News

Jamba partners with Dole
The world of smoothies is getting a bit bumpy at Jamba Juice as both McDonald's and Starbucks have announced they are preparing to enter the category. In response to those moves, and also as part of a strategy to expand beyond the confines of its stores, Jamba Juice has signed a multitier marketing partnership with Dole Foods.

99 Cents Smoothie Days at Planet Smoothie
Planet Smoothie announces 99 Cents Smoothie Days at locations nationwide this summer as part of a campaign highlighting the benefits of incorporating smoothies into one’s diet. The promotion kicks off May 7, with a focus on weight loss, featuring the Leapin’ Lizard™

Starbucks to reveal plans for two new drinks
Starbucks Corp has plans to unveil two new drinks on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the Seattle company attempts to rejuvenate its coffee store business. The two lines of drinks -- a smoothie-like beverage made of fresh fruit and whey powder, and another sweet, icy drink -- come as the company says it is in the initial stage of a broader push into healthier drink and food products, the report said.

Blueberry juice beats other juices on antioxidant chart
USDA's database of antioxidant values for various foods, places blueberry juice at the top of the list among more than a dozen juices tested including pomegranate, apple, prune, cranberry and Concord grape.

Smooth transition expected for CA strawberries this season
Grower-shippers expect continued strong demand for high-quality California strawberries as the Santa Maria region begins to take over the bulk of production from the Oxnard region. Volumes were slightly down the week of April 21 because of inconsistent weather, but they should increase at the end of the month and in the first week of May, said Cindy Jewell, marketing director for Watsonville-based California Giant Berry Farms.

Organic milk prices headed higher
The price of organic milk, which sank last year as increased supplies flooded the market, is headed back up, the nation’s largest dairy producer said early Wednesday. “Prices are going to have to move up,” Gregg Engles, chairman and chief executive of Dallas-based Dean Foods Co. told analysts. “It’s under way, and it’s industrywide.”

Washington

Food scientists say stop biofuels to fight world hunger

Some top international food scientists Tuesday recommended halting the use of food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn prices by 20 percent during a world food crisis. Meanwhile, now representatives want to cool the production of ethanol. See what happens when you subsidize an industry? Let the free market rule.

Plans to invest in biodiesel refineries across Southeast Asia are on hold as the prices of key raw ingredients, particularly palm oil, have increased amid surging food demand in China and India... Meanwhile, our 'leaders' in the U.S. seems bent on exploiting commodities for political favors: Iowa comes to mind: Erwin Johnson picks up a clump of the dark, rich soil that he has farmed for 35 years, like his father and grandfather before him. In a few months, this flat expanse of northern Iowa will be crowded with corn ready to be trucked to market. Meanwhile socialism is alive and well in the U.S. for other milk and commidity prices.

Livestock producers cry for government help
With cattle and hog producers being squeezed by higher feed-grain prices, the Nebraska Farm Bureau is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help increase demand, and thus prices, for beef and pork. How arrogant of the government to think it is responsible for the ecomomy. More subsidies and Fed market manipulation that leads to boom and bust cycles.