Market research on herbs in Nth America.

[Kiwi Phil]

As most here know, I am a Culinary Herb grower supplying a supermarket chain (fruit and veg section) with herbs in small pots (in Australia).
I did a bit of an extension 6-10 mths back, and now supply cut bunched herbs too.
Demand is taking off and I am contemplating a further expansion.
HOWEVER.....that's all very well, but I have a nasty feeling the world may take some pretty violent 'changes' in the future....as in a shift away from fresh to manufactured pastes etc.

I am going to continue with what I am doing BUT I want to find another line, to meet the modern families demand.

I am seeking as many of you as possible (that shop with your wives in the supermarket)........to go to the fresh produce section and check out what they sell in the form of herbs, and if you can take a photo, then that would be excellent.
This is a form of market research for me.

Here we have the following product
http://www.gourmetgarden.com/au/

If you watch their New TV ads, then you will understand exactly what I have in mind.....but having said that, if you have something similar or different where you shop....then I REALLY need to know that too.

It is a good product....and it is the only one doing this here.......and I think I should consider manufacturing a similar product.......but I should not try to re-invent the wheel here.......If you blokes find 6-10 manufacturers doing this or something similar, then I would like to know about them.
This is my mentality....I find something that I can market here, that is either produced or distributed in your country....and have them package it in my own packaging and shipped to me here in Australia.

My problem is putting together a catalogue of what is being sold throughout North America.
I am sure what is sold in a Florida Supermarket is quite different to California, or even Canada for that matter, and there is no way I can cover those distances.
I would dearly love photos of potted herbs, and Cut bunched herbs, and spreads or pastes or any other line....anything 'herbs'.
I would love to see a shot of their packaging, or presentation....anything.....and the name and address of supplier.
That's where you guys could assist me.
Many thanks

Cheers
Phillip

 

[pduquette]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I'll look arround my area for you Phil ...... and pre-manufactured herb paste ???? EEEWWWWWW!! won't it lose flavor and turn brown ? Keep it fresh Phil , keep it fresh !! peter

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

i do a lot of shopping, myself, have not notice anything like that.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Nor have I. The first thing I thought when I saw it was Asian. All of the herbs around here are either dried and in a plastic dispenser or fresh cut and sealed in a vacuume formed acetate carton.

I don't think the paste stuff would fly here. At least not anytime soon.

 

[greggholmes]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I have used the paste it's a lot more convenient as i don't use enough to keep fresh herbs around all the time. Also i don't use enough to justify buying a whole bunch. I'll need 3 tbs of an herb and have to buy three cups of the stuff. just as an example. having it in a tube in the fridge that keeps for a long time is a real plus.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Where do you come from Gregg, and do you do the shopping, and does the paste product you buy have a web site on the package?

I really do have to get a handle on this one.

What a lot of people may not be aware of is :.........a lot of fresh produce is being packaged in such a manner you just break open the cellophone and pour the salad mix on to the plate, or the veg into the microwave .....or whatever.

I do know that the 'added value' to the supply chain is 12 times the price of buying the old way (say a whole lettuce....break it up....wash ....prep and mix....then serve), and before anyone says the 'supply chain' is ripping people off......it is actually the other way around....the consumer is driving the change....and a lot of consumers think it works out cheaper for them..... and Greggs comments bears that out.

Anyway, I digress.....so come on you blokes......surely some of you shop with the wife, and if you are like me it drives you nuts, so here is something you could check out.......and you do have the biggest most developed economy on the planet, so there must be a lot of this product there.

I know fresh is best, but you have to check out the opposition.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[tommays]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Phil

I am the shoper and do most of the cooking on sunday for the work week as between a working wife and working/sailing husband nobody has much time to cook fresh

The things we buy fresh would be furits of all kinds and meats, salads are allways in a bag washed and mixed and spices are on a shelf that does not see much use

I have never seen a paste in the regular store or the special store i buy the fruits from


I do have several frinds that cook a lot (male) and they would use your fresh herbs

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Did some googling and found another company that sells food paste in a tube. Similar concept but no herbs.

http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/salts/amore-pastes2.asp

Anchovy paste? Bleh!

Herb pastes seems ideal for places that have limited access to fresh produce or as Greg said, need extended shelf life. Few Americans live more than a few miles away from a grocery store of some kind which may be why it's not so common here. BUT all it takes here is for one celebrity chef (Emeril, Paula Dean, Alton Brown etc) to feature this stuff on their show and the stores will load their shelves with it.

Have you tried the pastes, Phil? You're the resident herb expert here and if you think it's comparable to fresh then it may be just a matter time before this stuff is all over the place.

 

[salty87]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

i've only seen tomato paste in the little tubes in stores near me. seems like a great idea for herbs. my wife is a trained chef, we've started our own garden to get better quality produce. herbs are too expensive and don't last long enough to justify the cost (to us).

 

[QC]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

BUT all it takes here is for one celebrity chef (Emeril, Paula Dean, Alton Brown etc) to feature this stuff on their show and the stores will load their shelves with it.

Agree. As you know Phil, I poked around about the fresh herb market here some. I'll double check with the Mrs., but I don't think this paste idea has shown any life here yet.

 

[dave4151]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

in my area Safeway has a nice selection of bunched herbs. No picture but here is link that shows what types they sell.

http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/CategoryDisplay?catalogIdentifier=OOOOrganics&identifier=OOHerbs

 

[greggholmes]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I do most of the shopping and cooking. I believe the one i have in the fridge is dill paste. The other week i tried a recipe that called for two tbs of fresh parsley , i had to buy a bunch that was the size of a head of lettuce. Then i had to work for 12 days straight and guess where the rest of the parsley wound up?

I'll check out the brand tonight when i get home.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I've always just used the dried herbs for anything I cook. This year I started a little herb garden (basil, dill, oregano, parsley, and taragon are all that grew) so I've been using fresh since. I couldn't see myself ever dumping a herb paste in to a meat sauce, tomato sauce, marinade, etc. I think I have seen the paste around here though but always ignore it. Might be convenient for a dip of some kind.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Up here in BC this seems to be a popular herb sold in bunches:

Not sure if it would work well as a paste though.



Seriously though, I have seen a few of the herb 'pastes' showing up in the grocery stores. The only ones I have tried were an Oregano one that was given to us by a friend who doesn't cook much (used it in a batch of spaghetti, seemed ok. More flavor than dried, but less than fresh.), and a jalepeno/habenero mix I tried in a batch of chilli. (good flavor and plenty HOT!) Both came in squeeze-tubes. I can't remember the brands offhand, but I'll try to keep this post in mind next trip to the store.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I've bought jarred herbs (looks a bit like spaghetti sauce, but only one herb. Is that what you mean by paste? Other than the jarred stuff and (obviously) the dried stuff in plastic shakers I only buy fresh and have never heard of anyone speak of any herb paste, and my wife and I never buy boxed anything. If you can get people to buy the pastes, you may have an untapped market.. for those of us who still cook real meals (which is plenty). I think you have a hurdle to overcome, which is the thought of buying a 'tube' of an herb... it just sounds a bit.. industrial to me.

 

[salty87]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

i've only seen tomato paste in the little tubes in stores near me. seems like a great idea for herbs. my wife is a trained chef, we've started our own garden to get better quality produce. herbs are too expensive and don't last long enough to justify the cost (to us).

this is the tomato paste...

it tastes pretty darn good. most of the flavor in herbs is in the oils in the plant. turning that into a paste is a very effective way to add flavor. you can turn garlic into a paste just by mashing it real good.

 

[QC]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Yeah, we use that ^^^^^ and anchovy paste for Cesar dressing.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Looks like you will have to export the paste to us Phil.

I think the processing costs and prepared food regulations would make this very expensive to do on a small scale. You would need the resources of a huge corporation behind you.

 

[QC]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

Mrs. says she has seen herb paste . . .

 

[_chris_]

Re: Market research on herbs in Nth America.

I would not use a paste. I have a little fruit market near me that i get all me herbs from fresh and what ever I don't use I put in a ziplock bag and freeze for next time. Most every herb I use holds up well frozen. I am one that will go out of my way to get a fresh product and I cook at leat 5-6 days a week in my home, I love cooking.