PRODUCT WATCH: Ghirardelli Gets More Intense

Ghiradelli Mint Bar.   With the dark chocolate category growing 49% from 2003 to 2006, it’s no surprise that popular chocolate producer Ghirardelli has added three new flavors to its Intense Dark line: the romantic-sounding Evening Dream, Midnight Reverie and Mint Bliss chocolate bars. Evening Dream, a 60% cacao bar, is available in limited distribution…
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GOURMET TRAVEL: American Cheesemaker Awards

Cheese lovers can indulge their passion in Orange County, California, November 16 to 18, when the first American Cheesemaker Awards, a celebration of great cheese, debuts. The event begins with a trade judging of the cheeses on Thursday, November 15, and a day of trade events on Friday, November 16. Consumers can participate beginning with…
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PRODUCT WATCH: Check In To The Hotel Chocolat

Some of Hotel Chocolat’s “luggage.”   People who love luxury chocolates have a new destination: the website of Hotel Chocolat. The British company, founded 14 years ago, has just launched a U.S. website to enable Americans to try their lovely wares. The company makes chocolate with flair (the website photos show people in scenes that…
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TREND: Organic Coffee

Sales of organic coffee are growing so fast these days, that most other categories can only be envious. U.S. retail sales of organic coffee increased 24% in 2006 to $110.36 million, impressively outpacing the 15% growth of organic foods in general, according to the 2007 Organic Manufacturer Survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).…
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NEWS: Great Tomatoes, Year-Round

Backyard Beauties: A great tomato is joy.   If New England’s Backyard Farms inspires farmers in other regions, Americans with a taste for quality tomatoes may be able to get them year-round. Once September arrives in northern climates, delicious, locally-grown tomatoes disappear and tomato lovers have only the memories until the warm weather returns. Tomatoes…
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