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From vanilla and chocolate to olive oil and coffee, many popular products are being hampered by supply chain issues.
In the Madagascar region Responsible for supplying most of the world's vanillaConcerns over supply shortage Cyclone Gamane flooded fields and stripped vanilla pods from vines. that much International Cocoa Organization It pointed out a decline in raw material production in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The two countries that produce the most — And cocoa prices have soared over the past year. Hot and dry weather is rampant in Southeast Asia. While concerns about coffee shortages grow, olive oil lives up to its new term 'liquid gold'. Spain, the largest export country, Production was cut in half due to drought. And the price of the material 112% after 2022.
Some experts believe. Now is the time to rethink how the food and beverage industry produces these ingredients. Food technology services can help mitigate the impact of these supply chain issues.
“From severe weather damaging crops to labor issues to rising prices for a variety of ingredients, these factors have a trickle-down effect and are often passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices,” said CEO Matt Rubin. True Essence Foods in an interview with Food Dive.
True Essence is a food technology company with equipment solutions designed to protect the flavor and improve quality and sustainability of a variety of food and beverage products, according to the Indianapolis-based company.
By installing industrial mechanical equipment at customers' facilities, the company can create the kinds of products customers have always wanted but couldn't with traditional practices, Rubin said. For example, with its proprietary flavor symmetry technology, True Essence uses a unique molecular filter to separate and remove moisture from fresh raw materials, maintaining the product's taste, aroma, and nutritional content.
“Once True Essence Foods technology is implemented globally, it can significantly reduce fresh food waste,” the company said.
True Essence says there are two methods it uses to address the crisis: through its proprietary Flavor Balancing and Flavor Symmetry technologies.
Flavor Balancing is a rapid, additive-free solution that utilizes precisely controlled pressure conditions to quickly and preferentially release off-flavors, resulting in a smoother, more balanced taste, Rubin said. This technology is applied to fermented foods such as spirits, wine, vinegar, beer, chocolate, coffee, condiments, pickled products, etc.
Flavor Symmetry is a new dehydration system that creates dried, shelf-stable products while retaining their fresh flavor, Rubin said.
“Our additive-free low-temperature drying system selectively removes water in a sealed environment while recirculating air in a closed loop to dry the product. As a result, Flavor Symmetry maintains and protects all the fresh taste, potency and aroma of a wide range of product categories such as herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, juices, chocolate, tea, nutraceuticals and meats.
“We believe that we cannot solve the challenges of the food industry on our own, and we have created a business model that reflects this. We offer a combination of capital assets and licensing to customers who are looking for a partner who can help them create high-quality products in a more sustainable way,” the CEO said.
The length of time food technology systems can successfully mitigate supply chain issues for affected industries such as coffee and chocolate will vary by category, Rubin said.
Rubin said one of the most exciting things that happens at True Essence is discovering problems in the industry that the company is uniquely positioned to help solve.
“In addition to helping our customers achieve the highest product quality and consistency, our technology can help minimize waste throughout the supply chain.”
For example, Flavor Balancing recovers discarded products to consumer standards. Meanwhile, Flavor Symmetry allows consumers to easily access perishable products and reconstitute them with water to enjoy them fresh.
For example, consumers can enjoy carrots any time after purchase without worrying about them rotting in the refrigerator or ending up in a landfill.
Collaboration within the industry is key to mitigating supply chain issues in the long term, according to Rubin. Rubin said that when True Essence works with customers, it does so early on, starting with R&D testing to ensure the technology is right for the task.
