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Citrus fruit used to make sustainable, upcycled citrus fiber

Pizza Expo 2024 – Top 5 Food Trends

The International Pizza Expo is a trade show that takes place every year in lively Las Vegas. Thousands of pizzeria professionals fill the convention hall exploring the latest food, equipment and restaurant technology. The thrill begins at the entrance door where foodies are greeted with the warm savory aromas of pizza permeating the air. Besides the intoxicating smells, I captured several food trends while strolling the hall floor. Dairy Alternative & Meat Substitute Options Still on Tap Though the meat substitute segment slowed down over the past few years, this segment is still relevant in the pizza category. A handful…

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Organic Citrus Fiber: Nature’s Upcycled Food

The organic food market exploded over the past few decades. What started with a heightened demand for organic fruits and vegetables expanded into other categories such as canned foods, bakery flours, sauces and spices. According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the U.S. organic food sales in 2020 grew 12.8% to a new high of $56.4 billion. And about 6 percent of the food sold in the United States was certified organic. However, the U.S. is not alone with demanding more organic foods on the market. This trend streams across the globe in other regions like Europe and Asia Pacific….

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Plant based Pizza using Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber

Plant Based Pizza: Piece by Piece

Someone told me once that pizza is the ultimate food. It contains all 5 food groups: fruits/vegetables, starch, dairy, protein and fat. In product development classes, pizza was the go-to meal when creating portable snacks, feeding a family of five and nourishing those in need. Although pizza is a quick and easy morsel for the consumer, the complexity spins most food developers heads when it comes to plant-based pizzas. Pizza is comprised of multiple components including the crust, sauce, cheese and protein toppings. When combined together, water and oil, when not bound, tend to migrate in different directions. Throw in…

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Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Improves Plant-based Meat Formulations & Dairy Alternatives

Natural Products Expo Trends: Plant-based Meat Formulations & Dairy Alternatives

It happened! The 2022 Natural Product Expo West show resumed its regular in-person exhibition. For those who are not familiar with this trade show, it is the mecca of all trade shows when it comes to natural food products. For the seasoned attendees, one knows this massive show merits at least two days, a pre-planned floor strategy and a pair of cozy shoes to wear. If you are lucky enough, you may eye-spy tinsel town investors and actors trolling the floor next to you. However, this year, it is no surprise that plant-based foods stood in the limelight. Two categories…

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Citrus Fiber Improves Cheese Alternatives

Smile and Say Cheese Alternatives!

Through the years, cheese producers convinced the market that cheese is the magic ingredient that makes food taste great! Commercials encouraged parents to melt it on vegetables to make it more palatable for their children. Pizza is not pizza unless there is a long stretch of mozzarella hanging off the slice. And when snacking hit its peak, cheese stood on a pedestal due to its protein content and dairy health benefits. Because of this, dairy-based cheese literally milked the market. The popularity created an opportunity for new offerings such as cheese alternatives. At the same time, the dairy alternative demand…

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Plant based ingredients like Citri-Fi citrus fiber improve a variety of foods

Plant Based Ingredients: CEO State of the Business Interview

1) Who is Fiberstar and what does your company offer to the food ingredient marketplace? Fiberstar, Inc. manufactures and sells Citri-Fi citrus fiber, which is an upcycled, plant based ingredient produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing industry. The patented process, which is free from chemical modifications, opens up the fiber to create high water holding capacity and emulsification properties. This highly functional fiber improves stability, texture, and nutrition in a variety of food and beverages. From the beginning, Fiberstar pioneered citrus fiber technology. The clean process and dual functionality differentiated Citri-Fi from other plant based ingredients in the marketplace….

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Citri-Fi citrus fiber provides emulsification and full body texture in plant sauces like vegan ranch dressing

Plant Sauces: Dressing up Stability and Emulsification

The market whirled their attention around meat substitutes for the past year. At the same time, dairy alternative foods such as plant milks and dairy-free cheeses continued to grab market share. Yet, one food category remains amiss in this plant-based phenomena – plant sauces. For centuries, sauces and dressings were and still are food’s beloved canopy of flavor and texture. And since some of these products use animal-derived ingredients, they too face challenges converting into vegan versions. Plant Sauce Challenges Some sauces and dressings use egg and/or milk proteins to provide texture, stability and flavor. When eliminated, food products suffer…

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Fiberstar, Inc. Joins the Plant-based Foods Association (PBFA)

Fiberstar, Inc. joined the Plant-based Foods Association. This organization supports plant-based companies so that they succeed and thrive in the food industry. Since Fiberstar offers a portfolio of nature-based citrus fibers, this organization fits the company’s vision. “We look forward to playing a bigger role in the plant-based foods industry.” says President and CEO, John Haen. “The Company’s superior line of highly functional citrus fibers are key to creating quality plant-based products.” Citrus Fiber in Meat Substitutes & Dairy Alternatives Fiberstar manufactures Citri-Fi® citrus fiber which is produced from byproduct of the citrus juicing process. Because the patented process is free…

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Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Minimizes Syneresis and Creates Thicker Textures in Plant-based Yogurt

Plant-based Yogurts: Top Facts to Know

Plant-based Yogurts Bases – Old and New Years ago, the only non-dairy yogurts found on the grocery shelves ranged from soy to rice based. However, today, this expanded into a variety of options. Other dairy-free bases moving up in rank include: almond, coconut, hemp, cashew and oat. Moreover, plant-based yogurts now reside next to their animal-based counterparts in the grocery store. As a result, this gives consumers an opportunity to try something new or use these products as a gateway to a plant-based lifestyle. In the end, plant milks will provide the segway into dairy-free yogurts. As a result, new…

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Citri-Fi Citrus Fiber Minimizes Ice Crystal Formation and Improves Creamy Mouthfeel of Natural Ice Cream

Natural Ice Cream using Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber provides water holding and emulsification properties that benefit natural ice cream. This ice cream ingredient replaces chemical emulsifiers and stabilizers which shortens and cleans up food labeling. Moreover, Citri-Fi minimizes ice crystallization during storage. As a result, frozen desserts using citrus fiber maintain a smooth texture and full body.  Ice cream is one of those foods that puts a smile on anyone’s face around the world. Since its invention, this frozen dessert turned into many shapes, forms, flavors and textures. And thru the years, mass production, storage and shipping allowed many smiling faces around the world to enjoy…

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