Why are these Foods Stolen? - Part 2 – Food Variety 23

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Why are These Types of Foods Stolen? - Part 1 – Food Variety 23 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Chocolates sold in a grocery

How about the food lost in the world?

Sure, much more compared to America in terms of percentage and total economic value.

What quite surprising me that food loss is due to stolen by customers, not only from groceries and retailers, but also from restaurants.

However, main thefts of restaurants are their own employee, very rare done by customers!

Fig 02- Iced tea, just for illustration

Fig 03- Candies, one of favorite foods

Fig 04- Fresh meat in the market.

There is long list of foods stolen worldwide, some of most shoplift items are:

- cheese and chocolate

- fresh meat

- alcohol

- seafood

- infant formula

The question then: Why are these foods stolen by people?

Quick and simple answer is that they are “lucrative goods,” especially in developing countries where not all people can afford them.

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Edible Mushroom in the World – Food Variety 24

Mushroom is one of my favorites, because, I think it is delicious and one of healthy foods.

Fig 01- Wild mushroom at backyard

There are more than 50 thousand types of mushroom live in tropical region, southern and northern hemispheres.

They are used for many purposes, include medical and food resources. Surprisingly that not very much percentage are poisonous, around 1% to 2% of 50 thousand kinds only.

Many species of commercial mushrooms sold in the market. We could buy in the groceries or small stores or at farmer markets.

Fig 02- Enoki mushroom, wrapped in plastic

Fig 03- Look like long “small sticks or strings”

Fig 04- Photo from other side of wild mushroom

However, we understand that about 90 types have been cultivated, and 30 species are developed for commercial purposes.

Some types of famous mushroom with economic values are following:

- Shitake mushroom and Cremini mushroom

- White button mushroom and Maitake mushroom

- Oyster mushroom and Beech mushrooms

- Porcino mushrooms and Portobello mushroom

What type of mushroom do you familiar with?

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Have You Tasted Pistachio Muffins? - Part 2 – Food Variety 22

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Have You Tasted Pistachio Muffins? - Part 1 – Food Variety 22 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- The Pistachio muffin on the table

In term of economic value, California get US$ 3.6 billion per year from pistachio seeds industry as reported by FarmProgress (2018).

Pistachio seeds price is increasing recently, from US$ 2.65 per pound in 2018, to be about US$ 9 per pound in 2021, and predicted more in coming years.

Two factors caused price increasing:

- increasing demand

- cost of production is getting expensive due to increasing water price to keep plants healthy.

Fig 02- Pistachio nuts, sold in Walmart

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Fig 03- Homemade Pistachio muffin

Moreover, It is estimated by Todd Fitchette (2018: California pistachios a $3.6 billion industry, report says) that highly profitable to grow Pistachio trees in the USA farms.

Back to muffins, do you like Pistachio seeds or Pistachio green muffins or both of them?

What do you think?

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Why are These Types of Foods Stolen? - Part 1 – Food Variety 23

All of us might know that groceries face loss of their foods in great number, in some degrees due to spoilage.

Fig 01- One of biggest groceries in the USA, Walmart

In respect to economic value, the food waste costs US$ 15 billion every year as estimated by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2020). The estimate was applied to supermarket or groceries only.

If we include to households, restaurants and other business in food industry, then we will see the total food lost per year in America with astonishing amounts of money, about US$ 162 billion annually.

Fig 02- Some chocolates on the shelf

Fig 03- Cheese in Walmart.

Food lost has occurred in many stages of food chains, include in the following levels of:

- producers (farmers)

- sellers (groceries and supermarkets)

- food service (restaurants)

- consumers (households)

- transportation

- storage.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Have You Tasted Pistachio Muffins? - Part 1 – Food Variety 22

My favorite is regular banana muffins. I saw green muffin in a grocery recently. Actually, this kind of muffin is available during the Saint Patrick’s day.

Fig 01- Slices of green muffins

Its called as “Pistachio Muffins.” The price is a little bit expensive compared to regular ones.

4 counts regular sizes of muffin costs (price may varies from one grocery to other ones):

- US$ 5.18 for Pistachio muffins

- US$ 3.98 for regular (banana) muffins

Many people said Pistachio is a nut, actually its seed produced by Pistachio trees. Tall of trees could reach 33 feet (10 meters).

Fig 02- Myrtle flower, just for illustration

Fig 03- Pistachio muffin.

The tree is native to middle east or central Asia, but now, well grown in the states of:

- California, most trees grow in this state

- Arizona

- New Mexico

California is the main producer of Pistachio seed in the USA. Almost a half of 58 counties in California has grown Pistachio trees. Totally about 99% of commercial Pistachio comes from this state.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 2 – Food Variety 21

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 1 – Food Variety 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Tofu curry, one of popular dishes

Tofu is not bad choice for many people, include me, since it has high nutrition values such as:

- protein

- fiber

- vitamins

- minerals

How is Tofu processed from soybeans?

Fig 02- Fried Tofu, ready to consume

This food is actually fermented food, the making process is similar to cheese. The differences are:

- tofu was fermented from soy milk (made from soybeans).

- cheese from milks of cows, goats or other mammals.

Fig 03- Tofu with dice slices

In addition to nutrition riches, Tofu contains:

- no cholesterol

- gluten free

- lower saturated fat

- lower calories

Since getting popular, tofu is a billion dollar industry now. Both in the USA and world markets.

Do you know tofu?

Have you tasted it?

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Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 20

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Boiled peanuts, ready to consume

Our state just have 500 peanut acreages, hence, production so limited. We bought or “imported” peanuts from States such as:

- Georgia

- Florida

- Alabama

- Texas

- North Carolina

- Mississippi

- Oklahoma

Fig 02- Gas station, RaceTrac

Fig 03- Raw peanuts in the market

Some of my neighbors grow peanuts in their backyard during summer, just for fun or for their kids holiday “science” project.

They planted about 1 to 3 short rows of peanuts. Look like the plants are easy to grow. What we need:

- peanut seeds (green peanuts in the shell).

- fertilizers (organic fertilizers)

- plant the seed about 1 inch deep, and 4 inches apart.

In good condition, from seeds to harvest need about 120 days (4 months). Then, peanuts are ready to consume or dry them for consuming later on.

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