ARS research findings may slow onset of Alzheimer’s. by Scott Elliott, Agricultural Research Service Americans are growing old, and the aging process for many means more than simply turning gray or thinning hair. According to the U.S. Census, in about a dozen years, the number of Americans over 65 will outnumber children. Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to nearly…
By Kirsten Hollansworth STILLWATER, Okla. – The college football season is back, and everyone enjoys getting together for tailgating, but you won’t want to pass on these food safety tips. Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center recommends closely following these guidelines when participating in tailgating activities. Whether you cook alongside your car in a stadium parking lot or come with prepared food, this popular pastime requires careful planning. Since tailgating…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Asparagus, green beans, squash and okra are some favorites among vegetable growers. For many, those well-tended plants produce so much bounty, the family can’t eat it all before it spoils. One way to preserve that summer taste is to freeze the extra fresh vegetables. This isn’t just a matter of plucking the vegetables from the garden and tossing them in the freezer. Before freezing, many vegetables need…
By Gail Ellis STILLWATER, Okla. – Much like the annual food festivals and hometown celebrations that center on Oklahoma’s bountiful harvests, farmers markets are kicking off their summer schedules in communities across the state. Each market varies, but for most weekly popup events, opening weekend is held in late April or May and runs through August or October. As the COVID-19 pandemic loosens its grip on the country and safety protocols are lifted, organizers remain diligent…
By Brian Brus STILLWATER, Okla. – A new community grocery store is bringing healthy produce to a food desert in northeast Oklahoma City, in a private-public partnership supported by Oklahoma State University Extension agricultural expertise. The Market at Eastpoint, 1708 NE 23rd Street, opened recently with the target of improving food security. In the process, it’s also developing new jobs, transportation infrastructure, urban agriculture education and long-term goals for the community, said Caylee Dodson, executive director at RestoreOKC. RestoreOKC,…
Consumers favor ground beef over plant-based alternatives. by Pat Melgares, K-State Research and Extension Consumers overwhelmingly chose ground beef over plant-based beef alternatives in a multifaceted study, report Kansas State University (K-State) researchers. Ground beef — offered with 10%, 20% and 30% fat — was strongly preferred for taste and flavor over plant-based alternatives, and less than one-third of the respondents say they would buy the plant-based alternatives in the store or retail…
By Donald Stotts STILLWATER, Okla. – Grocery meat counters are filled with beef steaks labeled Choice, and while many consumers rightfully associate the label as a good choice for grilling or the stovetop, they might not be familiar with industry quality standards behind the designation. A beef steak’s tenderness, juiciness and flavor all affect its palatability, or the degree to which food and fluids are deemed desirable and satisfying to a person’s palate,…
Calling all chefs, grill masters and beef lovers — the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off is back and better than ever. In addition to the annual Cook-Off contest and the Chef’s Challenge, there will be a third division, the Cook-Off at Home contest. The Cook-Off and Chef’s Challenge are to be hosted on July 13, 2021, in conjunction with the 2021 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Grand Island,…
Builds on Proven Solution to Combat Child Food Insecurity WASHINGTON, April 26, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a new effort funded by the American Rescue Plan to provide adequate nutrition to more than 30 million children over the summer by expanding Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits. Summer months are difficult for low-income children because they lack access to school meals that fill a nutrition gap during the school…
By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently served up the first major change in 20 years to Nutrition Facts labels on packaged foods and drinks. Adjustments in serving sizes, calories, percent daily values and nutrients on labels are now required by the FDA due to updated scientific information, new nutrition research and feedback from the public. These changes to the labels are intended to help consumers more effectively and…