Many AFVF 2010 Presenters Win Technology Awards

Michigan Teenagers win National Spirit of Innovation Award

The Conrad Spirit of Innovation Awards “challenge High School Students to:

Create an entrepreneurial enterprise for Lunar Exploration; Create an innovative product for use in personal spaceflight; or, Create a clean carbon-free way of using renewable energy to change everyday life.” The program was developed and is managed by the Pete Conrad Foundation, named after the late Charles “Pete” Conrad, the third person to walk on the moon.

Pete Conrad was “…a kid who couldn’t read and couldn’t spell who was expelled from an elite private school… a kid who should have been a wash-out. Through the insightful work of his mother, his school headmaster saw something special in Pete and lit his candle, getting him excited about education. Pete went on to get a scholarship to Princeton and a ride to the Moon.”

This year four freshmen and sophomores from Battle Creek, Michigan won the national award in the Space Nutrition Category. Mikayla Diesch, Ethan Rutherford, Naomi Joseph and Shannon Diesch who attend high school at the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center (BCAMSC) in Battle Creek, Michigan developed, tested, refined and packaged their Solar Flare the Star Bar for the competition. They also prepared a market study and developed marketing material for their product.

The competition required that the snack bar meet specific nutritional requirements, be light weight, crumb free and not be sticky. The bar won out over other bars from around the country. Solar Flare has been invited to present their investment proposal at this year’s American Food Venture Forum in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 19 and 20.

Vestaron Named “TiE Midwest 20” Winner

Vestaran Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan was named a 2009 TiE Midwest winner at the TiEcon annual conference last October. Vestaron has developed a new generation of insecticides based on the peptides spiders use to kill insects. The technology was developed at the University of Connecticut and licensed exclusively to Vestaron.

TiE is a global, not for profit, non-political, non-religious organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurs and professionals across its international network. Since its founding in 1992, TiE has become the world’s largest network of entrepreneurs and professionals with 52 chapters in 12 countries.

Vestaron Corporation will be presenting its investment opportunity to investors at the 2010 American Food Venture Forum.

Suntava named 2009 Minnesota Ag Innovator of the Year

Each year the Agricultural Utilization and Research Institute (AURI) recognizes one Minnesota business that is achieving market success through an innovative product or process. The Ag Innovator of the Year award is presented annually to recognize the company’s innovation and to highlight the contributions value-added agriculture makes to the state’s economy.

Suntava uses purple corn to produce natural colorants for food items such as soft drinks, vitamin waters, confections, snacks, dairy foods, condiments, cereal and even cosmetics. They also produce flour for food items such as corn chips and tortillas as well as nutraceutical ingredients.

AURI provides applied research services a targeted network of resources and product development assistance to create new ag-based products and help move them to market. With unique facilities and a highly-functioning, professional staff, AURI is a one-of-a-kind resource that provides assistance to Minnesota businesses looking to create more value for the state’s agricultural products.

Suntava will be presenting at this year’s American Food Venture Forum.

Fizza Wins “2008 Best New Beverage” at the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo

Fizza Sparkling Dairy Nutrient Beverage won the award for best new beverage given by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at the 2008 Virginia Food and Beverage Expo. A panel of professionals from agriculture, commerce, food science and consumer services evaluated the products for originality, taste, aroma, nutritional value, packaging, visual appeal and product presentation.

Fizza is a new line of beverages that has the mouth feel, sensory appeal and taste of carbonated soft drinks but the nutrient value of lactose free, skim milk. The products meet the minimum beverage nutritional specifications of the USDA Wellness Policy of 2006 and have been approved by the USDA for sale in school cafeterias.

Fizza, LLC is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and was developed with assistance from Virginia Tech University. Fizza, LLC has been invited to present at the AFVF in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 19 and 20, 2010.

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