by Kevin Payne | Sep 3, 2019 | Good Causes
September is the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Family Meals Month™. What do you like best about family meals and what are the benefits of getting the family together around the dining room table? To answer that question, I thought I’d try to think of great examples of families that would eat dinner together and where else would you begin but to examine the dining habits of great American TV families. It’s interesting to Google “Greatest TV Families” and look at the results. I was thinking I’d get shows like “Leave It To Beaver”...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | May 28, 2019 | Good Causes, Sustainability
Today, May 28, is World Hunger Day 2019, an initiative by The Hunger Project. According to their website: More than 821 million people do not have enough food to eat. 60 percent of the world’s hungry are women. 98 percent of the world’s undernourished live in developing countries. Hunger kills more than Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined. The Hunger Project is focused on solving a number of issues associated with food. Their view, according to their website, is that: Hunger is not just about food. Hunger and poverty are...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Apr 2, 2019 | Good Causes
What’s the relationship between fresh produce and health? Is fresh produce or medicine prescribed by your doctor better for you? A recent article in Fast Company “Prescribing” fruits and veggies would save $100 billion in medical costs indicates that we might be better off with fewer pill bottles and more fruits and vegetables. The article cites research from Tufts University that we can reduce chronic diseases by subsidizing the costs of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. It states: Roughly 70% of diseases in the...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Dec 24, 2018 | Good Causes
At Zest Labs, we consider ourselves fortunate to work in such an exciting industry and with such great people. As I meet with people in the agriculture industry, from growers to the produce managers at my local grocery store, I’m struck by their passion, dedication and humanity. It’s inspiring. There are many significant challenges facing our industry, food waste, sustainability, new and dynamic competitive business models and changing demographics and buying preferences, to name a few. We’re excited to be working with talented...Continue Reading...
by Kevin Payne | Sep 4, 2018 | Good Causes
It’s National Family Meals Month! How many meals do you eat at home with your family on any given week? When I was a kid, pretty much every dinner was spent with my entire family. My mom always made sure we had a variety of fresh foods to eat including lean meats, veggies, pasta and often fresh strawberries (with vanilla ice cream, of course) for dessert. However, these images of classic Americana are now increasingly rare. Between parents working long hours, kids having baseball or soccer practices and games, plus dance and...Continue Reading...