Farm News, Thursday July 7, 2016

Beermaker Applies to Trademark “Brexit”

The maker of a beer named after one of America’s revolutionary leaders applied to trademark the name “Brexit” one day after the British vote to exit the European Union. The Boston Beer Company makes Samuel Adams beer and Angry Orchard hard cider. The company’s trademark application was filed on intent-to-use-basis, and is for hard cider. But the Boston Beer Company wasn’t the only one to file for a trademark on “Brexit.” A Chicago resident filed to use the name on clothing and a Colorado company filed to use the trademark on dietary and nutritional supplements.

3,000 Fewer Items on Vermont Grocery Store Shelves

Vermont’s GMO labeling law went into effect last Friday and will change what grocery shoppers see in stores across the state. WCAX-TV in Vermont reports that retailers across the state got word that some manufacturers would stop sending more than 3,000 products to the state. Some of the more easily recognized products include Pepsi Wild Cherry to whole wheat hot dog buns. Coca-cola was one of the first major manufacturers to announce they were pulling some products from the state. Some experts worry that fewer products will mean less competition and result in higher prices for shoppers in the state. However, retailers in Vermont are given a grace period to sell improperly labeled goods from store shelves before being fined.

Saudi Arabia Opening to U.S. Beef

Saudi Arabia announced it’s reopening its markets to U.S. beef after a four-year ban that was put in place due to concerns about BSE, or Mad Cow Disease. Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today says the country will immediately allow beef imports from cattle less than 30 months old. After a phase-in period, imports will expand to include beef products from cattle under 48 months old. Eligible products include bone-in and de-boned beef, along with ground and processed beef. The U.S. exported more than $31 million in beef products to Saudi Arabia as recently as 2011, just prior to the ban going into place.