For a "mature" industry, dairy has lots of new things to talk about: New ingredient, equipment, and packaging technologies from suppliers offer new opportunities.

"What's new?" It's a simple two-word question that means so much.

In the news business it's sometimes modified to "what's news?"

For a "mature" industry, dairy has lots of new things to talk about:

New ingredient, equipment, and packaging technologies from suppliers offer new opportunities. Neåw rules and regulations from Congress and regulatory agencies present new challenges. Changing market environments and changes to the retail food and foodservice industries offer a little of both. Perhaps most importantly, consumers have a new awareness about food and nutrition, and a set of concerns and priorities which is more complicated than ever.

Each month we at Dairy Foods endeavor to answer that simple question of "what's new" for dairy processors, and in doing so we also get to see what's new from our readers-new products, new packaging, new marketing approaches, new business strategies and new facilities.

This month we take it a step further, with a special focus on what is new.

We start with the November feature, New Products of the Year.

My colleague Donna Berry will spotlight eight different dairy products we have chosen as the best of the best from this year's crop of product introductions. A related story recognizes Crowley Foods, a division of HP Hood LLC, as our New Products Company of the Year.

There were plenty of new things to see at last month's Worldwide Food Expo, and some of it found its way into this issue as well, in an article on new dairy equipment, and in our regular new products section, Buyers Mart. In addition, a special advertising section offers profiles of new ingredient products. As usual, Newsline, will give you a comprehensive take on "what's news" in the industry.

The new year is not that far away, and when it arrives watch for new things from Dairy Foods. Our publisher will tell you all about it in January from this space.

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