Retail & FoodService

Seven of the country's most exciting chefs and foodservice professionals representing an array of culinary styles and backgrounds will be honored this June as part of the United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program. Sponsored by PRO*ACT LLC, and now in its seventh year, the program honors chefs and their companies for their innovative and influential use of fresh produce in the culinary arts. The United Fresh Produce Association will formally recognize the seven winners at United Fresh 2014, the association's annual convention and expo in Chicago, June 10-13, 2014. …

The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) planning committee is excited to announce five new extended sessions that will provide specialized training for attendees of the AMSA 67th RMC.  The Culinary Aspects of Product Research and Development workshop is designed to bring chefs and culinary experts together so they can answer attendee questions and help them understand the importance of research and development. …

The National Restaurant Association announced today the winners of the second annual Kids LiveWell Recipe Challenge, an initiative showcasing restaurants' culinary ingenuity for creating healthful menu options for children. …

Recently, consumer confidence in the food industry has been shaken by food scandals, lack of transparency in food preparation and questionable treatment of animals. As a result, restaurants have shifted their business practices to introduce a greater number and wider variety of claims that reflect trending food concerns, in hopes of regaining consumers' trust. According to Mintel Menu Insights, while "organic" is still the leading ethical claim on restaurant menus, its usage declined 28% between Q4 2010-13. …

From organic lettuce to hormone-free milk, healthier food just costs more. But meal managers at local hospitals said they’re finding ways to improve the quality of their menus without plowing their budgets under. …