This website features research relating to human health conditions. The International Blackcurrant Association does not advocate using such  research to promote general retail blackcurrant products. Only products developed and proven to meet the values indicated by the research, and approved by regulatory authorities for such claims, should be promoted as such to consumers. But the research is part of a growing portfolio of knowledge that shows the wonderful potential various types of blackcurrant might provide for human mental and physical wellbeing and longevity.

The work of the International Blackcurrant Association is Proudly Sponsored by

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April Feature Stories:

IBA Board member Dirk Herdieckerhoff reports on two European Food Fairs: overall he found a disappointingly small blackcurrant presence but some champions are emerging and a superb cassis mustard brightens his day (and his palate).
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More than 3000 members of Four Leaf Japan are thanked for their company’s vision and support of the International Blackcurrant Association.
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IBA sponsor SFM Technology gets a Royal Warrant for their berry harvesting machinery. SFM is a major supplier of equipment and technology to the global blackcurrant industry.
For full story./Click here

April Feature Story:

“Fruit Logistica and the Internationale Grϋne Woche Both Disappoint and Excite!”

Ralph Eickhoff from Klostergut Möenchpfiffel with some of his company’s blackcurrant product being promoted at the Internationale Grϋne Woche.

 

IBA Board member Dirk Herdieckerhoff attended both major food shows earlier this year and gives this report to IBA members and supporters:

“Overall, the lack of blackcurrant product at both trade fairs was disappointing. But a highlight for me at the Grϋne Woche was the promotion of innovative blackcurrant product by the Klostergut Möenchpfiffel company. I especially enjoyed their ‘cassis mustard’. I saw something similar in France a few years ago and I believe this is a consumer product concept with huge potential: the heat and creaminess of the mustard quite delightful with the vivid crisp acidity of the cassis: perfect with so many different foods.

At the Fruit Logistica I was surprised at the lack of blackcurrant product at the Polish displays given Poland’s massive production of blackcurrants, and especially as they had some very nice sausage product that I thought would be perfect with a blackcurrant sauce. Perhaps that’s an idea that our Polish IBA members should look at encouraging.

It was good to see David Somerville and Jonathan Snape from the Hutton Institute at Fruit Logistica promoting new plant varieties and the research facilities available.
But one of the displays that most interested me was a New Zealand company, BBC technologies Ltd. They’ve perfected a colour sorter that uses both visible and infra-red light spectrum scanners to identify optimal sorting of small fruits. This could have huge potential for premium IQF blackcurrants.

So overall, surprising lack of blackcurrant presence. But if we use a glass half-full and not glass half-empty mind-set, that means we have wonderful potential as an industry as we get our marketing act together”.

April Feature Story:

“IBA’s Founding Sponsor, Four Leaf Japan, Thanked for Global Vision and Support of the international blackcurrant industry. ”

The IBA General manager Bill Floyd was honoured to be able to thank the Four Leaf Japan Company for their on going support of the global blackcurrant industry when he spoke at the Four Leaf Commons 2012, in Yokohama Japan earlier this year.

 

More than 3000 members of Four Leaf Japan attended the 2012 Commons; held in Yokohama Japan. IBA General Manager Bill Floyd was invited to attend and speak to the members about their company and how its vision and Four Pillars philosophy had been so important to the global blackcurrant industry.

“Four Leaf Japan has created a unique business philosophy that brings together grower, processor, customer, and consumer. The Company has created a unique proprietary product based on sound and ethical research and then given that product strength in the marketplace through highly innovative and sincere interpersonal relationship marketing models,

As part of this Four Leaf Japan business model the company has championed the creation of the global blackcurrant industry association and been its Founding Sponsor. The global blackcurrant family is indebted to the vision and passion of the Four Leaf Company.

Bill Floyd, General Manager, IBA