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F o o d M a g i c D a i l y M o n d a y, J u l y 1 3 , 2 0 1 5 4 REAL-TIME ON-LINE MEASUREMENTS HELP CONTROL MOISTURE, OIL, DEGREE OF BROWNNESS NDC Technologies, a leading global provider of precision measurement and control solutions, has been working closely with leading snack food manu- facturers to better control product quality and improve process performance. NDC's dependable MM710e Near- Infrared (NIR) on-line gauge generates continuous, highly accurate and repre- sentative measurements of the snack pro- duction, allowing for better process con- trol and product quality optimization. "Controlling moisture, oil, seasoning and color is important to maintain final product quality," says Andy Grady, Market Manager for NDC Technologies. "In addi- tion, it is now generally understood that accurate cooking control with a good moisture measurement is an essential strat- egy for mitigating acrylamide formation in potato chips. Our MM710e gauge provides real-time information about the process so meaningful control can be achieved. It greatly improves processes visibility and reduces manufacturing costs." The MM710e gauge enables snack food proces- sors to combine traditional moisture and oil measure- ments with the on-line measurement of surface brownness (or degree of frying or bak- ing). This offers a powerful alternative to time-consuming, off-line testing. Designed for integration into snack pro- duction lines, the MM710e provides instant outputs to a PLC or control sys- tem for complete process control. Visit NDC Technologies at booth #4114. For more information, visit www.ndc.com/snacks. GEORGIA PECAN COMMISSION TAKES MARKETING "BEYOND THE PIE" With the prices of almonds and other California-grown nuts rising because of severe drought conditions, the move by the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Pecans, also known as the Georgia Pecan Commission, to change its marketing strategies is paying off. Commissioners believe now is the right time for pecans. Georgia is the largest producer of pecans in the United States, and for years, the Georgia Pecan Commission's marketing efforts targeted consumers directly and through restaurant and food service promotions. Previous campaigns were based on recipes for the home cook with occasional promotions by chefs, but last year the commission made a radical shift in its target audience. Research by ST!R Marketing, an Atlanta-based communications firm spe- cializing in the agriculture and food industries, showed that promotions to home cooks was not creating enough demand to stop a slide in pecans' share of the market. "The consumer-oriented programs were not focused where large inventories of nuts are used – in manufacturing and ingredients," says Margaret Lisi, ST!R Marketing CEO and Center for Pecan Innovation Program Manager. Lisi's team learned that not only had the per capita consumption of pecans in the United States decreased, but more critically, food manufacturers' focus on research and development (R&D) using pecans as an ingredient also dropped. "Our takeaways were that pecans are considered a more regional, old-fash- ioned nut – the 'forgotten nut,'" Continued on Page 29 AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH IFT Lee M. Oser CEO and Editor-in-Chief Kim Forrester Jules Denton Paul Harris Associate Publishers Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director Jeanie Catron JoEllen Lowry Richard Thompson Associate Editors Yasmine Brown Andre Gressieux Chantel Butcher Graphic Designers Sarah Glenn Caitlyn Roach Customer Service Managers Heather Canale Stacy Davis Savannah Green Tara Neal Show Logistics & Distribution Lynn Hilton Marcos Morhaim Cathy Neuman Sarah Robinson Carlos Velasquez Account Managers Enrico Cecchi European Sales Food Magic Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2015 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 www.osercommunicationsgroup.com European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy