The U.S. Potato Board has launched a little bit of spud goodness in a national print campaign.
The U.S. Potato Board launched a national print advertising campaign today as part of its continued effort to educate consumers about the nutritional benefits of potatoes. “Peel Back the Truth” inquisitively tackles potato nutrition myths and quickly reveals, with the swoop of a potato peeler, the healthy truth inside a fresh potato.
The new campaign is a continuation of the U.S. Potato Board’s (USPB) consumer nutrition education campaign that began in 2004 when low-carb diets were at their peak. Fad diets come and go but the nutritious potato stands tall.
I noticed a story in the latest issue Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, Prime Cuts, e-newsletter about a stupid (my word) ad from the Humane Society. Yes, we know these wackos have been trying to connect animal agriculture to global warming. Of course, there is no global warming issue, especially not a man made one. You’ll notice that most environmental wackos have quit using that term and have now gone to “climate change” as their term of choice. This way it can be getting colder, warmer, dryer, wetter and it’s all bad and they’re covered.
According to the newsletter story the HSUS is running the ad this month in national magazines targeting teen girls. If you read the copy of the ad you find out the true goal of the HSUS which is to reduce meat in our diets by using scare tactics based on complete lies. These wackos are definitely a huge enemy of anyone involved in animal agriculture. It’s one thing to have an opinion but to deliberately deceive people with lies to get their money so they can lie to more people is really tragic and sad. Unfortunately, the HSUS is using false data from the FAO, which has turned into a wacko group too. I used to think FAO actually was a credible organization, but not anymore.
It’s too bad that so many people are willing to believe what they see and hear without even bothering to think about it and look for real science based facts. But that’s why it’s very important for any of us involved in agriculture to be involved in efforts to present the truth and reach consumers using the same tactics as these wackos.
Milwaukee-based Bader Rutter is welcoming three new associates to its public relations group. Anna Kirk, Josh Sova and Sara Pellowski are the newest additions to the marketing services agency.
Anna Kirk (pictured top right) joins Bader Rutter as a team leader. Kirk brings 11 years of professional communications experience to her position. Most recently, she owned and managed Launchpad MCPR, Inc. Kirk holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. She will be working on the Schneider Electric account.
Josh Sova (pictured middle left) joins the agency as an assistant account executive. Most recently, Sova worked for The Promotions Network (TPN), Milwaukee. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Sova will be working on the Merial account, an animal health company.
Sara Pellowski (pictured bottom right) also joins the agency as an assistant account executive. Pellowski previously worked for Ron Sonntag Public Relations, served as a reporter for the West Bend Daily News and was a contributing writer for Soho Magazine. Pellowski is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. She will be working on the Dow AgroSciences account.
You absolutely have to check out this post on Defamer to watch the video clip set to one of Matthew McConaughey’s new Beef radio spots. I’m sure NCBA won’t be upset for being given credit for the Beef Board’s work.
Did you stuff your face with enough beef over the holiday weekend? If not, Matthew McConaughey is gonna be mighty pissed off. Check out the new radio spot he recorded for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. You know, the dudes who came up with that “Beef, it’s what’s for dinner” slogan? Well, they got themselves a brand new golden-haired, A-list pitchman and the results have become a bit of an obsession here in the Defamer offices. Why does it fascinate so? Maybe it’s because McConaughey plays up his every vocal tic for maximum effect, like he’s trying to lure a small child into a windowless van with some candy.
Even better are the comments posted so far. Like:
The extreme close up of the braying steer. I weep. Want to hate the Matty, but can not, not with Andre Previn arranging the score.
Or
I’m going to Ruth’s Chris for dinner tonight and TOTALLY ordering “the power of protein in the land of lean beef”.
Cinco de Mayo is coming up and the National Pork Board wants to help you spice things up for the Latin holiday…
A recent survey of more than 1,000 chefs across the country reveals: Latin American cuisine is one of the “hottest” ethnic cuisines in 2008. Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that historically celebrates the defeat of the French army by the Mexicans at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, has fast become one of America’s most popular occasions for general celebration and entertaining.
The National Pork Board has teamed up with entertaining experts and co-authors of Latin Chic: Entertaining with Style and Sass, Carolina Buia and Isabel Gonzalez, to offer tips for Cinco de Mayo cooking and entertaining.
“Requiring little preparation, pork is the ideal menu choice for Latin cuisine because the wide arrays of cuts are versatile enough to pair with nearly every flavor,” said Buia. “For example, pork chops or tenderloins can be paired with pre-made fruit or vegetable-based salsas and spice rubs with Caribbean and Latin themes.” Pork’s role in New World cuisine dates back to 1539, when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in Tampa Bay, Fla. with America’s first 13 pigs, beginning a flavorful tradition that we continue to enjoy today. (more…)
Cranberries pack a lot of punch. No, not juice, well, not just juice anyway. The Cranberry Marketing Committee reminds consumers how cranberries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants.
Do you know anyone who’s a Type-A personality? A multi-tasking, go-getter? Well, if fruit could take personality tests, the cranberry would turn out to be Type-A. There’s a lot of good stuff in these little red gems. But the antioxidants deserve some special attention.
Cranberries have a wide array of antioxidants, but one kind that is unique to cranberries is proanthocyanidins. This type of flavonoid antioxidant keeps certain bacteria from adhering to the walls of your bladder, helping you maintain a healthy urinary tract.
In addition to proanthocyanidins, they also contain another type of flavonoid antioxidant - anthocyanins. While more research is needed on the effects of antioxidants on health, preliminary studies suggest flavonoid antioxidants may work by helping to maintain healthy cells, tissues and arteries, which means helping you maintain a healthy heart.
The Dairy Council of California says flavored milk does a child’s body good. That’s because, children drink up when chocolate, strawberry or vanilla is in the cup.
Kids and teens, pour yourselves a tall one. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry milk, that is. New research shows that drinking flavored milk increases overall milk intake and improves nutrition without adding extra weight.
A study of nearly 8,000 children and adolescents published in this month’s Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that those who included flavored milk in their beverage selection actually drank more milk overall — both flavored and plain — when compared to peers who only drank plain milk. Because milk is a good source of calcium and potassium, two “nutrients of concern” lacking in the diets of most Americans, drinking more milk leads to better nutrition.
“These findings should come as a relief for parents torn between serving their children foods that taste good and those that are good for them,” said Andrea Garen, M.A., R.D., with Dairy Council of California. “At home and at school, flavored milks provide the nutrients your child needs without increasing risk of obesity.”
This study reviewed overall diet and found no significant difference in added sugar intake between flavored milk drinkers and non-drinkers in the study. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) measures of milk drinkers were comparable to, or even lower than those who did not drink milk.
In the words of NAMA Executive Director Jenny Pickett (pictured right), organizers of this year’s “Leading the Charge” Agri-marketing Conference “knocked it out of the park.” This was Jenny’s first conference as the Executive Director, though she has been a part of NAMA for a long time. Jenny stepped up as executive director last year when the previous director, Eldon White, left.
Chuck interviewed Jenny just as the event was winding down. You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Jenny here:
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NAMA President Patty Travis (pictured left) says this year’s attendance was the highest attendance the NAMA Agri-marketing Conference has had in almost a decade. She says this year’s conference also picked up 80 first-timers. Patty, with 5MetaCom, says the ag business is strong right now and there is probably no better time than now to be in the industry. She says NAMA is planning to throw new things into the mix for the spring conference and the fall agri-business forum.
Chuck also interviewed Patty just before the close of the event. You can listen to Chuck’s interview with Patty here:
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The NAMA Board of Directors’ Meeting is underway and members are tackling the important issues and topics on today’s agenda. I stuck my head into the Chicago meeting room at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center in Kansas City to pop a few photos of NAMA Chapter Leaders getting down to business. NAMA’s Leading the Charge Agrimarketing Conference will be hosting events here through Friday.
In case you didn’t see the Smokey Bones “Running of the Pigs” video I thought I’d share. This is a great April Fool’s gimmick.
Here’s some of the press release that was actually used by some in the media.
The streets of Orlando were filled today with “oinks” and squeals and screams of terror when more than 100 pigs rampaged after an estimated 500 people during the inaugural Smokey Bones Running of the Pigs. In an event that was no less exhilarating than the famous Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, pigs and people barreled through a quarter-mile course lined with curious and somewhat horrified onlookers. Amateur video of the event was captured by one spectator, who later uploaded the footage to YouTube. The event commemorated the introduction of Smokey Bones’ All-You-Can-Eat Baby Back Ribs special.
I recently mentioned Clay Shirky’s book, “Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations,” and got my copy last week. I’m going to try to share some tidbits from it as time allows since I think this is a book that will really help many of you ag communicators better understand what we’re doing. By “we” I mean ZimmComm New Media and all the people who are part of the online conversation that’s taking place, including in agriculture.
For starters, let’s look at a statement in chapter one, “. . . forming groups has gotten a lot easier. To put it in economic terms, the costs incurred by creating a new group or joining an existing one have fallen in recent years, and not just by a little bit. They have collapsed.”
Clay’s talking about groups. Any kind of group. Could be farmers. Could be farmers who love green tractors. Could be any group of people you can imagine. Until recently it wasn’t easy to belong to groups much less create and manage them. I suppose you could think of the listeners to a local radio station as a group. But how much does it cost to buy an FCC license and transmit your signal? More than you and I have. Been there, done that.
Today though, using new media tools like blogging or podcasting, which includes social networks like Facebook, I dare say most people can afford to create their own group and have global reach. This is allowing many more groups to exist. It also means companies are having to re-think how they get their message out since there are many new and different channels to do so. It also means they can’t apply the same measurement standards to the tactics they’re using. If they do then they’ll find themselves stuck in the same old, same old and wonder why others are getting ahead of them.
There was a great AP story out last week that focused on how food companies are targeting the writers of niche blogs. It helps illustrate how important this new proliferation of “groups” is becoming. Here’s an excerpt with my own highlighting added:
One blog with a couple of thousand daily readers may not have a huge impact, but marketers can easily reach several such blogs with little effort, said Debbie Weil, a corporate blogging consultant based in Washington. “Companies are paying attention to the concept of lots and lots of tiny little markets. Added up, it’s significant,” Weil said.
The single-minded focus of blogs may be in some ways more valuable than traditional marketing since it’s easier to target an audience, said Daniel Taylor, a senior analyst of digital advertising and marketing for the Yankee Group.
These blogs usually spring from personal obsessions. Abi Jones, for example, started Heat-EatReview.com after nuking countless frozen meals for lunch at the office. Comparing notes with co-workers, she realized there were no resources for people interested in learning about the newest products in the freezer aisle.
Food blogs “may not have the mass reach, but it’s a more engaged, specific audience,” said Greg Zimprich, a spokesman for General Mills Inc. “Their readers are going to care a lot more about a product of ours.”
I know it’s not easy shifting the paradigm of the mass audience to one of multiple niche audiences but think about the value of your investment. I suggest that investing fewer dollars to reach the most motivated or engaged customers may have a greater return that spending huge amounts of money, most of which is reaching people who aren’t interested in your product or message.
Three years ago when I checked Google for “farm blogs” there were only a couple of results. This morning that keyword search yielded 5,830 results! The same growth in farm podcasts is also happening. Take a look at who’s writing and producing these “groups.” Although there are some in traditional media who are doing so, most of them aren’t created by the same companies we’ve relied on to get our message out. Maybe it’s time your company considered investing in some of the ones reaching the people who match up with your customer base.
Parents who love their kids ought to make sure they’re getting the nutrition of beef. So, as part of the new beef advertising campaign you can find Beef Checkoff advertising in Parents Magazine online. Apparently this is a value-added promotion.
One such example can be seen in the latest issue of Parents magazine. On a page titled “Contests and Promotions”, the magazine directed its readers to visit www.parentspromo.com to learn more information about various promotions offered by their advertisers. On that webpage, clicking on the beef checkmark, consumers could download a flyer titled, “Get Out There!” offered by the Nation’s beef producers.
“Get Out There” encourages families to participate in outdoor activities that offer families a chance to bond through quality time- reminding them that lean beef is just the fuel needed to help maintain the energy needed for an active lifestyle. It is an important message that beef is packed with nine essential nutrients, including protein that strengthens and sustains our bodies. The family activity guide offered through Parents’ website includes packing ideas, safety tips and planning recommendations for various outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping and bicycling.
The egg is an icon of Easter, but where did the Easter egg tradition come from? PAAS says egg coloring is a 5,000 year old practice. The egg decorating company also takes a look at egg trends for Easter 2008.
Persians first began using colored eggs to celebrate spring in 3,000 B.C. Today, egg decorating is a favorite family activity. A majority agree that the Easter holiday just wouldn’t be the same without decorating and hunting for Easter eggs (65%) — and the enthusiasm is even higher among parents (77%)! A new survey by PAAS — the egg decorating authority for the past 128 years — reveals the many ways people plan to express themselves this year.
According to survey, the average egg decorator planning to decorate or dye eggs this year will be trimming more than a dozen — a whopping 17 in fact!
Teal is poised to take on last year’s favorite, purple, as 2008’s most fashionable Easter egg color, say the experts at PAAS. Teal’s vibrant hue reminiscent of sky and water is already making waves in fashion and home design, as revealed in the Color Marketing Group’s “Hot Color Trends for 2008″ report.
Extras are another hot trend according to the survey; nearly nine in ten consumers (87%) want to embellish their eggs beyond traditional dye this year. They’ll be taking their eggs to the edge with paint (54%), stickers (48%) and glitter (45%). (more…)
Back your favorite NFL player by picking your favorite Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Burger. The restaurant chain is in the midst of its Burger Showdown. Who’s it going to be? Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees or Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook? You know, this burger showdown thing could catch on. How about a similar system for the elections? Eat a burger to cast your vote!
Chili’s Grill & Bar has drafted three of the NFL’s hottest players to help promote its new Smokehouse Bacon Burgers while raising funds for charity.
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will each represent one of three new Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Burgers in the name of their favorite charity. Available now, guests are encouraged to visit their neighborhood Chili’s to taste these new burgers, because the player with the best-selling burger at the end of the 60-day promotional period will receive $10,000 from Chili’s to donate to their charity of choice.
Guests can visit the Chili’s Web Site to track the competition and register for prizes, including an all-expense-paid trip for two to any 2008 regular season pro or college football game and team helmets autographed by Peterson, Brees, and Westbrook. (more…)
There’s no doubt racing fans noticed the difference when the Indy Racing League switched from pure methanol to a 98 percent blend of ethanol as the fuel of choice. The smell of burning ethanol is just as distinct as the roar of Indycars racing around the track.
Love the races? Love the fuel? Love the smell? Tell others about your obsession with an authentic IndyCard. An Indy photog sent me this all too appropriate IndyCard as we close in on launching another season of Indy Racing.
Don’t miss the Homestead season opener on March 29 at Miami Speedway. Even if you can’t make it to the track to “breathe ethanol,” you can catch the race at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Kids love juice boxes and they love Berenstain Bears. That’s reason enough for The Berenstain Bears and Sensible Slippers Organic Juice Boxes to team up to promote healthy drink options for kids.
R.W. Knudsen Family(R) is partnering with The Berenstain Bears(TM) for the launch of Sensible Sippers(TM) Organic Juice Boxes, available nationwide this Fall. Sensible Sippers are 100 percent certified organic, and they come in convenient and appealing packaging that features classic Berenstain Bears characters, such as Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear.
True to their name, Sensible Sippers are 50 percent juice and 50 percent water, reducing the amount of sugar intake in each serving without compromising on taste. Kids will enjoy the fun new flavors, including Fruit Punch, Banana, Apple and Mixed Berry, and parents will relish the fact that these juices contain 40 percent fewer calories than regular boxed juices. Furthermore, Sensible Sippers do not have any added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives, and they are 100 percent certified organic by Quality Assurance International and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Sensible Sippers Organic Juice Boxes are available nationwide at Whole Foods Market. An eight-pack of juice boxes should cost between $3.99-$4.49.
At least it does at Piggly Wiggly according to a story on Adrants.
For Valentine’s Day, grocery chain Piggly Wiggly is offering a $5,000 diamond necklace to its Angus beef buyers. The winner will be selected on February 11.
This ought to create some buzz in Reno next week at the Cattle Industry Convention. I’ll be there starting Monday evening.
Of course this is after another annual “holiday” called the Super Bowl. Want some beefy ideas for it? Then check this out.
Chicken wings. Great for American poultry producers. Great for the American public. Apparently, the best to be had… from Hooters outlets anyway… is in Huntsville, Alabama.
The kitchen staff of the Hooters of Huntsville, Alabama has been named the 2007 Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year and was presented $10,000 cash and the title belt on January 3rd. The HKCY (Hooters Kitchen Crew of the Year) is a program which was developed to recognize the top kitchen crews working in the Hooters of America system. The kitchen staff at the Huntsville Hooters was selected as the top crew from 122 Hooters restaurants. The selection criterion was based on more than their ability to shake chicken wings. The crew was also evaluated on food safety awareness, performance and productivity.
The ag equipment division of John Deere has realigned it’s advertising and marketing communications jobs in the Lenexa, KS office. Here’s a list of the changes which take effect immediately.
David Pauli is Division Manager, Large Ag Equipment, including large frame 7000, 8000 and 9000 series tractors, combines, cotton harvesters, seeding equipment, tillage and spray equipment, as well as John Deere Ag Management Solutions and John Deere AgriServices.
Rick Haun is Division Manager, Small Ag Equipment, including 5000, 6000 and small frame 7000 series tractors, and hay and forage equipment.
Mike Gustafson is Division Manager, Co-op Marketing, Parts and Special Projects, including branch marketing, dealer support and sign-up and John Deere Day.
Bill Burgweger is Division Manager, Operations, including audio-visual production, SAP, supply management, Adix production and contract production purchases.
Russ Walker is Division Manager, Publications and Direct Communications, including production of The Furrow and Homestead publications and other direct and electronic communications activities.
Barry Nelson, Public Relations Manager, will continue to support all John Deere ag equipment marketing and media relations activities.
Consumers wanting the natural choice for this holiday season might want to keep Good Clean Food´s all-natural simmer sauces in mind. The company has just launched its new chicken sauce product line in the northeast and plans to expand distribution from there.
The new sauces — Cacciatore, French Tarragon and Maine Cider — have hit shelves at Whole Foods markets throughout the north Atlantic (MA, ME, RI) and northeast regions (NY, NJ, CT), with plans for rapid, expanded distribution already underway. This latest round of distribution adds to the company’s well-received simmer sauces for seafood (Creole, Scandinavian Dill and Mediterranean), already offered at both Whole Foods and Hannaford markets from Maine down to Kentucky. Good Clean Food recently moved to national distribution, as well, through the company’s website.
The company’s hand-crafted simmer sauces, available in the refrigerated seafood and fresh poultry sections of markets, represent a whole new “quality in a jar” offering. By simply adding fresh seafood or chicken to Good Clean Food sauces, then simmering for 10-15 minutes, the entire meal is ready.
AgNite is a celebration of America’s Food and Agriculture Industry, an event held in conjunction with the 2008 Republican National Convention. Pictures are included from a Feeding America food aid packing event held early in the day at Second Harvest Heartland.
An IRON Solution
I learned all about IRON Solutions and IRON Search at the Farm Progress Show.
IRON Solutions has new capitalization and is working with the Farm Progress Companies to publish printed inserts of their equipment listings. Listen to my interview with President/CEO Darwin Melnyk.
The U.S. Potato Board has launched a little bit of spud goodness in a national print campaign.
I noticed a story in the latest issue Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, 
You absolutely have to check out this post on 
The NAMA Board of Directors’ Meeting is underway and members are tackling the important issues and topics on today’s agenda. I stuck my head into the Chicago meeting room at the Hyatt Regency at Crown Center in Kansas City to pop a few photos of NAMA Chapter Leaders getting down to business. NAMA’s Leading the Charge Agrimarketing Conference will be hosting events here through Friday. 
I recently mentioned Clay Shirky’s book,
Parents who love their kids ought to make sure they’re getting the nutrition of beef. So, as part of the new beef advertising campaign you can find Beef Checkoff advertising in 
At least it does at 
The ag equipment division of 
I learned all about IRON Solutions and IRON Search at the Farm Progress Show.
