Wouldn’t it be great if the oils and margarines you cook with were actually healthy for you and still enhanced the flavor of your foods? Researchers at ARS’s Functional Foods Research Unit in Peoria, Illinois, are mixing common cooking oils with natural waxes to create oleogels – which you can say is the secret sauce behind a healthier cooking oil.…

Here at ARS, we are constantly researching ways to make the food in your shopping cart healthier and tastier, including for those who have to be careful about the food they ingest. Here are some recent creations that will get your mouth watering. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

We travel to Byron, Georgia, to the ARS Fruit and Tree Nut Research Unit, and visit with Research Horticulturist Chunxian Chen. Dr. Chen and his group recently released three new peach cultivars: Rich Joy, Crimson Joy, and Liberty Joy. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

We travel to Corvallis, Oregon, to meet with ARS research geneticist John Henning. Here at the Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit, John and his team recently released two new beer hop varieties: Vista and Triumph. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

The U.S. imports around $5 billion in cocoa and chocolate products annually, and we produce millions of pounds of chocolate for consumers. The health benefits of dark chocolate are well known, mainly it has more antioxidants than milk chocolate because it contains more cacao solids. But dark chocolate can be brittle and taste bitter. What if we cou…

Americans spend millions, maybe billions, on clothes every year. It’s a huge industry. And when you think about clothes, do the words style, fit, and comfort come to mind? How about science and technology? Probably not, but science and technology play a major role in the textile industry. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalR…

Is hemp the plant of the future? See if this crop, which has been around for thousands of years, will find its place in the US agricultural marketplace. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Get the inside story of how ARS researchers created an automated, objective method for detecting imperfections on a hide - a method that greatly benefits U.S. leather producers. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn about scientific breakthroughs from ARS. Check out jeans that don’t scratch, insect repellents made from natural ingredients, and the Super Slurper! Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS is showing its military might by developing insect-repellent treatments that could be applied to service member uniforms to protect our brave men and women from a mighty but tiny enemy. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

What if your clothes were naturally flame-retardant, and that protection were durable enough to remain effective after multiple washes? Well, that’s just what ARS researchers are striving for, and they may have achieved half their goal with this groundbreaking finding. Check out this cool video comparing fire-resistant cotton vs regular cotton in f…

Did you know that many of the advances in wool and leather clothing were developed in Wyndmoor, PA, including a technique to get rid of the yellowing of wool? Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn how ARS researchers in New Orleans are finding innovative ways to enhance masks, clothing, and other wearable materials that help protect against coronavirus. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Every part of a sport, from the clothing to the equipment, even to the playing field, has been enhanced by science. In this podcast, we look at how agricultural science has impacted sports, like how hydration can affect an athlete, not only physically but psychologically; and how nanoparticles can help uniforms control sweat and odor. We’ll also lo…

Wendy Shaw, a registered dietitian formerly with the National Agricultural Library, discusses the importance of nutrition, from the world’s elite athletes to the weekend warriors. Give it a listen. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

The leather industry in the United States, while not as prosperous as in days past, is still a significant market in textiles, clothing, and sports. ARS researchers have answered the bell time and time again over the years to make leather processing safer, more efficient, and more profitable. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @Agricultu…

Did you know ARS has been developing natural turf cultivars since the 1940s? And this has led to improved playing surfaces on golf courses all across the country. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Are apples good for you to eat before or during an athletic event? How about bananas? When should you consume sports drinks. Find out these answers and more in our fun true or false episode. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Nanoparticles help protect your body from germs and other microbials, it also fights body odor, especially from sweating. ARS researchers have figured out a better way for for attaching nanoparticles to clothing. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

Hydration is so important to our bodies during exercise, perhaps more important than the exercise itself. Not properly hydrating during athletic competitions or every day exercising – even walking – can have damaging effects on our bodies. Of course, there are the physical effects, such as fatigue, exhaustion, and heat stroke. But there are also ps…

The sport of baseball is woven into America’s culture like the uniforms worn by the players. Baseball has been around for nearly 150 years, and in that time we’ve seen plenty of home run sluggers, from Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron to Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey, Jr., to todays mashers like Aaron Judge and Mike Trout. Did you know that most professio…

On this season of Science in Your Shopping Cart, we take a deep dive in to seafood production in the U.S. Learn how research facilities across the country are developing new fish farming techniques, new strains of fish, are keeping fish healthy, and creating more sustainable methods for raising finfish and shellfish. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA…

Learn how ARS scientists are working with Oregon State University to produce new strains of the Pacific Oyster and protect them from a serious disease that’s recently been invading our waters. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

An east coast perspective on how important shellfish are to our agriculture ecosystem and how their sustainability and low environmental impact makes the shellfish market the wave of the future. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

A healthy fish is a happy fish! ARS researchers are fighting fish diseases by developing vaccines, breeding fish strains that are resistant to select diseases, and providing guidance to the industry of best practices for keeping their fish healthy. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

Take a tour of an indoor recirculating system in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and learn how ARS researchers are using less fresh water while keeping optimal performance for fish rearing. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Test your knowledge of aquaculture and learn some interesting facts. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Sea lice is a huge problem in the seafood business. Not only does sea lice cause physical harm, but it can also stress the fish out, which can then affect their growth rate and ability to fight off other diseases. I mean, how would you like a blood sucker attached to your skin all the time? There currently are no vaccines or effective treatments fo…

When you grow anything indoors, you can control a lot of the conditions, including temperature, irrigation, insect and disease resistance, and water quality and consumption. ARS researchers are using indoor recirculating systems to improve the health and yields of rainbow trout while maintaining great taste and market size. Connect with us: Twitter…

Fish farmers are using natural contained aquifers to grow fish to market size at an incredible fast rate. That’s because aquifers can provide optimal conditions for fish rearing. Unfortunately, you can’t scale-up aquifers. ARS researchers are working with fish farmers to develop and implement best management practices to increase fish yields, healt…

Aquaculture, commonly known as fish farming, is a global multi-billion dollar industry, and is one of the fastest growing forms of food production. Unfortunately, most fish farming occurs overseas. ARS is helping the U.S. aquaculture industry provide more locally sourced seafood, including oysters, trout, salmon, catfish, and new varieties. In fact…

In this episode of Science In Your Shopping Cart we take a tour of some super human plants that we use in our everyday lives to help feed and protect us. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn about this amazing wonderplant and some of the ways we use this plant in our everyday lives. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS scientists are coming up with new ways to produce clean energy by developing a large filter-type application out of discarded almond shells that could capture and then store hydrogen, as well as other components for energy purposes. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

Did you know that some wonderplants can be used to control and even kill annoying flies and mosquitoes? Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS scientists are turning nano fibers from cotton plants into mask filters, wound dressings, and other medical applications. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn about the amazing Guayule plant and how this desert loving plant is used in making tires, including a 100% Guayule tire! Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS scientists are turning plant fibers in to single-use containers to one day replace non-biodegradable plastic containers. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Check out some amazing wonderplants at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

In this episode of Science In Your Shopping Cart we pull back the curtains to reveal how ARS scientists create new berry cultivars and work with the food industry to help farmers keep up with growing consumer demands for fresh fruit. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…

Check out our newest strawberry, and hear how new strawberry cultivars are created. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Tips on how to grow your own blueberry and blackberry plants right in your own backyard. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS scientists created a thornless blackberry plant along with many new varieties of blackberries for the agricultural industry and a trellis system designed to protect and help pickers harvest blackberries. ARS scientists are also working with the individually quick frozen industry to pack the great taste of raspberries into your cool treats. Conn…

Learn how a USDA breeding program was responsible for the development of the blueberry growing industry in the southeastern United States and how ARS scientists have developed and are continuing to work with farmers to create new cultivars of blueberries that we all get to enjoy. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchSe…

Learn about innovations and research that ARS scientists are conducting to turn farm waste, called Biomass, into environmentally friendly products. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn about innovations and research that ARS scientists are conducting to produce biopolymers such as nanocellulose from corn waste as a replacement for popular synthetic plastic products. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Take a look at some cool ARS developments that are benefiting our ecosystem. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn about innovations and research that ARS scientists are conducting to turn cotton waste into agro-based biodegradable polymers. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

ARS scientists are turning agricultural waste (Biomass) into environmentally friendly products that can replace non-biodegradable plastics. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-arsDoor USDA Agricultural Research Service

Apples are as American as apple pie. Let's look at some cool innovations and research that ARS scientists are conducting to ensure those apples in your shopping cart are fresh, tasty, cost-friendly, and high quality. Connect with us: Twitter: @USDA_ARS Facebook: @AgriculturalResearchService LinkedIn: @usda-ars…