Monsey, NY
At meetings this week of rabbinic groups and certification agencies, a number of proposals were floated to protect kosher consumers from the type of scandal that rocked the community just a fortnight ago. Shevach Meats, a popular glatt kosher butcher, was caught selling non-kosher poultry as kosher. One rabbi suggested banning the sale of fresh meats in supermarkets and returning to the days of the local kosher butcher. Others promoted the idea of requiring a mashgiach temidi, permanent kosher supervisor, at such stores, while another proposal called for rabbis and agencies to have the keys, codes for alarms, and combinations to establishments selling fresh meat. Meanwhile rabbis were busy quashing rumors that a popular Boro Park butcher was also involved in the scandal. One rabbi said that the store had actually been fingured by Mr. Shevach (the name given the proprietor of the store believed to have sold the non-kosher chickens) but that a close inspection of the store showed that there was no basis for the accusation. A source told KosherToday that rabbis interviewing Mr. Shevach found his story to be “less than credible” which was confirmed by a subsequent investigation of the Brooklyn store. A letter signed by a prominent rabbi was posted in synagogues this past weekend confirming that the Brooklyn butcher was not under any suspicion.
Residents of the community were still asking “how it could have happened” in their community. This past Sunday was declared a fast day in the community to atone for the unsuspecting violation of kashrus law by so many residents. Some residents are temporarily going vegetarian while others are eating only on paper and plastic plates and using plastic utensils. The scrubbing and cleansing of kitchens continues in many homes, but most unnerving for the residents and even for those not living in the community is the constant spade of rumors that this scandal goes far beyond the sale of chickens in the Hatzlocho Kosher Supermarket, which was supplied by Shevach. A prominent rabbi in Flatbush charged consumers with being too complacent and urged that they demand a mashgiach temidi in every establishment that sells fresh meat, even if it has to cost the store an estimated $50,000 a year, which will surely result in higher prices. While many consumers were ready to pay the surcharge, they wondered out loud whether rabbis are not too trusting of those owners they consider beyond rapproach. “After the scandal two years ago in Flatbush (where a glatt kosher takeout store sold kosher meat as glatt kosher),” said the rabbi, “there were promises of change, but nothing happened.” The question that many are asking these days is if the more serious scandal in Monsey will at last prompt both rabbis and the community into action.
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
New Wines for Rosh Hashanah Continue Upward Move
(New York)
The dramatic developments within the kosher wine industry in recent years has meant that there is always something to look forward to when the Jewish holidays approach, and this Rosh Hashanah will be no exception. For Bayonne, NJ-based Royal Wines, teasing the palate of the wine connoisseur has become commonplace on the eve of every Jewish holiday. This year it is Capcanes, a boutique wine that has been described as “one of the finest kosher wines I have ever tasted” by Robert Parker the guru of sophisticated wines. Winemaker Jurgen Wagner discovered Capacanes in the elevated but deserted Catalan mountains, a co-op of around 80 Spanish Catholic farmers who passed on the grapes (and profits) to a large conglomerate who in turn directed the production of a dry red table wine and its worldwide distribution. Several years ago, thanks to a family connection that pressed for a locally made kosher wine for the Jewish community, Peraj Ha’Abib was created. This Sephardic name means Early Spring Flower (Flor de Primavera in Spanish). For the farmers it heralded as a first attempt at fully producing a wine. Today, German-born Mr. Wagner, together with 2 colleagues, oversees the entire wine production at Capcanes. Peraj Ha’Abib retails in the $45.00 range.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to be the source of many new kosher wines including Carmel’s Merlot 2004, upper Galilee, Carmel’s Petit Syrah 2004, Judean Hills, Carmel’s Carignane 2004, Zichron Ya'akov, Carmel’s Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Ramat Arad, Dalton’s Chardonnay reserve 2005, Dalton’s Sauvignon Blanc reserve 2005, Binyamina’s Yogev Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot 2005, Binyamina, Yogev, Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2005.
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The dramatic developments within the kosher wine industry in recent years has meant that there is always something to look forward to when the Jewish holidays approach, and this Rosh Hashanah will be no exception. For Bayonne, NJ-based Royal Wines, teasing the palate of the wine connoisseur has become commonplace on the eve of every Jewish holiday. This year it is Capcanes, a boutique wine that has been described as “one of the finest kosher wines I have ever tasted” by Robert Parker the guru of sophisticated wines. Winemaker Jurgen Wagner discovered Capacanes in the elevated but deserted Catalan mountains, a co-op of around 80 Spanish Catholic farmers who passed on the grapes (and profits) to a large conglomerate who in turn directed the production of a dry red table wine and its worldwide distribution. Several years ago, thanks to a family connection that pressed for a locally made kosher wine for the Jewish community, Peraj Ha’Abib was created. This Sephardic name means Early Spring Flower (Flor de Primavera in Spanish). For the farmers it heralded as a first attempt at fully producing a wine. Today, German-born Mr. Wagner, together with 2 colleagues, oversees the entire wine production at Capcanes. Peraj Ha’Abib retails in the $45.00 range.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to be the source of many new kosher wines including Carmel’s Merlot 2004, upper Galilee, Carmel’s Petit Syrah 2004, Judean Hills, Carmel’s Carignane 2004, Zichron Ya'akov, Carmel’s Sauvignon Blanc 2005, Ramat Arad, Dalton’s Chardonnay reserve 2005, Dalton’s Sauvignon Blanc reserve 2005, Binyamina’s Yogev Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot 2005, Binyamina, Yogev, Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2005.
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Best New Kosher Products to be Selected on October 18th
Portland, ME
A distinguished panel of food industry professionals will select the winners of the best new kosher products at the upcoming Kosherfest (November 14-15, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center) on October 18th. The judges will make their choices for 15 categories, including beverages, wines, beer or spirits, meats, seafood or poultry, cheese or dairy, pastas, rice, beans or soups, baked goods, breads, grains or cereals, jams, preserves or spreads, snack foods, savory condiments, spices and sauces, oils, vinegars or dressings, desserts, candies, cookies or crackers, foodservice products, packaging/design, Passover products, and fine foods from Israel. The products must be received by October 6th. The competition is co-sponsored by Kosherfest 2006, the Kosher Food Distributors Association and the National Association for Specialty Foods. The competition has become an important event for the kosher food industry with winning manufacturers proudly touting the quality of their recognized new products.
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A distinguished panel of food industry professionals will select the winners of the best new kosher products at the upcoming Kosherfest (November 14-15, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center) on October 18th. The judges will make their choices for 15 categories, including beverages, wines, beer or spirits, meats, seafood or poultry, cheese or dairy, pastas, rice, beans or soups, baked goods, breads, grains or cereals, jams, preserves or spreads, snack foods, savory condiments, spices and sauces, oils, vinegars or dressings, desserts, candies, cookies or crackers, foodservice products, packaging/design, Passover products, and fine foods from Israel. The products must be received by October 6th. The competition is co-sponsored by Kosherfest 2006, the Kosher Food Distributors Association and the National Association for Specialty Foods. The competition has become an important event for the kosher food industry with winning manufacturers proudly touting the quality of their recognized new products.
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Matzoh Balls, Kugel, Gefilte Fish for Rosh Hashanah, but all Not Kosher
New York
Imagine a “High Holy Days menu” that is not holy. Why? It is not kosher. After describing such holiday “classics” as light & fluffy matzoh balls, brisket, potato kugel and homemade gefilte fish, Balducci’s ad (The Jewish Week, September 15, 2006) concludes with “And while all of our holiday food is fabulous, it is not in fact Kosher.” Sources tell KosherToday that Balducci’s is not the only one to advertise holiday fare that is not kosher, with many using the traditional “kosher style” to further create confusion. The practice is more commonplace on Passover when even publications like The New York Times list the non-kosher eateries for the holiday while advertising the traditional dishes and even using such words such as matzoh balls and tzimmes to appear to be traditional. Rabbis reached by KosherToday were aghast that a “High Holy days menu” would be non kosher. Said one: “To use the holiest days on the Jewish calendar to promote non-kosher food is a shanda (shame in Yiddish).”
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Imagine a “High Holy Days menu” that is not holy. Why? It is not kosher. After describing such holiday “classics” as light & fluffy matzoh balls, brisket, potato kugel and homemade gefilte fish, Balducci’s ad (The Jewish Week, September 15, 2006) concludes with “And while all of our holiday food is fabulous, it is not in fact Kosher.” Sources tell KosherToday that Balducci’s is not the only one to advertise holiday fare that is not kosher, with many using the traditional “kosher style” to further create confusion. The practice is more commonplace on Passover when even publications like The New York Times list the non-kosher eateries for the holiday while advertising the traditional dishes and even using such words such as matzoh balls and tzimmes to appear to be traditional. Rabbis reached by KosherToday were aghast that a “High Holy days menu” would be non kosher. Said one: “To use the holiest days on the Jewish calendar to promote non-kosher food is a shanda (shame in Yiddish).”
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Honey Sales Soar in Israel to Record $30 Million
Jerusalem by Idele Ross...
The honey market in Israel is sweet indeed and estimated to be worth some $30 million dollars in sales a year, about 60% of which take place in the month leading up to the high holidays. This season, demand is expected to reach 1,900 tons of honey and sales of over $10 million, similar to the previous year. Prices were supposed to decline by 10% ahead of the holidays, but Yoram Paz of Emek Hefer Apiaries said that the fires caused by the katyusha shelling of the north damaged the hives and many of the areas where the bees pollinate flowers, increasing the forecasted loss to between 200-300 tons of honey. Paz noted that 15% of the honey is sold in gift packages and the rest in supermarkets. The annual consumption of honey in Israel is about a half kilo per person. The main products are pure honey and honey enriched with queen’s jelly. Israel produces many different kinds of honey including eucalyptus, avocado, citrus, plum and light honey for weight watchers.
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Honey Recipes
The honey market in Israel is sweet indeed and estimated to be worth some $30 million dollars in sales a year, about 60% of which take place in the month leading up to the high holidays. This season, demand is expected to reach 1,900 tons of honey and sales of over $10 million, similar to the previous year. Prices were supposed to decline by 10% ahead of the holidays, but Yoram Paz of Emek Hefer Apiaries said that the fires caused by the katyusha shelling of the north damaged the hives and many of the areas where the bees pollinate flowers, increasing the forecasted loss to between 200-300 tons of honey. Paz noted that 15% of the honey is sold in gift packages and the rest in supermarkets. The annual consumption of honey in Israel is about a half kilo per person. The main products are pure honey and honey enriched with queen’s jelly. Israel produces many different kinds of honey including eucalyptus, avocado, citrus, plum and light honey for weight watchers.
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Kosher Food Industry
Brisk Rosh Hashanah Sales Expected
(New York) Retailers in major markets are hoping for record sales this week as shoppers prepare to usher in the New Year of 5767 this Friday evening. The weekend holiday, say distributors, is likely to play a major role in driving sales, although one distributor said that the “loss of independent Shabbos” days during the high holy days will amount to less sales. In all, the High Holy Days represent nearly 15% of the annual sales of kosher foods, estimated to top $11 billion in 2006. The tempo of marketing and merchandising picked up steam with major retailers publishing their FSI’s, many of which were dropped on doorsteps and others included in Jewish publications. For Jacob Rusanov of Wakefern (ShopRite), the big project for the holidays was a magnificent calendar. For Yakov Yarmove of SuperValu (Albertsons), producing a new creative set for his stores was the challenge this year.
Honey is, of course, a big seller at this time of the year and this week shoppers will have many brands to choose from, including Gefen and Manischewitz as well as many flavored gourmet honeys from Israel. For the first time ever, American Jews will be able to dip their challahs and apples in Yad Mordechai Honey, a popular Israeli brand owned by Strauss-Elite that has also transformed itself into a year-round staple for the growing number of health conscious consumers. Yad Mordechai produces 2000 tons of honey for their line of products. Manischewitz of R.A.B. Foods promoted holiday recipes from popular kosher cookbook author Susan Fishbein, including Peach Noodle Kugel. Tnuva USA also promoted many recipes from some of Israel’s most renowned chefs through its website. Rosh Hashanah will set in motion a near month of holidays, one of the most productive seasons for the kosher food industry. Also driving sales for the holidays will be the significant foodservice business during the holiday period. Second only to Passover, tens of thousands of Jews travel to resorts and to Israel during the Succoth holiday. Hotels in Israel have been sold out for months and even the hard hit hotels in the North report a sell-out.
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(New York) Retailers in major markets are hoping for record sales this week as shoppers prepare to usher in the New Year of 5767 this Friday evening. The weekend holiday, say distributors, is likely to play a major role in driving sales, although one distributor said that the “loss of independent Shabbos” days during the high holy days will amount to less sales. In all, the High Holy Days represent nearly 15% of the annual sales of kosher foods, estimated to top $11 billion in 2006. The tempo of marketing and merchandising picked up steam with major retailers publishing their FSI’s, many of which were dropped on doorsteps and others included in Jewish publications. For Jacob Rusanov of Wakefern (ShopRite), the big project for the holidays was a magnificent calendar. For Yakov Yarmove of SuperValu (Albertsons), producing a new creative set for his stores was the challenge this year.
Honey is, of course, a big seller at this time of the year and this week shoppers will have many brands to choose from, including Gefen and Manischewitz as well as many flavored gourmet honeys from Israel. For the first time ever, American Jews will be able to dip their challahs and apples in Yad Mordechai Honey, a popular Israeli brand owned by Strauss-Elite that has also transformed itself into a year-round staple for the growing number of health conscious consumers. Yad Mordechai produces 2000 tons of honey for their line of products. Manischewitz of R.A.B. Foods promoted holiday recipes from popular kosher cookbook author Susan Fishbein, including Peach Noodle Kugel. Tnuva USA also promoted many recipes from some of Israel’s most renowned chefs through its website. Rosh Hashanah will set in motion a near month of holidays, one of the most productive seasons for the kosher food industry. Also driving sales for the holidays will be the significant foodservice business during the holiday period. Second only to Passover, tens of thousands of Jews travel to resorts and to Israel during the Succoth holiday. Hotels in Israel have been sold out for months and even the hard hit hotels in the North report a sell-out.
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