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1. Impossible Foods Dishes Up Its First Meatless Sausage Atop Little Caesars’ Pizza – Fortune

For the first time since introducing its meatless burger in 2016, Impossible Foods is launching a new product: The Impossible Sausage. It is making its debut as a topping on Little Caesars’ $12 Impossible Supreme Pizza.

2. US Organic Sales Ring Up Record $52.5B in 2018 – Natural Products Insider

Transparent and sustainable products from companies that embrace social activism, sales of organic food and non-food products shattered records and moved into mainstream markets in 2018, ringing up more than $50b in US sales.

3. UK: Amazon Leads $574M Investment for Food Delivery Company Deliveroo – CNBC

The food delivery app has raised up to $1.53b to date. The new investment would offer restaurants new opportunities to grow and expand their businesses.

4. From Trash to Treasure: Upcycled Food Waste Is Worth $46.7B – Food Dive

The beverage industry in both North America and Europe are poised to see the most lucrative growth from new diversion techniques and interest in rejected fruits. Bakery is the second ripest segment.

5. Ford Tests Delivery Robots That Could One Day Replace Human Workers – Forbes

Ford is teaming up with Agility Robotics to explore a brand-new frontier in the world of autonomy with Digit, a lightweight robot capable of lifting up to 40 pounds and folding itself up to fit in the back of a self-driving vehicle.

6. China’s Luckin Coffee Raises Up to $651M in Upsized US IPO – TechCrunch

Despite concern at its high losses and little chance of near-term profitability, Luckin seems to have been greeted positively by investors.

7. KIND Announces Move into Frozen Foods – NOSH

The brand is launching Frozen Creamy Almond Bars exclusively at Wal-Mart. It does not contain artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or genetically engineered ingredients.

8. Whole Foods Will Ban Plastic Straws & Offer Smaller Produce Bags – CNN

The retailer will stop offering plastic straws across all 500 stores in the US, UK and Canada. It will instead offer paper straws beginning in July.

9. As Meal Kit Melee Stretches on, Sun Basket Whips Up $30M Series E – TechCrunch

The round, led by PivotNorth Capital, brings the company’s total raised to $125m. Its latest infusion of capital will be used to expand their offerings to include personalized breakfast, lunch and dinner.

10. Meal Kit Maker Purple Carrot Sold to Japanese E-Grocer – Grocery Dive

The plant-based meal kit maker was acquired by Oisix ra daichi last month. The deal includes an upfront payment of $12.8m, and a potential for an additional $17m by 2021 if unspecified earnings goals are met.

11. DoorDash Takes Aim at Nearly $13B Valuation in New Funding Round – Wall Street Journal

The company’s ability to fundraise at a higher price signals investors’ confidence, despite Uber’s poor reception on Wall Street.

12. Clinc Raises $52M Series B As It Marches Toward IPO – TechCrunch

The company behind the conversational AI platform netted cash from Insight Partners, DFJ Growth, Drive Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners and others. Clinc plans to reach 140 employees by the end of 2019.

13. Instawork Raises $18M to Match Hospitality Workers with Employers – VentureBeat

Spark Capital, GV and Burst Capital led the round. The new funding will enable it to roll out in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Chicago this year.

14. Agrilyst Raises $8M Series A, Rebrands to Artemis, Sets Sights on Enterprise-Level Indoor Farms – AgFunder

Agrilyst – which has re-branded to Artemis – has closed Series A funding co-led by Astanor Ventures and Talis Capital. The round will be focused on helping the startup secure its foothold among large-scale growers.

15. Citrus Farmers Facing Deadly Bacteria Turn to Antibiotics, Alarming Health Officials – New York Times

In its decision to approve two drugs for orange and grapefruit trees, the EPA largely ignored objections from the CDC and the FDA, which fear that expanding their use in cash crops could fuel antibiotic resistance in humans.

16. Reusable Packages Are Coming to Walgreens and Kroger – CNN

The retailers have joined the Loop platform, a service that gives shoppers the opportunity to buy products in reusable packaging. It’s launching as a pilot program in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, DC.

17. Women, Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming Innovator Database

We created this open-source list to increase representation, support and investment in women, women of color & gender-nonconforming innovators in food. Join the list & help us spread the word using #womxninfood

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