JC Dudley has always been a leading food ingredient company with a heart. While everyone has become very conscious about tackling the issue of food waste, our dedicated team at JC Dudley have always been very conscientious about our practices and set out from day one with a mission to deliver a supply of superior quality, yet very cost-effective raw food ingredients to leading commercial and small-scale, innovative food and drink companies both in the UK and worldwide.

Naturally grown fruits and vegetable come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, it is only the best looking produce that is chosen to supply the major food supermarkets and retail stores. While there has been a rise in the popularity of 'ugly' or 'wonky' fruit and vegetables being taken up by consumers who choose to not overlook those specimens that are not quite supermarket-perfect, the majority of consumers will still choose to buy standard-looking produce.

So, what happens to all the 'wonky' fruits and vegetables that don't make the grade? Well, for years the fresh produce that isn't destined for the supermarket shelves or the fresh market are usually sent to food processors to be made into juice, purees, extracts, tinned foods, dried food ingredients, and other products.

Traditional farming practices

For hundreds of years, small farming families never wasted a thing! They would make good use of all the food that their farm would produce, so any imperfect produce would always be used up in some way to prevent food from being wasted.

How many people can remember their grannies making endless pots of jam or jars of chutney and pickles? Previous generations of home producers would dry, preserve, jar or can their own fruits and vegetables long before the invention of the home freezer and it was those imperfect fruits and vegetables that would go into the fillings of pies and be the base of many sustaining, hearty soups and stews.

What food ingredient companies are doing nowadays is no different to what these old farmers did to preserve their food and keep food waste to a minimum. But it is only fairly recently that people have become obsessed with the sustainability movement and have become more aware of growing and harvesting practices.

Responsible food ingredient company

JC Dudley has effectively been saving wonky fruit and vegetables for many years, however, we have never compromised on quality! Our business helps to reduce food waste by utilizing all of the resources available to us.

Our supply chain business partners produce the most amazing, high-quality food ingredients that use up all of those slightly less pretty-looking fruits and vegetables that would never make it to the supermarket shelves. Using their knowledge and skills, they take this wonky produce and transform it into many different quality food ingredients, including dried and frozen fruits that can be used to make fruit-based foods, snacks and drinks.

We know that fruit used for a delicious filling needs to be high-quality fruit, but that product doesn't require the most beautiful looking fruit to make it taste wonderful.

When you stroll down a supermarket aisle and see food that has fruit as the main ingredient, then it is most likely made using wonky fruit. That fruit ingredient used may also have been supplied by JC Dudley!

Working closely with our international partners of many years, we can proudly say that JC Dudley is a food ingredient company that is part of a conscientious supply chain which is very effective at turning every wonky fruit and vegetable produced into a quality food ingredient that people love to consume.
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Do not hesitate to contact our team at JC Dudley to discuss your food ingredient needs.

JC Dudley has long been known as an important food ingredient supplier with a strong reputation for working with leading business partners from around the world. A key player in our loyal global supply chain isIprona. Based in Italy, Iprona is internationally known as being the king of elderberry processing.

Working closely with Iprona as well as other leading producers, JC Dudley has built a strong supply relationship with leading processors to deliver high-quality industrial fruit juices, juice concentrates, pulps and purees sourced from many countries around the world.

Elderberries, in particular, are in the spotlight at the moment for having powerful antiviral properties. Through our strong working relationship with Iprona, JC Dudley can offer a stable, consistent and sustainable supply of elderberry-based food products for your food or drink range.
So why exactly are elderberries the healthy choice right now? Let's take a closer look.

Elderberries – natures antiviral fruit!

Elderberries are an ancient fruit that has been used for hundreds of years as a natural remedy used by apothecaries and healers to help fight off common viral infections, such as colds and flu. Research has since shown the berries to be naturally high in vitamins A, C and E and have high levels of potassium; all valuable for preventing or treating the symptoms of viral illnesses.

The small, deep purple berries grow on the Sambucus tree and have been harvested for centuries by healers and herbalists to help treat the sick and reduce the symptoms of common viruses. Modern researchers, the GMI Research Group, believe that the antiviral properties found in elderberries are effective against influenza A and B and the common cold.

Antiviral and antimicrobial properties

It is believed that using broad-based antiviral treatments, such as elderberry extract supplementation, can prevent key viral proteins from entering host cells.

As well as having an antiviral effect, elderberry extract is antimicrobial, meaning that it can also help to combat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, which can often develop following a severe bout of flu.

With more than 20 million doctor appointments per year being booked for patients suffering from colds and flu, researchers believe that by using elderberry extract the duration of the virus can be shortened, meaning that less working and school days will be missed.

Immune-boosting benefits of elderberries

Consuming elderberry juice can also help to boost your natural immunity. Drinking the juice helps the body to produce cytokines. Cytokine is a protein that regulates our immune system and our inflammatory response to infections.

According to a research study, the immune-boosting properties found in elderberries were effective against 10 different strains of the influenza virus. The antimicrobial effect of elderberry extract is down to its high content of anthocyanin, which is a type of flavonoid that contains both antimicrobial and antiviral properties.

Owing to the potent antiviral and antimicrobial properties of elderberries, it is no wonder that ancient healers and apothecaries realised the powerful nature of the berries to help treat and ease the symptoms of both influenza and bacterial infections in the people in their community.

A common, yet very effective concoction used for generations is elderberry syrup, which is high in bioactive phenolic compounds that act to strengthen the antioxidant status in healthy people, making them more resilient against viruses.

The anthocyanins found in elderberries have also been shown to inhibit inflammatory biomarkers to build resistance against both bacterial and viral infections. Using natural elderberry juice and extracts can be an effective natural alternative to using antibiotics, which have a strong potential for over-use during the cold and flu seasons.

Sourcing elderberries
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Consuming raw elderberries or the bark or leaves of the Sambucus plant isn't recommended as it can cause negative gastrointestinal effects. It is best to avoid consuming raw elderberries, but instead, use prepared sources from a reputable fruit juice concentrate supplier such as JC Dudley.
Do not hesitate to contact our friendly team at JC Dudley for your elderberry juice and extract needs. 

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Our team at JC Dudley are very proud of our high-quality purees and concentrates. You cannot beat our superb range of fruit flavours for a fresh and full-bodied taste.

We take the greatest care to produce our fruit-based puree concentrate to retain the purest and most natural taste possible, carefully blended to give a satisfying and pleasant mouthfeel.

JC Dudley uses the very latest cutting-edge technology to gently extract juice from our carefully sourced fresh fruit and vegetables. This has enabled us to offer our customers a wide range of fruit purees and concentrates to use in their food and drink products.
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​Although many food and drink manufacturers tend to stick to well-known and more familiar fruit puree concentrates for their products, we do offer more unusual and less well-known option to give your end products a unique twist that can set you apart from your competition!

For example, while pear puree concentrate is a popular choice because it is a familiar fruit to consumers, plus the fact that pears have a high content of potassium and calcium, which makes pear a healthy choice of puree concentrate for those wanting to produce something for the health food market, for those that dare, we supply more unusual flavours, such as:

• Camu Camu
• Dragonfruit
• Fig
• Guanabana
• Guava
• Lingonberry
• Papaya
• Physalis
• Quince
• Rhubarb
• Sour Cherry
• Sweet Cherry

​So if you are looking to produce a new fruit-based product with a unique twist, then why not be bold and daring by combining different flavours!

Let's take a look at one of these fruit ingredients, dragon fruit, and why it may appeal to your target customer.
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Dragon fruit is a tropical fruit that is taking the healthy eating world by storm. It has become increasingly popular over recent years and although people were first attracted to it because of its unusual looks, it also has a unique taste that people have really taken to.

Not only does it taste good, but it carries many nutrients that health-conscious consumers are looking for when choosing a healthy alternative to sugary snacks and drinks.

The fruit grows on the Hylocereus cactus, and as the cactus flowers only open at night and the fruit has bright red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon's scales, dragon fruit has become an unusual, yet very trendy choice amongst consumers.
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​Dragon fruit has a firm white pulp with black seeds that most people say tastes like a cross between a kiwi and a pear. It's not an overly sweet fruit and contains small amounts of several valuable nutrients, including iron, magnesium, and natural fibre.

Due to the firm flesh containing a large amount of natural fibre and magnesium, dragon fruit is considered to be one of the most highly nutrient-dense fruits.

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​Thanks to JC Dudley operating the latest fruit preparation technologies, we extract our fruit juices with the greatest of care. We offer our customers a wide range of fruit puree concentrate options, so we are sure that we can supply you with exactly what you need for your food or drink products.
 
Our end to end production and manufacturing system means we can supply you with the very highest quality of puree concentrate that retains their fresh taste and integrity throughout their use in your food or drinks production.
 
Our purees and concentrates are ideal for a wide range of food and drink products such as juices, smoothies, yoghurt drinks, alcoholic drinks, baked goods, desserts, confectionery, jams and conserves.
 
Why not contact our team at JC Dudley to discuss your fruit puree concentrate needs. We are here to help!

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We all know that regularly consuming fresh fruit ingredients is good for our health, but some fruit ingredients are better than others for strengthening and supporting our immune systems.

There can be a lot of benefits to drinking immunity-boosting juices, especially when you are sick with a cold or flu virus. So as winter hits us and the cold and flu season kicks in, it can be very handy to have a stash of drinks at home that contain fresh fruit ingredients that actively help to deliver essential vitamins and minerals that we need to fight off those winter bugs and keep our energy up.

This means there are great opportunities for drink manufacturers to produce and provide drink products that pack a nutritional punch because of the immune-boosting ingredients they contain.

​How JC Dudley can help
If you are thinking about creating a fruit-based drink made with immunity-enhancing ingredients to specifically target the health marketplace and people that are looking for something to boost their body's natural defences, then you should consult with our team at JC Dudley and make good use of our many years of industry expertise.

What makes us unique as a food ingredient supplier is that we can work closely with you in partnership to help and support you on your journey towards creating a new drink product.

Our dedicated team go much further than just supplying you with the fruit juice ingredients that you need for your products. We also offer the following services to our clients:

• Competitive, sensible and strategic options
• Extra eyes and ears for your Sales and Purchasing departments
• Just in time deliveries
• Logistical support
• Market development and penetration
• New product development
• Technical support
  
  

Do not hesitate to talk to our friendly team if you would like more information about how we can help you with your drinks development.

If you are looking for excellent juice ingredients that combine to create a great immunity-boosting punch, then how about the following suggested combinations:

1: Orange, apple and carrot: A nice balance of tartness from the apple helps to balance the sweetness of the orange and carrot. This combination can deliver a healthy dose of vitamin A, B-6, and C, potassium and folic acid.

2: Grapefruit and orange: Packed full of vitamin A, B-6, and C, folic acid and zinc, this combination is rich in antioxidants and helps to protect cells from damage as well as giving the body the ability to fight off infections.

3: Mango and strawberries: With a healthy dose of vitamin E from the mango, this is a drink to help boost your immune system. A tasty way to get a nice balance of vitamins A, C, and E, iron and folate.

4: Watermelon: With its high water content, watermelon is great for rehydrating your cells. However, did you know that the unique combination of nutrients in watermelon (vitamin A and C, magnesium and zinc) can help to reduce muscle soreness – a common symptom of the flu.

5: Kiwi, strawberries and mint: A surprisingly refreshing mix of flavours that pack a decent punch of vitamin C. This immune-boosting combination contains vitamin A, C, and B-6, magnesium, zinc and folate.

Not just a fresh fruit ingredients supplier!
You will be pleased to hear that JC Dudley isn't just well known for our superb range of fruit juice ingredients. We also supply top-quality vegetable juices as well as a range of natural oils, essences, dried herbs and spices that can be contained within your base ingredients to give your drink a unique flavour and a stand-out signature that separates your brand from other drink manufacturers.
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See our range of fruit concentrates or NFC (not from concentrate) juices to get a better idea about the flavour combinations you can create. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more help and guidance with your choice of ingredients. We are here to help!

Sourcing Natural Juice with no added sugar from a trusted fruit juice supplier. These days, drinks manufacturers understand the importance of working with a commercial fruit juice supplier that can supply them with a consistent source of natural, no-added-sugar, juice ingredients for their drink products.
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The tide is turning in the soft drinks sector as consumers are increasingly moving away from hi-sugar, fruit flavoured drinks in favour of more natural alternatives using fruit juice with no added sugar or artificial flavourings, preservatives and colouring.
 
For a long time now, restauants have been offering healthier food and drink options for their more health-conscious diners, providing healthy side salads and fruit-based desserts instead of chips and stodgy puddings.
 
They are offering more fruit juices drink options instead of sugar-laden fizzy drinks with their children's menus, as well as fruit smoothies to help kids get their 'five-a-day'.
 

​Smoothies and juicing for health
Over the past few years, a growing trend for drinking smoothies and juicing fruit and vegetables at home has taken the health world by storm.
 
The rise in demand from consumers for a healthy and convenient on-the-go source of nutrition has led to drinks manufacturers creating a whole new range of natural, fruit-based drinks that will appeal to adults with little time to spend shopping for fresh ingredients and making smoothies or juicing fresh drinks every morning.
 
Creating drinks for the more discerning customer
While the idea of being able to simply shop for a ready-made fresh-fruit smoothie or juice drink is very appealing, especially for time-strapped adults and busy parents, when customers take a closer look at some of the drinks on offer, they will find a juice drink that is made with commercial fruit juice or concentrates that are not as healthy as they first think.
 
Many commercial drinks manufacturers will use fruit juice blends with added sugars, sweeteners and artificial colourings. However, these days of savvy health-conscious consumers, these ingredients can be off-putting because the customer will see their health being compromised and see no benefit in drinking them.
 
The high sugar, high-fructose and artificial ingredient content of ready-made drinks can make them unhealthy and can increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease.
 
When less is more
However, when you source your supplies through a trusted fruit juice supplier such as JC Dudley, you can buy a consistent, high-quality source of fruit juice that can make the base of your drink without any added sugar, artificial sweeteners or colourings.
 
Our modern techniques can deliver you with a shelf-stable range of fruit-based products that are ideal for producing smoothies or fruit-juice drinks for the more discerning consumer that are looking for minimal ingredients in their healthy drinks.
 
JC Dudley also produces a high-quality range of fruit-based ingredients suitable for cocktails, healthy fruit desserts and other food and drink items.
 
High-quality ingredients, ethically sourced
​Made from 100% naturally grown fruit, our fruit juice concentrates and bases contain no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives. We source directly from our chain of growers, helping to support their business ethically and sustainably to ensure they thrive and grow.
 
Our unique processing techniques mean that we can supply fruit-based ingredients that deliver maximum nutritional value full of vitamins, antioxidants, electrolytes and minerals.
 
JC Dudley is a family business that specialises in supplying food and drink manufacturers with a wide variety of cost-effective, healthy, natural ingredients that would be difficult, if not impossible, to source elsewhere.
 
You can find out more about us, or contact our friendly team to discuss your fruit juice supply needs. We are here to help!

Agave syrup is produced from the Agave americana and Agave tequilana plants. These plants will need to have been growing for seven to fourteen years, after which the leaves are cut off the plant. The juice is then extracted from the pina (which is the core of the agave), and filtered and heated. This filtering and heating process breaks the components into sugars. The filtered juice is then concentrated to make a syrupy liquid, which looks like honey but is of a thinner consistency. The colour of the syrup will depend on the degree of processing; it varies from light to dark amber.

Agave Syrup taste
Agave syrup has a unique taste. It is sweeter than sugar and very similar to the taste of honey, although the consistency is thinner than honey and it has a more neutral flavour. It also lacks the bitter aftertaste that you get with some natural sweeteners.
 
Whatever your preference might be, as a food ingredient supplier, JC Dudley are experienced at working with clients to get them the best syrup for their needs. We’re always ready to discuss which of our sweeteners will work best in your food or drink product.

Agave Syrup as a natural sweetener
Agave syrup can be used in many different recipes.
These include:

• Pies
• Cakes
• Jams
• Smoothies
• Sauces

Maple Syrup taste
Maple syrup is another wonderful natural sweetener. It has a rich caramel-like taste and comes in various grades. For example, Grade A maple syrup has numerous sub-categories relating to the various colours and flavours.
 
Although you might think that all maple syrup tastes the same, our taste buds have been busy at work finding the best natural sweetener varieties for you. This has led us to provide a number of different maple products for our customers. These include:

• Pure maple syrup
• Maple taste syrup
• Maple taste syrup sugar-free
• Maple taste sprinkles

Maple syrup as a natural sweetener
It has become increasingly common to use maple syrup in refined sugar-free recipes. So if you need to add some luxurious sweetness into your product, maple syrup could be just what you need. Its use is no longer limited to simply being poured onto pancakes and waffles! 
 
Furthermore, did you know that maple syrup has a number of health benefits? The syrup contains beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants. This makes it a good choice as a sweetener in health-conscious products.

Why use a natural sweetener? 
Many like the idea of consuming a natural sweetener rather than an artificial alternative. With the syrup market expected to continue growing, now is a great time to look into natural sweeteners for your product.
 
Although too much sugar in any form isn’t good, a bit of sweetness can add a delicious taste to food or drink. This could be from agave syrup offsetting a sharp taste in a pie or fruit tart, or maple syrup imparting the necessary sweetness into granola or biscuits.

​Natural sweetener options for you
If you’re developing a new food or drink product and are looking for the perfect natural sweetener, as a food ingredient supplier, we want to help. Whether you’re interested in agave or maple syrup, contact us about our natural sweeteners and we can advise which is most suitable for you.
 
We look forward to offering you assistance in getting the right sweetener for your product.

What are capers?
​Whole and milled capers create a distinct flavour in many kinds of dishes. The caper bush shrub (technically known as the capparis spinosa) produces the capers that we know and eat today. Although capers can often be confused with the caperberries of the same plant, they are actually quite different. Caperberries are the larger fruit, whereas capers are the small buds that are formed before the plant flowers. 
 
Whole capers are typically a dark olive green colour and although usually smaller than olives, can be used in a similar way to them. Like olives, raw whole capers are not usually eaten as they are, and require some sort of preservation.
 
Preservation methods may use:

• Salt
• Wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Brine

 
As a food ingredient supplier, we choose to preserve in brine, and this has worked well for our clients. Furthermore, we understand that our clients are often after versatility in the products they use. This is why we supply not only the more well-known whole capers, but milled capers, too.

Whole and milled capers usage
Caper bushes flourish wild all over the Mediterranean. Grown in the sunny climates of countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco and France, capers are a staple in many types of Mediterranean diets. 
 
Whole capers can be added onto pizzas, tossed into salads, or mixed into pasta. They can also be used in stuffing or be added as a finishing garnish. Some people even enjoy the taste of deep fried capers and the delicious crunch they provide. 
 
On the other hand, milled capers are often used in sauces, spreads, salsas, and relishes. These can range from remoulade to tartare sauce. Milled capers can also be great for creating Italian condiments like tonnato, as they add another dimension of flavour. Finely chopped capers can also be used in tapenade. 
 
Whether you choose to use whole or milled capers, both are perfect for adding a more salty and slightly sour taste into dishes. As a food ingredient supplier, we can say that this can really help to enhance the flavours in a savoury meal.

Whole and milled capers from a food ingredient supplier
At JC Dudley, we provide whole and milled capers that come acidified and in brine. We know that whole capers are often sought after in recipes, as they create not only great taste, but also a wonderful texture and some people find milled capers provide the versatility they are after. This is why we also supply milled capers that come in a powdered form. Additionally, if you are interested in caperberries, we have these available. They are used in the same way as capers, but having a milder flavour, create a different effect in dishes. For whole capers, we supply the full range of the grades, from smaller Lilliputs to the larger Gruesas
 
A food ingredient supplier should know all about the varying uses that whole and milled capers have, and even know how they differ from caperberries. At JC Dudley, we know our products inside out, so if you need any advice, don’t hesitate to ask.

Contact us for whole and milled capers
As an expert food ingredient supplier, we can supply you with both whole and milled capers. Whether you are interested in whole capers, milled capers, or the related caperberries, JC Dudley can get you the right products. If you are unsure of which option to pick, we can also help you establish which could be a better choice for your particular need. 
 
To find out more, email us at sales@jcdudley.co.uk or call us on +44 (0) 1494 792 839.
 
We are a food ingredient supplier that looks forward to providing you with the produce you need.
 
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What is sustainable food sourcing?
Sustainable food sourcing is the sourcing of food ingredients that “protect the environment, local communities and also the wildlife”. As a rather broad term, there is no legal definition for “sustainable” or “sustainable food”. However, the terms are generally used to reference practices that consciously consider how food is produced, distributed and consumed. These are things that a food ingredient company has to be particularly aware of. It is a responsibility that we take seriously.

The phrase is often used in conversations surrounding:

• Organic products
• Fair Trade food
• Ethically sourced ingredients
• Low-impact produce

Knowing whether a food is sustainable can be difficult to determine. This is largely because many factors contribute to food being more or less sustainable. It is not only the food itself that has to be considered, but the methods of production, practices of the producers, and how others across the supply chain may be impacted. Other things may include:

• Resources
• Food waste
• Farming methods
• Animal welfare
• Transportation
• Public health and hygiene 

Why is sustainable food sourcing important?
Sustainability has been a hot topic recently, and we are glad this has been the case. From fashion to food, furniture to freebies, many of us are becoming more aware of the impact of our actions. 

With more attention being given to where food comes from and the environmental and human cost it can come with, our food ingredient company wants to ensure that we do all we can to support sustainable sourcing. 

You may have come across terms such as “sustainably sourced fish” or “sustainably grown grain” before, but fruit and veg should be grown and sourced sustainably, too! Consequently, we are always trying to partner with producers that are really making an effort and working to make a positive difference.

Why should you care about sustainable food sourcing?
Not only do we want to enjoy food now, but we also want to continue to enjoy great produce for years to come. This is where the sustainability of food has to be considered. Sustainable food sourcing is not important for only environmental reasons, but it is important to consider the knock-on effects of unsustainable practices in the future. Having sustainable food sourcing now can help us avoid environmental damage, unfair practices, and even combat food shortages. We believe that every food ingredient company has a duty to care about how their food is sourced.

How do JC Dudley carry out sustainable food sourcing?
​As we are very much involved in finding and using the best ingredients in our products, we take it upon ourselves to seek out ingredients that are as sustainable as possible. To this end, JC Dudley is a food ingredient company that is part of Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange). Sedex is a non-profit organisation that encourages and empowers responsible supply chains.

Among other things, Sedex monitors and reports on:

• Health and safety
• Labour standards
• Business integrity

At JC Dudley, we also try to work sustainably so that even when you do want to use fruits and vegetables from abroad (that may have travelled many miles to get to you!), the environmental cost has been considered.

Although we are proud of the reputation we already have, we very much keep the objective of becoming an increasingly sustainable food procurement company in the front of our minds.

We continue to work on our sustainable food sourcing. Our sustainable food sourcing is not something we are complacent about; we are always trying to improve. We believe that we have made progress from when we first started in this industry, and we look forward to continuing to work on the sourcing of our ingredients. We hope to always operate ethically, and pass on great products and services to you. 

If you have any specific questions about our food sourcing as a food ingredient company, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.