Editors, buyers and food experts from across the country descended on the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco this past weekend. The show, Jan. 17-19 at the Moscone Center, is the largest marketplace for specialty food and beverages on the West Coast, and has 80,000 products on display from the United States and more than 32 countries. During the three-day event, a panel of food experts selected the top five food trends for 2010, including good-for-you foods; coconut; gluten-free; exotic citrus; and nostalgic foods.

Others identified are fermented foods, including pickled everything; smoked foods, including numerous new twists on bacon; and snacks for grown-ups such as spicy popcorn and baked potato chips with jalapeno.

The experts scouted the exhibit halls on opening day of the trade event. Their picks are part of the Food Trend Challenge, a contest created by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc. (NASFT), the show's owner. Hundreds of retailers, restaurateurs, journalists, producers, farmers and others in the industry played the online game for a chance to win monthly prizes and bragging rights as the trendiest person at the show. The grand prize is a free trip to the 56th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City this June 27-29.

The trendspotters are: Lessley Anderson, senior features editor, CHOW; Kara Nielsen, trendologist, Center for Culinary Development; Tanya Henry, food critic, Marin Independent Journal; Nancy Wall Hopkins, deputy editor, food and entertaining, Better Homes & Gardens; Kay Logsdon, editor, The Food Channel; Denise Purcell, editor, Specialty Food Magazine; Joanne Weir, PBS television host, "Joanne Weir's Cooking Class."

Alongside these experts, Gourmet Retailer editors scoured the aisles and found some of their favorite items as well. We'll be showcasing those products over the next several weeks in our New Products section, Editor's Choice as well as in a six-part series of TGR-tv.com content. Our first video content from the show can be reached here.

To learn more information about the vendors mentioned in this video, please visit each vendor's website:

Tunisia Olive Oil
http://www.tunisia-oliveoil.com/

San Gennaro Foods
http://www.polenta.net/products/

Veggie Bed
http://www.theveggiebed.com/shopper.html

Culinary Papers
http://www.culinarypapers.com