The ice cream giant decided to take on the cause of endangered bees and help set up a haven at UC Davis to help pollinate relevant plants and ensure that researchers have access to bees to safeguard their existence. "Bee pollination is essential for ingredients in nearly 50 percent of our all-natural superpremium flavors. Our goal is to raise awareness of the honey bee issue," said Haagen Dazs. The Haagen Dazs initiative is indicative of how the world of retail foods, science, social good, and a sprinkle of chocolate-flavored sexiness are contributing to a global trend in innovative yumminess.

Organic Valley recently completed a national organic farming recruiting tour, touting the message that organic farming is a sexy, cool, and viable career path. Youth as young as 18 are joining the trend, calling into question how much longer "doctor" and "lawyer" will be the preferred career choice for today's high school and college students.

Guayaki found a goldmine in South America's yerba mate, but the company has made a point to share the wealth with its tea producers. Featured at this year's Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the company has set forth ambitious targets of job creation and sustainability safeguards for the next ten years, benefiting everyone in the value chain.

Genetically modified rice has never before been available for commercial purposes, but the Philippines is bent on changing that come December. Despite vocal opposition from the country's agriculture secretary, who wants organic farming to be rolled out first, the country is pressing ahead with its plans to run trials this year.

Ben & Jerry's and Stephen Colbert recently challenged each other to a taste-off, benefiting the Volunteer Match network. The competition is between the Colbert-inspired Americone Dream and the Berry Voluntary flavor. Food certainly inspires people to great heights!

Bon Appetit is a national catering company with a focus on sustainability and they recently ramped up their local foods scavenging to the point where managers have temporarily switched positions to become full-time local foods "foragers." They want to add 1,000 local farmers to their Farm to Fork network by next year and each farmer must be growing within 150 miles of a Bon Appetit kitchen.

Uganda is set to be the fourth African country to run trials on genetically modified foods for commercial purposes. The country is focusing on cassava, maize, and bananas. While there is less concern and opposition than in the Philippines rice scandal, concerns are nevertheless being raised over the safety of such products.

Joshua Kaiser is the founder of the pioneering fair trade, organic tea company, Rishi. What's ironic is that he also helped spearhead the organic tea movement in none other than the birthplace of tea itself--China.

Bonterra Vineyards recently announced a decision to partner with and support Growing Power, one of the country's most progressive urban farming initiatives. Both organizations hope to spawn a national dialogue about where food comes from and what it takes to get fresh produce from the farms to the dinner table--your veggies go through a lot of different hands, that's for sure.