News
Coca-Cola Gulps Innocent Drinks
April 12, 2010 4:58 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Coca-Cola will increase its stake of Innocent Drinks to take a majority ownership of the British fruit and smoothie drinks maker, although Innocent will retain control of the business. The increased stake announced Friday by the world's largest drink maker comes a year after Coca-Cola initially bought an 18 percent stake for 30 million pounds, or about $44 million.
Feds Cite Company Over Ammonia Leak
April 12, 2010 4:56 am | CommentsPORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Federal work safety officials want to fine the company that owns a commercial Maine freezer that had an ammonia leak, which may have contaminated millions of pounds of food. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing fines of up to $9,000 for Americold Logistics because of a January leak in Portland caused when a refrigeration unit fell from the ceiling.
Mobile Slaughterhouse Sustains Farms
April 8, 2010 10:56 am | CommentsTACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Cheryl Ouellette has a dream about meat — real meat, local meat, and how meat can save the family farm. Known as the "Pig Lady" for the swine she nurtures at her Summit-area farm, Ouellette is the source and the force for the first mobile meat-processing unit in Pierce County.
Living High On The Hog
April 8, 2010 10:49 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans may take it for granted that the state produces massive amounts of meat and grain to help feed the world. But the state's huge export business owes much to an Iowan who was in the Air Force in Japan 50 years ago. After a typhoon devastated Japan's hog farms in 1959, the airman suggested having hogs airlifted to Japan from his home state.
HSUS Releases More Undercover Videos
April 8, 2010 10:41 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Humane Society of the United States released videos Wednesday that they say show animal-welfare violations at four egg farms in Iowa, the nation's top egg-producing state. The videos, made secretly as part of the animal rights group's ongoing push to get egg-laying hens out of cramped cages, show chickens caught between wires and others being pulled dead from cages that sit above piles of manure.
Workers Sue Slim Jim Contractors
April 8, 2010 10:40 am | CommentsRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — About two dozen workers have sued accusing more than a dozen design, manufacturing and installation firms of negligence for a deadly explosion that ripped through a Slim Jim production plant in North Carolina last year. The lawsuit filed Tuesday also accuses inspectors for the town of Garner of failing to properly oversee the installation of a commercial water heater.
Biodynamic Farmers Connect To Earth's Rhythms
April 7, 2010 5:28 am | CommentsSAN JUAN BAUTISTA, Calif. (AP) — When vintner Randall Grahm chose the softly sloping hillside and time to plant his new pinot noir vines, he weighed all the things farmers usually consider: drainage, soil quality and weather. Then he considered less orthodox factors: the cosmic and seasonal rhythms at play and how they might be harnessed to help the clippings take root.
Bruce Foods Expanding Plant
April 7, 2010 5:27 am | CommentsNEW IBERIA, La. (AP) — Bruce Foods Corp., a specialty food manufacturer, will expand its New Iberia plant and boost its payroll under a state economic incentive deal announced Tuesday. State officials said privately held Bruce Foods will retain 380 jobs and create 43 new jobs, with a total payroll of $1.
Wheat Prices Surge On Prospect Of Improving Demand
April 7, 2010 5:26 am | CommentsDENVER (AP) — Wheat prices surged Tuesday as hopes grew that global demand for the grain was strengthening. Soybeans and corn also rose, while energy and metals prices ended the day mixed. Wheat prices have been battered for the past three months, trading down nearly 90 cents a bushel, on reports of abundant supplies and moderate weather.
Missouri Court Overturns Hog Farm Ruling
April 7, 2010 5:26 am | CommentsJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday overturned a ruling that blocked a proposed hog farm from expanding near Arrow Rock. A Cole County judge blocked the farm from expanding so near the historic central Missouri village, but a three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District dismissed the case because the permit required to expand the farm expired more than a year ago.
Frugal U.S. Shoppers Good For Grocery Industry
April 7, 2010 5:25 am | CommentsHALIFAX (Canadian Press) — Frugal Americans who buy more frozen seafood for home cooking will bring about "modest increases" in U.S. sales for High Liner Foods Inc. this year, the Lunenburg, N.S.-based firm's chief executive predicts. The United States accounted for slightly more than half of the company's sales last year, with the remainder coming from mostly in Canada.
U.S. Aims To Resume Talks On Beef Exports To Japan
April 7, 2010 5:24 am | CommentsTOKYO (Kyodo) — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack suggested Wednesday that restarting talks on U.S. beef imports, subject to prolonged restrictions because of concerns over mad cow disease, will take priority on his visit to Japan. Vilsack and Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu are scheduled to hold talks on Thursday.
Cheese Recalled Due To Listeria Risk
April 6, 2010 5:25 am | CommentsGRANDVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Del Bueno of Grandview, Wash., says it's recalling 16 oz. packages of its Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese. The cheese has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria. The organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail and elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.
Workshop Will Present Latest Poultry Processing Technology
April 6, 2010 5:22 am | CommentsATLANTA ( poultryegg.org ) — Poultry processing managers will learn about the latest equipment and cutting-edge technology for today's poultry processing operations at the 2010 Poultry Processor Workshop. Sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association's Poultry & Egg Institute, this year's conference will be held May 12-13, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta.
NCBA Encouraged By USDA Trade Mission To Japan
April 6, 2010 5:21 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is pleased with the news of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s trade mission to Japan. “We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s efforts to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Japan when it comes to trade in agricultural products between our two countries,” said Steve Foglesong, NCBA president.
UK Lawmakers Attack Kraft After Merger
April 6, 2010 5:20 am | CommentsLONDON (AP) — A cross-party committee of British lawmakers has accused Kraft Foods Inc. of acting "irresponsibly and unwisely" during its 11.5 billion pound ($17.5 billion) takeover of Cadbury. In a highly critical report Tuesday, the Business Select Committee said that the controversy surrounding the deal would have long-term implications for Britain's takeover laws.
Escape Artist Attempts To Avoid Tasting Death In Beer Tank
April 6, 2010 5:19 am | CommentsWINNIPEG (Canadian Press) — Manitoba escape artist Dean Gunnarson says his next stunt will see him trying to avoid tasting death in a beer tank. Gunnarson says he plans to be handcuffed and locked inside a 240-litre vat full of the fermented malt beverage on Saturday at the Off-Campus Social Club in Winnipeg.
ConAgra Plans To Reduce Packaging, Waste
April 6, 2010 5:18 am | CommentsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — ConAgra Foods Inc. said Monday that it will reduce its packaging, waste, greenhouse gas and water use by 2015. The food maker said it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent and water use by 15 percent as compared to its 2008 levels. ConAgra said it would reduce its packaging by 10 percent as compared to 2008 levels and increase the amount of packaging made of renewable resources from 45 percent to more than 50 percent.
