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Meats and Poultry

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Niman Ranch Farmer Advocate Honored by Forbes

 

Elle Gadient, 27, farmer advocate for premium meat brand Niman Ranch, has been recognized on the prestigious 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Food and Drink list. The annual list features young leaders and entrepreneurs “redefining the way we eat, drink and think about consumption.” This acknowledgement honors Gadient’s dedication and passion for supporting independent U.S. family farmers and ranchers and sustainable agriculture.

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be included on this list along with such impressive leaders,” Gadient said. “Growing up on a farm, supporting fellow small family farmers and sustainable agriculture has always been core to who I am. I am so thankful I am able to spend my days helping farming and ranching families, like mine, in the Niman Ranch network and beyond.”

Gadient grew up on her family’s diversified farm in eastern Iowa raising livestock, including Niman Ranch pigs, and will be the fifth generation in her family to farm in the Midwest. Gadient serves as farmer advocate at Niman Ranch, charged with providing support, education and community building among the brand’s network of hundreds of small to mid-size, independent family farms and ranches across the country. All Niman Ranch farms are Certified Humane and committed to raising livestock without antibiotics, hormones or crates.

“Since its establishment with the company’s founding farmers, Niman Ranch has built a model that ensures small, sustainable farmers have a market in a rapidly changing food system,” said Chris Oliviero, general manager of Niman Ranch. “Elle has taken the baton, providing a central hub and company voice for our farmer and rancher network, understanding firsthand the challenges farmers and rural communities face in today’s agriculture climate.”

While the average age of farmers in the United States is nearly 60, Niman Ranch’s average farmer age is 43 years old. This is credited to the opportunities and support the company, many led by Gadient, provide for beginning farmers. Since joining the Niman Ranch team in 2018, Gadient has been a key leader in several impactful farmer support programs including a farmer mentor program that matches beginning farmers with more seasoned producers as well as a new grant program to help young farmers improve their operations and adopt regenerative practices.

Gadient graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with majors in environmental science and business administration. Throughout college, Gadient was a Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation scholarship recipient, including being awarded the first Phyllis Willis Pioneer Award in 2017, recognizing her passion for sustainability. In addition to her role as farmer advocate, Gadient serves as secretary for the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation and regularly travels back home to Iowa to help on the family farm.

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FDA Supports Innovation of Cell Culture Technology in Foods

The Food and Drug Administration put its support behind cell culture technology for foods intended for human consumption. FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf and the director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition issued this statement:

“The world is experiencing a food revolution and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is committed to supporting innovation in the food supply. As an example of that commitment, today we are announcing that we have completed our first pre-market consultation of a human food made from cultured animal cells.

“The agency evaluated the information submitted by UPSIDE Foods as part of a pre-market consultation for their food made from cultured chicken cells and has no further questions at this time about the firm’s safety conclusion.

“Before this food can enter the market, the facility in which it is made also needs to meet applicable U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FDA requirements. In addition to the FDA’s requirements, including facility registration for the cell culture portion, the manufacturing establishment needs a grant of inspection from USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for the harvest and post-harvest portions and the product itself requires a USDA mark of inspection.

“The regulation of cell culture technology is being done collaboratively and in close partnership with USDA-FSIS for food made from cultured livestock or poultry cells. Under the March 2019 formal agreement, both agencies agreed to a joint regulatory framework wherein the FDA oversees cell collection, cell banks, and cell growth and differentiation. The FDA’s approach to regulating products derived from cultured animal cells involves a thorough pre-market consultation process. While this is not considered an approval process, it concludes when all questions relevant to the consultation are resolved. A transition from the FDA to USDA-FSIS oversight will take place during the cell harvest stage. USDA-FSIS will oversee the post-harvest processing and labeling of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry. This closely coordinated regulatory approach will ensure that cell-cultured products derived from the cell lines of livestock and poultry meet federal regulations and are accurately labeled. Both agencies are working with manufacturers to ensure these products meet all applicable FDA and USDA-FSIS requirements.

“Advancements in cell culture technology are enabling food developers to use animal cells obtained from livestock, poultry, and seafood in the production of food, with these products expected to be ready for the U.S. market in the near future. The FDA’s goal is to support innovation in food technologies while always maintaining as our first priority the safety of the foods available to U.S. consumers. The FDA has extensive experience in food safety assessment across a wide range of food production technologies, including the use of biological systems and biotechnology. The agency is evaluating new substances all the time as industry practices evolve to meet consumer demands and preferences. Food made with cultured animal cells must meet the same stringent requirements, including safety requirements, as all other food regulated by the FDA.

“The FDA is ready to work with additional firms developing cultured animal cell food and production processes to ensure their products are safe and lawful under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. We also plan to issue guidance to assist firms that intend to produce human foods from cultured animal cells to prepare for pre-market consultations. The published draft of this guidance will provide a formal opportunity to the public for comment. We are already engaged in discussion with multiple firms about various types of products made from cultured animal cells, including those made from seafood cells, which will be overseen solely by the FDA. We continue to encourage firms to enter into dialogue with us often and early in their product development phase, well ahead of making any submission to us.”

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Beef + Lamb New Zealand Launches Food Truck Sampling Tour in LA

Beef + Lamb New ZealandBeef + Lamb New Zealand, an industry organization representing and supporting New Zealand’s beef and sheep farmers, is launching a food truck sampling tour, in partnership with Atkins Ranch grass-fed lamb and First Light Farms 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef, to bring a taste of New Zealand to Los Angeles-area residents.

From Oct. 27 to Nov. 22, Angelenos can experience the New Zealand grass-fed difference with mouth-watering menu creations from Los Angeles chef Alvin Cailan, host of The Burger Show and the legendary talent behind the Eggslut concept and Amboy Quality Meats & Delicious Burgers.

The food truck sampling tour will enable consumers throughout Los Angeles to try grass-fed beef and lamb from New Zealand and discover what makes it so delicious. Grass-fed year-round, the animals are allowed to roam and graze freely over lush green hills and pastures, just as nature intended. The result is a tender, finely textured and more flavorful meat than anything else you’ll find, with nutritional benefits that are second to none.

“New Zealand animals are sustainably and humanely raised on lush green pastures 365 days a year, resulting in some of the world’s best, most natural-tasting beef and lamb,” said Michael Wan, global manager, Beef + Lamb New Zealand. “We’re excited for Angelenos to discover the taste of New Zealand grass-fed through the delicious menu creations developed by Chef Alvin, which highlight his culinary expertise and passion as well as his love for New Zealand beef and lamb.”

Hand-crafted with Chef Alvin’s personal style, the food truck sampling menu includes perfectly crafted small bites rich with flavor that use only the most premium and highly nutritious grass-fed beef and lamb options, including:

  • Picanha sandwich with beef jus dip and giardiniera, made with First Light Farms 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef that is sweet, nutty, juicy, and tender.
  • Lamb chorizo tostada with bean puree, queso and serrano crema, featuring Atkins Ranch 100% grass-fed lamb that is humanely raised, naturally flavorful, and deliciously versatile.

“I really enjoyed cooking with New Zealand grass-fed wagyu beef and lamb and trying the products in a variety of recipes,” said Chef Alvin Cailan. “I was able to get creative and incorporate some of my favorite ingredients, while still allowing the delicious, natural flavor of the grass-fed meat to shine through.”

Beef + Lamb New ZealandFree samples of the picanha sandwich and lamb tostada will be available to consumers who visit the Beef + Lamb New Zealand food truck at its stops throughout Los Angeles. The stops include The Brig on Abbott Kinney in Venice, Grand Central Market in DTLA and The Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. Select sampling locations include:

  • The Brig: Saturday, Oct. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 30
  • Santa Monica Farmers Market: Saturday, Nov. 5
  • Canter’s Fairfax: Sunday, Nov.6
  • UCLA Football Fan Zone at the Rose Bowl: Saturday, Nov.12
  • Rose Bowl Flea Market: Sunday, Nov.13
  • Hotel Erwin: Saturday, Nov.19
  • Grand Central Market: Sunday, Nov.20

Atkins Ranch 100% grass-fed lamb is available at Whole Foods Market and First Light Farms 100% grass-fed Wagyu beef is available at Lazy Acres, Ralphs, Bristol Farms and online at firstlight.farm.

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