Welcome to the July 2026 issue of Table Talk! As we move into the height of summer, food manufacturers continue to expand production to meet seasonal demand while exploring new opportunities for product innovation and market growth. Across the United States, interest in shelf-stable foods continues to increase as processors seek products with extended shelf […]
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— Francesca DiBiase, UMaine Dietetic Intern My parents have had chickens since I was in middle school. We enjoy the process of raising chicks and collecting eggs. Many people are raising backyard poultry to gain access to fresh eggs, control a section of their food supply, and create educational opportunities. Backyard poultry includes chickens, turkeys, […]
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— Alex Bosse Have you ever looked closely at the packaging of food products at the grocery store and felt overwhelmed? Between labels such as “natural,” “pasture-raised,” and “non-GMO,” you may be wondering what they actually mean for your health, conscience, and wallet. Marketing claims on the front of packages are designed to catch your […]
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— Alex Gayton and Dr. Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek Are you team “store butter on the counter” or “in the fridge”? This feels like a classic debate topic in many households. Growing up, my parents stored a stick of butter in a butter dish on the counter so it would stay soft. Now, I never store […]
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— Alex Bosse Back in 2021, my mom gifted me her air fryer. To be honest, it sat in the box for a long time because I had no clue how to use it. That finally changed when I taught a workshop last year where we made crispy air-fried chickpeas. After one bite, I was […]
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— Dr. Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek Meal kits and online grocery delivery services are changing how families cook and eat. These services save time, reduce trips to the grocery store, and make it easier to prepare healthy meals at home. But because food is shipped through the mail or delivered by couriers, it may spend hours […]
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— By Alex Gayton I was talking to family over the holidays, and the concern of leftover rice came up, and how it’s not safe to eat. Last year, I saw this idea going around on social media with scary titles like “Why you should never eat leftover rice,” “Rice is toxic,” “Reheated rice or […]
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— Kate McCarty Here in Maine, one of our first signs of spring is the flow of sap from maple trees, as the days warm up to above freezing while the nighttime temperatures stay chilly. Maine Maple Weekend, which is always the fourth weekend in March, is our chance to get out to maple producers’ […]
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— By Chesley Ferris, Dietetic Intern, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Did you know that Maine has around 115 summer farmers’ markets and 30 to 35 winter farmers’ markets? One of my favorite things about living in Maine is visiting our farmers’ markets. I love connecting with local farmers and finding unique fruits and vegetables. […]
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— By Chesley Ferris, MPH, Dietetic Intern, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Buying frozen vegetables saves time and money. Frozen vegetables also stay fresh longer, helping to reduce food waste. However, did you know that not all frozen vegetables are safe to eat straight from the freezer? In fact, most frozen vegetables need to be […]
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