February 2024 News Brief

INC Members, Register Now for Exclusive INC Congress

Join us and be part of the flagship event for the nut and dried fruit sector

From May 8-10, Vancouver will host over 1,300 company owners, presidents and CEOs from renowned global companies. This flagship event in the industry provides a unique space for participants to learn, network and engage in business with top professionals from 65 countries. Over the three-day event, more than 60 speakers will deliver invaluable insights into the current market landscape, crop forecast data and key trends shaping the industry’s future. With over 950 leading industry professionals from 387 companies already registered, don’t miss out on this unparalleled opportunity. [Register now]

 

Explore the Supply Chain in California’s Central Valley With Our On-site Technical Visit

Sign up and learn from the industry’s best

Taking part in the INC Congress? If so, why not make the experience even more valuable and take the opportunity to participate in the On-site Technical Visit, the best hands-on learning experience in the nut and dried fruit industry. From May 2-5, 2024, in California’s Central Valley, just before the INC Congress in Vancouver, the four-day on-site technical tour will delve into the intricate workings of orchards and processing plants. There’s no other opportunity like it, and attendees will have the unique chance to visit: Wonderful Pistachios, Sun-Maid Growers of California, The Hulling Company, Qcify, the Almond Board of California’s Salida Regional Almond Variety Trial, Diamond Foods, Pomona Farming, the California Walnut Commission & Board, and TOMRA. The on-site technical tour is open to Congress participants, INC Academia Alumni, and INC Academia Advanced Full Program students. Enroll in the Advanced Full Program and enjoy a 25% discount on your INC Congress registration! [Enroll now]

 

Apply Now for the INC Sustainability Award and INC Innovation Award

Showcase your company’s initiatives to over 1,300 top industry professionals in Vancouver

Are you making waves in sustainability or innovation? Then apply now for the INC’s prestigious awards in these categories. The winners of the Sustainability Award and the Innovation Award will be announced at the INC Congress in Vancouver, providing exposure to over 1,300 top industry professionals. Visit the Congress website for more information on how to apply for the Sustainability Award (deadline March 25) and the Innovation Award (deadline April 1).

 

Explore the INC Annual Report, 2023

Discover the projects that helped shape the nut and dried fruit industry

As our business strategies begin to pan out for a prosperous 2024, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the year that was 2023 and with this, present the INC Annual Report of Activities for that period. This report provides a look at the key highlights of our activity throughout 2023, and stands as a testament to the INC’s enduring commitment to fostering sustainable growth within the nut and dried fruit industry. Divided into four sections, the “Who We Are” chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the INC’s structure, mission, objectives, and… [Read more]

 

INC Pavilion Brings Together Nut and Dried Fruit Industry at Gulfood

26 co-exhibitors joined the INC in Dubai for one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade fairs

From February 19-23, the INC brought the nut and dried fruit world together at Gulfood, Dubai, for one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade fairs. The INC Pavilion was the largest to date at Gulfood, hosting 26 co-exhibitors in Za’abeel Hall 5. Spanning an impressive 228 m², the INC Pavilion provided a dynamic platform for key industry players, highlighting the diversity of the nut and dried fruit industry. Co-exhibitors took full… [Read more]

 

INC Participates in 13th VINACAS Golden Cashew Rendezvous

INC Chairman Michael Waring gave a talk on global tree nut production

The INC participated in the 13th Golden Cashew Rendezvous, held in Đồng Hới, Quảng Bình, Vietnam, from February 26-28, 2024. Organized by the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS), the event brought together more than 350 delegates from 40 countries. The INC was represented at the event by Chairman Michael Waring. In his presentation, Mr. Waring provided an overview of the INC’s mission, strategy and global activities, as well as a statistical review of global tree nut production, with a particular focus on cashews.

 

Prune Consumption May Help Preserve Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

Eating prunes every day may help women mitigate bone loss in older age

A newly published study in Osteoporosis International set out to assess the effect of regular prune consumption on volumetric bone mineral density, bone geometry and estimated bone strength. The study formed part of The Prune Study, a large, single-center, parallel-arm, 12-month randomized controlled trial completed with 183 postmenopausal women ranging in age from 55 to 75. Participants were randomly assigned to one… [Read more]

 

Meta-Analysis Estimates Prevalence of Tree Nut Allergy in Europe

The study looked at 32 studies over a 22-year period

In a new study published in the journal Allergy, researchers conducted a systematic review of studies on the prevalence of food allergy and food sensitization in Europe, in which they summarized the prevalence of tree nut allergy/sensitization to individual tree nuts. The researchers searched for relevant papers published between 2000 and 2021 and identified a total of 32 studies. Although the review investigated all types of tree nuts… [Read more]

 

Agri-Food Associations Navigate the “Jungle” of EU Sustainability Reporting Regulations

Industry webinar explores key features of the CSRD and ESRS

On January 24, 2024, the INC attended a webinar on EU corporate sustainability reporting regulations organized by the Agri-Food Chain Sustainability Roundtable, a group of European agri-food industry associations established in March 2022 to exchange information on sustainability-related legislation. The purpose of the meeting was to help participants navigate the “jungle” of EU sustainability reporting regulations, in particular the… [Read more]

 

Water Level at Panama Canal Lake Reaches Historic Low for Start of Dry Season

Daily traffic at the canal is down by nearly 40% compared to last year

Gatún Lake, the reservoir that enables the operation of the Panama Canal, is at its lowest water level ever for the start of a dry season, as reported by the New York Times. The extreme drought affecting the region appears likely to last into May, given that Panama’s dry season typically runs from January to May. The canal has reduced daily traffic by nearly 40% compared to last year, prompting many shipping companies to reroute vessels to longer ocean… [Read more]

10-Year Analysis of RASFF Notifications for Mycotoxins in Nuts

Notifications have been trending downward in recent years

In a study published in Food Research International, researchers analyzed notifications from the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) on nuts and nut products contaminated with mycotoxins over a 10-year period. Mycotoxins —secondary metabolites of various fungi— are observed in a broad range of human food and animal feed, including nuts, fruits, oil seeds, corn, herbs, spices and pulses. Mycotoxin contaminations generate… [Read more]

 

INC Shares Sustainability Updates

The INC’s latest installment of sustainability news covers the official publication of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), a multi-million-dollar grant from the Swiss government to boost Ghana’s cashew sector, a white paper published by the California Water Commission on statewide strategies for protecting people and wildlife in the event of drought, a memorandum of understanding signed by the Cashew Nuts Association of Cambodia (CAC) and the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), and more. [Read more]

International Trade News Monitored by INC

The INC’s latest trade news update includes information about two multimillion-dollar investments announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the American specialty crops industry, as well as increased controls on certain organic products imported into the European Union. [Read more]