Energy and Environment from the Americas

March 31, 2009

McDonald's to take steps to cut potato pesticides

McDonald's Corp, the largest purchaser of potatoes in the United States, has agreed to take preliminary steps to reduce pesticide use in its domestic potato supply, shareholder groups said on Tuesday. Following the agreement, the Bard College Endowme...

March 26, 2009

Organic Trade Association praises talks on organic equivalency agreement between U.S. and Canada

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today expressed support and encouragement for the Canadian and U.S. governments in their efforts to reach an organic equivalency agreement. Progress on the Canadian-U.S. talks was announced yesterday at OTA’s Policy ...

March 25, 2009

ConAgra Foods presents its first Corporate Responsibility Report

ConAgra Foods announced today its inaugural Corporate Responsibility Report is now available. The report captures the facts and data behind ConAgra Foods’ commitment to improving not only the food it makes—such as Healthy Choice meals, Chef Boyardee p...

March 25, 2009

McDonald's Canada to turn off lights in support of Earth Hour

As part of its ongoing efforts to implement energy-saving practices, McDonald's Canada will be actively supporting Earth Hour. By cutting lights for one hour on March 28 the chain could save more than 10,000 kWh in electricity usage, the same amount of...

March 18, 2009

Restaurants may catch a break with falling costs

After suffering from cost inflation nearly all of last year, relief from sky-high commodity and energy costs is here, and restaurant bottom lines should stand to benefit from deflated prices by the second half of this year, said UBS Securities analyst ...

March 18, 2009

University of Maine cooperative extension program saves potato farmers 17 million

Maine potato growers are thriving thanks to a late blight spraying advice offered by the University of Maine's cooperative extension program.

March 12, 2009

'Focus on Energy' saves $875,000 annually at McCain Foods Wisconsin plants

With potato-processing plants around the world, McCain Foods has a total production capacity to make more than one million pounds of french fries an hour. In fact, the company makes one-third of all frozen french fries in the world. Despite the high pe...

March 10, 2009

Frito-Lay's Canton Ohio facility accepted as EPA National Environmental Performance Track Program Member

Frito-Lay's Canton, Ohio, facility has become the city's first member of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program by demonstrating excellence in environmental management and committing to above-stand...

February 27, 2009

Michael Foods moves Potato Processing operations

An investigative report on a Michael Foods plant that aired on WCCO news over the weekend has generated concern among residents in northern Chaska who could soon be living next to the new potato processing plant. Michael Foods purchased the old Mammo...

February 25, 2009

Last years closure of potato dehy plant of North American Foods in Glenns Ferry sparks dispute

From 1996 through October 2007, officials say Glenns Ferry cogeneration sold power to Idaho Power under a contract;but now Idaho Power Company is seeking $11.15 Million in damages for an alleged breach of that contract. Gene Fadness, Spokesman for Id...

February 06, 2009

National Potato Council elects Washington Potato Grower Ed Schneider as 2009 President

Washington potato grower Ed Schneider has been elected to lead the National Potato Council. The organization advocates for the economic well-being of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues. In addition,...

January 21, 2009

Sabritas inaugura planta de tratamiento de aguas en su planta de México

Con la presencia del Gobernador de Sonora, Eduardo Bours Castelo, y el Presidente de Región Sabritas en México, Centroamérica y el Caribe, Pedro Padierna Bartning, este jueves fue inaugurado el sistema de tratamiento de aguas residuales de la Planta Ob...

December 19, 2008

National Restaurant Association releases 2009 trends forecast

Research released today by the National Restaurant Association shows that Americans are looking for healthier options and "greener"restaurants when they dine out, in addition to an increased interest in value and convenience. Surveys of resta...

December 09, 2008

Yum! Brands Issues First Corporate Responsibility Report: 'Serving the World'

Yum! Brands, Inc. the world's largest restaurant company and parent of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, today released its first Corporate Responsibility Report titled: 'Serving the World.' The printed version of this document, in limited quantity, is on 10...

November 04, 2008

ConAgra is committed to sustainability and is improving its packaging to make it more environmentally friendly

ConAgra Foods, one of the world's largest packaged foods companies, is changing its environmental programs from compliance-driven to proactive sustainability initiatives.With manufacturing facilities around the globe, ConAgra has implemented an integra...

October 23, 2008

Ethanol No Longer Seen as Big Driver of Food Price

Heavy demand for corn from ethanol makers was seen as a key driver of corn futures to record highs in June, but since then the sharp decline of corn along with other commodities shows that belief was mistaken.Corn is down about 50 percent from its reco...

October 23, 2008

Energy conservation tops list of investment plans US Food manufacturers

Productivity improvements and energy efficiency schemes will constitute the majority of new projects next year in the US food and beverage manufacturing sector, claims a report from a US market analysis firm. Industrial Info Resources predicts a scale ...

October 22, 2008

Keystone Potato Products: sustainable potato dehydrates

Keystone Potato Products is committed to sustainability: In 2000, co-op members began looking at building a dehydrated potato processing facility in Pennsylvania – which would be the first dehy plant on the East Coast. A local plant would provide a ma...