Produce
Antimicrobial Protein Protects Grapevines From Pathogen
February 22, 2012 1:12 pm | News | CommentsA team of researchers has found a way to ensure that your evening glass of wine will continue to be available, despite the potential attack of Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), a bacterium that causes Pierce's Disease and poses a significant threat to the California wine industry's valuable grapevines.
Consumer Trends: Almonds Receive Heart-Healthy Label
February 22, 2012 12:54 pm | News | CommentsThe American Heart Association (AHA) has certified almonds with its signature Heart-Check mark to signify that they are a heart-healthy food.(1) This symbol is the most consumer-trusted nutrition icon appearing on packaged foods — in fact, one study found that more than half of shoppers use the mark as a deciding factor when choosing to purchase a new product.(2) Consumers can now easily identify almonds as smart choice for their heart health.
Mild Winter Endangers Maple Syrup Season
February 22, 2012 9:53 am | by HOLLY RAMER,The Associated Press | News | CommentsA mild winter across the Northeast is injecting extra uncertainty into maple syrup season, but many producers say they'll just go with the flow, whenever it starts. Temperatures have been up and snowfall totals have been down throughout the region this winter, raising some concern for the maple syrup crop. But syrup producers say the weather during the six-week season when sap flows matters more than the weather leading up to it.
Texas May Cut Water To Rice Farms
February 22, 2012 9:49 am | by RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI,Associated Press | News | CommentsThousands of farmers in Texas' rice-producing region are likely to be affected by action taken in response to one of the most severe droughts in state history. With water management agencies implementing emergency plans never used before, the Lower Colorado River Authority is widely expected to announce March 1 that it will not release water to rice farmers in three counties.
Photo Of The Day: A Sticky Situation For Maple Syrup
February 22, 2012 9:40 am | News | CommentsAn unusually mild winter across much of the Northeast has raised some concerns about whether the maple syrup crop is in danger.
X-Ray Inspection System
February 21, 2012 4:12 pm | Products | CommentsThe PowerChek x-ray system identifies objects that are a different density than the product it is inspecting.
Rainfall Gives La. Farmers Hope
February 21, 2012 1:10 pm | by JANET McCONNAUGHEY and MARY FOSTER,Associated Press | News | CommentsA winter of well-spaced rains has provided a measure of drought relief for Louisiana farmers who wondered last fall whether their parched fields would fail during the planting season.
More Schools Serve Three Meals A Day
February 21, 2012 1:08 pm | by HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2010, provides federal funds for the after-school dinner program in areas where at least half the students qualify for free or reduced price lunches. Before the change, the program was limited to 13 states and the District of Columbia. Most states had provided money for only after-school snacks.
Indiana City Looks To Use Food Waste To Get Methane
February 21, 2012 1:06 pm | News | CommentsValparaiso is looking at using food waste to increase the amount of methane now generated at its sewage treatment facility, a move that would cut the plant's utility bills.
High-Arsenic Baby Food Linked To Brown Rice Syrup
February 21, 2012 12:54 pm | News | CommentsA recent study linked organic brown rice to high-arsenic baby food, but the USA Rice Federation says organic brown rice syrup is not widely used in U.S. food products.
Consumer Trends: More Employees Lunching At Home
February 21, 2012 12:45 pm | News | CommentsSpurred by the lingering effects of the recession, consumers are cutting back on away-from-home lunch purchases. More than a third of respondents (37 percent) say they've cut back on foodservice spending at lunch over the past year, and 31 percent say they are eating lunch at home more often.
Dry Midwestern Winter Could Mean Summer Drought
February 21, 2012 10:02 am | by STEVE KARNOWSKI,Associated Press | News | CommentsA relatively snow-free winter in the Upper Midwest has some officials worried about damage to agriculture if the dry weather persists into spring planting. Minnesota's agriculture and commerce commissioners, Dave Frederickson and Mike Rothman, signaled their concern when they advised farmers Thursday to buy crop insurance before next month's deadline. Most of Minnesota is in the earliest stage of drought, and parts of Iowa and the Dakotas also are abnormally dry or worse.
What Is Your Food Label Really Telling You?
February 20, 2012 10:00 am | Videos | CommentsIs there room for produce that is both organic and genetically modified? Pamela Ronald discusses some of the complexities of food labeling and how products are marketed to consumers.
Checkweighers
February 17, 2012 3:06 pm | Products | CommentsCompany's Checkweighers are PC-controlled and handle basic checkweighing (up to 150 pieces/minute) up to high-end checkweighing (up to 640 pieces/minute).
Warm Winter Could Ruin Indiana's Fruit Crop
February 17, 2012 12:54 pm | News | CommentsPurdue University Extension fruit specialists say ongoing mild temperatures may make some plants blossom the next time the state sees a stretch of temperatures above 50 degrees. The warm weather tricks the plant into thinking it's spring. If there's a frost afterwards that kills flower buds, the plants can't recover. Farmers can't do anything to protect the plants if this happens.
Emerging Markets Boost Heinz Revenue
February 17, 2012 12:52 pm | News | CommentsH.J. Heinz Co.'s fiscal third-quarter net income rose 4 percent as the company sold more ketchup and sales in emerging markets shot up 40 percent.
Consumer Trends: Using Technology To Improve Food Shopping Experience
February 17, 2012 12:37 pm | News | CommentsThe Department of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University will host the sixth annual Food Industry Summit on Thursday, March 8 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. A venue for food industry CEOs, presidents and executives to present their insights on major issues and trends, this year’s event will focus on how companies can best use technology to improve their customers' shopping experience.
The Magic Beans (Part V)
February 17, 2012 10:00 am | Videos | CommentsThis week we're taking a deep look into the world of soybeans with a five-part video series hosted by Jason Shoultz and originally run by Aol's American Heartland. In this episode, the host travels from Iowa to San Francisco to taste a variety of Asian dishes that incorporate soybeans.
Tainted Sprouts Again Linked To Jimmy John's
February 16, 2012 12:53 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that 12 cases of E. coli poisoning in five states are linked to raw clover sprouts eaten at Jimmy John's restaurants. The outbreak comes a year after raw alfalfa sprouts from one of the chain's suppliers were linked to 140 salmonella illnesses.
Consumer Trends: Organic Food Sales Hit Record In 2011
February 16, 2012 12:35 pm | News | CommentsFor the first time in four years since undertaking its Annual Organic Product Survey, TABS Group found a significant increase in American consumers reporting they purchased organic products and a jump in overall sales. Specifically, the percentage of all consumers stating they purchased organics rose from 39.8 percent in January 2011 to 41.8 percent in January 2012, a 5 percent increase, according to Dr. Kurt Jetta, TABS Group CEO.
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: The Hottest Pepper On The Planet
February 16, 2012 10:10 am | by SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN,Associated Press | News | CommentsThere are super-hot chile varieties. And then there's the sweat-inducing, tear-generating, mouth-on-fire Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. With a name like that, it's not surprising that months of research by the experts at New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute have identified the variety as the new hottest pepper on the planet.
The Magic Beans (Part IV)
February 16, 2012 10:00 am | Videos | CommentsThis week we're taking a deep look into the world of soybeans with a five-part video series hosted by Jason Shoultz and originally run by Aol's American Heartland. In this episode, a soybean agronomist from Iowa State University sheds some light on soybean research.
Obama's Budget Cuts Pathogen Testing In Produce
February 16, 2012 9:58 am | by GARANCE BURKE,Associated Press | News | CommentsPresident Barack Obama's proposed budget would eliminate the nation's only program that regularly tests fruits and vegetables for deadly pathogens, leaving public health officials without a crucial tool used to investigate deadly foodborne illness outbreaks.
Photo Of The Day: Running Low On Organic
February 16, 2012 9:54 am | News | CommentsEven as more consumers are willing to pay premium prices for organic milk, supermarkets are having trouble keeping it on the shelves as high feed and fuel prices have left some organic dairy farmers simply unable to keep up with demand.
U.S. And EU Sign Organic Food Agreement
February 15, 2012 1:06 pm | News | CommentsAmerican and EU officials say they've signed an agreement that will allow products certified as organic in Europe or the U.S. to be sold as organic in both regions.
