Since early February, thousands of specialty food products have been arriving at the Food Innovation Center (FIC) at Rutgers University in Bridgeton, NJ, in preparation for the Specialty Food Association’s “specialty outstanding food innovation” sofi™ Awards – the most prestigious competition in specialty foods. Due to the pandemic, the judging has been delayed, leaving a large […]
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COVID-19 having significant impact on America’s food industry
Bill Bamka, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County
Know Your Backyard’s Biodiversity
Rutgers Bioblitz and other nature-based apps help students of all ages honor 50th Earth Day at home There are not many upsides to being stuck at home during a pandemic. But since our shelter-in-place orders overlap with the start of spring and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22), it does present a unique opportunity to get […]
U.S. Fresh Produce and Milk Disruptions and the New Jersey Farm Outlook
Why are there food shortages right now in certain areas? How can food be scarce when media reports reveal milk being dumped on the farm or at processing plants? Why are vegetable fields, ready to be harvested, being plowed under in Florida and California? The situation at first glance makes no sense. Why is the […]
New Jersey 4-H Salutes Volunteers During National Volunteer Week April 19-25
Each year, thousands of volunteers in New Jersey donate their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live. These volunteers will be among the millions across the country who will be spotlighted during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25. One group that relies heavily on volunteers is the New Jersey 4-H Youth […]
NJ Healthy Kids Initiative Creates On-line Resources for Partner Schools
With schools switching to an online learning platform due to COVID19, The New Jersey Healthy Kids Initiative (NJHKI) is finding new and innovative ways to engage with their partner schools. Prior to COVID-19 social distancing measures, the NJHKI team, supported by the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) student Nutrition Ambassadors and […]
Meals on Wheels volunteers are staying home because of covid-19
College kids — like Mercer County 4-H alumnus Nate Byrnes — are filling the gap By Karen Weese Each Monday morning at 10:30, Ann and Bill Walker start their routine: They climb into their Ford SUV, pick up insulated bags of hot meals and deliver them to a half-dozen elderly homebound people around their New […]
Choosing the Right Location for Your Vegetable Garden
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) delivers public outreach and education programs and recently launched an online-learning curriculum, “Rutgers Community Gardening Series,” that is designed to benefit school, community and home gardeners by teaching new gardeners to successfully grow vegetables. But before you jump right in to test your ‘green thumb,’ first consider where to place your […]
Food Safety Team at Rutgers Food Innovation Center Offers Virtual Food Safety Training
Specialty food industry manufacturers, retailers, distributors and individuals all across the food supply chain are busier than ever doing their part in response to the spiking demand for groceries due to the impact of COVID-19. In response, the food supply chain has had to make many adjustments to their routines, working locations and staffing schedules. […]
The Importance of Gardening During the COVID-19 Pandemic
What can gardening do to help with the coronavirus pandemic? Gardening has always been touted as a relaxing recreational activity that can provide great personal rewards. During this time, when many people are working at home and students are learning at home, gardening can be a positive family-inclusive activity to adopt. Remote schooling is new […]
