WASHINGTON, D.C.—Interest in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge, part of its Sustainable Materials Management Program, is picking up with the addition of participants including hotels, resorts, convention centers, entertainment venues, and other facilities. Organizations joining the program must commit to at least a 5 percent increase in at least one of the three food diversion categories: prevention, donation or composting. Or alternatively, they can commit to a combined 5 percent increase across all three food waste diversion categories. If a participant does not have food diversion data, the EPA says it will assist the organization in developing a program...

ORLANDO, FLA.—The NAFEM Show (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers), scheduled for February 7 to 9 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center, will feature more than 500 exhibitors, many of whom will display the latest in energy-efficient foodservice equipment. More than 125 companies will participate in the WHAT’S HOT! WHAT’S COOL! new product gallery. This gallery will showcase new products offering benefits such as labor savings, sanitation, green benefits, food safety, reduced life cycle costs and more.New to the show this year is an educational session entitled, “LEED Basics for Foodservice.” The session will be held...

TOLEDO, OHIO—Betco Corp. announces its new Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent and Symplicity Sanibet Multi-Range Sanitizer. Betco's Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent is a solid non-phosphate machine detergent which removes heavy food soils over a wide range of water conditions in both high and low temperature dish machines. Its soil suspension agents and water conditioners combat challenging water conditions and promote free and complete rinsing at the same time, preventing lime deposits on dish machine interiors.Betco's Symplicity Green Earth Pot & Pan Detergent is recognized by the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) program as...

NEW YORK—Speed Queen, a provider of commercial laundry equipment, recently highlighted its ST75, a 75-pound capacity, single cylinder tumble dryer equipped with over-dry prevention technology at the 2012 International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York City. The dryer features Quantum controls that can help increase efficiency in hotel laundries. The ST75 features a concentrated airflow pattern and sealed cylinder rims to ensure maximum air utilization and energy savings. Its high performance heater box further increases energy efficiency by reducing dry times, while providing a comfortable operating environment for employees. The ST75 is also available with OPT (Over-dry...

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—For the first time, one of America’s cities, Asheville, N.C., has earned the official designation of being a Green Dining Destination. This achievement means that locals, tourists, and businesspeople can dine at a plethora of Certified Green Restaurants throughout Asheville. This accomplishment was driven by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR), and the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute (BRSI), who formed a local coalition to encourage more environmentally sustainable practices within the city’s restaurants.This month, Asheville has met and exceeded its goal of having 15 Certified Green Restaurants throughout the city, all of which have...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Vancouver’s newest lounge at Hyatt Regency Vancouver is a unique gastro bar and urban retreat for foodies and fun lovers. Grain Tasting Bar offers a warm, open atmosphere inspired by a window wall of glass panes that gives an all-season view of the downtown streetscape and can be removed so the inside and outside are a seamless experience.Specializing in artisan cocktails, regional wines, craft beer, and fresh, local cuisine, Grain Tasting Bar is a pure culinary experience that infuses the flavors of British Columbia. Sourcing produce, organic breads and cured meats from local and sustainable growers, bakers, and...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau Inc. recently released the Compact 5-in-One Ironing System. A space-saving ironer/folder, the Compact processes up to 82 feet of linen per minute and works seamlessly with an optional feeder, stacker and small-piece accumulator to quickly accomplish feeding, ironing, folding, stacking and accumulating. Continental and OnePress models are available in 24- and 32-inch diameters; 130-inch finishing widths; and natural gas or liquid propane heat sources. Girbau Industrial (GI) models are available in 24-, 32- and 48-inch diameters; 102- and 130-inch finishing widths; and natural gas or liquid propane heat sources.All models offer high-volume linen handling to laundries that...

OSHKOSH, WIS.—Continental Girbau’s E-Series 55-pound capacity washer-extractor now offers a single-phase option to meet the needs of most laundry applications. “The single-phase option allows for high-performance machines to be installed at locations with limited utilities—the type of power typically available in older construction or light commercial buildings,” said Continental vice president Joel Jorgensen.The addition of single-phase power allows most locations to take full advantage of Continental’s most popular machine—the 55-pound capacity E-Series Soft-Mount Washer-Extractor, according to Jorgensen. “Previously, some locations may have been restricted by power availability,” he said.Now, nearly the entire E-Series line of high-speed, soft-mount washers offers...

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Vancouver’s newest lounge at Hyatt Regency Vancouver is a unique gastro bar and urban retreat for foodies and fun lovers. Grain Tasting Bar offers a warm, open atmosphere inspired by a window wall of glass panes that gives an all-season view of the downtown streetscape and can be removed so the inside and outside are a seamless experience.Specializing in artisan cocktails, regional wines, craft beer, and fresh, local cuisine, Grain Tasting Bar is a pure culinary experience that infuses the flavors of British Columbia. Sourcing produce, organic breads and cured meats from local and sustainable growers, bakers, and...

NEW YORK—The InterContinental New York Barclay debuts its 45-bottle strong 100 percent USDA approved organic wine and spirits menu. The menu and organic cocktail selection is available at The Barclay Bar, on hotel room service menus and for private banquet events.In partnering with the Green Bar Collective, the InterContinental New York Barclay and Barclay Bar aim to conserve the environment. Using certified organic ingredients, the spirits offered at the hotel help to maintain clean farmland and groundwater, and prevent adding artificial fertilizers, synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms to the world.The new menu includes nearly 50 selections of organic...