FOODMatch and Divina –FOODMatch’s flagship brand – established National Olive Day in the United States eight years ago. Occurring annually on June 1, the holiday coincides with the new crop arrival of Kalamata olives. Each year, the company has marked this commemorative day in a fun and exciting way, and this year is no exception. FOODMatch is thrilled to announce the arrival of several new and innovative products in celebration of National Olive Day.
Available in bulk case packs of four 2.2 lb pouches, the new Divina Cerignola Verde is a bright eye-catching olive for restaurant menus, olive bars, and deli repack. Cured in the style of the Castelvetrano, Divina’s Cerignola Verde retains the firm, buttery bite and bright emerald color of the Castelvetrano with the stunning size of a classic Italian Cerignola, resulting in an aesthetically-pleasing olive for charcuterie boards and cheese plates.
For grocery and specialty retailers, FOODMatch has released a new marinated varietal line. The line consists of a classic Greek Market Mix and Pitted Italian Olive Mix, as well as an innovative Chili Lime Frescatrano™ Olive, all available in a shelf-stable glass jar. While they anticipate plenty enthusiasm for the entire line, Divina is especially excited to share the Chili Lime Frescatrano™ with fans of the brand. This trademark olive – an unfermented Halkidiki varietal that is known for its sweet, mild, buttery flavor – is marinated in a zesty, spicy chili lime brine. This is a unique flavor profile that’s staying ahead of current flavor trends.
According to FOODMatch’s VP of Marketing, Brandon Gross, “National Olive Day has been a way to honor and celebrate one of the oldest and most diverse foods in the world.”
New products are available for distribution across the U.S. and most of North America. Inquire about international ordering. For more information or to place an order, contact [email protected]. Existing customers should reach out to their FOODMatch sales representatives.
FOODMatch is an award-winning producer of traditionally and responsibly crafted Mediterranean olives, antipasti and specialty ingredients.
We are honored to announce that our First Crush Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been named Best New Product of the Year in the 2023 SOFI Awards Olive Oil category – our 14th SOFI Award as a company! Originally developed as a limited edition offering, our First Crush EVOO has received such enthusiasm that we now plan to make it available annually and have already started planning the next batch.
Our First Crush Olive Oil is crafted from Greek Koroneiki olives that are picked at the perfect time, then immediately crushed and bottled. The result is an early-harvest EVOO that offers bold, buttery flavor and mellows over time.
Why Early Harvest?
Early harvest olive oil is superior in both quality and flavor and boasts some potential health benefits. While all extra virgin olive oil is the result of the first pressing of olives, the very best olive oils come from olives that are picked while still green and unripe – or early harvest – in addition to that first press. The yield can be quite a bit lower from these unripe olives when compared to olives that are harvested later in the season, but the results are worth it.
Unripe olives retain more of the naturally-occurring polyphenols than their ripened counterparts. Polyphenols are compounds found in olives and other fruits and vegetables that act as antioxidants in the body, purportedly having anti-inflammatory properties. Higher-polyphenol olive oils also have a more complex flavor and aroma and hold up better at high heat than lower-polyphenol oils.
Meet the Growers
Our First Crush EVOO is crafted by the Renieris family on their groves in Crete. Check out the video below to meet the family and share in the harvest.
Customers interested in placing preorders should contact their FOODMatch sales rep or email [email protected].
Spread more cheer this holiday season with a delicious lineup of sweet and spicy spreads from Divina. These spreads are perfect for entertaining, cheese boards, cocktail hours, gifting, baked Brie recipes and much more!
“The holiday season is one of the most festive times of the year for entertaining, gathering, and sharing delicious food with family and friends,” said Phil Meldrum, President of FOODMatch. “We are thrilled to offer our retail partners and consumers this wonderful line of spreads to enjoy in a variety of ways starting with the holiday season.”
This is one date that’s surely going to turn into a love story! Our date spread is handcrafted from sundried dates (and not much else!), and boasts a deeply fruit-forward flavor profile. We love it on cheese boards, topped with toast and almond butter or blended into a smoothie.
Get ready to be rocked by the sweet-tart-spicy combination of oranges and Calabrian chili peppers! We love this spread on everything from cheese boards to grilled sandwiches and as a glaze for meat, veggies and seafood. This is destined to become your new go-to spread.
Ingredients: cane sugar, orange purée, orange peel, citric acid (acidity regulator), Calabrian chili flakes, Calabrian chili powder, fruit pectin, red chili powder, chili pepper flakes, ascorbic acid (antioxidant). Origin: Greece.
And, back popular demand for a limited time this holiday season is the following fan-favorite:
Real Simple magazine's pick for "Best Fig Jam," we use only certified Fair Trade cocoa in this delightfully rich and sweet spread. Pair with blue cheese, top it on ice cream or enjoy over waffles.
While there are a wide variety of ways to enjoy these three spreads, here are a few you will love!
Calabrian Chili Orange Spread: Crafted from fresh oranges and spicy Calabrian chilis, this spread hits on the ever-growing sweet/spicy trend in food and beverage. It can also be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner paired with both sweet and savory dishes.
Grilled Fontina and ham sandwich.
Mix with cream cheese or mascarpone and top a Belgian waffle, muffin or cupcake.
Glazed chicken served over rice and a medley of Asian stir-fry veggies.
Date Spread: Having made many a "top trends of the year" list, dates are growing in popularity for their wonderful flavor and health benefits. This is a truly versatile spread that pairs well with sweet and savory dishes.
Blend into a smoothie with almond butter, oat milk and banana.
Stuffed French Toast with mascarpone, date spread, and candied walnuts.
Moroccan chicken salad with raisins, sliced almonds, dried apricots and equal parts date spread & mayo.
Fig & Cocoa Spread: Made with Aegean figs and free of artificial coloring or flavors, our spreads are carefully crafted so that you taste the full flavor of the fruit, not just the sweetness of sugar.
Dollop over a waffle in place of syrup and top with fresh berries.
Spoon over vanilla ice cream and top with a few sliced cherries.
Spread onto a grilled cheese sandwich with slices of apple and Brie.
To request samples or more information on these delicious holiday spreads from Divina, please Contact Usor your FOODMatch sales rep today.
For more than 25 years, FOODMatch and Divina have defined and shaped the olive category in the United States as the premier producer and importer of Mediterranean specialty ingredients. FOODMatch officially established National Olive Day in the United States seven years ago on June 1st (to coincide with the new crop arrival of Kalamata olives) as a way to honor and celebrate one of the oldest and most diverse foods in the world. Each year the company has marked this commemorative day in a fun and exciting way.
And this year is no different. To celebrate National Olive Day this year on June 1st, FOODMatch is launching a new collection of Divina pre-pack deli cups. “We are reinventing our Divina deli cup program to more closely replicate our iconic olive bar experience in a pre-pack, grab-and-go format,” said Brandon Gross, VP of Marketing for FOODMatch. “Retailers and consumers alike will now have the best of both worlds – whether they prefer pre-pack and pack-out cups, the self-serve olive bar, or our popular sealed pouches and jars.
