Fruit

Where Good Eaters Grow - Once Upon a Farm Continues to Raise Industry Standards With New Line of Organic Baby & Toddler Pantry Snacks

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Once Upon a Farm, the leading childhood nutrition brand, today announced its exciting expansion into the baby and toddler pantry snack category. Bringing their commitment to high-quality, nutritious, and delicious food to an expanded audience, Once Upon a Farm will add three new snack lines, each with three distinct recipes to its portfolio of organic, non-GMO project verified and no-added-sugar products beginning March 2024: Fruit & Veggie Puffs, Coconut Melts, and Tractor Wheels™ Toddler Soft-Baked Bars.

Key Points: 
  • BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Once Upon a Farm , the leading childhood nutrition brand, today announced its exciting expansion into the baby and toddler pantry snack category.
  • "We're thrilled to offer even more ways for families to nourish their little ones with our new line of pantry snacks.
  • For product and ordering information on the Organic Baby & Toddler Pantry Snacks, click here .
  • This past fall, Once Upon a Farm also disrupted the kid's snacking category by launching their first-ever Refrigerated Oat Bars .

10 Barrel Brewing Launches Pub Ice: a Refreshing Twist on ‘Cheap Fun’

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

BEND, Ore., Feb. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 10 Barrel Brewing Co. (“10 Barrel Brewing Co.” or “10 Barrel”), an award-winning mainstay in the craft brewing industry and subsidiary of Tilray Brands, (“Tilray”) (NASDAQ: TLRY and TSX: TLRY), is thrilled to announce the release of its newest beverage, Pub Ice.

Key Points: 
  • BEND, Ore., Feb. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 10 Barrel Brewing Co. (“10 Barrel Brewing Co.” or “10 Barrel”), an award-winning mainstay in the craft brewing industry and subsidiary of Tilray Brands, (“Tilray”) (NASDAQ: TLRY and TSX: TLRY), is thrilled to announce the release of its newest beverage, Pub Ice.
  • "We're thrilled to introduce Pub Ice to the world," said Brian Hughes, Marketing Director at 10 Barrel Brewing.
  • More than just a great-tasting beverage, Pub Ice maintains the Pub Beer ethos of ‘Cheap Fun’.
  • Look out for Pub Ice in stores now, and available for purchase soon directly from the 10 Barrel website.

‘Fortress’ conservation policies threaten the food security of rural populations

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Conservation, especially when modelled on notions of “pristine nature” — environments untouched by human influence — can create obstacles by limiting access to important food sources.

Key Points: 
  • Conservation, especially when modelled on notions of “pristine nature” — environments untouched by human influence — can create obstacles by limiting access to important food sources.
  • We must shift from strict fortress conservation to more integrated, sustainable use of rural landscapes if we are to achieve both biodiversity conservation and dietary outcomes.

Settling down

  • In turn, traditional diets were mostly comprised of wild foods, both plants and animals, that were harvested from the surrounding environment.
  • This shift is the greatest driver of forest and other habitat loss globally, resulting in the substantial simplification of our diets.
  • In other words, diversity in diets is linked with better nutrition and improved overall health.
  • Up to 1.5 billion people globally depend on wild foods for nutrition and dietary diversity, particularly in the tropics.
  • Building policies that protect people’s rights to access these landscapes is of paramount importance to ensure such dietary diversity in many rural settings.

Local stewards

  • It is increasingly recognized that those who benefit from access — mostly Indigenous Peoples and local communities — are the best stewards of that land.
  • However, land annexation in the name of conservation, and loss of access to the natural resources they contain, continues unabated.
  • The major issue is that the notion of “pristine nature” does not exist in most landscapes, both tropical and temperate.

The way forward

  • The recent Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action at the COP28 climate summit goes some way to recognize the importance of “smallholders, family farmers, fisherfolk and other producers and food workers.” However, there is no mention of the role of wild foods in rural nutrition, nor the role that forests and trees play in supporting agriculture through ecosystem service provision.
  • Read more:
    Flipping Indigenous regional development in Newfoundland upside-down: lessons from Australia

    This must change to allow sustainable use initiatives to play a critical role in complementing and supporting diverse and nutritious diets for the rural poor — without compromising biodiversity goals or climate change mitigation strategies.


Terry Sunderland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Provincetown Five-Star Boutique Guest House Scott House Ptown Opens Rooms for Spring and Summer 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

PROVINCETOWN, Mass., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Provincetown five-star-reviewed boutique guest house Scott House Ptown has opened rooms for select spring events and for the summer 2024 season.

Key Points: 
  • PROVINCETOWN, Mass., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Provincetown five-star-reviewed boutique guest house Scott House Ptown has opened rooms for select spring events and for the summer 2024 season.
  • This year marks the fourth Scott House Ptown has been owned and operated by proprietor Mark Scott.
  • For more information about Scott House Ptown and visiting Provincetown , visit the guest house's web site https://www.scotthouseptown.com/ .
  • For spring and the summer high season Scott House books exclusively through Air B&B.

The Future of Soda is Now - Poppi’s First National Commercial Wows Viewers, Becoming the Most Watched Ad During Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beloved prebiotic soda brand poppi has cemented its place in the playbooks with its first-ever national commercial, airing during Super Bowl LVIII on CBS, its streaming service, and Nickelodeon on Sunday, February 11. According to television data and audience analytics firm Samba TV, poppi’s 60-second spot entitled, “The Future of Soda is Now” was the most watched ad of the Super Bowl, reaching 29.1 million households.1 The commercial aims to redefine soda and invite consumers to reimagine a healthier way to enjoy the nostalgic bubbly beverage that has long been a part of our daily lives. poppi, on a mission to revolutionize the soda experience, has only 25 calories and less than 5g of sugar per can, and is made with prebiotics, fruit juice, and all clean ingredients.

Key Points: 
  • In the hour after the Super Bowl ad aired, poppi saw Google search volume accelerate 100x over the previous hour.
  • “Airing a commercial during the Super Bowl just a few short years after creating poppi in my home kitchen is honestly mind-blowing,” said Allison Ellsworth, Co-Founder of poppi.
  • poppi’s growing portfolio includes 12 fruit and classic soda flavors and is the #1 selling soda on Amazon .
  • LINK TO POPPI’S “THE FUTURE OF SODA IS NOW” COMMERCIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwUJq0DA0xo

Tree Hut's Garden Grows with New Spring Floral Collection

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

COPPELL, Texas, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At Tree Hut, spring has officially sprung! The makers of America's No. 1 Body Scrubs have arranged a bouquet of self-care must-haves for consumers with its latest collection – In Bloom. Capturing the essence of spring renewal and inspired by the freshest springtime florals, the In Bloom collection features fan-favorite scents –  Moroccan Rose and Pink Hibiscus with a new look and feel – and brand new Shea Sugar Scrubs Sunkissed Poppy and Dewy Daisy. Giving consumers more to be excited about this season, the brand has launched two brand new product forms, Moisturizing Body Lotion and Body Oil, along with a variety of other sweet treats to refresh fans' shower routine. Tree Hut's spring collection is available now in Ulta and coming soon to Target and Walmart.

Key Points: 
  • Tree Hut's spring collection is available now in Ulta and coming soon to Target and Walmart.
  • Perfect for springing up more viral content, the new In Bloom collection is inspired by bright yet romantic floral fragrances that touch on femininity and indulgence.
  • The brand's floral collection will not only pamper skin with fresh ingredients but offer elevated notes to inspire senses and have consumers reminiscing about warm spring afternoons.
  • To celebrate the latest collection and new product launches with consumers, Tree Hut is hitting the road for a two-stop consumer tour.

Our robot harvests cotton by reaching out and plucking it, like a lizard’s tongue snatching flies

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Cotton grows inside a hard, fibrous case called a boll.

Key Points: 
  • Cotton grows inside a hard, fibrous case called a boll.
  • About 100 days after planting, the bolls mature and split open, revealing thousands of fluffy white fibers inside.
  • Each boll contains 20 to 40 seeds with fibers attached to them, which is why the cotton plant’s fruit is called seed cotton.
  • To harvest the seed cotton, they have to grab and twist it to separate it from the boll without leaving fiber behind.

Why use robotics?

  • Traditional mechanical harvesters can be up to 14 feet long and weigh more than 30 tons.
  • They remove cotton effectively without damaging the plants but also can cause problems.
  • And the machines cost roughly US$1 million apiece but are used for only two to three months each year.
  • And small, nimble robots don’t compress the soil as they move over it, so they help maintain soil health.

A bioinspired ‘picking hand’

  • An end-effector is a robotic hand that enables the robot to interact with other objects.
  • The pins help the hand grasp and pull in the seed cotton.
  • Like a lizard snatching prey with its sticky tongue, our end-effector’s three fingers approach the seed cotton delicately.
  • A control algorithm monitors each cotton boll to ensure that the robot picks as much seed cotton as possible.

Testing and results

  • So far, we have tested the robotic cotton harvester in the laboratory and in cotton fields.
  • The detection system found 78% of ripe cotton bolls; the localization system calculated 3D coordinates for 70% of the detected bolls; and the picking system successfully harvested 83% of these bolls.
  • Overall, the robot picked about 50% of the cotton bolls that were within its reach.
  • One way to make this technology available for small farmers in low-income countries would be to make smaller, semi-autonomous robots that would require fewer sensors.
  • Producing higher-value cotton with less damage to plants and soil could improve life for millions of people who earn their livings raising this global crop.


Hussein Gharakhani receives funding from Cotton Incorporated, a nonprofit research and marketing company that works to improve demand for and profitability of cotton.

Cigna Healthcare and HelloFresh Team Up To Expand Access to Affordable, Healthy Meal Choices

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

"Business leaders recognize that healthy employees mean a healthy business, and by expanding access to affordable, healthy meals, employers can better cultivate a stronger workforce," said Heather Dlugolenski, U.S. commercial strategy officer, Cigna Healthcare.

Key Points: 
  • "Business leaders recognize that healthy employees mean a healthy business, and by expanding access to affordable, healthy meals, employers can better cultivate a stronger workforce," said Heather Dlugolenski, U.S. commercial strategy officer, Cigna Healthcare.
  • "We're proud to team up with HelloFresh to support the health and vitality of America's workforce and to make a difference for communities in need."
  • Cigna Healthcare employer clients can choose from a variety of HelloFresh offerings with no minimum purchase amount.
  • Together with Cigna Healthcare, we're making HelloFresh meal kits even more accessible while working together to combat food insecurity in our local communities."

SaliCrop's Novel Seed Enhancement Tech Makes Deserts Bloom

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

KFAR VITKIN, Israel, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Extreme weather events—heatwaves, droughts, extreme cold snaps—pose significant threats to agriculture, contributing to the phenomenon of desertification. Globally, fertile lands are increasingly being degraded, losing the ability to sustain life and grow food. AgriTech start-up SaliCrop, Ltd., has pioneered a breakthrough seed treatment to transform arid terrain into flourishing landscapes to growing food.

Key Points: 
  • AgriTech start-up SaliCrop, Ltd., has pioneered a breakthrough seed treatment to transform arid terrain into flourishing landscapes to growing food.
  • SaliCrop's proprietary seed enhancement technology is the brainchild of Ṛcā Godbole, Ph.D., co-founder and CSO of SaliCrop.
  • SaliCrop's has developed  hundreds of seed enhancement protocols designed to improve plant resilience to the impacts of climate change by intentionally exposing the seeds to controlled abiotic stressors.
  • "Our climate-smart seed enhancement technology has empowered tomatoes to better withstand extreme climate events," adds Devir.

SaliCrop's Novel Seed Enhancement Tech Makes Deserts Bloom

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

KFAR VITKIN, Israel, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Extreme weather events—heatwaves, droughts, extreme cold snaps—pose significant threats to agriculture, contributing to the phenomenon of desertification. Globally, fertile lands are increasingly being degraded, losing the ability to sustain life and grow food. AgriTech start-up SaliCrop, Ltd., has pioneered a breakthrough seed treatment to transform arid terrain into flourishing landscapes to growing food.

Key Points: 
  • AgriTech start-up SaliCrop, Ltd., has pioneered a breakthrough seed treatment to transform arid terrain into flourishing landscapes to growing food.
  • SaliCrop's proprietary seed enhancement technology is the brainchild of Ṛcā Godbole, Ph.D., co-founder and CSO of SaliCrop.
  • SaliCrop's has developed  hundreds of seed enhancement protocols designed to improve plant resilience to the impacts of climate change by intentionally exposing the seeds to controlled abiotic stressors.
  • "Our climate-smart seed enhancement technology has empowered tomatoes to better withstand extreme climate events," adds Devir.