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Buyers' Picks - January/February 2003

Andrew Arons, Gourmet Garage, New York, NY
Best-selling Spanish imports include olive oils, Spanish olives such as Arbequina, tuna and white asparagus. Our best Mexican sellers are salsa and chips, in every flavor and combination. Fresh salsas packaged in grab ’n go deli containers also do well. My picks include:
• Saffron
• Chorizo sausages
• Sherry vinegar
• Piquillo Pepper Mousse
• Cadi Sweet butter from Spain

Ken Williams, Belfast Co-op, Belfast, ME
Casa Fiesta and Kruner are our best-selling lines. Casa Fiesta offers Mexican products while Kruner does a Southwest version, with more specialty ingredients like chile and lime. We’ve always sold items like burritos in our deli. My picks include:
• Casa Fiesta refried and pinto beans
• Green Mountain Gringo Salsa
• Masa Harena bulk corn flour for tortillas
• Kruner refried black beans with chile and lime

Maureen Reagan, Wild Oats, Denver, CO
Spanish products is an area we’re working on expanding. Currently, our Spanish cheeses, Manchego and Drunken Goat, do well. They’re both distinctive in their own way. We’re just now adding some accessories to our primary cheese program like fried and salted Maracona Almonds. My picks include:
• Gran Maestre Manchego
• Corazon del Sol Quince Paste
• Drunken Goat Cheese
• Consorico Exportador Andaluz Maracona Almonds

Barth Anderson and Fern Weiss, The Wedge, Minneapolis, MN
Traditional items like taco shells and salsa are popular. The Wedge makes its own Tropical Salsa with mangoes or kiwi or pineapples that’s great. We sell it packaged and use it in the deli. South American produce is doing well also; Argentina is becoming known for its organics. Our picks include:
• Little Bear taco shells and refried beans
• Argentine organic pears
• Tropical Salsa
• Melinda’s XXXtra Hot Sauce
• Muir Glen salsa

Matthew Bunn, Cooking.com, Santa Monica, CA We’re seeing an increased awareness and interest in Spanish foods and cooking. Paella Kits and our exclusive Tapas Making Set have performed well, as gifts or personal solutions for the adventurous cook. In addition, Spanish olive oils and vinegars have become popular. My picks include:
• Tapas Making Set
• K.L Keller Imports Antara Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Paella Kit
• Proacec USA Caroliva Olive Oil & Vinegar Gift Crate
• K.L. Keller Imports E.&A.; Gispert Saffron