2017 – Page 24 – Fruit Juice Focus

13 Mar

The IFU introduces colour measurement in blood orange juices

IFU (INTERNATIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE ASSOCIATION)

As the trade of blood orange juice and concentrates depends on their colour intensity, a unique and internationally accepted method for measuring their total concentration has been developed by the IFU. It provides an analytical technique that can be used by both processors of blood orange juices and purchasers (such as bottlers) as a standard way of establishing specifications that does not rely on arbitrary visual appearance. It is a useful tool to avoid conflict between buyers and sellers.

Launched in February this year, IFU method #83 Colour measurement in blood orange juices has been developed in-house by its Methods of Analysis (MAC) laboratory.

The colour of pigmented “blood” oranges is caused by the presence of anthocyanins. Cyanidin-3-glucoside is the main anthocyanin pigment seen in oranges with lower concentrations of other mono- and di-glycosides anthocyanins. The total concentration of the anthocyanin pigments varies depending on the variety concerned and seasonal climatic influences.

The method works on the principle that anthocyanins pigments are completely extracted from the juice with a specified volume of acidified methanol. After centrifugation the pigment content is determined by measuring the extract’s absorbance at 530 nm against a solvent blank.

The method requires the use of a spectrophotometer capable of measuring at a wavelength of 530 nm, a centrifuge with sufficient speed to give a “g” force of 3000 g and other equipment and solutions typically found in a juice operational laboratory.

The method say the IFU has taken three years to develop and was validated in 2016 with 18 participating international laboratories using blood orange samples.

By Caroline Calder News
13 Mar

The SGF/IFU Asia Road Show

SGF AND IFU (INTERNATIONAL FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE ASSOCIATION)

The SGF/IFU Asia Road Show

The objective of the ASIA Road Show is to connect with Asian fruit juice producers, to explain the control activities of SGF, the international organization based in Germany responsible for raw material control that aims to assure the safety, quality, authenticity and sustainability of juices. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss issues related to the juice industry with the relevant speakers.

The IFU, as the Global Juice Association, will present its activities for the juice industry. The IFU as the only official juice NGO at Codex Alimentarius will explain the positions adopted in response to the development of international Codex standards. IFU will describe the current catalogue of analytical methods, method developments and the benefits of IFU methods for international trade as they are recognised in the Codex standard.

The seminars are intended for quality, R&D and production managers, as well as for purchasing and sales managers of juice processing and bottling industries, plus laboratories, state control inspectors and research and development institutions.

The remaining seminars for 2017 take place in: Xi´an (China) on May 12th, in Bangkok (Thailand) on June 1st, in Tokyo (Japan) on September 20th and in Dubai (UAE) on October 30th. For more information go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sgf-ifu-asia-roadshow-india-tickets-30070585932?aff=erelpanelorg. Email: events@sgf.org, Tel: +49 6136 9228 0

By Caroline Calder News
13 Mar

The market for organic fruit juices in the Nordic region is on fire

Fruit Juice Focus talks with Jyri Kähönen CEO of Raikastamo (aka Freshery Drinks) about their journey from small beginnings to being one of Finland’s leading organic fruit juice producers

The market for organic fruit juices in the Nordic region is on fire. There is huge awareness and demand at present and growth shows no signs of slowing down. In Sweden the organic market grew by 25% in 2015 and in Finland growth levels were at 12% whereas the conventional groceries market in Finland managed only 0.3% growth in the same period according to the Finnish Organic Food Association.

Raikastamo are one of Finland’s leading organic fruit juice producers and their products can now be spotted in the best cafes and shops across Finland and neighbouring Nordic countries.

Fruit Juice Focus (FJF): Can you tell us a little bit about your company and why you entered the organic fruit juice market?

Jyri Kähönen (JK): Raikastamo got started from very small beginnings – we were six friends who started pressing apple juice from an apple orchard in Southern Finland. We were lucky to win the prize for the Best Finnish Organic Product in our first year of operation. That’s when things got rolling.

At the moment we are growing fast – now we are operating in three categories in premium organic bottled juice drinks for HoReCa, children’s organic juice drinks and organic carbonated sodas. During 2017 we will launch a range of 1 litre organic juice drinks for the retail market and a new craft soda brand. We have achieved a steady foothold in the Finnish retail market and are in the process of expanding to other Nordic markets. In the international market we operate under brand name Freshery.

The organic market provided us a point of entry to the market as a whole. There was still space for a small organic player such as ourselves between the big established players like Valio, Refresco Finland and Eckes-Granini. Also the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) for organic ingredients are usually much smaller than for conventional products. That enabled us to source from the global market in the first place – the minimum quantities for conventional products would have been overwhelming for us in the beginning.

FJF: How do you as a company and your products achieve organic status? Is there a certification process?

JK: The organic certification process is strict. It is supervised by the national and EU supervision authorities. In Finland the certification is granted by The Finnish Food Safety Authority and the licence is audited annually. The Finnish Customs run random laboratory tests on a regular basis to check for traces of pesticides and other forbidden ingredients from the raw materials we use and the finished products we sell.

FJF: How and where do you source your organic raw materials, or do you grow them yourselves? Can supply keep up with demand?

JK: The Finnish domestic supply does not satisfy our need. We are also operating with citrus and other more exotic fruits for which there is no supply from the local market. We source our supply from the global market via agents and also directly from the supplier of the raw materials.

The annual alternation of the crop levels in organic farming is much more volatile than in conventional farming because of the smaller scale and because no pesticides or fertilizers are allowed which means that we have to be constantly reviewing our sources of supply. So far we have been able to satisfy our needs but as we are expanding we might face challenges in the future on that side as well.

FJF: What challenges has your company faced and how have you been able to overcome them?

JK: The awareness for organic products in the Nordic market is on a good level. Luckily the days when it was necessary to educate or convince the consumers are over. Now we are able to focus on developing our brand and sales in a far more receptive market.

The big question with the retailers is always the price point. The organic ingredients and raw materials bear a higher price in comparison with conventional ingredients and raw materials and that, naturally, has an effect on the consumer price point as well. The only way to justify the higher price point is to focus on quality and the strong brand.

From the beginning we have considered marketing as our core competence. In our team we have a television commercial director and an industrial designer, and one of the founding partners was a director for consumer experience in a major IT company. Therefore we had a strong orientation on marketing and brand building from the onset. I believe that is what differentiated us from the other small, production-orientated players.

FJF: How do you see the organic market developing, and you as a company within the organic space?

JK: As a small, growing company we plan to work market by market. At the moment we are focusing on the Nordic market. There is still plenty of work and room for development for us here. Having said that, we are always open to discussion if the right distributor should walk in from some other territory.

Image credits: Antti-Jussi Rantala

By Caroline Calder Features
13 Mar

Demand for mango and passion fruit juice concentrates

Fruit Juice Focus analyses the past five years of imports of mango and passion fruit juice concentrates into key consumer countries including the Netherlands, Germany, France, the UK and the US.

Mango

Aseptic mango puree concentrate 28/30 brix imports have shown steady growth in the three countries analysed below with all showing a surge in demand between 2011 and 2014. While figures indicate a levelling off in 2015 and 2016, the increased popularity of mango juice over the last few years can’t be ignored. Tropical blends on the supermarket shelves are commanding more space as consumers look to expand tastes.

Imports into the Netherlands, for example, more than doubled in 2012 against 2011 with an even greater jump in 2013 up to 21,561 tonnes against the 2012 figure of 9,999 tonnes.

Imports into the US have increased steadily from 2011 through to 2015 with 2016 showing a slight drop in demand of around 3%. Most of these supplies would have been delivered from South America – particularly Colombia.

Passion fruit

Imports of passion fruit juice concentrate (50 brix) show steady growth in the UK and France for the period 2012 though to 2016. The sporadic supply to the Netherlands could be attributed to the volatile pricing that the passion fruit juice concentrate market is subject to. Production in top-producer, Ecuador, rises and falls corresponding to local fruit pricing – usually in a three-year cycle. Passion fruit juice concentrate has traded for up to USD15000 in the past few years. Current pricing is around USD7000/tonne.

By Caroline Calder Trade Data