McKeany-Flavell Hot Commodity Podcast

Tales from the Sweets & Snacks Expo and the Latest on Cocoa

• From the Expo
  • Hazelnuts
  • Hot flavors and exotic ingredients
  • Dual sensory (jalapeño in chocolate?!?)
• Cocoa
  • Cocoa in a bear channel
  • Powder and butter updates

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Jeff Rasinski, Cocoa Consultant

Investigating Food Fraud with Amanda Irizarry of Brian Shube Consulting

Mike sits down with Amanda Irizarry, Food Safety Director of Brian Shube Consulting, and asks:

• What is food fraud and food adulteration?
• What types of adulterants can be intentional?
• What products or ingredients are involved in the highest amount of food fraud?
• And more!

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Amanda Irizarry, Food Safety Director, Brian Shube Consulting

Let’s Do the WASDE Shuffle!

• Corn and soybeans
  • Tightening global balance sheet
• USDA continues to bloat sugar deliveries

 

Host: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

 

Nicole's Midwest Windshield Tour

• Recap of planting progress and weather
  • Corn
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar beet

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

Round Table II: Live Q&A from Our Spring Market Seminar

• Diversification of the corn wet milling industry
  • Where is it going?
  • What is the long-term outlook?
• Genetically modified sugarcane in Brazil: What are your expectations?
• Sugar beet industry
  • Will they have to label as genetically modified?
  • Could we see any more consolidation?

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Experts: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

Kevin Combs, Vice President – Sweeteners Specialist

 

Round Table: Live from Our Spring Market Seminar

• Weather forecast
  • Anticipation of weather patterns and which commodities stand to be affected
• Trade dispute with China
  • Outcome and potential impact of domestic production
• Farm bill
  • Potential changes or status quo?

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Experts: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

Kevin Combs, Vice President – Sweeteners Specialist

 

Sugar & Cocoa Update, Unstoned

• Sugar beet planting progress
• Farm Bill update
• Commercial activity
• Cocoa
  • Spec influence
  • Drivers moving forward

 

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

 

WASDE Recap

• Corn and soybeans
  • Slight adjustment to ending stocks for both
  • Market more focused on acreage and trade
• Sugar
  • *yawn*
  • Anticipation turning to May’s WASDE

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

Expert: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

 

Government Activities Impacting Sugar

• NAFTA: Will we get a deal in April?
• Sugar taxes: Do they really work?

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

 

Prospective Plantings Review

• Corn and soybean acreage shocker!
• Wheat acreage up
• Ideal soft red winter wheat market
• Will sugar beet acres actually end up lower?

 

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO

Expert: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist

Guest: John Larkin, Director of Sales, Miller Milling Co.