12 Products & Produce to watch for – PMA’s Fresh Summit

As I shared in a previous post about the Fresh Summit, it was absolutely dizzying the amount of booths, exhibits, product and attendees. This is just a tiny sample of what was on the expo floor and what I was able to capture.

I didn’t even scratch the surface of a list I had printed out of the exhibits and products I had intended to visit. This is just a small sampling of what I was able to capture to better share my enthusiasm for these products. Look for them in stores now and in the coming year.

The following 12 Products & Produce to Watch for – PMA’s Fresh Summit is listed in random order and their order does not reflect preference over one or the other.

Hammons Black Walnuts & Black Walnut Oil

Have you ever heard of black walnuts? With a more rich depth of flavor that sets them apart from the more common varieties, these walnuts are a special treat all their own. These aren’t the kind of walnuts you crack open with a hand nutcracker. Because they require special machinery to crack them open, you most likely will not find the nut meat in halved-shaped pieces like you find the more commercial walnut varieties.

It’s the Black Walnut Oil that I was especially interested in, using it as butter substitute or a sometimes alternative to my beloved olive oil. Check out the recipe section for some great ideas.

Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice Fig Balsamic Vinegar & Fig Spreads

If you’ve been following TC over the years, you will be familiar with my love for figs. So much so that I planted two fig trees so that I’m more likely have these favorite fruits when in season!

Imagine how intrigued I (or anyone else that has fallen in love with figs) was to secure a bottle of this gorgeous Fig Balsamic Vinegar! Also, a newer product just in time for the holidays, four fig spread flavors: Organic Mission Fig, Balsamic Pepper Fig, California Orange Fig and Port Wine Fig Spreads. Look for some deliciousness I’ll be conjuring up in the kitchen with the Mission and/or Port Wine spreads.

Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice/Valley Fig was a Team Fresh Summit 2014 sponsor and I received the Fig Balsamic Vinegar and two fig spread flavors.

Hurst’s Berries – Kiwi Berries

A new addition to Hurst’s Berry Farm: It’s the size of a grape, edible skin and with no fuzz, the kiwi berry! They taste just like the kiwi, just in miniature form. Kiwi berries are the most nutrient-dense of all major fruits. They pack nearly 20 vital nutrients and are considered a “super fruit.”

I can envision using these kiwi berries in parfaits, with yogurt, added to desserts or garnishing mixed drinks.

HBF International (Hurst’s Berry Farm) was a Team Fresh Summit 2014 sponsor.

Mariani’s Sea Salt Caramel Raisins

A new high energy snack: That delicious pairing of salty and sweet come together in these Sea Salt Caramel Raisins. They’re creamy, sweet and enticing with the hint of sea salt. Besides good snacking, there’s some versatility in the use of these covered raisins!

Gourmet Gardens Lightly Dried Herbs

Aren’t we all faced, at one time or another, buying herbs and then only really in need of a tablespoon of this and that and the rest spoils or is unused?

Here’s a brand new product sure to make a lot of people very happy. Lightly dried basil, red chilli, corriander, ginger and parsley! Packaged in a convenient size and designed to stack and click on top of each other (so they’re not falling over in your refrigerator), these new kitchen essentials last up to 12 weeks (that’s 3 months!). I would love to get my hands on the lightly dried ginger because I can’t tell you how many times I buy fresh ginger root and most of it spoiling before I can finish it…

Gourmet Garden was a Team Fresh Summit 2014 sponsor.

Sarah’s Harvest – Fresh Green Chickpea Hummus

Do you recall my great find of fresh green garbanzo beans – chickpeas sometime back? I’ve been on the lookout for them since and have not been able to find them in my markets again. Guess what I found…?

Fresh Green Garbanzo Beans…but wait NOT just the fresh chickpeas in clamshells, Fresh Green Chickpea Hummus! The flavor that sang out to me and had me going back for too many tastings was the Cilantro & Spicy Jalapeño. Nutritious and only 120 calories per 1/2 cup – may be an alternative to guacamole! Delish!

This hummus is made from the garbanzo that is still green and moist. All the living nutrients in the plant are still there when it’s prepped into hummus form. Three flavors, original, roasted garlic & rosemary, and fresh cilantro & jalapeño. I’m already looking for this one in stores!

Fresh Origins Microgreens – Herb, Fruit & Flower Crystals

This is a fun and exciting new product…herb, flower and fruit crystals. Used as finishing touches to dishes, both sweet and savory, or for the creative mixologist! These crunchy textured and flavorful crystals are pure color from fresh herbs and flowers with no added preservatives, flavors, coloring and are Kosher Certified.

What to do with the Pumpkin Spice Crystals®….? 🙂

Red Sun Farms Cocoa Tomatoes

I thought these were just beautiful and unusual. Described as a succulent tomato variety originating in Western Europe and popular in many countries. Although I did not get to taste it, the flavor is described as savory, earthy and broth-like. I’m looking forward to finding these in markets to try in some dishes in place of the more common flavorful red tomatoes.

Danny’s Fall Harvest Products – Warty Goblin -and- Little Jack

Two beautiful and decorative hybrid pumpkin varieties coming soon. I spoke to both the owner and his wife and they lovingly named these two types as the Warty Goblin and Little Jack Wart!

Rhythm SuperFoods – Kale Chips in 8 flavors

Organic Kale Chips in 8 different flavors. Shall I name them?

1. Original
2. Zesty Nacho
3. Kool Ranch
4. Mango Habanero
5. Bombay Curry
6. Texas BBQ
7. Pineapple Coconut
8. Honey Mustard (vegetarian, contains honey)

I tasted a couple of chips and enjoyed the flavor, loved that there was no aftertaste and it did not leave oils on my fingers. Lower in calories and fat than if you were to eat a bag of the same of size of most chips. A healthier alternative without the guilt!

Frieda’s Specialty Produce – Buddha’s Hand & JackFruit

The JackFruit is an unusual looking fruit. It is the world’s largest tree fruit and grows directly out of the trunk or branches. A good source of vitamin C, proteins and potassium.

Buddha’s Hand almost looks like a sea creature of sorts. Also known as the Fingered Citron, it is one of the oldest citrus fruits. Inside the fruit there is little to no flesh or juice! It is more used for the rind that is candied, used in baked goods or infusing into liqueurs. I bet this could be interesting infused in olive oil too!

Click over to Frieda’s website for tips and recipes on how to use these and other exotic fruits.

Want to read a live feed of what the Team covered that weekend? Type in #TeamFreshSummit in Twitter’s Search -OR- click here to read Team tweets from then and after concerning the Fresh Summit.

Next Year’s PMA Fresh Summit will be in Atlanta, Georgia from October 23-25, 2015.

Don’t forget to check back (or better yet, sign up for emailed updates!) to read the follow-up posts on:

1. A recipe or two that I’ve developed with some delicious product from Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice & Sun-Maid California Figs (sponsor);
2. Recipes brought home from the Fresh Summit.