Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC), known for their prepackaged sushi prepared and sold in supermarkets, extended their product line to include sushi related products. This bottle of AFC’s first generation sushi rice/salad seasoning with vinegar is covered by green plastic, and the body is wrapped around by a printed label that includes the word “Natural,” the original AFC logo, the title "Sushi Rice/ Salad Seasoning with Vinegar" in black lettering, and a picture of three pieces of maki sushi on a bamboo mat and a picture of salad below. The images suggest that this product can be used to season rice to recreate the same taste as the rice used at sushi bars, and can be used as a substitute for vinegar in salad dressings as well. Underneath the images reads NET 12.7 FL OZ (375mL) in black lettering, and the directions are written to the left. To the right of the front cover, there is a list of ingredients and the nutrition facts.
The vinegar seasoning shows AFC’s attempt to popularize sushi making in American households. It’s versatility in being a substitute for salad dressing is also intended for the product to appeal to a wider market, and not exclusively to those interested in making sushi at home.
A first generation AFC ginger salad dressing bottle.
Like other AFC products, this bottle has a green lid and a yellow printed plastic label that covers the top part of its body. The label includes the first generation AFC logo underneath the printed “NATURAL” letters, and “Ginger Salad Dressing” written in black over the image of a ginger root. The bottom right reads NET 10.6FL OZ (280ml) in black. To the right, the Nutrition Fact is listed, along with a “Distributed by: AFC Corp” print underneath. The left side of the container includes a barcode, a few sentences that suggest its use, the ingredients, and a caution note.
AFC extended their product line to include sushi related products to diversify the consumer’s sushi eating experience, and popularize ingredients used in traditional Japanese foods. This salad dressing is advertised to be versatile, as it can be used for salads, stir-fry dishes and a marinade for barbeques.
The plastic bottle is clear with a green plastic lid. The graphic on this label includes the original AFC logo, which is an oval consisting of the letters “AFC” and an image of two pieces of nigiri sushi below. “Teriyaki Sauce” is printed in the center, with an image of a red Japanese fan and a skewer of beef and vegetables behind it. The combination of the red fan and the beef and vegetables skewer markets this product as a fusion flavor. While the American favorite beef and vegetable skewer provides comfort to the consumers, the Japanese fan marks this product as Asian-inspired. “All Natural” is written across the top, implying that the product is healthy. The contents have a NET of 6.8FL. Oz. (205 ml), and underneath the weight, it reads 2003.1.5. On the back of the container there is a barcode, the nutritional facts, the ingredients, and the AFC Corporation address.
Teriyaki sauce is made of soy sauce, mirin, sugar and ginger. It is typically used to marinate meats and vegetables before cooking, or used as a dipping sauce for cooked meats and vegetables. It has a tangy sweet taste that appeals to a wide range of audience, and has become a staple for Asian-inspired flavors.
AFC first generation single serving cup of instant miso soup.
The yellow container is covered by a sealed paper lid that reads “MISO SOUP Traditional Japanese Soup, with a three step instruction printed below. “Natural Tofu Miso Soup” is printed across the container, with the original AFC logo in the center and a graphic of a bowl of miso soup in the background. Underneath reads NET WT. 0.76 OZ. (22g). The “Fill line” printed on the upper right part of the container indicates how much water should be poured in. The left side lists directions for hot water and directions for microwave use, as well as a barcode and a general miso soup description. The right side lists the nutrition facts, the ingredients and the distributor.
Miso soup is a common Japanese soup that often accompanies a sushi meal. AFC has expanded their products from fresh pre-packaged products to other sushi-related products, and has included two types of instant miso soups.
AFC’s second generation box of tubed grated wasabi.
The front side of the green box includes the Southern Tsunami logo, which is the trademark registered to AFC Corp. in 2003. Underneath reads “Prepared Genuine Wasabi in a Tube”, and “Grated Sushi Wasabi” is printed over an image of a wasabi root. There is an image of an assortment of nigiri sushi below, indicating what the product is to be used for. At the very bottom, NET WT. 1.59 OZ (45g) is printed in white lettering. The backside of the box is identical to the front, though the image of the nigiri sushi is replaced by an image of California rolls. The left side of the box lists the ingredients, nutrition facts, the distributor and the barcode. The plastic tube contained in the box has the same Southern Tsunami logo and the product name “Prepared Genuine Wasabi in a Tube, Grated Sushi Wasabi” printed in large lettering. The tube has a green plastic top.
Wasabi is a plant root of the Brassicaceae family. It is grated and used as a sushi condiment to enhance flavor. It has a potent flavor and therefore only a small amount is necessary to bring out the flavor of the fish. Customers who purchase this tube of wasabi will have an ample amount to season both their take-out sushi orders and homemade sushi.
The jacket was worn by James Kyaw a sushi chef for Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC). The design is based on the Japanese happi coat, a straight sleeve coat. It is gold with a navy trim and fastens with one button in the front. The AFC logo, “Southern Tsunami,” is embroidered on the left breast panel.
A first generation AFC Roasted Sesame Seed Bottle.
It has a green plastic top, and the body is covered by a printed green label. The label reads “Roasted Sesame Seed”, “Natural”, with the original AFC logo underneath. At the bottom, NET Wt. 4 oz. (113g) is printed in white lettering. The left side of the bottle has the barcode and suggestions for its use. The right side includes the Nutrition Facts and its distributor.
Sesame seeds are widely used in Asian cuisine, and are often used as a garnish for sushi. They are sprinkled on the outside of California rolls and other cut rolls, and add a nutty flavor to any food. AFC has extended their product line to include sushi related products to diversify the consumer’s sushi eating experience, and popularize ingredients used in traditional Japanese foods.
A single serving cup of instant miso soup, and is a first generation AFC product.
The product is covered by a sealed paper lid that reads “MISO SOUP Traditional Japanese Soup, followed by a three step instruction. “Natural Miso Soup” is printed largely across the container, with the original AFC logo in the center and an image of a bowl of miso soup in the background. NET WT. 0.64 OZ. (18g) is printed at the bottom. There is a “Fill line” that indicates how much boiled water should be poured in. The left side has two sets of directions; one for boiling water and the other for microwave. The barcode is printed underneath, as well as a description of miso soup. The right side has the nutrition facts, the ingredients and the distributor.
Miso soup is a common Japanese soup that often accompanies a sushi meal. AFC has expanded their products from fresh pre-packaged products to other sushi-related products.
A packet of wasabi powder from AFC’s first generation product line.
As evident on their packaging, no preservatives, food colors nor artificial flavors were used to create this product. The packet is a simple white and green print, with “ALL NATURAL” written across the top. “Sushi Wasabi Green Horse Radish” is printed in the center, along with AFC’s first generation logo. The bottom reads “NET WT. 0.88 oz. (25g)” and “AFC CORP.” is printed below. The backside has a white background with the barcode, ingredients, distributor, preparation and usage information, and a general description of wasabi.
Wasabi powder is made from wasabi root that is washed, ground into powder and immediately freeze-dried. Wasabi is traditionally used as a condiment for sushi, and has health benefits such as guarding against food poisoning. The wasabi powder can be mixed with water to create a thick wasabi paste.
“ALL NATURAL SUSHI SEAWEED” is printed in white letters across the front, with the first generation AFC logo in the center and an image of a plate of assorted sushi on the bottom right corner. NET WEIGHT 0.49 OZ. (14g) 5 SHEETS is printed at the bottom, along with the phrases “No Preservatives,” “No Artificial Colors,” and “No Artificial Flavors”. The very bottom reads “AFC CORP”. The backside includes directions on how to hand roll sushi and cook sushi rice, as well as the nutrition facts.
Seaweed, “Nori” in Japanese, is one of the main ingredients in maki sushi (sushi rolls). The highest quality of seaweed is black, whereas more affordable options are green. Seaweed comes in a variety of shapes and forms, and can be used to garnish rice and noodles among other foods.
The jacket was worn by James Kyaw a sushi chef for Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC). The design is based on the Japanese happi coat, a straight sleeve coat. It is white with a navy trim and ties in the front. The AFC logo, “Southern Tsunami,” is embroidered on the left breast panel.
A jar of sushi pickled ginger “gari,” (term for ginger when associated with sushi) with the AFC Corp. brand label, provided an ample supply for an individual or family to keep on-hand at home to supplement their sushi take-out.
A mound of lightly colored pink or yellow pickled ginger, along with a small spoonful of wasabi, is typically presented with sushi. Eating pickled ginger in between different types of sushi helps to cleanse an individual’s palate for the next sushi selection. The Japanese term “gari” mimics the sound that is produced when pickled ginger is being consumed.
A first generation Wasabi Salad Dressing from the AFC Corporation with a first generation AFC logo with two pieces of nigiri sushi printed in the middle. It has a green screw-on top, with a printed plastic that wraps around the body. In the center are the words "Wasabi salad Dressing", and NET 10.6 FL OZ (280ml) is written below. The background includes an image of two wasabi plants, and to the left of the front cover is a paragraph that describes the ingredients, suggestions, and a barcode. The other side of the packaging lists the product’s Nutritional Facts.
AFC extended their product line to include sushi related products to diversify the consumer’s sushi eating experience, and popularize ingredients used in traditional Japanese foods. The Wasabi Salad Dressing is available for purchase at AFC’s supermarket locations, on their online website, and is included in their “Ultimate Sushi Kit”. This dressing is made from grated wasabi and adds a Japanese style to any salad.
Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC), known as a distributor of pre-packaged sushi in supermarkets, expanded into other products related to the sushi eating experience. Sushi bars in Japan often serve green tea to accompany their sushi, and AFC’s box of green tea reveals their effort in replicating that authentic experience.
This box of individually wrapped tea is pale green that fades to white, with the original AFC logo printed below the word “NATURAL”, indicating that this item is natural without preservatives. The top of the box reads, “AFC Green Tea is made from the finest quality tea and packed in individual aluminum foil pouches to prevent the loss of its elegant flavor and taste”. There is also a red stripe across the sushi that reads "individually packed air-tight to preserve aroma and taste" in white lettering. The images of the cup of tea and sushi platter, consisting of traditional nigiri and non-traditional cut rolls, suggest that the product is to accompany a sushi meal. The bottom of the front display reads 16 tea bags and underneath it says Net WT. is 1.2 oz. (34g). The bottom of the package has both the barcode and instructions. This box of green tea can be bought at AFC sushi bars, their website www.afcsushi.com, or found included in AFC’s Ultimate Sushi Kit set.
A plastic miso paste bottle from the first generation AFC line.
The bottle has a green plastic top, with a printed plastic label wrapped around the body. The label reads “NATURAL MISO PASTE” with the original AFC logo printed in the center and an image of a bowl of miso soup in the background. The word ‘Natural’ implies that this paste is made from all natural ingredients, without preservatives, additives and MSG. Underneath, “No dashi needed” is written in black to inform the consumer that no added stock is necessary when using this product. The barcode is placed on the left, as well as the ingredients and a two-step instructions list. The other side lists the nutrition facts and the distributor.
Miso paste is dissolved in hot water and served with other garnishes to produce miso soup, which is a common soup in Japanese cuisine. It is also a popular dish at sushi bars to accompany sushi, and help cleanse the palate in between different flavors.
The plastic bottle has a green screw-on lid, with a green paper label wrapped around its body. You can see the first generation AFC logo towards the bottom of the label, and NET Wt. 9.5 oz. (230mL). To the left, the barcode, its distribution, and suggestions of use are listed. To the right is the Nutrition Facts with the ingredients (soy sauce, sugar, starch, caramel, amino acids, and alcohol) listed below.
AFC extended their product line to include sushi related products to diversify the consumer’s sushi eating experience, and popularize ingredients used in traditional Japanese foods. Eel sauce is typically used over grilled eel in Japan, though it can also be used over grilled meat and vegetables as suggested on the packaging. Eel sauce is also a popular sauce used to drizzle over sushi.
The jacket was worn by James Kyaw a sushi chef for Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC). It is a white short-sleeve double breasted jacket with the AFC logo embroidered on the right front and right sleeve.
A first generation Tamari Soy Sauce bottle from the AFC Corporation.
The bottle has a green lid, and is covered in a printed label that has a green background. The word "Premium" is printed in white lettering at the top of the label, and reads "Naturally Brewed", "Reduced Sodium*", "Tamari Soy Sauce", "Sushi/Sashimi Quality", and "Natural" in green, red, purple and black lettering. Underneath is the first generation AFC logo which consists of an image of two pieces of sushi. At the very bottom it reads NET 5 FL. OZ (148 mL). To the left of the front cover, there is a barcode. The right of the cover lists the Nutrition Facts, ingredients, and its distributor.
Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans, and is an essential ingredient for many sauces, soups, and broths in Japanese cuisine, as well as a dipping sauce for sushi. Though similar in consistency and flavor, tamari has a higher concentration of soybeans than the traditional soy sauce, with little wheat content. Thus, tamari is less salty (25% less sodium), thicker and richer than the traditional soy sauce. The smoothness allows for this sauce to be used as a marinade for barbecues or seasoning for stir fry.
The box is green, with the original AFC logo at the top, “Prepared Genuine Wasabi in Tube” written right below, and a bold “Grated Sushi Wasabi” printed in the center over an image of a wasabi root. Underneath is an image of a few nigiri sushi, and NET WT. 45g 1.59oz written in green. The left side of the box lists the ingredients and Nutrition facts along with the barcode and the distributor name. The backside of the box has the same AFC Logo, product name, and wasabi plant image as the front side, but the image of the nigiri sushi is replaced by an image of sushi rolls. The right side includes the directions for use. The tube encased in the box packaging is a clear plastic tube with a green lid. The AFC logo is printed at the top, as well as “Prepared Genuine Wasabi in Tube Grated Sushi Wasabi” written underneath.
Wasabi is a plant root of the Brassicaceae family. It is grated and used as a sushi condiment to enhance flavor. It has a potent flavor and therefore only a small amount is necessary to bring out the flavor of the fish. Customers who purchase this tube of wasabi will have an ample amount to season both their take-out sushi orders and homemade sushi.
A first generation container of sushi rice from the AFC Corporation.
It has a wide green screw-on lid and a rectangular body that is partially covered by a printed label. The front face of the label has the first generation AFC logo which says “Since 1986” below. Underneath, “Premium” is written in magenta lettering in the center, and “SUSHI RICE is printed in green lettering on a black horizontal strip. NET WT 1.85 lbs (839 g) is printed at the bottom in black. The right face of the label is the “Rice Cooking Instructions” which includes washing instructions and cooking instructions in four steps, accompanied by instructional images. The back face of the label displays the “Sushi Rice Season Instructions” in four steps, accompanied by instructional photos to the right. The left face of the label has the Nutrition Facts, barcode, and a space in the bottom left corner that reads “Distributed by AFC Corp.”
AFC extended their product line to include sushi related products to diversify the consumer’s sushi eating experience, and popularize ingredients used in traditional Japanese foods. As sushi rice is an important component in sushi making, AFC distributed this product for customers interested in making sushi or other types of Japanese food at home. Sushi rice tends to be stickier in texture which gives the best results in forming sushi.