00:08Hi, this is Inge de Jong here for Nutrition Insight.

00:12I'm at BioFA 2024.

00:14I'm here with Carlos Forte, president and CEO of Vita Forte.

00:20Hello, Carlos, how are you?

00:22Thanks.

00:24What are you showcasing here for us this year?

00:27So we're bringing nutritional information.

00:30We're bringing better for you products, freeze dried, which brings the essence, the nutritional essence of the products to the market exactly so people don't have to fly to different countries to have the best of the fruits.

00:46We freeze dry them, keeping the best nutritional profile, and then we export all over the world.

00:52So what sort of products are we talking about here?

00:56Superfoods, mainly acai, acerola, coconut water, maki berry, elderberry, goji berries, and so on and so forth.

01:05And why have you chosen freeze dried as an option?

01:09So freeze drying is the best technology for captivating all the nutritional profile, keeping the omegas, keeping the resveratrol, keeping the best nutrients of the fruits locked into the product.

01:23You don't heat the product to dehydrate.

01:28Using freeze drying method other than other methods that would heat the product to dry, that's the reason for freeze drying.

01:38And what are your Three products being used for specifically, so a variety of ranges.

01:45You can use them as standalone products, just getting them from a pouch on the retail market and putting on your everyday food, your breakfast, your bakeries, everything, or encapsulation, which is a very easy method to have consumed the best of the product.

02:03So you can decide which method is better for you.

02:06We provide you and then you, it's a blank canvas for you to decide how you want to use it.

02:13So can you tell us why these things are so important to your customers?

02:18Sure, I think we are going on a path where the food is being processed more and more, and it's important for me, for the company to bring the essence of the food, something that is keeping the best nutrition possible for delivery without processing too much.

02:41And are you innovating at the moment in any area?

02:46Yes, using the same process, we are working on candies which in a way is a way to reduce sugar consumption for the kids, and you're going to ask me how is that?

03:01If I give you a bag of candy for any kids, they might finish the whole bag in one sitting.

03:08And that's obviously a lot of sugar right there and then when we freeze dry the candies, they puff up, they get crunchier, they get obviously more space, bigger, right?

03:19So you are not going to be able to consume the same amount as you would on a bag.

03:25You're eating the freeze dried candy, so the sugar content is the same, but you're going to eat less per sitting per unit, so that way you reduce your sugar consumption overall, eating something that is too fun to eat with the same flavors but less sugar.

03:44So where are you guys available globally?

03:47We are based in California, United States, but we export all over the globe.

03:53Interesting.

03:54Where do you think the products will go next?

03:58Oh boy, that's interesting, right?

04:00We're always trying to find the next move.

04:03So for now, the candy market is very interesting for us.

04:07It's a new one, and we're looking to do more things that have more nutritional profile and that will be blending.

04:17A, B, or C fruits together and making a compound that you have a full nutrition in one spoon per se.

04:25What would you say are the big consumer trends for your offerings?

04:31Organics, right, organic fruits have been the trending that is going on.

04:38Always growing at 20-30% year over year because people are more aware of the nutritional need for their feed, for the food.

04:49So if you're having, if you're consuming anything nowadays, you're trying to consume something that is better for you, not only a product that is loaded with.

05:00Dreams or flowers you want something that is nutritional for your body, so that's what we think is the the the trend.

05:10You're going to eat something that is nourishing your body every time you eat.

05:14Absolutely, thank you for speaking with us.

05:17My pleasure.