Informative — organic freeze dried
Millennials Are Redefining Organic Freeze Dried Fruit Through Their Start-Ups 0
From the moment they reached adulthood and entered the workplace, millennials have pushed for change in many aspects of modern life - from politics to ecology. But the industry they influenced the most (or better yet, revolutionized) is the food industry.
According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report(1), millennial households focus more on healthy foods (like fruits and vegetables) and less on processed goods (like pasta and chips). They also value convenience more than older generations; so, they consume more ready-to-eat and take-out meals than older generations.
Maybe that's why they've embraced many "unconventional" foods that past generations used to scoff at, such as organic freeze dried fruit (OFDF). However, things have changed. Not only are millennials willing to add organic freeze dried fruit to their cart, but some of them go as far as to build their start-ups around them - often using them in the most innovative ways.
So, if you want to delve deeper into the world of freeze-dried food, these four food products created by millennials will show you that there are many more ways to enjoy OFDF than straight out of the bag.
NurturMe - Mom Turns Dried Fruit into an Organic Baby-Food Empire
After having her first baby, new mom Caroline Freedman(2) was shocked at the poor quality and bad taste of ready-made baby food available on the market. Determined to change that, she and her friend, Lauren McCullough, set out to create a line of healthy and tasty baby foods made entirely from organic dried fruits and veggies.
The two women started experimenting by drying different fruits and veggies and blending them in order to come up with the tastiest combos. Through trial and error, they found the blends that resonated with them the most and launched them, covering kids of all ages, from infants to toddlers. One of the company's most delicious fruit blends is the "Ancient Grains," a tasty and nutritious mix of pineapple, banana, and oatmeal.
Urban Artifact Brewing Company - New-Age Brewery Uses Freeze Dried Fruit to Make "Astronaut Beer"
Last year, Urban Artifact Brewing Company(3), a Cincinnati-based brewery specializing in fruit beer, took a note from cosmonauts' menus and started working on a new beer line. The drink was labeled "Astronaut Food" and featured freeze dried fruit as the main ingredient. The limited-edition beer came with a high alcohol content (15% ABV) and was released in two unique flavors, blackberry-raspberry and blueberry. Due to the high cost of freeze dried fruit, the beer was somewhat pricey. But beer lovers who had the chance to taste the brew said it was well worth the splurge.
Kencko - Company Turns Organic Freeze Dried Fruit into Easy-to-Make Smoothies
Founded by Tomas Fores and Ricardo Vice Santos, Kencko(4) (which is Japanese for "health") was formed in 2016 after Fores was diagnosed with acute gastritis. The smoothie company was created with a simple goal in mind: to help 90% of adults who fail to meet the recommended servings of produce per day round out their daily meals in the easiest way possible.
Understanding that organic freeze dried fruits are as nutritious as fresh fruit (but come with a longer shelf life), the company decided to pulverize and pack them in single-serving pouches. This way, consumers can easily stir them in water or milk and create a nutritious drink on the go.
The smoothies are cataloged by color and purpose like the "Purples," which feature a mix of berries, bananas, and dates and promise to aid digestion and reduce inflammation. So, depending on your health goals and color preferences, you can choose the smoothie that suits you the most.
FRUUP - A Polish Company Creates the First Ever Freeze Dried Fruit Bars
Created by Celiko, a Polish manufacturing company specializing in dry food concentrates, FRUUP is the world's first freeze dried fruit bar. Boasting a natural ingredient list, the treat contains no added sugar and is rich in fiber and antioxidants. The bar tastes like sorbet, especially when frozen or dissolved in water. Thanks to its texture, it also crumbles easily and blends well with yogurt and cereal.
What innovative product would you make with a batch of organic freeze dried fruit? Let us know in the comment section down below!
References:
- https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/86401/eib-186.pdf?v=43097
- https://www.treehugger.com/moms-turn-dried-fruit-into-organic-baby-food-empire-4862430
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/garystoller/2021/02/19/what-will-they-think-of-next-freeze-dried-astronaut-beer/
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90650187/this-freeze-dried-smoothie-company-is-delicious-and-cost-effective
Will Organic Freeze Dried Vegetables Be on Everyone's Menu in the Future? 0
Be it your view on mental health or how you wash your hands, we all had to re-evaluate some of our preCOVID-19 habits following the onset of the pandemic. However, the one thing that required the most effort (but we all had to come to terms with) was the new status quo in grocery shopping.
Between empty supermarket shelves and food supply chains being pushed to their limits, we had to readjust the way we shopped to accommodate our new quarantined lifestyles. So, we stockpiled like crazy!
But with this new shopping philosophy came a new set of rules: from shopping in bulk to opting for foods that last longer. And this is how freeze dried vegetables came out of the astronaut shadows' and became a niche on their own.
But if you think that freeze dried food was just a pandemic trend, we're here to tell you that they're here to stay. In fact, here are five reasons why organic freeze dried vegetables (OFDVs) are a treat that future generations will swear by.
Organic Freeze Dried Vegetables: The Food of the Future?
If Covid-19 has taught us anything since it first came out, it's that our food supply chain - from farm to fork - is hanging on by a thread(1). We could blame it all on the increase in global demand for food(2) or the ever-decreasing numbers in the human workforce(3). But no matter the reasons, there's no denying that the production and distribution of fresh food are becoming an increasingly uphill task for both farmers and suppliers.
And that's why we're seeing a big surge in freeze dried vegetables. The once "bland space food" is turning into the next big thing in the food industry as its long shelf life has become a hot commodity for consumers, who now value shelf stability more than freshness.
After all, it's not uncommon for shoppers to run into empty supermarket shelves - which instantly makes organic crunchy peas a much wiser choice than, say, a pound of fresh peas that'll go bad in a week.
Besides, this never-go-bad nature isn't the only thing that makes organic freeze dried vegetables a future-proof pantry option, as today's crop of OFDVs is a far cry from MREs of the past. In fact, they're engineered to keep the food's nutritional profile intact and preserve its original flavor. So, it's basically like eating fresh produce (with the only exception that you must rehydrate it first).
But What is Freeze Drying, Anyway?
Also known as lyophilization, freeze drying(4) is a dehydration method during which certain foods are frozen so that their content in water turns into ice. Then, this ice is meticulously removed by sublimation. This method operates at low temperatures and eliminates the need for heat to remove the water (evaporation). As a result, the food's taste, nutritional value, and appearance remain intact. Freezing the food also inhibits the microbes from growing and spreading, which prevents the food from going bad quickly (hence OFDVs' long shelf life).
5 Reasons Why Freeze Dried Vegetables Are the Ultimate Future Food
• They're Healthy
We've all heard (or read) the rumors that freeze drying strips the food of its nutrients and leaves it an empty shell of a nosh. But the truth is quite different. The vegetables that go through freeze drying are actually harvested and preserved at the peak of their ripeness and nutrient content. As a result, they're just as nutritious and healthy as their fresh counterparts. And we should also mention that our variety is organic(5), meaning our products are grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and bioengineered genes (GMOs).
• They Have a Long Shelf Life
No matter what the future holds for the food industry, one thing is for sure: Organic freeze dried vegetables are an excellent way to ensure your eating habits from possible fluctuations in the market. Thanks to their long shelf life, OFDVs give you the chance to store your favorite produce for months (even decades at times) and enjoy them whenever the mood strikes - even if their prices skyrocket due to global shortage or when they're out of season.
• They Require Minimal Prepping
With the "epidemic of busyness"(6) being an everyday occurrence for most millennials (and probably Gen-Zers), skipping cooking seems like a legit way to save some minutes during the day. But OFDVs offer an alternative. Since these ingredients are cut and cooked before freeze drying, they require minimal prepping and could spare you from losing time in the kitchen. The only thing you have to do is soak them in water and get on with your recipe.
• They Are Versatile
Another advantage of organic freeze dried vegetables for future menus is their ability to fit almost any need and taste. Whether you want them cut into smaller pieces or preserved whole, these veggies can be part of every meal, from energizing breakfasts to hearty dinners. In some cases, you can even grind them into a fine powder and add them to smoothies or sauces. Such versatility will allow you to use OFDVs as a blank canvas for infinite recipes and make them work no matter what you make with them.
• They're Easy to Transport
Water makes up a large part of the food we eat. Vegetables(7), in particular, consist of more than 70% of water. Since most of the water is removed during freeze drying, organic freeze dried vegetables' overall mass decreases, making them lighter and easier to carry around. That could prove helpful in cases where people need to cross long distances to reach a destination and need to feed themselves along the way. Let's not forget that environmental migration is an imminent threat for most tropical and some continental populations.
Have you tried our organic freeze dried vegetables? If so, which are your favorites? Let us know in the comment section down below!
References:
- Impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain | Food Quality and Safety | Oxford Academic (oup.com)
- Global Demand for Food Is Rising. Can We Meet It? (hbr.org)
- What’s Causing Supply Chain Issues? - Eater
- The Freeze-Drying of Foods—The Characteristic of the Process Course and the Effect of Its Parameters on the Physical Properties of Food Materials - PMC (nih.gov)
- https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm
- The epidemic of busyness - Alastair Humphreys
- Table - PMC (nih.gov)
