Food News Today transcripts for September 28th, 2011

A refrigerator "pet" that keeps your refrigerator in check, Kori Reed of the ConAgra Foundation updates us on their Chid Hunger Ends Here initiative, and look out for a food rave near you, for September 28th, 2011 this is Food News Today.

 A refrigerator "pet" that keeps your refrigerator in check, Kori Reed of the ConAgra Foundation updates us on their Chid Hunger Ends Here initiative, and look out for a food rave near you, for September 28^th, 2011 this is Food News Today - 

 Good Morning.  We are now streaming both on our Facebook page "supermarketguru" and on food news today -dot- com. Also, if you haven't done so already, be sure to go the itunes store and download smarter shopping our free app!  Immediately following today's broadcast we will have a live chat to discuss what is on your food mind.  Food News Today is sponsored by ConAgra Foods, who shares with me the desire to provide the most current, interesting and unbiased food news.  

 >In consumer trends, our first story this morning, we look at a trend that seems to be expanding quickly both here in the US and across the pond in Britain, called- A Food Rave.  It's a food movement that involves sharing, learning, supporting locally grown and raised foods, and meeting neighbors and community members around a common theme - food.  In the UK these events are being called food raves and no surprise, are being organized through online social networks.  Someone tweets that they’re going to make a dish, letting their community know where they can go to join in the foodfest.  Here in the U.S it is happened in a big way in San Francisco where over 2,500 foodie visitors lined up for an hour to gain entry into a night-time food festival held in an underground market which included live music and food from over 70 up-and-coming amateur chefs.  Why food raves?? To get to know food better and support the community, and to create more meaning in people's lives -  by being more enlightened and resourceful -- all the while saving money. It does seem like a new movement in food and eating is beginning- anything to get people back to eating real food and connecting with their community is definitely a step in the right direction. 

>For our Health and Wellness story, we go to an interview with Kori Reed of the Con Agra Foods Foundation about the program Child Hunger Ends Here….

Thanks Kori, terrific.

 >In technology, we head to the fridge-inside the fridge in fact -to meet a cute talking animal -- seriously… meet Fridgeezoo! (HELLO) And that annoying greeting you just heard came from one of the cute arctic animals who have “abandoned the arctic to live in your refrigerator." When you open the door they start talking – and warn you if you forgot to shut it! But beware, when you leave the door open too long they get warm, cranky and start complaining. (SHUT THE FRIDGING DOOR)

That's kinda rude.. The Fridgezoos are about the size of a small carton of half-and-half, and supposed to help with wasting energy, keeping your refrigerator cool when you unnecessarily keep the door open too long, and keeping the temperature of your food safe. The original Fridgeezoo animals - penguin, walrus, seal, and polar bear- had voices provided by the Japanese hip-hop group Romancrew. Not sure if a “celebrity” is voicing the American versions, but you can get your own Fridgezoo now by clicking on the Fridgezoo information link.  And for those of you watching it live on Facebook or watching this on youtube, you can always go to food news today dot com and search the archives for links or transcripts of your favorite show. 

And now onto our chat. 

For Food News Today, I’m Phil Lempert, thanks for joining us. If you have a colleague in retailing, the media or a blogger who would like to also receive our advance email - please send them to foodnewstoday.com to sign up. Next week’s stories will be in your Tuesday