6 Factors To Consider Before You Select Product Packaging

Posted by Kevin Hill

 

Product packaging plays a huge role in successful and sustainable food industry operations, pharma manufacturing and numerous other sectors. However, it can be tough for manufacturers to choose the right packaging materials according to their business needs, even with the huge variety of choices available these days.

Cost is a primary concern for most purchasing managers, but the packaging material you choose should also be well-suited for protecting products during transportation, storage and delivery. Visual appeal and branding are important considerations as well, especially in sectors with very high competition.

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Organic vs. Non-Organic Oils: Are They Really That Different?

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

Across the board, are ALL oils really that different when you compare the organic vs. the non-organic versions of them? Is organic extra virgin olive oil that different from regular extra virgin olive oil, or organic canola oil that different than regular canola oil?

The answer really depends on the type of oil and the fruit or seed used to produce it, and requires that we dive a little deeper.

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Organic Olive Oil vs. Non Organic

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

Organic Extra Virgin vs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Many consumers wonder what the differences are between Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The difference in price is reasonably large between these two types of oil, but are they really all that different?

The simplest answer is no, they should be a very similar finished oil. Because they’re both the olive oil grade “Extra Virgin” they both are made from the first press (or spin) of the olives. They both have the same requirements for acidity, chemical make up and sensory tests that allow them to be called Extra Virgin. The primary difference is that one is produced using certified organic olives, and the other is not.

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Can You Use Canola Oil in Place of Vegetable Oil?

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

 

Have you ever made a recipe that called for vegetable oil, and in the midst of pouring the oil into the measuring cup, you’ve thought, “Hmm… I wonder if I could use something healthier in place of this?” As an avid baker, I run into this question a lot. [Spoiler alert: I no longer even keep "vegetable oil" in my house, so you can see where this discussion is going…]

 

The Short Answer: Yes, You Can Swap Canola Oil in For Vegetable Oil

The short answer is, yes, you can replace vegetable oil with a number of different options, including canola oil.

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How Storage Conditions Can Make Or Break The Quality Of Your Bulk Oil

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

How you store your bulk olive oil can’t just be an afterthought once it delivers. Getting olive oil and storing it in the wrong conditions is like buying ice cream from the store and taking 8 hours to get home and put it into the freezer.

You have to plan what you’re going to do with it before you buy -- in particular if you are a manufacturer, because there's more oil (and money) at stake. But manufacturer or home chef aside, the same still applies. 

Respect olive oil's proper storage conditions, and you will enjoy it -- in its freshest form -- for as long as possible.

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5 Essential Factors To Consider Before You Select Product Packaging

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

 

Choosing the best packaging for your new product can have a huge role in how successful it is when it hits store shelves. This, of course, directly affects how your company is able to grow and compete in the long-run, and applies no matter whether you are in the natural food, pharmaceutical, or nutraceutical industries.

Even with its great importance, it can be tough for any manufacturer to choose the right packaging for your business needs — even with the plethora of options now available.

Cost may be your primary concern as you start your search process, but it’s vital that you weigh the other important factors.  You will need to chose packaging that has a strong visual appeal and fits well with your marketing and branding. Of course, it’s also important that your packaging protects your products during transport, storage and delivery throughout the supply chain.  That way, the final product your customer picks off the store shelf looks just like it did when it came off your production line.

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How To Properly Taste Test Olive Oil

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Did you know there is a certain way you should taste olive oil?  Olive oil, in particular, has a specific way that it should be tasted to get the full effect and nuance of its flavors -- just like you would with wine.

We love to train both staff and customers on the proper way of tasting.  Here is a quick run down of how to do it like the professionals.

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What To Ask When Choosing A New Oil Supplier

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Choosing the right suppliers can have a huge impact on the bottom line for your company. The decisions you make about your vendors can impact your pricing structure, the raw ingredient inventory you hold, cash planning, the overall quality of your product, as well as your company's profitability!  Choices around this topic touch so many parts of your business. So today, we want to help you with the guidelines for a new supplier evaluation. 

These are the questions that, as a buyer, you should be asking yourself as you are evaluating new vendors for bulk ingredient supply.  You may be sourcing oils or you may be sourcing something else; this analysis process should look pretty similar across the board.  Let's dig in!

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How Long Does It Take To Defrost My Olive Oil?

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

It's almost that time of year again where the temperatures drop! Throughout the US, food production facilities and shipping trucks will be colder in the coming months. 

In the wintertime, how you handle your olive oil may have to be very different.  Picture for a moment: it's February, your production is about to start and you pull out your tote of olive oil that arrived last week.  You attach the dispensing pump and nothing happens -- no oil flows, and you can't get anything to come out.  You look inside and see your oil is completely solid, like cold butter. Now what?!

This is an all-too-real situation that happens to lots food manufacturers using bulk olive oil. Any manufacturer that has a cool warehouse in the winter or is located in the northern half of the US can expect to have this happen at some point!  The best thing you can do?  Prepare and know your options.

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Coconut Oil: Types At A Glance

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Stroll down the oil aisle of any grocery store, and you are bound to find a plethora of different coconut oils. It is one of the most popular oils in today's natural food market. 

A common question that we get from food manufacturers who are choosing coconut oil as an ingredient is, "Which kind of coconut oil should I choose?"

Here's the thing: there are multiple types (or grades) of coconut oil, and they each will taste and function very differently. It is extremely important to choose the right grade of coconut oil to be able to meet both your product's functionality and attributes needs. 

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“Pure” Olive Oil Is Not What You Think

Posted by Hannah Broaddus

Have you ever sourced olive oil-- just plain ol’ “olive oil”?  Understanding what you’re really getting can be confusing to most buyers outside of the oil industry.  We’d like to explain the grade “Olive Oil” (also known as “Pure Olive Oil”), because many consumers don’t really understand what they’re getting.

Many consumers mistakenly believe that “olive oil” is the primary grade of oil expelled from the olives, and the Virgin or Extra Virgin is a premium version of that.  This thinking is actually backwards.  In reality, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the primary grade created from the fruit of the olives, and “Olive Oil” is a processed, lower grade expelled after that.  

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What Is Pomace Olive Oil?

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Do you want to know what Pomace Olive Oil is? Today we'll dig into this topic so you can learn more!

What Is Pomace?

The dictionary has a pretty simple and spot-on definition for Pomace. Lets take a look:

"The dry or pulpy residue of material (such as fruit, seeds, or fish) from which a liquid (such as juice or oil) has been pressed or extracted. 2 : something crushed to a pulpy mass."

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Can you Substitute Canola Oil for Vegetable Oil?

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Can you use substitute canola oil for vegetable oil?  To answer this, we'll have to explain more about what vegetable oil actually is (and no, it's not made from the vegetables you're thinking of).  We'll also explain what makes vegetable oil ideal for your cooking and how canola oil may work differently -- or exactly the same.

But first, see the short answer below!

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The Meaning Of Expeller Pressed Canola Oil

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

Do you ever find yourself wondering what the true meaning of Expeller Pressed Canola is? Or maybe you have just heard the term a lot lately. This is because it is one of the most popular edible oils, as we find the food industry leaning more towards healthy and natural ingredients. 

We will begin by first defining what expeller pressed canola oil is so you can really determine whether it is right for your manufactured food.

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What Oil To Use To Get A Light Flavor And Color

Posted by Alexa Ketterling

If you were used to eating cereal with skim milk for years, you would sure notice if you poured heavy cream on that cereal instead of your routine skim milk. You would find yourself in for quite a rude awakening!

Like every food -- how the milk or cream is produced, what it comes from and any of its further processing all comes together to create unique product traits. These characteristics make each make product taste and feel different from each other even though they all still come from the same raw ingredient. 

Olive oil works in this exact same way. Each different grade is produced differently: one grade is the first press, while others are refined or come from a different part of the olive. How the grade is made produces a unique oil, and you can taste and see the difference between each. 

Just like in our example about the heavy cream that you wouldn't put in your cereal, you will want to choose the right grade of olive oil for exactly what you are making. 

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