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NATIONAL BLUEBERRY PIE DAY National Blueberry Pie Day on April 28th each year ushers in blueberry pie-making season. Blueberry harvest begins in April and lasts until September giving us a long season full of blueberry enjoyment. #BlueberryPieDay We've been enjoying blueberries in pies since early American settlers arrived. In 1872, the first documented recipe for blueberry pie appeared in the Appledore Cook Book. Blueberries are abundant in Maine, so it's no surprise that blueberry pie is the state's official dessert! This once wild berry became domesticated during the early 1900s thanks to the observations of Elizabeth Coleman White and the...

In a nutshell * Rice malt could help the brewing industry adapt to climate change, yielding twice as much extract per hectare as barley while requiring 50-67% less land * While rice malt costs 20% more to produce than barley malt, it offers significant advantages for gluten-free brewing and can reduce costs when used as an adjunct * As climate change threatens barley production, rice provides a more resilient alternative that’s already grown abundantly in warmer regions worldwide ****************************************************************** FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beer prices might soon rise as climate change threatens barley crops, but an unexpected savior is emerging from...

A pioneering trial shows that adults with severe peanut allergies can build up a tolerance through supervised daily exposure, freeing many from lifelong fear. *********************************************************************** Adults living with the fear of severe peanut allergies might finally have hope. A groundbreaking trial has shown that carefully supervised daily peanut exposure can desensitize most adults, allowing them to eat peanuts without a reaction. The GUPI trial, the first to focus solely on adults, revealed that two-thirds of participants could safely consume the equivalent of five peanuts after gradual dose increases. Many reported dramatic improvements in quality of life, shedding years of fear...

ATTENTION: INVASIVE MOSQUITOES DETECTED IN A PART OF SOUTH SAN JOSEUpdate: Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, first detected in the county in large numbers last year, have been found again this year in a neighborhood where they were detected last year. This reappearance means the mosquito’s eggs successfully survived the winter and are hatching now that the weather is getting warmer.This mosquito is an aggressive daytime biter and can spread diseases like dengue and Zika. These diseases aren’t in the county right now, but finding this mosquito again is a serious health concern because it means the mosquito is successfully surviving...

Berlin (AFP) – German chemicals giant Bayer said Friday it could be forced to pull its Roundup weedkiller from the market if it is not able to limit simmering legal troubles. "We're nearing a point where the litigation industry could force us to even stop selling this vital product," CEO Bill Anderson said at Bayer's annual general meeting. Bayer has been dogged by lawsuits linked to Roundup since it acquired the US manufacturer Monsanto in a blockbuster deal in 2018. Claimants have alleged that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, causes blood cancers but Bayer says scientific studies and regulatory...

NATIONAL PIGS-IN-A-BLANKET DAY On April 24, observe National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day with just a few ingredients. #PigsInABlanketDay Celebrated across the world, the term often refers to a variety of different dishes. In the United States, Pigs-in-a-Blanket is often hot dogs or sausages wrapped in biscuit or croissant dough and baked. Pigs-in-a-Blanket are generally served as an appetizer or as breakfast. However, it can be served at any mealtime! Another popular version of pigs-in-a-blanket includes cabbage rolls stuffed with a beef filling. It's often covered with a tomato or cream sauce. Many recipes use the name "Pigs-in-a-Blanket" to describe just about any...

Last December, escaping from the dank, dark English winter, I spent a week in Tenerife during which time I made a fairly sophisticated attempt to eat my body weight in guacamole made from fresh local avocados. This week I will explore the history of this delicious foodstuff, forever, it seems, the byword for spendthrift millennials. Let me start by dispelling a myth around the name. You may find online that the word guacamole means ‘ground testicles’. The rationale for this is that the word ‘avocado’ comes from the Nahuatl word meaning ‘testicle’ and in combination with the Spanish word moler...

Froot Loops probably don't lead your list when it comes to major differences between Canada and the United States. You might opt for Canadians' love affair with hockey, or poutine. Still, a Redditor blew the minds of many on the r/mildlyinteresting subreddit with a photo of the countries' Froot Loops side by side. On one side was a notably flat collection of colors in the familiar ring shape. The other side was resplendent, like adjusting your phone from the battery saver mode. "I assume the American ones are brightly colored," a user guessed. Their hunch was correct, as the major...

In a nutshell Vegan diets support muscle protein synthesis at the same rate as omnivorous diets when protein intake is matched (1.1-1.2g per kg of body weight). How you distribute protein throughout the day (evenly across meals vs. mostly at dinner) doesn’t significantly impact muscle growth. Vegan dieters reported higher energy levels and less fatigue, while omnivorous dieters reported greater meal satisfaction. ******************************************************************* CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Forget what you’ve heard at the gym about needing chicken breasts and steaks to build muscle. Science just delivered a win for plant-based eaters everywhere. Researchers found that vegan diets support muscle growth just...

Founded in 2023 by National Day Calendar® and the North American Renderers Association (NARA). Average Amy Monette, CEO & Partner NATIONAL RENDERING DAY National Rendering Day is on April 21 and we are celebrating by bringing awareness to reducing and eliminating food waste through a process known as rendering. #NationalRenderingDay North Americans consider roughly 50% of an animal inedible. This leaves a lot of leftover material that ends up as food waste. On National Rendering Day, we learn about how we can eliminate this waste, what rendering means, and why using the rendering process is the smart choice. What is...

Every spring, I’d eagerly await my special package — a box that arrived peeping. Inside were just-hatched chicks, still egg-shaped and covered in down. I would raise the chicks in my home office. During our first month together, there was always a chick or two in my sweater, on my shoulder or perching atop my head. They considered me their mother. Later, when they moved outside to a coop, they ranged freely over the eight acres my husband and I own in rural New Hampshire. Whenever they caught sight of me, they would greet me as if I were a...

The humble egg is one of those foods that pops up just about everywhere. An egg can be cooked in dozens, if not hundreds, of different preparations, and just like any other commodity, the price has really fluctuated over the years. Tracking down the retail price of a dozen Grade A eggs over the decades wasn't an easy task, as prices have varied from store to store over the years, and supermarkets haven't kept track of prices for decades on end. So in order to get an annual retail price that we could stand behind, we worked with the U.S....

In a nutshell Young children have better survival rates when animal protein makes up a larger portion of their diet due to essential amino acids and easily absorbed nutrients like iron and zinc. Adults over 60 benefit more from plant-based proteins, with higher life expectancy in countries where plant proteins are more prevalent in the food supply. The research suggests dietary guidelines should consider age-specific recommendations, especially as countries transition to more sustainable food systems. ******************************************************************** SYDNEY — New research challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to diet, at least when it comes to protein sources. Scientists have discovered that eating meat...

NATIONAL CHEESEBALL DAY April 17th kicks off National Cheeseball Day and recognizes a party food that can sometimes be the centerpiece of a spread. You can choose from two ways to celebrate, too! Or plan your party and serve both! #NationalCheeseballDay A cheese spread comes in the shape of a ball served with crackers, most often around Christmas in the U.S. This cheeseball is commonly made with softened cream cheese and other ingredients. Cheese puffs are a puffed corn snack coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese-flavored powders. Cheese puffs are manufactured by extruding heated corn dough through a...

Achieving Net Zero in 25 years would need a “complete transformation” of the UK’s agricultural and food system that would in effect mean a diet devoid of beef, lamb and all dairy products, according to the latest work from the Government-funded UK FIRES. Look at the research that governing elites commission and read, not what they say. UK FIRES takes an absolute view of Net Zero and bases its work on existing technologies, not the pie in the sky inventions still to come and the whacky schemes that cannot reach economic scale. UK FIRES is an influential body since it...

A new UC Davis study shows that having fermented food like sauerkraut could be good for gut health. Credit: Hector Amezcua / UC Davis **************************************************************** Sauerkraut might be doing more than just adding zing to your hot dog — it could be actively defending your gut. New research from UC Davis reveals that fermented cabbage helps protect intestinal cells from inflammation-related damage, unlike raw cabbage or brine alone. The researchers found no difference between homemade and store-bought sauerkraut, suggesting it’s an accessible option for better gut health. By identifying hundreds of fermentation-related metabolites, they’ve opened the door to understanding how...

We can all only hope we'll be this prepared when disaster — any kind of disaster! — eventually strikes: A Tennessee family managed to save their home from biblical floods by building their own levee around the property. The Humphrey family home in Ridgely - about three hours outside of Nashville - was seen untouched by brown, murky flood water on April 8 after severe rainfall trapped more than 100 people in the area. Miraculously, the large home was still standing, as incredible aerial images posted to Facebook showed it sitting alone in the middle of a disaster zone while...

Starch-based biodegradable plastics, once considered safer, may cause liver damage, metabolic issues, and gut microbiome imbalances when ingested, as shown in animal studies. Researchers found that mice exposed to these microplastics had disrupted organ function and altered biological rhythms. ***************************************************************** Starch-based biodegradable plastics may cause organ damage and metabolic issues, raising concerns about their safety despite being considered eco-friendly. Plastic products gradually break down through wear and tear, releasing tiny, often microscopic, plastic particles that may pose health risks if inhaled or ingested. To address this, researchers have developed biodegradable plastics made from plant starch rather than petroleum. However, a...

NATIONAL GLAZED SPIRAL HAM DAY National Glazed Spiral Ham Day on April 15th each year celebrates an innovative and delicious food. This gourmet-looking dish often found at a holiday feast, originated in the basement of Harry J. Hoenselaar. #GlazedSpiralHamDay In 1952, the Detroit, Michigan entrepreneur patented not only his spiral slicer but the ham glaze as well. His innovative device made it possible for the entire bone-in ham to be sliced in one continuous and even spiral. The result was not only perfect for baking but for serving, too. The resulting slices presented a beautiful main course meal. Then in...

So there was a delay in the Rice v. South Florida baseball game yesterday due to this beehive in the visitor dugout. But never fear, this random hillbilly came in to save the day, and he did it with his bare hands. VIDEO: This guy just bare handed a beehive to end the bee delay in the South Florida-Rice game pic.twitter.com/pisDOiWUkA— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 13, 2025No protective gear, no gloves, no nothing - and not even a flinch from that man! Grabbed the hive, tossed it in a container, and he's gone. Bro's just adding to that 2025 honey...