KOSHER AT THE FANCY FOOD SHOW IN D.C.

FROM KOSHER TODAY (JULY 25)

Focus on Kosher Extends to Fancy Food Show
Washington, DC…One of the large banners at this month’s Summer Fancy Food Show reminded visitors that “the leading claims for new product introductions are Kosher, All Natural and Ethical/Environmentally Friendly Package,” according to the Mintel Research organization. The 57th Summer Fancy Food Show re-located to Washington from its longtime home at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City due to construction. Observers noted “a drop in the number of icon kosher exhibitors as well as buyers.” Still, one of the visitors told Kosher Today that he counted at least 300 exhibitors who listed their products as kosher. One of the presentations at the show was by noted cookbook author and New York Times food writer Joan Nathan who reviewed the history of Jewish food – starting with the bible up to modern times – tracing the Jewish migration to Europe and the Industrial Revolution. Mrs. Nathan then led a guided tasting of traditional and modernized recipes including challah, potato kugel, fruit kugel, matzo balls, and kasha varnishkes. Yakov M. Yarmove, Corporate Business Manager, Ethnic Marketing and Specialty Foods for SuperValu flagged a few interesting kosher items, including Fruit Rolls from Brooklyn, Smart Fries in various flavors, Osem pushing such potentially strong mainstream sellers as couscous, Pastures of Eden cheeses, including Feta and a number of other exotic cheeses, Sugar River with such cheeses as Blue Marble Cheddar and Blue Marble Jack as well as Celebrity Crumbled Goat Cheese, Chozen ice cream (written up in the New York Times) in such flavors as Matzoh Crunch, Chocolate Gelt and Ronne’s Ruggelach and Oloves olive snacks.