Canned Tomatoes and Beyond
Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian Updated September 2, 2024 Tomatoes are a native crop to South America; during the Spanish colonization of the Americas the Spaniards brought with them tomatoes for trade. Tomatoes were not available for commercial production in the United States until the mid-1800s.(1) Behind potatoes, tomatoes are […]
The Versatility of Summer Squash
Written by Garrett Peacy, Dietetic Intern, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Updated by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Registered Dietitian Published: May 26, 2023 Updated: September 2, 2024 Zucchini, also called courgette, and yellow squash, also called straightneck squash, are two common types of summer squash that are popular in […]
A Sweet, Summer Refreshment
Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Registered Dietitian In 2023 the National Watermelon Board published a survey of 805 respondents on their watermelon purchasing habits. Their findings include – (1) 47% reported they purchased watermelon in the past 6 months 53% of consumers searched for health benefits of watermelon 53% would […]
From Tree to Table: Olive Oil
Written by Anna Horsch, University of Minnesota – School of Public Health, Dietetic Intern Updated: June 20, 2024 To effectively utilize olive oil and determine the appropriate type for various uses, it’s crucial to understand the distinct properties of each variety. Words to know: Unrefined: chemicals or heat are not used to extract oil […]
Power Up Your Mood with Beans
Written by Andrew Akhapong, MS, RD, LD, Mackenthun’s Registered Dietitian Updated July 2, 2024 The Canned Beans Council published a study in 2020 assessing consumer attitudes towards beans. The findings that they have found include – 18% of consumers eat beans at least 3+ times/week 56% of consumers believe beans may reduce heart disease and […]
Juice – Above and Beyond
Written by Anna Horsch, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Dietetic Intern Updated June 28, 2024 Homemade or Fresh Squeezed Juicing at home involves extracting liquid from fresh fruits and vegetables, typically removing most of the solid components such as seeds and pulp. This juice retains the majority of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants naturally […]
“Fermented Foods: A Tangy Twist to Health and Flavor”
Written by Anna Horsch, Dietetic Intern, University of Minnesota School of Public Health Updated June 19, 2024 A review by Tilley Distribution in 2021 reported 15% of American consumers they include fermented foods to improve digestive health. Kombucha is the top-selling fermented food in the United States!(1) Fermented foods provide an abundance of benefits […]
Crispy, Refreshing, Nourishing Cucumbers
Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD Updated May 30, 2024 In a consumer survey published by the International Fresh Produce Association in 2022 -(1) 50% of consumers purchases cucumbers the past year 73% prefer to eat cucumbers with a salad Persons ages 50 to 49-years are the largest purchasing group of cucumbers The […]
Juicy, Sweet, and Peach-ariny
Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD Updated June 5, 2024 What produce screams spring and summer better than peaches or nectarines? Peaches and nectarines are produced among 20 states. The top four include California, South Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey. In 2017 approximately 56% of peaches and nectarines in retail were supplied by […]
Unraveling Delightful Tang
Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD Updated May 22, 2024 Feta cheese is often associated with the dry, crumbly, mild salty add-on commonly served with Greek salads. Though this is a characteristic that is found in feta cheese, American feta cheese differs quite largely from its Greek counterpart. When we think of authentic feta, […]
