Foster Farms announces Third Annual Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest

The West Coast’s premier Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest is inviting home, amateur and professional chefs to stir up locally-inspired cooking creativity with the call for entries for the third annual Foster Farms Fresh Chicken Cooking Contest (entries accepted beginning February 29).

Karen Ross visits Turlock CAHFS lab

California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross toured the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in Turlock last week, escorted by State Veterinarian Annette Whiteford, Lab Director Richard Breitmeyer, Turlock lab Branch Chief Bruce Charlton, dairyman and former CDFA Undersecretary Chuck Ahlem and CPF President Bill Mattos.

Petaluma Poultry founder dies at 91

Charles Baum, 91, the Polish-born Holocaust survivor who founded Petaluma Poultry Inc., died of congestive heart failure on Jan. 26 in Sebastopol, Calif., according to jweekly.com.

Saul Brand, former VP at Zacky Farms, passes away

Long time poultry executive and California Poultry Federation (CPF) supporter, Saul Brand, died on Feb. 6 in southern California. He was 85. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Connie Brand, son Michael and his wife Paula, daughter Lisa and her husband Robert & grandchildren Matthew and Alayna. Saul joined with Henry Frederick to form Square Deal Poultry in 1946, in Los Angeles.

Foster Farms puts healthy spin on corn dogs

Foster Farms has introduced a whole grain, lower-fat, lower-sodium chicken corn dog for foodservice customers.

The product contains a full serving of whole grain, 47 percent less fat, further reduced sodium, higher fiber, zero trans fat and fewer calories than the original corn dog.

A Bill to end future ethanol subsidies

A bill that would end future state subsidies for corn-based ethanol is in the California Senate after sailing through the Assembly. The bill by Assemblyman David Valadao, R-Hanford, would bar any funding from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program for corn conversion after July 1, 2013, when current funding is set to expire.

Egg legislation replaces science with politics

The American Farm Bureau Federation strongly criticized a bill pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers to implement an agreement they reached to replace decades of science-based animal care practices with strict government control. The flawed legislation, H.R. 3798, introduced by Rep.