Gourmet News

IFT, PepsiCo Partner on Scholarship for IFT FIRST Attendance

Published April 10, 2024

IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund has partnered with PepsiCo to support the next generation of the science of food community through a joint Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship. This unique hybrid study-and-travel scholarship offers a $5,000 academic scholarship in addition to a $1,000 travel stipend to IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, where the recipient will join the global science of food community to experience innovative products and solutions, cutting-edge scientific sessions and exclusive networking opportunities.

To be eligible for the Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the science of food, meet a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and plan to enroll full- or part-time as a rising sophomore, junior, or senior in a food science program. The scholarship is open to candidates anywhere in the world.

“The Feeding Tomorrow Fund is excited to partner with a leading company like PepsiCo to support a future leader of tomorrow. The PepsiCo and IFT Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship is an exciting opportunity for a passionate student to not only support their education, but to attend the science of food event that has helped transform the global food system for many years,” added Steve Hartley, Director of Fund Development at IFT.

The recipient will also have the opportunity to attend the PepsiCo Meet & Greets at the IFTSA Student Lounge during IFT FIRST. Through its sponsorship of the IFTSA Student Lounge, PepsiCo is connecting its research and development professionals with the attending IFTSA (Institute of Food Technologists Student Association) community interested in pursuing R&D as a career path. Attendees can network with PepsiCo employees; ask questions about the company’s products, culture, and career opportunities; and gain insights into the latest trends and developments in the food and beverage industry.

“PepsiCo is a proud to encourage and enable students to grow their skills and passion in the science of food,” said Mary Carunchia, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist at PepsiCo.

Since 1985, the Institute of Food Technologists through the Feeding Tomorrow Fund has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling over $3 million. In addition to graduate and undergraduate scholarships, IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund also offers scholarship awards for students with specific criteria such as greatest financial need, those transferring from a community college, and first-generational college enrollment.

The application deadline for the PepsiCo and IFT Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship is March 29.

To learn more, please visit IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Scholarships page. Interested students may also email International Scholarship and Tuition Services at ContactUs@applyists.com or IFT at feedingtomorrow@ift.org to learn more about the application process.

Early bird registration is currently open for IFT FIRST, being held July 14-17 at McCormick Place in Chicago. To experience the largest global food science and innovation expo or to learn more, go to www.iftevent.org.

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HARIBO Creates Treat Retreat for National Unicorn Day

Published April 8, 2024

America’s #1 gummi brand, is celebrating its brand-new Unicorn-i-licious gummies by offering fans a one-of-a-kind, overnight experience in the heart of New York City’s Soho neighborhood.

Free two-night stays in HARIBO’s unicorn-themed Treat Retreat will go live on HariboTreatRetreat.com at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 9 (National Unicorn Day).

The Treat Retreat brings HARIBO’s fun and colorful Unicorn-i-licious gummies to life for kids and kids at heart. The 1,800-square-foot, 2-bedroom loft is outfitted from floor to ceiling with countless Instagram-worthy moments, including:

A family-friendly mini bar stocked with free HARIBO treats
A life-size unicorn statue for photo opportunities
A build-it-yourself pillow fort
A ball pit overflowing with more than 1,000 plush unicorn stuffed animals
A gummi wall art installation
Unicorn-i-licious gift bags (filled with fun swag)

“At HARIBO, every new gummi we introduce is a chance to spark excitement in our fans, and Unicorn-i-licious is the latest example of that,” said Avery Jukes, senior brand manager at HARIBO of America. “We know our fans love our iconic treats like Goldbears, Twin Snakes and Starmix, and at the same time they’re interested in new, innovative products. With Unicorn-i-licious, we wanted to inspire childlike happiness for fans of all ages, so we crafted a whimsical unicorn shape, new fun flavors and brought a magical, colorful, immersive dream space to reality for our consumers in one of the most exciting places in the world, New York City.”

Groups of up to four people can claim a stay at the Treat Retreat for the following dates:

Wednesday, April 10 to Friday, April 12
Saturday, April 13 to Monday, April 15
Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18

Unicorn-i-licious marks HARIBO’s first-ever unicorn-shaped gummi, as well as the debut of cotton candy and tangerine flavors in the U.S., joining a tasty assortment that also includes apple, blue raspberry, banana and berry punch.

For more information on HARIBO and the Treat Retreat, visit haribo.com and follow along at @HARIBOUSA on Instagram.

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Point Reyes Earns 11 Awards at California State Fair

Published April 5, 2024

The California State Fair unveiled the winners of the 2024 Commercial Cheese Competition, spotlighting outstanding artistry and the abundant variety within California’s artisan cheese making landscape. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. was awarded an impressive 11 awards at this year’s competition. Notably, Toma, TomaRashi and Aged Gouda each received esteemed “Best in California” titles, a testament to the 24-year-old company’s continued commitment to excellence. In addition to the ‘Best in California’ awards, Original Blue, Bay Blue, CA Coastal, Fennel Blue, TomaTruffle and TomaProvence won Golds, while Point Reyes Brie and Young Gouda earned Silver Awards.

“How wonderful to be recognized by the CA State Fair with 11 awards across our product line!” exclaimed Kuba Hemmerling, VP of operations at Point Reyes. “Our cheese makers are laser-focused on quality and consistency, no matter if it is a new cheese we’ve just introduced like Fennel Blue, or a long-standing, fan favorite like Toma. I’m thrilled to share these honors with the team.”

A panel of 12 judges assessed more than 130 submissions, considering factors such as appearance, aroma, texture, and flavor. The event drew participation from 15 cheese manufacturers, ranging from small-scale artisans to larger producers. The awards ceremony is set for July 22nd, at the California State Fair, where these exceptional cheeses will be spotlighted in the California Kitchen Exhibit, Building B, from July 12–28th.

While Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. commemorates the accomplishments at the California State Fair, they remain steadfast in their commitment to preserving the principles of quality, sustainability, and community that have shaped their success over the past 24 years.

In 1959 Bob and Dean Giacomini established their sustainable dairy farm along Highway 1, just north of Point Reyes Station. In 2000, together with their daughters, the family began making cheese on the farm with milk from their own herd of Holsteins. In 2010, the family opened The Fork, a culinary and educational center, offering farm-to-table educational experiences for both consumers and the trade. Three of the Giacomini sisters, Diana, Lynn and Jill now own and run the WBENC-certified, 100 percent women-owned company that is recognized internationally as an award-winning producer of best-in-class, hand-crafted, artisan cheese.

With production locations on the farm and in nearby Petaluma, the Point Reyes Farmstead product line contains Original Blue, Bay Blue, Toma, TomaProvence, TomaTruffle, TomaRashi, Gouda, and Quinta. The product line is available nationally at independent cheese shops and specialty grocers, at The Fork, local-area farmers’ markets and online.

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