You may have seen the news about an outbreak of norovirus in Boston that caused over a hundred students in Boston who had eaten at a Chipotle restaurant to become ill. www.wsj.com/articles/norovirus-confirmed-in-boston-chipotle-outbreak-1449684009 It’s important to remember that we can also make ourselves sick at home if we don’t handle food properly and observe food safety in the home. Norovirus is a very contagious virus.

This week I got a call from a customer curious about an ingredient and wondering what it was and what it is used for.

Each year I like to predict how food fads and taste trends will show up on the shelves at Ingles. Here are my predictions for 2016. 

At Ingles we work with many community groups throughout the year. Fund raisers, special events, food collections... here are some of our community partners that make a difference in Western North Carolina especially in food and nutrition issues.

Join us for “TASTE of LOCAL” at Ingles Markets on Champion Drive in Canton Thursday, December 17th 3:30-6 p.m.

Blue Ridge Food Ventures and Ingles Markets announce the 2015 BRFV Holiday Market !!! 

I am not a big fan of the “don’t eat that” messages on Thanksgiving or the ones that try and shock you with “Did you know that ______has ____fat/calories/ingredients/additives?"

Shoppers are innundated with so much information on packaging these days that it can be confusing. It's important to remember that brands and suppliers will often put labels on packaging to attract your attention in an effort to sell their products. Let's try and makes some sense of what labels mean and which are just about the marketing.

What’s the difference between organic and non-gmo (not genetically engineered)? 

I frequently hear from people who believe that there are various health attributes associated  with products that are labeled “organic” or “non-gmo”  but this is not the case nor is it the intent of those labels.  Let’s look at some facts:

When you’ve operated a successful restaurant in Asbury Park, New Jersey patronized by the famous, including Bruce Springsteen, and then decide to sell it, what’s your next business move?