Combo of Factors Causing Higher Food Prices

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What causes higher food prices?” Most people responding seem to believe it’s a combination of factors – 47%. That’s followed by higher gas/energy costs at 23%, speculators at 18%, ethanol at 9% and weather at 3%. I wonder how the response would compare to an audience for a general news website like Fox or …

Energy, Food, ZimmPoll

Sushi PEEPS Yum Yum Platter

Chuck Zimmerman

Sushi Peeps. That’s right. I thought this was just too good to pass up. PEEPS Sushi looks like a very healthy and sweet surprise for the office or anywhere. Actually, it’s not really sushi but sushi shaped. There is a difference. Roll into something new this Easter – create fun sushi shapes with your favorite PEEPS(R)! Visit ww.marshmallowpeeps.com for more …

Food

The Real Farmwives of America & Friends

Chuck Zimmerman

Meet some Real Farmwives of America and Friends. RFOA is blogging and you should visit to meet them and find links to all their social networking profiles! RFOA & Friends is a growing group of women across the nation who blog about life on and off the farm. Our members either currently live on family farms, grew up on the …

Farming, Food, Social Networking

Farmers’ Share of Food Dollar

Cindy Zimmerman

I have been meaning to do a post on the recent report from USDA’s Economic Research Service about the farmers’ share of the food dollar, but I just can’t top the simplicity of a post that NCGA’s Ken Colombini did on Corn Commentary, which he titled “The 88% Solution.” It just says it all. The USDA now tells us that …

Corn, Food, NCGA

Corn Growers Challenge Nestle Exec Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has taken issue with comments made last week by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the billionaire chairman of Nestle, during a “CEO Speaker Series” moderated by Time editor Michael J. Elliott at the Council on Foreign Relations. It’s an interesting conversation in which Brabeck-Letmathe comes off as insufferably arrogant, discussing how he and a bunch of other …

Audio, Corn, Ethanol, Food

Learning About Certified Humane

Chuck Zimmerman

During the International Poultry Expo I met Adele Douglass, CEO, Humane Farm Animal Care. This is the organization that has created the Certified Humane program. To display their logo a farm has to: “Meet the Humane Farm Animal Care program standards, which includes nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, animals raised with shelter, resting areas, sufficient space and the ability …

Audio, Food, Poultry Expo, ZimmCast

iGrill Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Chuck Zimmerman

Do you dread the long walk to the cooker or oven just to check on your meat temperature? No longer. Not with iGrill and your iPhone (or iPod Touch or iPad). iGrill is revolutionizing the way we cook & grill today! The iGrill combines standard function, technical innovation and impeccable style to produce the most complete cooking thermometer on the …

Equipment, Food

Telling Your Story To Consumers

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the people representing Novus International here at the International Poulty/Feed Expo is Scott Fleetwood, pictured (right) next to Charlie Arnot, Center For Food Integrity. Scott says that Novus has supported CFI’s efforts since the beginning. I asked him about that support. He says that it’s very important to have a third party organization to do research and speak …

Audio, Food, Novus International, Poultry Expo

From The Lab To The Dinner Table

Chuck Zimmerman

Giving a keynote address to a Novus International luncheon for poultry industry scientists was Charlie Arnot, Center for Food Integrity. His remarks were titled “From The Lab To The Dinner Table.” He presented consumer trust research they conducted in 2010 that found out some very interesting things including the fact that it was the first time consumers have said their …

Animal Health, Audio, Food, Novus International, Poultry Expo

IFAJ Presidium Meeting At International Green Week Berlin

Chuck Zimmerman

My IFAJ friends are meeting in Berlin at the International Green Week. Thanks to IFAJ President Mike Wilson, Farm Futures, for sending along some information and photos. You can read about his experiences on his blog. The German ag minister Ilse Aigner was a bit preoccupied this week as she tried to make the rounds and meet journalists, such as …

Food, IFAJ