The Juicy Bits
Happy March everyone! Even in the shortest month of the year, we still have tons of news to share from February. Let's get into it.
Remember Trump's 200% alcohol tariffs on European exports last year? And Canada's boycott on U.S. alcohol surrounding Trump's 25% tariffs on U.S. alcohol exports to the country imposed in March? The beverage industry is feeling the effects today as a new U.S. Census Bureau report shows that U.S. Beer and Wine exports from 2025 are down by 26% from 2024. Oof. In the restaurant world, a surprising player in the industry is now gunning for a Michelin star. Papa John's is hoping to become the first quick service restaurant chain to earn a Michelin star with their new pan pizzas. Good luck! Speaking of awards, the James Beard Foundation has released its list of Restaurant and Chef Classics Award winners for 2026. Finalists will be announce in March and in June, at the official ceremony in Chicago. Grill masters and home barbecuers beware! Weber just recalled a whopping 3.2 million grill brushes for potential serious injury risk after metal bristles from the brushes have been reportedly made their way into food and become trapped on grill grates for some users.
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—Maddox Joachim
Restaurants
James Beard Foundation Announces 2026 Classics Award Winners
Image Source: James Beard Foundation
After releasing its list of semifinalists just last month, The James Beard Foundation officially announced its 2026 Restaurant And Chef Classics Award winners last week. The Classics Awards category celebrates "independently owned restaurants with timeless appeal," and has been around since 1998. Restaurant and Chef Awards finalists will come out on March 31st, and Media Awards nominees will be announced May 6th. All winners across all categories will come together from June 13th to June 15th for the annual James Beard Awards Ceremony at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.
More Restaurant News
Papa Johns Aims To Become First Quick Service Restaurant To Win A Michelin Star With New Pan Pizza
Full Service Restaurants Lead 2025 Industry Job Growth
High Schooler Develops AI-Based Restaurant Scheduling App
New Philadelphia Law Prohibits Selling Restaurant Reservations Without Restaurant's Consent
Beverages
U.S. Wine And Beer Exports Are Down By 26% From 2024
Image Source: Kaylakan / Stock.Adobe.Com
U.S. Census Bureau reports show that wine and beer exports dropped by a stark $472 million in 2025, and for wine alone, exports dropped by $428 million. Imports have significantly declined as well. U.S. imports on wine and beer fell $1.1 billion and in alcoholic beverage imports excluding wine, numbers have declined by $3.1 billion. Most of these drastic decreases on U.S. alcohol imports and exports stem from tariff boycotts that began early in 2025 after U.S. imposed tariffs started a trade war. The Trump administration announced tariffs on Canadian and European wine and beer exports throughout the early months of 2025, and countries across the globe began buying locally and boycotting the U.S. market after the administration threatened to impose 200% tariffs on European alcohol.
BBQ Hot Spot
Weber Recalls Millions Of Metal Bristle Grill Brushes Due To Serious Injury Risk
Image Source: Gado / Getty Images
The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 3.2 million grill brushes sold by Weber-Stephen Products have been recalled nationally due to serious injury risk. The grill brushes were manufactured in Cambodia and China and sold in department stores like Target and Home Depo, as well as online from Weber.com and Amazon.com from 2011 to 2026. The CPSC warns that small metal wire brush bristles are detaching from the product and sticking to food and grill grates, posing serious injury risks if ingested. As of February 26th, there have been 38 reports of this exact instance.
Agriculture
How Trump's Latest Tariffs Will Impact American Farmers
Image Source: Hannah Shedrow / Unsplash
The Trump administration has imposed a new 15% tariff across the board using powers under section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This increased the previous 10% tariff across the board and higher reciprocal tariffs for individual countries that president Trump announced in April of 2025. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the tariffs resulted in new trade deals that contributed to an agricultural trade deficit of $41.5 billion in 2025. Tariffs on steel and aluminum have increased farming machinery costs, and as other countries begin buying outside the U.S. in reaction to the tariffs, markets are shrinking for farmers as fertilizer and machinery costs go up.
Regulations
SNAP Restrictions Come With Blurred Lines Across U.S. States
Image Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
New federal SNAP restrictions approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) went into effect across several U.S. states January 1st of this year. West Virginia implemented restrictions from the get-go, and throughout the year another 13 states have poised themselves to begin similar restrictions on SNAP benefits statewide. Back in 2025, the USDA approved 18 waivers allowing states to restrict certain foods from SNAP purchasing. Waivers argue that taxpayer dollars should not be wasted on junk food, like candy or soda. This is where the confusion lies. Healthy foods like granola bars are banned under the new restrictions, while Twix candy bars are accepted as healthy because they contain flour. Similar discrepancies have been found across the board, leaving EBT card users and SNAP benefits recipients confused on what foods will qualify under new restrictions.
Health
Study Finds That Radish Greens Contain Immense Metabolic Health Benefit
Image Source: Barbara Rich / Getty Images
Think twice before throwing out your radish tops, researchers have found that radish greens contain more polyphenols and flavonoids than the root itself in a recent study. These compounds are antioxidants that promote immunity and improved digestion, and could be a superfood for improving overall metabolic health. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in September of last year, and the abstract details why these radish tops should be saved rather than discarded due to their immense health benefits. Radish leaves contain polysaccharides, a carbohydrate that improves digestion and metabolic function. Since the publication of the study, home cooks have realized the potential of radish greens as an important ingredient in salads, dressings, and many sautéed dishes.