The Juicy Bits
The big story: Egg prices plummeted 200% this month. And grocery stores across the U.S. are giving away dozens to make up for last month's high prices… April Fools! Sorry, the reality is that egg prices are still high. And so are tensions in Europe as proposed tariffs on U.S. imports cause chaos for the alcohol industry. Canada’s oldest brewery Moosehead responded to U.S. alcohol tariffs with a special package deal featuring nearly 1,500 beer cans, one for each day of President Trump’s term in office. It sold out in less than a week. In the outdoor cooking world, Dallas-based chain Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants has taken their Texas flavor to new international markets in Southeast Asia with a two-story location in Manila, Philippines this month. Speaking of Texas flavor, the state's Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has been pushing to rename the popular NY strip steak to ‘Texas strip’. That will be an uphill battle. Just a stone's throw away in Florida, citrus farmers are still reeling from hurricane Helene and other issues as the state's signature industry weakens. Thankfully, the USDA just rolled out $31 billion in relief aid to American farmers. Always look on the sunny side.
—Maddox Joachim
Restaurants
Restaurant Labor Market Struggles As Industry Rebounds
Image Source: Kriston Jae Bethel/Bloomberg
Restaurant sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels this year, yet operators are struggling to stay staffed. Pandemic restaurant closures forced employees into other industries, and many never returned. “COVID not only resulted in a large exodus, but also a huge shrinkage in the number of people coming into the industry,” says Philadelphia restaurateur Ellen Yin. As rising talent becomes scarcer than ever, experienced job-seeking chefs are demanding higher compensation. "You have your cooks that are very new and fresh or the ones who are in sous chef or CDC (chef de cuisine) positions that are looking for salaried jobs with benefits. But the in-between [roles] are the ones I’m finding most difficult to fill,” says Reneé Touponce, Executive Chef of Port of Call and Oyster Club in Mystic, Connecticut.
Beverages
What A 200% Tariff On EU Alcohol Could Mean For The Industry
Image Source: Barmalini / Stock.Adobe.Com
This month, President Trump threatened the European Union with a 200% tariff on all imported wines and spirits. The announcement came in response to the EU's proposed 50% American whiskey tax. “If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. European alcohol exports to the U.S surpassed $5 billion in 2024, and the proposed tariff would devastate the country's alcohol exports industry. “The U.S.-EU spirits sector is the model for fair and reciprocal trade, having zero-for-zero tariffs since 1997,” said Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger. "We urge President Trump to secure a spirits agreement with the EU to get us back to zero-for-zero tariffs, which will create U.S. jobs and increase manufacturing and exports for the American hospitality sector. We want toasts not tariffs.”
BBQ Hot Spot
Dallas-Based BBQ Chain Goes International With Philippines Location
Image Source: Dickey's Barbecue Pit
Popular Texas-based BBQ franchise Dickey's Barbecue Pit continues its international expansion with the announcement of a new Manila, Philippines location this month. Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations can also be found in Singapore, Canada, Japan, UAE, Pakistan, and throughout the U.S. “We’re thrilled to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue to the Philippines, a country known for its bold flavors and warm hospitality,” said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants.
Cooking
NY Hospital Plans Seasonal Menu After Hiring Michelin-Starred Chefs
Image Source: Fox 5
Northwell Health in New York has partnered with Michelin-starred Chef Bruno Tison to elevate its South Shore University Hospital's dining options. The menu will include locally sourced ingredients and plant-based options while prioritizing nutritional value and seasonal changes. Executive Chef Brian Sauer, who is spearheading this change alongside Tison, says, "I'm able to have this creativity and to have this kind of feel of not being in a hospital, but being at a resort or restaurant."
Agriculture
USDA Unveils $31 Billion In Relief Aid For American Farmers
Image Source: Tom Fisk
This month, the USDA made $10 billion from December's spending bill for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program available to American farmers. Those who produce row crops like soybeans, corn, or rice are eligible for aid, as the industry experienced high costs, low profits, and faltering prices over the past year. The one-time payment is designed to mitigate these losses dating from the beginning of 2024. Qualifying farmers can apply online until April 15th. Later this year, farmers can expect another $21 billion in relief aid for losses stemming from natural disasters like hurricane Helene.
Regulations
USDA Eliminates $1 Billion Of Funding For School Cafeterias And Food Banks
Image Source: Prasopchok / Unsplash
The USDA has terminated two financial aid programs for school cafeterias and food banks. The Local Food For Schools Cooperative Agreement Program would have directed $660 million in funding for school cafeterias, while the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement program earmarked $500 million to support food banks. The funding loss is likely increase the amount of low-cost, pre-prepared ingredients and processed foods in school lunches. "School meals have the potential to nourish students as well as to expand their palates, which can only happen with local foods and financial support of school meals," said Pamela Koch, professor of nutrition and education at Columbia University.
Health
Researchers Find Byproducts Of Olive Oil Are Extremely Healthy
Image Source: Food & Wine / Getty Images
Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is the liquid left behind after olives are pressed for oil. OMW has long been discarded, but scientists say the product is packed with powerful antioxidants that can battle pathogens and improve overall human health. A study from Rome's Sapienza Unifersity found anti-inflammatory flavonoids, hydroxytyrosol, and oleuropein present in OMW. The study outlines OMW's potential in aiding digestion, hearth health, and even overall brain function. Researchers found another compound in OMW, oligogalacturonides, which help protect plants from infections. "OMW contains a wide range of valuable phenolic compounds with proven antimicrobial properties," the study states.
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Science
Scientists Make Foie Gras Without Force-Feeding Ducks Or Geese
Image Source: Thomas A. Vilgis / New Scientist
Foie gras is one of the world's most controversial delicacies. Traditionally, foie gras is made by force-feeding ducks until the liver swells with excess fats, then using the enlarged liver in pâtés and other foods. Consumers have long argued against the practice, but there could be a new way to produce this unique treat. Scientist Thomas Vilgis of Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, has uncovered a much more sustainable way to produce foie gras. His team of researchers developed a process that extracts fats from the pancreas to blend them with a normal healthy liver, creating an imitated foie gras that sidesteps the practice of force-feeding.
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