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Agriculture’s ‘Nobel’ Goes to Purdue Food Science Professor

Laura McNamara

Purdue University Professor Philip E. Nelson has secured this year’s World Food Prize for his innovation in food processing and preservation. Purdue’s Scholle Chair Professor in Food Processing developed technology that enables the transport of processed fruits and vegetables without spoilage. Nelson’s “aseptic bulk storage and distribution” process is credited with revolutionizing the global food trade. More than 90 percent …

Agribusiness, Food, Technology

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane… It’s a Beef Blimp

Laura McNamara

About 200,000 NASCAR fans attending the race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Maryland got a heads up on beef June 1st through 3rd. The “It’s What’s For Dinner” blimp debuted at the race, along with beef samples for fans at the “Monster Mile”. The beef balloon was part of the checkoff-funded Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), a project of …

Advertising, Beef, Food

Missouri Couple Boasts Champion Pork

Laura McNamara

This year’s tastiest pork came out of Odessa, MO. Odessa’s Craig and Patty Kidwell can make their claim as pork royalty after earning Grand Champion honors in the Pork Checkoff’s 20th Annual Great Pork BarbeQlossal™. The couple, who run Boys of BBQ Patty, received $10,000 worth of cash and prizes, June 9th. This is the second time the Kidwell’s have …

Food, Pork

News & Booze and Slow Food

Chuck Zimmerman

Laura just brought my attention to “Slow Food,” an organization that I coincidentally mentioned in a recent post. I haven’t finished checking them out but did come across an article on their website that rings true to American agricultural journalists. In his article Phil Rees bemoans the lack of alcohol in today’s newsrooms. He writes about the good old days …

Food, Media

ALOT Barbecue Social in St. Louis

Laura McNamara

Savory meat will be sizzling on the grill later this week in St. Louis. The current class of Agricultural Leadership of Tommorrow, about 40 individuals, are inviting St. Louis AgriBusiness Club members to a barbecue social at Warren Stemme Farm. ALOT Alumni, the St. Louis County Farm Bureau Board and local legislators are also invited. WHEN: Friday, June 8 , …

Ag Groups, Agribusiness, Food

Listen To Food Podcast Slowly

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s a podcast you might want to add to your iTunes/iPod about food. It’s the Whole Foods Market Podcast. They’re “Exploring the world of natural and organic foods…one podcast at a time.” I haven’t listened to this episode yet but it sounds worthwhile. I like the idea of slowing down, especially when it comes to food. In any event, here’s …

Audio, Food, Podcasts

June Marks Season for Farmers Markets

Laura McNamara

A cooking demonstration, live entertainment and a raffle for various prizes will kick off the summer Farmers Market season. The openning of the 12th season of the USDA Farmers Market will also feature a booth offering nutritional information and food suggestions from the USDA for the home. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner will officiate the openning Friday, June 1 …

Agribusiness, Food, USDA

5 Pork Producers Named to National Pork Board

Laura McNamara

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced five new appointees for the 15-member National Pork Board Wednesday. The new members will serve three-year terms on the board. Johanns said the appointees were chosen from among 8 nominees. “I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise,” said Johanns. The five were chosen from among eight pork …

Agribusiness, Food, Pork, USDA

Chinese Barbeque Tools

Chuck Zimmerman

I get a lot of requests like this that I take a pass on but this one involves one of my favorite activities so I thought you might be interested too. This is from Dalen, the sales manager for H.X.I. MANUFACTURING CO., LTD, YANGJIANG, GUANGDONG, CHINA. I’ve heard that it’s grilling season. I say it’s always grilling season! We are …

Food, International

Consumers Love Beef Tender

Cindy Zimmerman

Would you pay $345.95 for four 12 oz. strip steaks – raw steaks, mind you, not cooked. That’s the price on-line for “Kobe-style” strip steaks, as marketed by Allen Brothers – a company some Rush Limbaugh listeners might recognize. That compares to $159.95 for the same quantity of U.S. Prime, dry-aged strip steaks – or just $104.95 for U.S. Prime, …

Animal Health, Beef, Elanco, Food