Guide E-138: Pecans: A Healthful New Mexico-grown Food

Guide E-138: Pecans: A Healthful New Mexico-grown Food

Richard Heerema (Extension Pecan Specialist, Dept. of Extension Plant Sciences)

Raquel Garzon (Extension Nutrition and Wellness Specialist, Dept. of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences)

John Hartley (Assistant Professor, School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management)

PDF: http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_e/E138.pdf

NMDA hosts Battle of the Salsas at 2018 New Mexico State Fair

NMDA hosts Battle of the Salsas at 2018 New Mexico State Fair

Fairgoers have opportunity to judge over 30 locally-made salsas

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Do you have what it takes to judge the best salsas in New Mexico? Whether you’re a salsa connoisseur or simply a fan of New Mexico-made food, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture invites you to participate in this year’s Battle of the Salsas at the New Mexico State Fair.

NMDA will host the Battle of the Salsas from 1 to 3 p.m. during the state fair Saturday, Sept. 8 in the courtyard of the Agriculture Building located on the fairgrounds. All New-Mexico-made, commercially produced and shelf-stable salsas that are already available for sale at the New Mexico Country Store are eligible for entry.

Fairgoers have the chance to select their favorite salsa from over 30 samples of New Mexico’s best. Participants will be given a bag of New Mexico-made tortilla chips and a ballot to vote. After the votes are counted, the top three crowd favorites will be selected and announced.

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte encourages everyone to attend the Battle of the Salsas, put their taste buds to the test, and see how their picks compared with the overall voting results.

“The best part is that you can purchase this year’s winning salsas at the Country Store,” said Witte. “But you’ll need to get there early, because we sell out fast!”

For more information about the New Mexico State Fair, visit statefair.exponm.com. For more information about the NEW MEXICO – Taste the Tradition program, visit www.newmexicotradition.com.

Hello again from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Hello again from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

FEATURED OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

It’s the start of the new school year, which means new teachers, homework assignments and, for parents and caregivers, the dilemma of how to prepare a healthy and safe school lunch. Handwashing is the first and easiest step in preparing a safe packed lunch. But a recent study conducted by FSIS in collaboration with North Carolina State University and RTI International found that participants failed to wash their hands properly 97 percent of the time. This poor hand hygiene caused bacterial cross-contamination to items around the kitchen, including spice containers, refrigerator handles, ready-to-eat foods and other surface areas. This back-to-school season, help students, teachers, parents and caregivers in your community learn how to practice good hand hygiene, avoid cross-contamination and prepare safe lunches with FSIS’ back-to-school food safety toolkit.

SEVERE WEATHER RESOURCES

Is your community prepared for severe weather? Thunderstorms, heavy rains, hurricanes and winter weather can all cause power outages and flooding, which can raise food safety questions, like “How can I best prepare my refrigerator and freezer in advance of a storm?” and “How long will my perishable foods stay safe if the power goes out?”

FSIS has emergency preparedness resources here, which you can use in outreach efforts in your community. Our most popular and comprehensive severe weather publication is the Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes. You can print this publication or request free copies by emailing us at FSIS.outreach@fsis.usda.gov.

We’ve also got a handy infographic in English and Spanish about what consumers should do to protect themselves from foodborne illnesses before, during and after a severe storm. And we have shortened versions of those infographics on our Flickr page, which are perfect for use in your social media messages throughout severe weather events.

You are receiving this email because your contract information was listed on your community’s webpage about food safety outreach. These emails aim to update you on what’s going on at FSIS and connect you with the resources you need for food safety outreach efforts in your community. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please let us know.

Sincerely,

FSIS Outreach Team

NMSU College of ACES names new Extension Family Life and Child Development specialist

NMSU College of ACES names new Extension Family Life and Child Development specialist
DATE: 07/19/2018
WRITER: Adriana M. Chavez, 575-646-1957, adchavez@nmsu.edu
CONTACT: Karim Martinez, 575-525-6649, karmarti@nmsu.edu
Karim Martinez, formerly the county program director and Family and Consumer Sciences agent for the Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Service, has assumed a new role at New Mexico State University, but she is certainly no stranger to the university.

Effective July 16, Martinez is the new Extension Family Life and Child Development specialist in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Extension Family and Consumer Sciences department. Martinez has been with NMSU since 2002, except for a year spent working with Families and Youth, Inc. She earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree from the university, and earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Administration in May. While working toward her doctorate, Martinez took courses that emphasized issues of diversity, equity and social justice, which Martinez said she will be able to apply to her work as a specialist.

“Being born and raised in Las Cruces, I’ve always felt that New Mexico is where I need to be, and I love living in such a diverse state,” Martinez said. “I have a passion for serving communities and Extension provides me that opportunity.”

As an Extension Family Life and Child Development specialist, Martinez joins a team of Extension specialists who provide support to county Extension agents throughout the state. Extension specialists also provide community education as well as professional development to county Extension agents.

Martinez’s new role is to develop and select programs catered to people across the life span, which may include child development, strengthening couple relationships and topics related to aging such as coping with loss and grief.

“As specialists, we focus on one area, and I’m looking forward to developing programs in this area,” said Martinez, who holds a master’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and completed coursework focusing on human development and marriage and family therapy.

“With 14 years of experience in the Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Martinez has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience, and has served in a variety of leadership roles and statewide initiatives,” said Priscilla Bloomquist, interim head of the Family and Consumer Sciences department and Extension Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of ACES. “She is an excellent addition to the team.
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If shell eggs freeze accidentally, are they safe?

Shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. However, if the egg did not crack, keep it frozen until needed; then thaw it in the refrigerator. It can be hard cooked successfully but other uses may be limited because freezing causes the yolk to become thick and syrupy so it will not flow like an unfrozen yolk or blend very well with the egg white or other ingredients.

Where can consumers find information on recalls of food products?

For information on recalls of meat, poultry and egg products, go to FSIS Recall Information or call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHOTLINE (1-888-674-6854). For information on recalls of foods other than meat, poultry and egg products, contact the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's Outreach and Information Center at 1-888-SAFE FOOD (1-888-723-3366).

Food Safety: Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers

Food Safety: Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers

Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most important pieces of equipment in the kitchen for keeping food safe. We are instantly reminded of their importance when the power goes off, flooding occurs, or the unit fails, causing food to become unsafe and spoil. The odors that develop when food spoils can be difficult to remove. Use this information to learn how to remove odors from units or how to safely discard an affected unit.
To Remove Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers
If food has spoiled in a refrigerator or freezer and odors from the food remain, they may be difficult to remove. The following procedures may help but may have to be repeated several times.

• Dispose of any spoiled or questionable food.
• Remove shelves, crispers, and ice trays. Wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Then rinse with a sanitizing solution (1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water).
• Wash the interior of the refrigerator and freezer, including the door and gasket, with hot water and baking soda. Rinse with sanitizing solution as above.
• Leave the door open for about 15 minutes to allow free air circulation.

If odors remain, try any or all of the following:

• Wipe inside of unit with equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar provides acid which destroys mildew.
• Leave the door open and allow to air out for several days.
• Stuff both the refrigerator and freezer with rolled newspapers. Close the door and leave for several days. Remove paper and clean with vinegar and water.
• Sprinkle fresh coffee grounds or baking soda loosely in a large, shallow container in the bottom of the refrigerator and freezer.
• Place a cotton swab soaked with vanilla inside the refrigerator and freezer. Close door for 24 hours. Check for odors.
• Use a commercial product available at hardware and housewares stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

If Odors Cannot Be Removed
If odors cannot be removed, then the refrigerator or freezer may need to be discarded. If you need to discard the refrigerator or freezer, discard it in a safe manner:

• "Childproof" old refrigerators or freezers so children do not get trapped inside. The surest way is to take the door off.
• If the door will not come off, chain and padlock the door permanently and close tightly, or remove or disable the latch completely so the door will no longer lock when closed.

It is unlawful in many jurisdictions to discard old refrigerators or freezers without first removing the door.
Depending on where you live, your appliance will be picked up by your solid waste provider, a recycler, a retailer (if you buy a new unit), or program sponsored by local or regional utilities.