There’s a New Marketing Firm in Town

Laura McNamara

The Hondo Group, a marketing communications company, is moving to new ground. The Fort Worth-based firm has announced the grand opening of a new location in Darlington, WI. The Wisconsin office will serve as the company’s hub for Midwest operations. Pictured (l-r) are Patricia Lawson, account supervisor at The Hondo Group; Kim Jones, vice president of The Hondo Group; Lynn …

Agribusiness, Public Relations

Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty on Grills

Laura McNamara

A Consumer Reports Poll confirms it. It’s what we’ve known all along: Americans love their grills. The poll found that 41 percent of outdoor grillers grill all year and 68 percent even grill in the rain. Twenty-six percent have even grilled in the snow, sleet or hail. Nearly a third have grilled in below freezing temperatures. When you think of …

Food

Learn About TOCA

Chuck Zimmerman

Right after my presentation on new media here at the TOCA meeting the next session featured editors and public relations people. They discussed the relationship dynamics between the two groups. My presentation went okay even though I didn’t have internet access. Don’t ask me how but it got done. It’s kind of a challenge though when everything we do and …

Audio

TOCA Presentation

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s my audience for my presentation on blogging and podcasting here at the TOCA meeting in Minneapolis. As I write this post we’re just about to start. Den Gardner is actually just starting to introduce me so I’ll quit for now and have more to post soon.

Uncategorized

Blueberry Juice Tops Antioxidant Charts

Laura McNamara

Health-conscious consumers looking to power up on antioxidants should look for blueberry juice. The Wild Blueberry Association of North America says the USDA’s database for antioxidant values in various foods names blueberry juice among the best sources for antioxidants. The juice is compared with others such as pomegranate, apple, prune, cranberry and Concord grape. Using the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity …

Uncategorized

Cherries Fight Arthritis Pain

Laura McNamara

Forty-six million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. That’s one in five American adults. With that figure expected to rise more than 40 percent by 2030, it’s certainly not an issue to ignore. That’s where the cherries come in. The Cherry Marketing Institute is highlighting a new study by the University of Michigan that suggests tart cherries might help naturally reduce inflammation …

Ag Groups, Food

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

American Butter Institute (ABI) members elected new board representatives from three member companies: Cody Gruwell, United Dairymen of Arizona, in Tempe, AZ; Michael John, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc. in Reston, VA; and Dean Van Tuinen from Darigold, Inc., in Seattle, WA. In addition, John Whetten, ABI’s President from 1999-2001 received the American Dairy Product Institute’s Award …

Zimfo Bytes

Spring Planting

Chuck Zimmerman

I saw a lot of this from the highway today in between areas of rain. It looks like some work was getting done. It’s a long way up here to Minneapolis but the scenery is beautiful if you like rolling farm country and I do. It’s so tempting to stop and take pictures. This was one I couldn’t resist. So, …

Farming

Biodiesel Reigns in Food Prices, Boosts Livestock

Laura McNamara

Diesel consumers wanting to alleviate soaring fuel prices and high grocery bills should consider using biodiesel. The Missouri Soybean Association says biodiesel helps extend the nation’s limited fuel supply. Plus, it creates an abundance of livestock feed. The state’s House Transportation Committee recently held a hearing on legislation that would require all diesel fuel sold in Missouri to be blended …

Ag Groups, Biodiesel, Dairy, Livestock

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

Ag Leader Technology recently broke ground on a building expansion at their facility in Ames, Iowa. The 96,000 square foot addition will more than double the size of the current facility and create approximately 58 new jobs in the Ames area. Lew Lewis was recently promoted to Senior Key Account Manager for Kemin AgriFoods North America. In this role, Lew …

Zimfo Bytes