Our story began 75 years ago when Andy Caneza returned home after WW2. While overseas, “Pops” as he was known, experienced a spicy and savory flavor and he was passionate to share it with his family and friends. That flavor was garlic!
Brands: Spice World
Press Releases
-
ORLANDO, Fla., March 07, 2024 – Spice World’s broad variety of fresh and ready-to-use garlic, onion and ginger offerings meet consumers continued demands for innovative flavors in their meals. At Expo West 2024, Spice World will highlight the versatility of its organic offerings with recipes featuring Asian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean cuisine among others.
According to the Organic Produce Network, sales of organic produce topped $9.4 billion in 2022, up 3% over 2021. Neilsen data further shows organic produce sales in 2023 increased 2% over 2022. Spice World’s organic garlic pairs well with consumers desire for global cuisines -- notably Japanese, Korean, Thai, Greek and Middle Eastern cuisines1 – as these cuisines prominently feature garlic.
“During the pandemic, the global flavor trend exploded as consumers at home sought to experience adventure through their cuisine choices,” said Chris Kiser, CEO of Spice World. “Our organic products work in a wide variety of cuisines, especially Asian and Latin cuisines that combine a panorama of spices and flavors for dishes with gusto.”
Many consumers also take a hybrid approach to meal prep by combining scratch and ready-to-use items in their recipes. Taste of Home magazine surveyed more than 4,000 people over age 18 in 2022 to see how eating habits changed since 2020 and found that 60% cook at home more than five days a week and that 53% of consumers want ways to make meal prep easier.2
“When you combine the desire for organic products with the demand for global flavors, Spice World’s ready-to-use organic minced garlic, onion and ginger are often the key ingredients consumers reach for to create distinctive and authentic ethnic meals at home,” continued Kiser.
Among the menu samples at Expo West 2024, Spice World will highlight its organic minced garlic, chopped onion and minced ginger in tasty recipes including:
- Coconut, ginger, organic garlic and onion chicken curry over rice
- Organic garlic and shallot hummus with feta and arugula oil
- Organic garlic maple sausage, served with mini pancakes
- Organic garlic, turmeric, pineapple and banana smoothie
- Shallot, garlic and tomato cream cheese with bagels
- Ginger, peach, blueberry smoothies
- Sweet olive, organic garlic and onion tapenade with fontina cheese crisps
- Lentil, ginger, organic garlic and shallot stew with crumbled feta
-
ORLANDO, Fla., March 11, 2024 – Spice World joins chefs, foodies, and home cooks nationwide to celebrate National Garlic Day on April 19 and pay homage to one of the most versatile ingredients in cuisines today. Loved for its robust flavor, garlic adds a spicy kick to appetizers, dips, soups main courses and much more. To celebrate National Garlic Day, Spice World offers a few fun facts about garlic:
- In 2023, Americans bought approximately 107.1 million pounds of garlic cloves totaling approximately 1.71 billion bulbs.
- Garlic cloves generally measure 1.5” in diameter, so if you placed all the bulbs bought in the United States side by side, it would cross the United States nearly 10 times or circle the earth!
- Garlic was discovered as early as 2000 BC and has been enjoyed ever since for its culinary, medicinal, and folkloric use.
- California is the leading producer of garlic in the United States, responsible for 400 million pounds of garlic.
- Garlic is high in antioxidants manganese, selenium, vitamin C and B6. It has been shown to lower total cholesterol1, reduce blood pressure2, and reduce the severity of the common cold3.
- Cloves of garlic were discovered in the tomb of King Tut.
- In folklore, garlic was believed to ward off evil spirits. In primeval times, people wore garlic around their necks and smeared it on their foreheads to repel spirits.
“If you are marking National Garlic Day this year, we hope you’ll reach for one of Spice World’s flavorful garlic products to make your meal prep easier,” said Chris Kiser, CEO of Spice World. “Our garlic comes in conventional and organic options of whole cloves, peeled cloves, pre-chopped, pre-minced and squeezable varieties.”
1 – National Center for Biotechnology Information, July 2018.
2 – Journal of Nutrition, February 2016.
3 – The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, March 2015.
# # #
Media contact: Jennifer Grizzle, 404.291.1310 or jennifer@theprstudio.com
-
ORLANDO, Fla., March 14, 2024 – Spice World, the country’s leading provider of fresh and flavorful garlic, marks its 75th anniversary in 2024. Founder Andy “Pops” Caneza established the company in 1949 after his return from European duty during WWII.
Humble beginnings
Enamored with the bold and spicy flavor of garlic he experienced in Europe, he borrowed $10 from his fiancée Ann to begin selling garlic to local grocery stores in his hometown of New Orleans. In the 1950s and ‘60s, the effort became a family affair for the Caneza’s, with both children pitching in to pack garlic in the family’s basement. In 1965 a hurricane hit New Orleans and flooded the basement, so packing had to ensue from one son’s bedroom.
The Company Today
From its modest start, Spice World’s commitment to excellence is now reflected in the company’s efforts to grow and cultivate its own seeds. Each year, the company evaluates and selects the best seed from the current crop to grow next season’s garlic. Demand for fresh garlic is high, as Americans annually purchase 120 million pounds of Spice World garlic.
To keep up with demands, Spice World grows garlic on thousands of acres in the San Joaquin Valley of California alone. Beyond California, Spice World “follows the sun” to warm garlic-growing climates around the world to source from farms that adhere to the highest standards for quality and safety.
“I am honored to witness Spice World’s growth while staying rooted in the original ethos established by our founder Andy Caneza,” said Chris Kiser, CEO of Spice World. “His vision continues to inspire Spice World as we innovate, grow and make a positive impact today.”
Fresh and Innovative Products
From seed to plate, Spice World is dedicated to helping consumers elevate the way they eat by delivering garlic and innovative flavors that remove common obstacles of prep time, seasonality, and clean-up. Spice World was the first company to offer a ready-to-use minced garlic in round glass jars. The company’s squeezable garlic, chopped garlic and peeled cloves are also great time savers and allow home cooks to easily create rich, flavorful dishes for the entire family to savor.
Spice World’s offerings also include zesty ginger and hearty shallots, offered in ready-to-use, peeled and squeezable versions to help make meal prep and cooking more convenient. www.spiceworldinc.com.