Carnegie Mellon University Dining Services has introduced the Grow & Give: The CMU Harvest Project, encouraging students, faculty and staff to cultivate seedlings at home to provide fresh produce to the CMU Pantry. The project aims to collect 500 pounds of produce by fall, and it supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger.

Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement, has died at age 76 in Bra, Italy. Petrini started Slow Food in 1986 to promote quality food and sustainability and to counteract fast food's rise, and the movement has since grown to more than 160 countries. Petrini also founded the University of Gastronomic Sciences and the Ark of Taste.

Sweetgreen is highlighting women farmers through its "Faces of the Farm" content series as part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The initiative, led by Chief Commercial Officer Zipporah Allen, aims to showcase the contributions of women in agriculture, such as Courtney Schuster Moore of Rio Fresh and Sandi Kronick of Happy Dirt, and reflect the company's commitment to sustainability and community building.

Wolfgang Puck has built an international culinary empire from humble beginnings as a potato peeler in Austria, from his time at Ma Maison in West Hollywood to the opening of Spago and Chinois on Main, where he introduced fusion cuisine with dishes like smoked salmon pizza and Asian-inspired lamb. Puck, 76, manages 21 fine-dining restaurants and various casual venues worldwide, and he says his only remaining ambition is to earn three Michelin stars.

Anne Leavens, nutrition director for Oregon's Central Point School District, has been named the Western Region Director of the Year by SNA for her efforts to improve meal quality and access to seasonal produce, and for her leadership in community initiatives such as after-school supper and summer meal programs. Leavens' work ensures that food-insecure students receive nutritious meals, benefiting more than 800 children weekly.

While oranges are well-known for their vitamin C content, several other foods surpass them in this nutrient, according to registered dietitian nutritionist Lauren Manaker. Foods including strawberries, pineapples, mangoes, guava and bell peppers offer higher vitamin C levels, supporting immune health, collagen production and cellular protection. Manaker encourages diversifying vitamin C sources beyond traditional citrus fruits.

Driscoll's has reaffirmed that food safety remains a core priority, emphasizing that its growers worldwide must comply with all relevant laws and standards. The company underscored the role of its Global Food Safety Programs, which are based on decades of research and collaboration with regulatory agencies, to ensure the highest safety standards. The company has called for "constructive conversations grounded in facts" on the issue.

The National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago highlighted several food and beverage trends, including duck products such as bacon and prosciutto as alternatives to traditional meats, functional beverages with clean labels and flavors, and vegetable-based burgers. Other notable trends included matcha drinks with cold foam and Italian spirits reinvented for lighter cocktails.