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?

Saturday, October 31st – 8am-3pm (registration 7am) 

Doubletree Hotel Asheville – 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville

Question: I have diabetes, are sugar alcohols safe for me to consume? 

Answer: Sugar alcohols can be found in many sugar-free and no sugar added products like candy, cookies and cakes. Despite their name they are not a sugar or an alcohol.

QUESTION: Does your Ingles brand milk contain "rBST" ?

ANSWER:  NO! rBST ( Bovine Somatotropin) and rBGH ( Bovine Growth Hormone) are artificial growth hormones that can be administered to dairy cows to increase their milk supply.

Question: I have been hearing a lot about hemp lately. Do you sell products with hemp at Ingles? Will I fail a drug test if I eat products with hemp? 

Answer: 1.Hemp is not a drug - First and foremost, hemp is NOT marijuana. While they are in the same plant family (cannabis), to be classified as hemp there must be a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol - a psychotropic substance) of .3% or less.

Question: What do you think of trying to “eat the way my great-grandmother ate”?

Answer: I call brief messages about food or nutrition that sound good or look good in print “soundbite nutrition”.

Question: When is the new Enka/Candler store opening?

Answer: Our newest Ingles Markets is slated to open on Thursday, September 17th. Our Grand Opening Day will be a fun-filled day with loads of samples and special deals to introduce customers to this new Ingles store. Many of our local farmers and vendors will be there throughout the day.