Oser Communications Group

16 YEAR IN REVIEW GOURMET NEWS DECEMBER 2013 www.gourmetnews.com 2013: The Year in Food and Food News ples, but as a means to travel the globe, stimulate their intellectual curiosity, give back to the planet and promote their general health and well being. In short, like never before, food today is at the epicenter of the American spirit. With Americans in general paying more and more attention to the foods that they eat, collective outrage has grown over foods and food production practices that some deem unnatural and unhealthy. The war over genetically modified organisms heated up this year, with Whole Foods Market making the pledge to label all products sold in their stores to indicate when they contain GMOs. Now, Los Angeles is reportedly considering banning GMOs from the metropolitan area, potentially making the city the largest non-GMO zone in the nation. In addition to eschewing GMOs, an increasing number of food conscious conSUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW RETURNS TO NEW YORK IN 2013, SEEING RECORD ATTENDANCE. sumers are switching up their dinner plates in search months have been a year of unparalleled inof healthier, more humane and more environterest in food and food culture, as more and mentally conscious eating options. Vegetarimore Americans are turning to gourmet reanism and veganism are more popular than tailers, not just to stock up on pantry staever. Consumers are seeking out labels indiBY LUCAS WITMAN Kombucha. Sriracha. Charcuterie. Cronut. For those who were not already familiar with these gastronomic terms, 2013 has launched them into the domain of pop culture ubiquity. Add to these a slate of increasingly popular culinary words and phrases, such as "slow food," "Wagyu beef," "ancient grains" and "urban homesteading," and one begins to see a clearer picture of the year in food. The past 12 cating that products are humanely and ethiWith specialty foods more popular today cally sourced, including Certified Humane, than ever before and consumers now purFair Trade USA and Harvested by Women chasing gourmet goods even at their local certifications. In addition, the Slow Food grocery stores, specialty foods companies are movement has exploded in popularity, with consumers in the United States and throughout the world demonstrating a commitment to seasonal, local, healthful, eco-friendly and socially conscious cuisine. The U.S. government has not kept out of this heightened interest among U.S. consumers in eating healthier and pursuing more socially conscious lifestyles. First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's THOUSANDS CONVENE IN BRA, ITALY FOR BIANNUAL Move initiative kicked into SLOW CHEESE FESTIVAL IN SEPTEMBER high gear this year, promoting healthy eating and more active sure to continue monitoring U.S. food lifestyles among American youth. In additrends and consumer preferences and give tion, the Food and Drug Administration consumers the things they want most. For took a bold step in 2013, officially defining the time being, consumer desires seem cenwhat it means for a product to be labeled as tered on fresh, local, sustainable and socially "gluten-free." However, despite its commitaware products that are safe and healthful. ment to promoting healthy lifestyles and In addition, consumers want diversity, seeknutritious foods, government sequestration ing out unique new products from around and the October government shutdown the globe. Thus, these are the things which have crippled efforts to monitor the safety retailers are likely to be stocking on their of U.S. food supplies. shelves for some time to come. GN

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