Earlier this year, the Oregon cheesemakers at Tillamook released a comprehensive trend report on new ways consumers are finding to enjoy cheese. Two intriguing pairings revealed by the report included matching artisanal honeys with artisanal cheeses, and then what the trend-spotters called “the cheddar plunge”— soaking a sharp cheddar in wine, shrubs, or ale to completely change the cheese experience. David Feder, Executive Editor-Technical for Prepared Foods, discusses these and other cheesy trends with Jill Allen, Director of Product Excellence in R&D for Tillamook Creamery, makers of a full line of handcrafted, specialty cheeses and other dairy products.

Prepared Foods talks sustainability with packaging designer Tom Newmaster, owner and partner at FORCEpkg, Lancaster, Pa.

Prepared Foods talks off-premise foodservice trends and consumer eating patterns—with Faye Schoenherr, McCain Foods’ North American Senior Brand Manager for SureCrisp French fries. 

To define some core trends in Asian and Asian -inspired sauces and ingredients, Prepared Foods turned to regular contributor and research chef Robert Danhi. Danhi, the award-winning author of “Southeast Asian Flavors” (Mortar & Press, 2008) and host of the TV show Taste of Vietnam, is one of the leading experts on Asian cuisine, and as a “curator of cultures,” he leverages his deep knowledge and passion as a consultant to food service operators, CPG companies, commodity boards, and educational organizations.

Prepared Foods discusses clean label shelf life preservation strategies and ingredient options with Zal Taleyarkhan, Director of Innovation and Corporate Research Chef at Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations, Chicago.

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Prepared Foods recently welcomed Pam Smith, Culinary Innovator and Leader of Food Service Outreach for the Mushroom Council to walk us through some quick mushroom trends and discuss the rapidly growing use of mushrooms in foods and beverage formulations for flavor, nutrition, and health.

What do top-selling new foods and beverages have in common? Prepared Foods breaks it down with Joan Driggs, Circana’s vice president for content and thought leadership. Driggs identifies trends fueling success for Circana’s top New Product Pacesetters at both the retail and convenience store channels.