The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) awarded Xiuyan Zhang, a Ph.D. student with the University of Maine’s Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program, its 2024-25 Academic Scholarship. The $10,000 scholarship, awarded annually to a graduate student who is interested in research that could benefit the potato industry, will support Zhang, who is studying […]
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Augusta (August 27, 2024) – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced today an investment in Maine’s agricultural sector of more than $600,000 in Specialty Crop Block Grant Program awards (SCBGP). This funding will help a diverse group of recipients, including the University of Maine System, North Spore, LLC, and the Maine Organic […]
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On Wednesday, May 10, 2024 Witter Farm welcomed 14 new heifers (female cattle that have not yet given birth). The Holstein heifers were selected from the stock available at Gold Top Farm in Knox, Maine. The lovely ladies were excited to arrive at their new home: The introduction of new stock to the Witter Farm’s […]
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June 26, 2023 Food scientists at the University of Maine are seeking taste testers for a new mussel recipe on Wednesday, June 28. Sarah Gundermann, a Master’s of Food Science student in the lab of Professor Denise Skonberg, developed a new marinating and cooking process to prepare ready-to-eat mussels. Testers will spend 15–20 minutes tasting […]
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Lobster is the icon for Maine. In fact, over 70% of the lobsters landed in the U.S. are landed in Maine, and the only lobster-processing facilities in the U.S. are in Maine. There are nearly 6,000 lobster licenses issued in Maine each year, with about 4,300 commercially active. While the lobster fishery in Maine has […]
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Consumer demand for safe, minimally processed, additive-free, shelf-stable foods that retain the appearance, flavor, texture and nutritional qualities of raw or fresh foods has been a driving force for commercial application of non-thermal food processing methods, such as high pressure (HP) processing. Applying high pressure at 240-350 MPa for 3 min to live oysters to […]
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Excessive weight gain is associated with increased risk of developing many serious diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. Young adults are at a uniquely increased risk for weight gain because of rapidly changing social situations that influence eating and exercise behaviors. Despite extensive efforts to promote weight management, these efforts only reach […]
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Maine is a state endowed with many natural benefits but business opportunities are scarce. Development of new food and dietary supplement products, and processes to produce them, will benefit farmers, processors and consumers. Farmers, commodity groups and processors will be informed opportunities to produce and promote the health benefits of Maine botanicals and food crops. […]
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Agriculture and food processing plays a substantial role in support of the fragile Maine economy. Potato and blueberry production are vital to the depressed economies of northern and eastern Maine and valuable niche crops (i.e. tomato, elderberry, pepper, Chaga mushrooms) have the potential to provide additional employment opportunities. The shellfish industry also employs a significant […]
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Every day, the FDA implements recalls because of possible microbial or chemical contamination in fresh or processed foods. Maine has been a large producer of agricultural commodities such as berries, potatoes, and seafood commodities such as lobster. Safety of food products is a major concern to the growers and processors. This research, aimed at an […]
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