Do you know that breakfast is the most frequently missed meal of the day, with approximately 23% of the UK population going without. However, it is also an important meal and studies have shown that eating breakfast cereals increases the levels of micronutrients in the diet as most are fortified with Vitamins B, iron and Vitamin A. The California Raisin Administrative Committee, which promotes California Raisins in the UK says “adding just 100 grams of these raisins will provide all the micronutrients you need”.
Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after a nights’ sleep. Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start a car without petrol. Many nutritionists advise that breakfast should be eaten within 2 hours of waking and a healthy breakfast should provide calories in the range of 20-35% of your guideline daily allowance.
Cereal is typically low-fat, nutritious with many essential vitamins and minerals. California Raisins in particular are a popular ingredient in cereals for good reasons. For example, the California Raisin industry maintains high quality standards for raisins when it comes to appearance and cleanliness to ensure the microbiological stability of their product in cereals. They also offer cereal manufacturers low water activity, have an intact skin and natural sweetness in the form of fructose and glucose. In addition, California Raisins contain propionic acid which is a natural mould inhibitor. California Raisins are only oiled-coated at the customers’ request and this step is used to extend the shelf-life of the product.
As well as supplying actual raisins to cereal producers, California Raisins supply to many other food sources such as bakery, bread, condiments, dairy and confectionery. They are used in a wide range of products, from baked goods, confectionery and snacks to sauces, and even beer. The versatility and outstanding taste makes them an extremely useful ingredient or as a simple snack in their own right. Whether you’re a chef, food manufacturer in food service, bakery or confectionery because of their consistent colour and flavour, to extending product shelf life, there are many advantages to using California Raisins as they blend well with sweet flavours – vanilla, cinnamon and citrus. They also blend well with savoury flavours – both mild and spicy.
The UK remains the largest dried vine fruit importer per capita in the world attracting dried vine fruits from 11 different origins with 23 varieties, importing over 115,000 MT during 2013/14. The UK is also the second largest export marketing in the world for California Raisins with over 20,000 MT coming into the country during 2013/14. (Source GTA).
The California Raisin Industry offers a variety of products that are ideal for industrial users. The vast majority of the products offered are of the ‘Vitis vinifera’ Natural Seedless varietal type and are typically dried by the sun whether it is on paper trays or dried on the vine. Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins include the Thompson seedless and other newer cultivars such as Fiesta, Selma Pete and DOVine.
Should you want to know more about California Raisins or how the California Raisin Administrative Committee based here in the UK can help you and your business contact Dee Cassey on dee@comeintothegarden.co.uk
Dee Cassey
E: dee@comeintothegarden.co.uk
Facebook: CalRaisinsUK
Twitter: @CalRaisinsUK
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