Food & Farm News

» December 28, 2011 «

Farmers protect crops from cold

To protect citrus fruit from freezing temperatures, farmers in the Central Valley employed more than 16,000 wind machines to keep air flowing and temperatures up. California Citrus Mutual says farmers spent about $87 million this month on wind machines and water. Water saturates the ground and also increases the temperature on cold nights. Farmers report using protective measures on at least 25 days this month.

Vintners toast sparkling wine sales

When you toast the new year later this week, it's likely you'll sip a California sparkling wine. The holidays mark a key time for sparkling wine sales, and the Wine Institute reports sales have been increasing. In 2010, 8 million cases of California sparkling wine were consumed in the U.S., compared to 6 million cases of imports. During the first three quarters of this year, the Wine Institute says domestic shipments of California sparkling wine increased 6 percent. 

New tool tracks progress on dietary changes

Many of us make New Year's resolutions to eat healthier, and a new online tool helps people track their nutrition choices and physical activity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it designed the tool, called SuperTracker, to help men and women make changes to maintain a healthy weight. The USDA says SuperTracker can be customized to measure progress and provide personalized recommendations for how much to eat and how much exercise is needed to reach goals. 

Forecast predicts food trends for 2012

Thai, Indian and Korean cuisine will lead food trends in 2012, according to a report from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The Farm Bureau spoke with food business insiders who said that restaurants with Asian influences will be a hit. Other trends forecast for the coming year include smaller portion sizes at fine dining restaurants, as well as the use of bread alternatives on sandwiches, including waffles, rice cakes or cornmeal patties.