INC’s Pavilion Shines at SIAL Paris 2024
A global showcase for the nut and dried fruit industry
The INC has returned from a successful participation at SIAL Paris 2024, the world’s premier food innovation exhibition. Held from October 19 to 23, the event brought together a remarkable 250,000 visitors from over 200 countries, eager to explore the latest innovations from a staggering 7,000 exhibitors.
At this year’s event the INC Pavilion stood out as a major hub for the global nut and dried fruit industry. Marking the largest INC Pavilion to date, the nut and dried fruit hub hosted 37 co-exhibitors from 17 countries and offered an outstanding platform for industry professionals to network, exchange knowledge, and showcase their products. The event provided a perfect mix of reconnecting with long-time industry partners and establishing new relationships, making it an essential stop for anyone in the nut and dried fruit trade. [Read more] [See photos] [See video]
INC Holds Key Meetings in Rome
The Executive Committee meets with FAO, stakeholders and holds the quarterly meeting
On October 17-18, INC leadership convened in Rome for a series of important meetings. During this time, INC met with the Director-General of the FAO to explore future collaborations and synergies, as well as with Fruitimprese, the Italian association of fruit and vegetable industries, to exchange insights and share information about INC’s mission and activities. In the quarterly Executive Committee meeting, members discussed key INC initiatives and set the strategic direction for the rest of 2024 and into 2025, all with the goal of advancing INC’s objectives and fostering sustainable growth in the industry. We are excited about what’s on the horizon and look forward to sharing details with you in the coming months.
New Meta-Analysis Strengthens Evidence That Nuts May Lower Cardiovascular Risk
The findings refute recent studies questioning the benefits of nut consumption
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis funded by the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) has just been published in the prestigious scientific journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. The study showed that current evidence provides a good indication that consuming nuts may advantageously affect blood lipids in adults with a mix of health statuses. This may be important for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases as well as intermediate health conditions… [Read more]
NUTPOOL Study: Progress Update
Over one million participants will take part in this groundbreaking study
Through an extensive meta-analysis involving over one million participants across North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, the INC-funded NUTPOOL study aims to evaluate the association between total and specific types of nut consumption and the prevention of non-communicable diseases, namely type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases (dementia and Alzheimer’s disease) and mortality. This groundbreaking research will undoubtedly represent a turning point in nutritional epidemiology… [Read more]
NUTS 2025 to Be Held at INC Headquarters
The meeting will bring together renowned health researchers from across the globe
After the success of NUTS 2022, another historic gathering of top health researchers is on the horizon. From October 9-10, 2025, the INC’s headquarters in Reus, Spain, will host NUTS 2025, a conference that will bring together some of the world’s top health researchers. The aims of the NUTS 2025 conference are to summarize all the scientific evidence on the beneficial effects of nuts and dried fruit on health; to define new topics, needs and opportunities in research; to share knowledge with the food industry and set new primary objectives… [Read more]
INC Engages With EU Officials
Topics addressed included food safety, nutrition and sustainability
The INC attended a key meeting in Brussels with European Commission officials from the DG for Health and Food Safety and DG for the Environment on October 18, 2024. The event, organized by FRUCOM-CEEREAL, brought together around 90 industry representatives. Key discussions centered on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation, which could be revived after its withdrawal earlier this year, and the forthcoming Green Claims Directive, expected to be adopted by summer 2025. Updates were also shared on… [Read more]
Almonds Global Statistical Review
INC reports on crop and market status for almonds
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the 2024/25 Californian almond crop at 2.8 billion pounds (approx. 1.27 million metric tons). The Almond Board of California’s second position report on the 2024/25 crop (August 2024 – July 2025) shows receipts of 1,035 M lbs. (approx. 469,500 MT) of kernel weight through September 2024. Shipments for 2023/24, totaling 2.692 B lbs. (1.22 M MT), were the second largest in history. As reported by the Almond Board of Australia, the 2024/25 crop was updated to 153,550 MT. Exports were strong, driven by rising demand from China and India, with August marking the third consecutive month of record-breaking sales. [Read more]
Hazelnuts Global Statistical Review
INC provides updates on hazelnut crops and exports
In Türkiye, hazelnut harvest began on schedule and drying conditions were favorable. Yields were average overall but lower in areas with high brown marmorated stink bug incidence. As reported by the Black Sea Hazelnut Exporters Association, total exports in 2023/24 (July-August) reached 303,458 metric tons (kernel basis), up 1.64% from 2022/23. In Italy, due to weather disruptions, the 2024/25 crop was revised down to approximately 95,000 MT. The US harvest experienced excellent weather conditions, presenting better in-shell nut sizing than the previous crop and above historical averages. Based on winter conditions, Chile reports a positive outlook for the 2025 harvest. [Read more]
Walnuts Global Statistical Review
INC shares updates on crops and shipments
China’s 2024/25 crop forecast is 1.5 million metric tons (in-shell). The selling season started much earlier, with strong demand and heavy bookings, and the market remains firm ahead of the seasonal holidays. According to the USDA 2024 California Walnut Industry Objective Measurement Report, US walnut production is forecast at 670,000 short tons (607,814 MT in-shell), down 19% from last year’s record crop. In Chile, year-to-date exports are 83,800 MT (in-shell equivalent), down 24% from last season. Shipments to Europe increased compared to 2023 for August and year-to-date, as reported by Chilenut. [Read more]
Eating Prunes Daily May Reduce Negative Bone Effects of Oral Contraceptives
The findings suggest that prunes offer health benefits for young women
A new study published in Current Developments in Nutrition explored whether consuming 50 grams of prunes per day for 12 months could prevent bone loss or increase bone accrual in young women who use oral contraceptives. Ninety women between the ages of 18 and 25 years were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group that did not use oral contraceptives, a group that used oral contraceptives and did not consume prunes, or a group that ate 50 grams of prunes per day for 12 months. Bone mineral density was… [Read more]
Nut Consumption May Be Beneficially Associated With Body Fat Distribution
High nut intake was also associated with greater microbial diversity
A recent study published in Obesity set out to examine the relationships among nut consumption, gut microbiota and body fat distribution. This large, community-based population study included 2,255 Chinese adults living in urban areas in Lanxi City, China. Fat distribution was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and nut consumption was assessed using food frequency questionnaires. Stool samples from 1,724 participants underwent 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The findings showed that nut consumption was associated… [Read more]
Regular Intake of Brazil Nuts Shows Promise for Women With Overweight or Obesity
Eating Brazil nuts may control inflammation by enhancing antioxidant defenses
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition assessed the effect of daily Brazil nut intake on inflammation and intestinal permeability in overweight and obese women following an energy-restricted diet. In this non-randomized controlled trial, 56 women with overweight or obesity were allocated into one of two groups. Both groups followed an energy-restricted diet (−500 kcal/d) for eight weeks. The control group consumed a nut-free diet, while the Brazil nut group consumed 8 grams of Brazil nuts per day. Inflammatory cytokines… [Read more]
Sustainability News
The INC’s latest installment of sustainability news includes information about new traceability recordkeeping requirements for certain foods in the USA, a deal between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to deepen cooperation on cashews, and sustainability reporting standards in the UK. [Read more]
International Trade Updates
The latest trade news compiled by the INC includes news about concerns on Iranian pistachio imports into the EU due to aflatoxin risk, sanitary approvals for the export of Brazilian macadamias to several countries, new import requirements for agricultural shipments into Indonesia, and more. [Read more]
Food Safety News
The INC’s latest food safety update covers draft MRLs in Japan, the European Commission’s decision to gather data on Alternaria toxins, and updates on packaging restrictions, plant protection products, sorbates and official controls in the EU. [Read more]
Marketing Orders
In this month’s news on marketing orders, a referendum will be conducted among Oregon and Washington hazelnut growers to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of hazelnuts. [Read more]