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State of the Plate

Food and agriculture impact every life on this planet, every single day. And keeping the food chain moving from farm to fork is big business. Join food and ag communications experts and industry advocates Brandon Miller and Rochelle Schnadt once a month as they chat about some of the leading stories from throughout the food chain impacting the business behind feeding the world—from innovation and legislation to market trends and consumer insights. Brought to you by C.O.nxt, a marketing and communications agency.

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Latest Episode

Episode 027: Crafting a Cannabis Cocktail Revolution

The beverage aisle is getting a buzzworthy upgrade. In this episode of State of the Plate , we sit down with Matt Swanson, co-founder of Drinkin’Buds , the Midwest-based THC beverage brand that's quickly becoming a standout in the functional drinks space. From the agricultural roots of hemp to demystifying Delta-9, Matt walks us through the science, the stigma and the surprising growth of this low-dose, high-impact category. Whether you’re curious about cannabis drinks or exploring what’s next in consumer preferences, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.  00:00 Rochelle Ripp Schnadt and Kelli Calkins, Functional Beverages  19:55 Matt Swanson, Drinkin'Buds

April 22

Episodes

Episode 027: Crafting a Cannabis Cocktail Revolution cover art

Episode 027: Crafting a Cannabis Cocktail Revolution

The beverage aisle is getting a buzzworthy upgrade. In this episode of State of the Plate , we sit down with Matt Swanson, co-founder of Drinkin’Buds , the Midwest-based THC beverage brand that's quickly becoming a standout in the functional drinks space. From the agricultural roots of hemp to demystifying Delta-9, Matt walks us through the science, the stigma and the surprising growth of this low-dose, high-impact category. Whether you’re curious about cannabis drinks or exploring what’s next in consumer preferences, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.  00:00 Rochelle Ripp Schnadt and Kelli Calkins, Functional Beverages  19:55 Matt Swanson, Drinkin'Buds

April 22
Episode 026: Where’s the Beef … Market? cover art

Episode 026: Where’s the Beef … Market?

From policy to weather phenomena to industry cycles, there are a lot of factors that impact the U.S. beef market. In this episode of the State of the Plate podcast, Rabobank Senior Analyst of Animal Protein Lance Zimmerman joins us to talk about the state of beef today and tomorrow and what that means for ranchers, restaurants, consumers and all throughout the food value chain. To visit the RaboResearch report referenced, visit Beefing up: Strategies to shape a stronger US beef industry amid higher prices - Rabobank. Also, C.O.nxt PR expert Rachael Glaszcz sits down to advise food brands on what they can do to stay prepared for crises and unexpected adversity. 00:00 Lance Zimmerman, State of Beef 57:40 Rachel Glaszcz, How to Prepare for Crisis

March 31
Bonus Episode: Barons of Beef Tallow cover art

Bonus Episode: Barons of Beef Tallow

Two of our 2025 Trends Episode predictions come to life in one interview: the rise of beef tallow and the year of women in agriculture. In our latest State of the Plate podcast, we talk to a couple of “mompreneurs” riding the beef tallow wave with their own product line—Farm Wife Tallow. Hear how these wonderful women of agriculture, Katie Carothers, Amanda Kather and their other partners, turned an inspired idea into a successful Farm-to-Table product that they can’t seem to keep in stock.

March 3
Episode 025: Formerly Twitter cover art

Episode 025: Formerly Twitter

Is X on the decline? What’s the current word on TikTok? Do Threads and Bluesky have staying power? With so many uncertainties swirling around in the world of social media, we thought it would be a good time to sit down with our all-knowing social media director Kelli Calkins to bring answers to your most pressing questions.

February 27
Episode 024: Food Trends … So Hot Right Now cover art

Episode 024: Food Trends … So Hot Right Now

Everyone’s giving their picks for 2025 food predictions right now, but no one’s doing it like this. Listen in as Brandon and Rochelle give their picks for tastiest emerging food trends, then jump over to the special bonus episode where Menu Matters president and veteran market researcher Maeve Webster takes us even further behind the curtain with insights into the consumer behaviors driving flavor shifts.

February 4
Bonus Episode: Maeve Webster, Menu Matters cover art

Bonus Episode: Maeve Webster, Menu Matters

We all love to talk about the food trends that are happening. But do we ever take the time to think about why they are happening? Menu Matters President Maeve Webster does. Join this fascinating conversation with a veteran market researcher and expert predictologist (it’s a word don’t bother looking it up) about the human behaviors and mindsets that cause the emergence of hot food trends.

February 4
Episode 023: Hindsight is 2024 cover art

Episode 023: Hindsight is 2024

Back in January, we made a few bold predictions about what 2024 would hold for the food system. In this episode we hold ourselves accountable by taking a look back at the year that was to see if what we said would happen actually happened. Listen in and see what we got right and what we got … almost right.

December 17
Episode 022: Partnering for Dairy Progress cover art

Episode 022: Partnering for Dairy Progress

As the 2024 Sustainable Ag Summit approaches, we connected with two pioneers helping the food system work together to advance sustainability in the dairy industry. Tune in to hear Lauren Brey, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Sustainability at Farmers for Sustainable Food (FSF), and Holly Jones, Director of Global ESG/Sustainability at Agropur, share how they’re making measurable change, together. FSF is a collaborative, industry-supported effort to promote and support farmer-led solutions to today’s environmental challenges. Learn more about their work at https://farmersforsustainablefood.com/. Agropur is a North American dairy cooperative and supplier of products for the industrial, retail and food service sectors. Learn more about them and their initiatives at https://www.agropur.com/us/.

November 13
Episode 21: Best of World Dairy Expo cover art

Episode 21: Best of World Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo is THE place to be to experience the latest in dairy tech and innovation. But if you couldn’t make it to Madison, WI, this year, we have you covered. Listen in as we discuss the coolest things we saw at WDE and share interviews with some of the show’s most intriguing innovators.  Bioret Agri Interview - 12:00 First-Defense Interview – 16:13 Golden Calf Company Interview – 22:26 Merck Animal Health Interview – 28:11 Micro Technologies Interview – 32:28 Novonesis Interview – 38:28 Trans Ova Genetics Interview – 41:36

November 4
Episode 020: We Got Worms cover art

Episode 020: We Got Worms

In the next episode of our Environmental Awareness series, we chat with Steve Rowe, Chairman of the Board at BioFiltro, where they’ve introduced a revolutionary, regenerative wastewater filtration system powered by worms, helping dairies, vineyards and all kinds of other food and ag operations significantly reduce their environmental impact.

October 17
Episode 19: Eat Beer cover art

Episode 19: Eat Beer

In our second Environmental Awareness episode, we talk to Dan Kurzrock, Founder and CEO of Upcycled Foods, Inc., about how they’re helping turn spent grains left over from the beer brewing process into tasty treats you can really eat—a revolutionary idea to take a bite out of food waste and food insecurity. Upcycled Foods, Inc., is a pioneer in rescuing and upcycling nutritious grains desugared naturally in the brewing process. Learn more about their process and growing portfolio of products at UpcycledFoods.com.

October 3
Episode 018: Corn Utopia cover art

Episode 018: Corn Utopia

In the first episode of our special Environmental Awareness Month series we talk to Andrea Vanderhoff, Director of Technology and Sustainability at Qore, about how they’re using corn as a sustainable alternative to petroleum in making all kinds of fabric products, from jackets, jeans and everything in between.  Qore is the Joint Venture between Cargill and HELM and the parent company to Quira, a bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO) made from renewable feedstocks that reduces CO2 emissions compared to materials made using fossil-fuel based BDO. Learn more about Qore at https://www.myqira.com/qira-company

September 16
Episode 017: IFT Roundup cover art

Episode 017: IFT Roundup

If you didn’t get a chance to attend the world’s leading food technology conference, we have you covered. In this episode we cover off on the coolest things we saw at the show and share interviews we had with some of food innovation’s most interesting people.    00:00 – Our IFT Highlights 26:26 – Interview 1, Corny Red Dye: Meghan Jacobs, Global Marketing Director, Givaudan 33:29 – Interview 2, Shroom Boom: Linda May-Zhang, VP Science & Innovation, Blue California 41:35 – Interview 3, Mango Bricks: Adeel Jawed, Business Development Manager, Ingredyum 54:39 – Interview 4, Vertically Integrated Duck: Olivia Tucker, Director of Marketing, Maple Leaf Farms

August 28
Episode 016: Produce Production Malfunction cover art

Episode 016: Produce Production Malfunction

In this episode we discuss major supply challenges facing some of our favorite fruits and veggies, the celebrity beverage phenomenon and the curators of the world’s seed vault getting much deserved accolades. Plus, we preview an upcoming special episode on corn cutting into petroleum’s pie.  00:00 – Intro  08:48 – Produce Supply Problems  26:43 – Celebrity Hooch  39:30 – The World’s Seed Vault  47:00 – Corn-Based Fabric Preview

August 7
Episode 15: Inflation Deflation cover art

Episode 15: Inflation Deflation

In this episode we look into the rise of secret menus and the fast food influencer, customers fighting back against food prices and farm bill proposal finally hitting the floor.  00:00 – Intro  2:01 – Fast Food Influencers  29:26 – Food Inflation Tipping Point  39:35 – A Farm Bill Proposal

July 12
Bonus Episode: Web Cookies Crumbling cover art

Bonus Episode: Web Cookies Crumbling

Google is phasing out third-party digital cookies that track user data. So what does that mean for consumers, advertisers and the media professionals charged with reaching audiences? Charleston Orwig Collective Media Director Amanda Janssen-Egan stops by to shed light on what to expect when the cookies finally crumble.

July 12
Bonus Episode: A Blind Taste Test of Barbecue Mainstays cover art

Bonus Episode: A Blind Taste Test of Barbecue Mainstays

Grilling season is upon us, which means plenty of backyard barbecues. But which brands deliver the most flavor when it comes to some our favorite cookout foods? We conducted a blind taste test among our Charleston Orwig Collective employee-owners so you know what to buy to guarantee your most flavorful festivities.

July 2
Episode 14: Happy Pod-iversary! cover art

Episode 14: Happy Pod-iversary!

In our one-year pod-iversary episode, we nibble on Florida’s lab meat ban, leading chicken chains turning to “some antibiotics sometimes” and nutritional updates to the USDA’s WIC package.   00:00 – Celebration! 11:02 – Lab Meat Chopped 20:18 – Chicken Chains’ New Standards 31:06 – WIC updates

May 30
Episode 13: Earth Month Heroes cover art

Episode 13: Earth Month Heroes

In this episode we chat about a proposal for more Climate Smart money, reveal the food trends that Gen Z is biting into, celebrate Earth Month by giving props to some food and ag sustainability leaders and comment on the latest Hellmann’s hijinks.   00:00 – Intro 06:30 – Climate Smart Update 11:57 – Gen Z Food Trends 22:22 – Celebrating Earth Month 37:43 – Hellmann’s Clickbait

April 22 • 48m 50s
Episode 12: The Ozempic® Factor cover art

Episode 12: The Ozempic® Factor

In this episode we dig into the impact of Ozempic®-like drugs on the food market, interview an expert about a fascinating super-grain, cover off on the latest bird flu threat and dive into the gen-z hydration craze.  00:00 – Intro  9:20 – The Ozempic® Impact  23:18 – Sorghum the Super-grain  42:22 – The Bird Flu  50:20 – The Hydration Craze

April 16 • 1h 8m 57s
Episode 011: This Little Piggy cover art

Episode 011: This Little Piggy

In this episode we talk about the impact of Proposition 12 on the pork industry and consumer market, how the new nostalgia flavor trend takes us back to tastier times, and the movement toward a breakfast-less existence.  00:00 – Intro  05:20 – Proposition 12  17:30 – Nostalgia Flavor Trend  28:33 – Bypassing Breakfast

March 5 • 39m 52s
Bonus Episode: The Good and (Mostly) Bad of the 2024 Super Bowl Ads cover art

Bonus Episode: The Good and (Mostly) Bad of the 2024 Super Bowl Ads

C.O.nxt Associate Creative Director Michael Bleach joins Brandon and Rochelle to talk about the best and worst food and beverage commercials in this year’s big game.

February 15 • 39m 35s
Episode 010: New Year, New Flavor Trends cover art

Episode 010: New Year, New Flavor Trends

In the first episode of the new year, we talk to David Banks of Bell Flavors and Fragrances about the hottest flavor trends of 2024, discuss ethical standards for social influencers and get fired up animal ag’s place in the climate change debate.  00:00 – Intro  02:18 – 2024 Flavor Trends  46:44 – Influencer Ethics  1:10:16 – Attack on Animal Ag

February 1 • 1h 21m 51s
Episode 009: Ready for Dry January? cover art

Episode 009: Ready for Dry January?

In this lighthearted holiday episode, we take a break from some of the more pressing food biz news to prepare for Dry January with facts about the low-to-no beverage trend and taste-testing some of the hottest non-alcoholic products on the shelf.    00:00The fun begins and continues to the end

December 14 • 41m 9s
Episode 008: Skittle Me This cover art

Episode 008: Skittle Me This

In this episode we dig into California’s cancellation of the red Skittle, serve up highlights from our Federal Milk Order conversation with Lucas Sjostrom and banter about the hottest 2023 holiday food trends.  00:00   Intro  02:55   California Ingredient Bans  22:19   Federal Milk Order Convo Highlights  49:05   Holiday Food Trends

November 29 • 1h 2m 12s
Bonus Episode: Lucas Sjostrom, Edge Dairy Cooperative cover art

Bonus Episode: Lucas Sjostrom, Edge Dairy Cooperative

Due to the timeliness of this conversation, we’re not waiting for the full episode to get this content in your ears. Lucas Sjostrom, a managing director of Edge Dairy Cooperative, shares his insight on the Federal Market Order discussions as it relates to milk and other perishable U.S. commodities, while intersecting with the new Farm Bill and potential government shut down.

November 14 • 39m 16s
Episode 007: Peas, Do Tell cover art

Episode 007: Peas, Do Tell

In this episode we dish out takes on the struggling U.S. pea protein market, have roundup discussions on the Women in Ag panel and World Dairy Expo, discuss the Halloween sugarflation phenomenon and countdown America’s least favorite candies.  00:00 Intro  04:02 Pea Protein Market at Risk  11:33 World Dairy Expo Recap  28:56 Women in Ag Follow-up  40:48 Halloween Sugarflation

November 2 • 53m 57s
Episode 006: Food Insecurity from All Angles cover art

Episode 006: Food Insecurity from All Angles

In this episode we serve up the latest update on the Farm Bill, chat about the latest label innovations helping to reduce food waste and talk with Amy Tranzillo about how her company, Agrofresh, is leading the charge to keep fresh produce fresher for longer. And because ‘tis the season, we’ll get into some pumpkin spice fun facts. 00:00 Intro 02:50 Farm Bill Update 09:26 Food Label Innovation 16:52 Amy Tranzillo Interview 36:47 Pumpkin Spice Fun Facts

September 27 • 55m 38s
Bonus Episode: Scott Marshall, Feeding America cover art

Bonus Episode: Scott Marshall, Feeding America

We’re back with another bonus episode with a super-interesting person doing super-important work. Scott Marshall, Vice President of Development and Communications at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, joins us to talk about the impact of food insecurity in our own backyards and the amazing work they do to keep food on people’s tables.

September 27 • 28m 1s
Food Innovation A La Carte cover art

Food Innovation A La Carte

In this full interview with Chef Mike Haracz, Corporate Chef and Culinary Development Lead at Foodology by Univar Solutions, Chef Mike unveils his strategies for keeping up with dynamic food trends. From the surge of climate-conscious choices to deciphering consumer desires, Chef Mike shares how he stays ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.

August 23 • 48m 17s
Episode 005: Unpacking a Sustainable Future for Food cover art

Episode 005: Unpacking a Sustainable Future for Food

In this episode we discuss back-to-school food programs in the Farm Bill, have a magical conversation with a food innovation wizard, unpack sustainable food packaging and countdown the top foods that’ll be hardest to find in the rest of 2023. Stick around for our 'a la carte' episode with Chef Mike to hear additional insights into the dynamic food industry.

August 23 • 54m 16s
Episode 004: Innovation is Delicious cover art

Episode 004: Innovation is Delicious

In this episode we share what we learned at the IFT FIRST expo in Chicago and talk about the latest in Climate-Smart hiring, meat labels and a new innovation that’s part soybean, part pig.

July 26 • 1h 26m 36s
Episode 003: A Sustainability Smorgasbord cover art

Episode 003: A Sustainability Smorgasbord

In this episode we chat with NASDA CEO Ted McKinney about the future of food and achieving measurable sustainability, discuss a future that features a food-filled Mars, provide an update in the latest meat labeling legislation and taste test some truly horrifying social media food trends.

June 27 • 1h 2m 58s
Episode 002: Climate Smart as the Main Course cover art

Episode 002: Climate Smart as the Main Course

In this episode we come at Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities from all angles, including which food and ag companies are teaming up, how innovation is making partnerships easier and one partnership that’s saving the rice supply, featuring special guest Jay McEntire, CEO of Arva Intelligence.

May 30 • 1h 2m 40s
Episode 001: The First Supper cover art

Episode 001: The First Supper

The State of the Plate podcast kicks off with rousing discussions around what food and ag organizations are looking for from the Farm Bill, how the beef market is trending, poultry gene editing technology and one new way AI is reshaping food industry research.

May 2 • 44m 19s
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