USDA Economic Research 2011
A new report from the USDA Economic Research Service checked out the average retail price for 153 fresh and processed vegetables & fruits. One of the findings sited in the study was that Raisins at $2.42 per pound were the most economical dried fruit. The study also sited that an adult on a 2,000-calorie diet could satisfy the daily requirements of 2-2.5 cups of fruit and 2.5-3.5 cups of vegtables at an average cost of less than $2.50.
California Raisins Join the Armed Forces
California Raisins are an important ingredient in foods served to our troops around the globe, including Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s and Unitized Group Rations (UGR’s).
Ten years ago, California Raisins were absent from the Military feeding programs, according to Tom Payne, Military Foods Consultant for the California Raisin Marketing Board. Today, California Raisins are included in dozens of military MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat)—including snack raisins in pouches, raisin nut mixes, energy bars, cookies and the most popular item for soldiers – raisins and peanuts.
All products used by the military must have a shelf life of three years at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Payne. Products developed for the armed services must be extremely shelf stable, require special packaging and command the highest quality. Food items must provide substantial nourishment and energy needed by today’s warrior. The armed forces are discovering California Raisin are the perfect ingredient!
California Raisins are utilized in raisin/nut mixes, energy bars, cookies and raisin packs. In addition to MRE’s California Raisins are staples in “Humanitarian Packs” airdropped into combat theaters of Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and other war and disaster zones around the world. California Raisins are integrated into new areas of the military feeding program including special meals such as Kosher and Halal menus, special diet foods, cold weather rations and specialty items for emergency situations such as the “man-overboard” ration of the US Navy.
How is this all developing?
“California Raisins has been building relationships with the US military for years,” according to Payne. “We attend meetings, listen to the needs and then come back with solutions.” The military relies on suppliers such as the raisin industry to perform the initial research and concept development. When a concept passes Army tests, specifications are drafted and the armed forces procure ingredients through a prime vendor system. All products sourced by the military must be of US origin according to federal law. Product is normally sourced from food brokers and distributors. Prime vendor contractors such as bakeries and packing companies prepare products to rigid specifications and assemble into MRE’s and UGRs.
What’s new?
A new area of development for California Raisins has been the “First Strike” ration. In today’s combat situations, Special Operations soldiers must be prepared to subsist for weeks at a time, and high energy foods such as California Raisins are excellent ingredients for energy bars and other items carried into combat. Each year, a whole new slate of items are presented to the Military and many do contain raisins. With current troop deployments around the globe, the military food market is expected to grow for years to come.