Jul–Sep, 2003

There is nothing quite like the feeling that comes from a job well done. The satisfaction from putting sweat and effort into a successful project is a reward unto itself.…

St. Paul, Minn. – AURI, along with many other state initiatives, received a major funding reduction by the Minnesota State Legislature this session. A bill signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty…

Due to budget reductions, AURI is implementing some cost-saving measures for Ag Innovation News. While we will continue to offer interesting and informative news on AURI and Minnesota’s value-added industry,…

Cold Spring, Minn. – Like any cook, Brad Matuska knows the secret to great cooking is quality ingredients – even if the final product isn’t edible. As co-owner of Mississippi…

Meat is big business in Minnesota – a $3 billion industry. Minnesota leads the country in turkey production, is number three in pork, and among the top ten in red…

St. Paul, Minn. – A patented rinse and chill technology reduces harmful bacteria in ground beef, according to tests sponsored by AURI and the Minnesota Beef Council. The process, commercialized…

Fergus Falls, Minn. – Dennis Tuel, Sr., has started nine successful companies in the last 40 years, including ShoreMaster, a $22-million maker of waterfront equipment. Now in his “retirement,” Tuel,…

Country Meadow Farms, a marketing group formed in 2000 with help from AURI, supplies lamb year-round to Metro-area natural foods stores, including Mississippi Markets in St. Paul, Fresh and Natural…

Hutchinson, Minn. – When her customers kept asking for gyros meat, Hutchinson lamb producer Connie Karstens decided it was time to go Greek. She already knew Minnesotans love the Mediterranean…

Marshall, Minn. – Randy Brandt’s seasoned beef sticks aren’t just slim, they’re lean. R & P Smoky Meat Sticks are made of Piedmontese crossbred beef – an extremely lean breed…

Stillwater, Minn – George Ghanem has been marketing ethnic and gourmet meats to Midwest consumers for 10 years. His food company, Papa George, now makes nine products, including pork sausage,…

The tastiest tofu in Taiwan could soon be coming from Minnesota. Soybean varieties developed from Japanese and Chinese stock and adapted to grow in Minnesota are finding their way to…

Midwest states with significant agricultural industries have recognized the role value-added agriculture plays in keeping a state economy strong. Advancing new opportunities for producers and opening new markets for commodities…

The hottest value-added opportunities emerging today may come in the tiniest packages. Little seeds from the cuphea plant, for example, encapsulate valuable oils that give candy coatings a smooth texture…

A close relative of pigweed, amaranth has been valued since ancient times for its nutritional and ornamental qualities. This hardy broad-leaf plant is easy to grow, a prolific grain producer,…

Canola, an edible rapeseed of the mustard family, is grown primarily for its oil. Lowest in saturated fat of all vegetable oils, canola is high in oleic, linoleic and linolenic…

Flax, also known as linseed, is one of the oldest domesticated crops, used by ancient Egyptians to make linen wraps for mummies. It is also one of the most beautiful…

Cuphea (KOO-fee-uh), a sticky plant with colorful, showy flowers, originated in Central America and was domesticated a few years ago by Oregon State University researchers. Currently, there is no cuphea…

In spite of its name, buckwheat is not a wheat, nor is it related to any small grains. Its gray-black seeds, similar in size and weight to barley, are classified…

Bismarck, N. D. – Last year, Minnesota growers planted about 40,000 acres of sunflowers, many of which were NuSunª varieties. For those growers, the future may be a bit brighter,…

AURI clients, like the rest of the Internet world, are evolving to keep up with Web technology. To get you browsing and shopping our clients’ pages, we have found a…

Waconia, Minn. – Sandy Karstens has a knack for waiting patiently through life’s trials. As president of RK Marketing Enterprises, Karstens produces and promotes Alfamin¨ brand feed supplements for animal…