It’s been a busy month of September here at Ingredient Hotline. One development of note on the business side of things is our ability, starting this Spetember, to provide chia seeds to food manufacturers from warehouses within North America.

Chia seeds are one of the hottest trends in food right now. These tiny seeds are absolutely packed with nutritional value and have definitely hit the mainstream. Chia seeds are being extolled on television and in popular literature. Consumer demand for chia is growing. Given it’s properties and characteristics, it can be the perfect component for food applications wishing to leverage the growing desire for natural, healthy and functional ingredients. Awareness of chia seeds has been trending up at a remarkable pace in the last three years:

We are happy to announce that Ingredient Hotline is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of North American food manufacturers sourcing chia seeds. For the quantities and prices required by food producers, chia seeds are typically imported directly from South America. However, Ingredient Hotline can provide chia seeds in bulk at wholesale prices from within North America. Compared with alternative sources, we can:

• provide shorter delivery and lead times
• handle smaller quantity orders
• ensure you avoid the hassles of importing into North America

For more information, contact us today!

Chia seeds have been featured this week on CNBC, where they wonder whether chia is the next big superfood. Chia isn’t mainstream yet, but has a growing following amongst the nutritionist and health community. Thanks to Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run, which describes the use of chia in a drink called iskiate, long distance runners and other athletes are beginning to extol the virtues of this amazing seed. According to CNBC:

The next superfood though is a name you might know: Chia seeds. Yep, the very same seeds that you spread over your kitchen pet are now valued as a superfood…its filled with fiber, potassium and antioxidants, and it’s good for athletes of endurance sports because it holds water well.

Here’s the video segment:

Mentions of chia in the mainstream press should bump demand. It’s a versatile seed that food manufacturers might consider using in some of their products to leverage this growing awareness amongst consumers. If you’re a manufacturer looking into chia, we can help you with your application and supply both standard, and certified organic chia. Contact us to arrange for a sample. Consumers can purchase chia both online and in a growing number of traditional retail outlets.