snack nuts were over $1 billion in sales.—Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, June 2009

Snack Consumers are embracing a “value” mentality that prices quality and “whole” ingredients, “better for you” recipes, and green production practices. Consumers are looking for snacks with fewer additives or preservatives, and even spending extra dollars for organic and premium snack treats that can boost their flagging spirits over the long climb back to prosperity.—Packaged Facts, “Sweet & Salty/Savory Snacks in the US”, Sept 14, 2009

Packaged Facts projects snack sales to near $82 billion by 2013, a total market increase of 20%. Consumers are snacking more than ever, thanks to pull-backs in restaurant dining, harried lifestyles that reduce opportunities for sit-down meals, and a growing consensus that several small meals or snacks during the day are actually healthier than the three-square meal paradigm.—Packaged Facts, “Sweet & Salty/Savory Snacks in the US”, Sept 14, 2009

-A new study forecasts what Americans will be eating in the future, and it looks like they’ll be eating a whole lot of snacks. In-home snacking – morning, noon, and night, but especially morning – will outpace population growth over the next decade. –NPD Group, “A Look into the Future of Eating”, Aug 31, 2009