National Restaurant Association Announces 2013 Kitchen Innovations Awards Recipients

Energy Efficiency, Intelligent Controls, Online Tools, Kitchen Design and Layout Versatility Lead Advances in Foodservice Equipment for Acclaimed Industry Award at NRA Show 2013 (Chicago) The National Restaurant Association today announced the recipients of the 2013 Kitchen Innovations™ (KI) Awards, which honors the most promising and cutting-edge advancements in kitchen equipment for the foodservice industry. An independent, expert panel of judges comprised of internationally recognized food facilities consultants, multi-unit executives, and design experts carefully selected award recipients to be showcased in the interactive Kitchen Innovations Pavilion (booth 2440) at the 2013 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show – to be held May 18-21 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. “This year’s Kitchen Innovations Awards recipients address today’s leading commercial kitchen equipment challenges with advancements in energy efficiency and sustainability, online tools for tracking and monitoring, intelligent controls, as well as versatility to conform to diverse restaurant layouts,” said Jeffery W. Davis, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2013 and CEO of the United States Beef Corporation. “These innovations will have a substantial impact on the efficiency and success of restaurant kitchens, as well as the profitability of the restaurant itself.” The 2013 Kitchen Innovations Awards recipients are: Aerowerks Inc.: Mesh Belt Conveyor A cafeteria conveyor made of a close-knit mesh belt, which eliminates the need for trays and allows the conveyor to turn without creating gaps that cause jamming and breakage. Alto-Shaam, Inc.: 4.10cci CT Express A compact combi oven with an integrated catalytic converter that transforms grease-laden vapors into harmless water vapor and CO2. No hood is required allowing the operator to place wherever needed. Blendtec: Stealth™ This sound-dampening commercial blender features an online programming tool that allows users to build upon the 42 preprogrammed blend cycles and create new ones for franchise-wide sharing through the USB port. Duke Manufacturing: X-Stream IH2 Wash System A system featuring programmable cycles, plug & play components serviceability, pump and sanitizer monitoring, and a unique wash flow that keeps wares in the impingement zone longer – resulting in consistently clean wares with greater water/energy efficiency. Ecolab Inc., Equipment Care Division: Smart Care® Program A program for critical kitchen equipment that goes beyond scheduled maintenance to include proprietary asset management/reporting technology, customer-facing online tracking tools, equipment cleaning & sanitation products, and pre-programmed critical parts on technician service vehicles for same-day emergency fixes, reduced operating costs and maximum asset ROI. Follett Corporation: 7 Series Ice and Water Dispenser A unique design that features built-in recycling to reclaim and refreeze melted ice, allowing for reduced water waste and flexibility to place the dispenser where a drain is unavailable. Franke Coffee Systems Americas: FoamMaster™ A superautomatic espresso machine that produces hot and cold milk foam in variable textures, to enable traditional and novel coffee+milk combinations and help operators diversify their menus. Frontline International: M3 Data Management System Intelligent management technology for waste oil systems, delivering detailed reports/analysis, diagnostic and “tank full” status alerts, and real-time monitoring for increased savings and efficiency. Garland Group: Green Heat: Module Line Brazing Pan A unique drop-in induction brazing pan design that features remote electronics placement, multiple depths and in-unit drainage, enabling island suite integration for grilling, searing and cooking with or without liquids. Hobart: The Advansys LXeR Undercounter A high-temperature, undercounter warewasher that recycles hot water vapor to preheat incoming cold water significantly reducing steam release when the door is opened after cycles, and lowering overall energy consumption. Jade Range LLC: Even-Broiler A unique baffled Char-Broiler design that evenly distributes heat front-to-back for zero cold zones and better output – while individually controlled burners and boxes allow operators flexibility to manipulate individual 6” sections. KE2: KE2 Evaporator Efficiency An advance beyond timed controls, this refrigeration control technology significantly reduces both energy consumption and temperature fluctuation by triggering defrost cycles only when necessary, reducing defrost cycles as much as 90%. Manitowoc Kolpak: ArticFox™ A true on-demand defrost control for walk-ins that activates only when needed, rather than on timers, avoiding unnecessary defrost cycles by as much as 90% to significantly improve energy efficiency and temperature constancy. Master-Bilt: Parallel Glycol Rack System A refrigeration system that builds on energy efficient glycol loop technology by utilizing floating heat pressure technology, which adjusts to ambient temperatures to lower energy consumption by up to 25%. Meiko: CS-70 Sanitizing, Door-Type Dishmachine A low-temp dishwasher featuring an automatic drain/refill feature that eliminates the need for a heater, plus advanced microprocessor technology and an auto prime feature for consistent chemical dispensing – all packaged in simplistic user- and maintenance-friendly design. Middleby Marshall: WOW 2 Oven A conveyor oven that allows operators to control bake temperatures and conveyor speed – plus adjust airflow to the top and bottom impingement ports independently for faster, consistent baking and menu flexibility. Ovention Inc.: Ovention Matchbox An intelligent, self-loading and unloading oven design that utilizes two alternating cook surfaces using impingement only. Doesn’t require a hood and enables food items to be cooked one after another at temperatures that vary by up to 100 degrees. Pentair: Everpure® SimpliFlow™ Water Management System A wall-mounting manifold for water lines that keeps them organized, accessible and easily identifiable to save time and reduce error when servicing water-using equipment. Strahman Valves, Inc.: Vari-Spray Pre-rinse Nozzle A pre-rinse nozzle for commercial kitchens that allows users to adjust between an infinite choice of spray patterns (broad, focused, gentle, hard) by simply varying trigger pressure, allowing flexibility for various cleaning needs. Technologies Coffea, Inc.: Coffea® vacuum brewing system A programmable, whole bean-to-cup system that uses a vacuum extraction brew process and infusion brew chamber for a calculated steep time and fast, precise extraction – producing the fullest flavor coffee consistently to preference. The Vollrath Company: Mirage® Induction Soup Rethermalizer An intelligent, countertop unit that uses induction heating instead of water to quickly re-thermalize and maintain optimal temperature for foods like soup, chili, and macaroni and cheese. To learn more about the KI program and this year’s award recipients, visit Restaurant.org/Show. The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. NRA Show 2013 will be held May 18-21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the 2013 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event held in conjunction with the NRA Show will take place May 19-20. The events attract 61,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcases the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues and more growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the Show and IWSB websites at Restaurant.org/Show and WineSpiritsBeer.org, and find the NRA Show on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, YouTube and its widely read NRA Show blog.

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: World Organization for Animal Health Recommends United States' BSE Risk Status Be Upgraded

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2013–Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the following statement about notification received today from the Scientific Commission for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recommending that the United States' risk classification for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) be upgraded to negligible risk: "I am very pleased with this decision and recommendation by the OIE's Scientific Commission. This is a significant achievement for the United States, American beef producers and businesses, and federal and state partners who work in coordination to maintain a system of three interlocking safeguards against BSE that protect our public and animal health. Being classified as negligible risk for BSE by the OIE will also greatly support our efforts to increase exports of U.S. beef and beef products. In recommending that the United States receive negligible risk classification, the Commission stated that the risk assessments submitted for their evaluation were robust and comprehensive, and that both our surveillance for, and safeguards against, BSE are strong. U.S. beef and beef products are of the highest quality, wholesome and produced to the highest safety standards in the world. The United States continues to press for normalization of beef trade with several nations in a manner that is based on science and consistent with international standards. U.S. food and agricultural exporters and consumers worldwide benefit when countries adopt international standards." BACKGROUND Last year, the United States submitted an application and supporting information to the OIE's Scientific Commission to upgrade the United States' risk classification from controlled to negligible. The Commission, in turn, conducted a thorough review before recommending that the risk classification for the United States be upgraded to negligible. Before the OIE's annual General Assembly meeting in Paris, France, in May 2013, delegate countries will have the opportunity to review the Commission's recommendation. The United States expects that formal adoption of negligible risk status for the United States will occur at the General Assembly meeting in May, when it is considered. The OIE determines a country's risk status based on actions the country has taken to manage the risk of the disease. These actions include instituting a strong ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban, strictly controlling imports of animals and animal products from countries at risk for the disease, and conducting appropriate surveillance. The OIE Code, which is based on the latest science and current knowledge concerning BSE, provides guidelines for the safe trade of animals and products based on the country's risk status and the risk presented by the specific item being traded. Negligible risk is the lowest risk level under the OIE Code. Countries defined as negligible risk have conducted extensive surveillance and testing in domestic cattle to demonstrate a minimal risk for BSE. The OIE administers and governs the foundational international standards on animal health as well as trade in livestock and animal products. With a total of 178 Member Countries, including the United States, the OIE is recognized as a reference organization by the World Trade Organization (WTO), the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. The official recognition of disease status by OIE of Member Countries is of great significance for international trade and constitutes one of the most important links between the OIE and WTO. The United States has a longstanding system of three interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials from all animals presented for slaughter. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. The third safeguard is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population.

Spring is in the Air Join the Arbor Day Foundation in March and Receive 10 Free Trees

The Arbor Day Foundation is making it easier for everyone to celebrate the arrival of spring through planting trees. Join the Arbor Day Foundation in March 2013 and receive 10 free white flowering dogwood trees. “White flowering dogwoods will add beauty to your home throughout the year,” said John Rosenow, founder and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Dogwoods are known for their showy spring flowers, scarlet autumn foliage and red berries that attract songbirds during winter.” The free trees are part of the nonprofit Foundation’s Trees for America campaign. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting between March 1 and May 31, with enclosed planting instructions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Arbor Day Foundation members also receive a subscription to Arbor Day, the Foundation’s bimonthly publication, and The Tree Book, which contains information about tree planting and care. To become a member of the Foundation and receive the free trees, send a $10 contribution to TEN FREE DOGWOOD TREES, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by March 30, 2013. Or join online at arborday.org/march.