Grocery Showcase West
Every year I try to attend Grocery Showcase West, a trade show organized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. This is where product manufacturers bring their wares to show to grocery store owners and managers looking for new products to put on their shelves. Here are some of the new products I tasted and tested: (prices, where suggested, are Manufacturers' Suggested Retail Prices) Many of these items should be available in most grocery and specialty stores. If you don't see them, check the websites listed below or ask your grocer to bring them in.
Insulated Shopping Bags
These bags will hold 25 pounds (smaller sizes also available) and act just like a cooler, but in a more portable format for storing hot or cold foods for a couple of hours at a time. About $7.95. www.keepcoolusa.com
NoNuts Golden Peabutter
this is an amazing substitute for peanut butter made from dried peas and canola oil, and no peanuts! About $5-6 for a pound. www.peabutter.ca
Maureen's Food World
Maureen Simon, a well-known Vancouver caterer, now has her own line of ethnic food products, including Caribbean Celebration Cakes in various sizes, and a delicious FruitRumba sauce. www.maureensfoodworld.com
Sunshine Farms
John and Claudia Jaques make a line of pickles, including North America's only certified organic dill pickles. They also have pickled asparagus, beans, beets, carrots, fiddleheads, garlic scapes and garlic cloves. jjaques@mnsi.net
Hills Foods
A wild game and specialty meat supplier from BC, Hills has now come up with packaged exotic burgers for your grill, including organic beef, ostrich, wild muskox and bison. Four quarter-pound burgers are in each pack, about $9-10 a pack. www.hillsfoods.com
Chris and Larry's Clodhoppers
Chris and Larry are two young businessmen with a dream come true. Using a recipe for caramel-coated graham cracker crumbs from Chris's grandmother, these guys now have a product line stretching across Canada and the United States. www.clodhoppers.tv
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