Toronto, Ontario -
New Brunswick mounted an impressive display at the Grocery Innovations trade show here, joining Nova Scotia that made a big splash last year.
Both the agriculture and industry departments helped finance and arrange the New Brunswick display which featured chef Richard Chiasson preparing blueberry and seafood snacks arranged neatly on platters which ladies held out to passersby.
Pierre Pelletier of Cocovie in Buctouche easily won the prize as the show's most enthusiastic salesman, promoting products he makes from coconut cream and virgin oil grown on plantations he partially owns in the Philippines.
The company started marketing skin lotions, but recently added spreads Pelletier touts as antiviral energy-boosting health food.
Luanne Killam also stressed the health aspects of her Bar Clams dip, made with Atlantic cold-water clam that is sweeter and contains zinc. She said the business at Buctouche has been in the family for three generations.
Joanne Caissie promoted three fermented "wines" combining garlic and herbs, chili peppers and herbs and onions and herbs. She's vice-president of Culinary Wines of Shediac.
Beth Hett was marketing Wild blueberry products from her Granit Town Farms and others were marketing fire logs and Canadian Organic Maple Co. Ltd. products.
Nova Scotia brought back chef Alain Posse in his kilt, cooking up blueberry onion chutney.
In booths around him were Ron Schmidt of Cape Breton marketing his Galloping Cow jams, jellies and spreads; Randy MacDonald of Van Dyk's Health Food Products Ltd. of New Caledonia promoting blueberry sauces; Ron Downey, Ontario sales manager for Farmer John's Herbs and Acadian Maple Products of Peggy's Cove.
Downey said it's a good show and he anticipates building on the contacts and sales successes of last year.
