USDA Seeking Capital for Rural Investment

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a media call to announce the launch of new private funds that will make investments in rural America. This announcement is part of USDA’s ongoing efforts to help attract private sector capital to investment opportunities in rural communities to generate economic activity and create jobs.

Last year, Secretary Vilsack announced the creation of a new Rural Business Investment Company, which has already begun making equity investments in rural businesses with high-growth potential. The $10 billion Rural Infrastructure Opportunity Fund, also announced last year, facilitates private sector loans for job-creating rural infrastructure projects across the country.

Beef Product Recall

Skyline Provisions, Inc, is recalling 1,029 pounds of beef products contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.Produced between April 15-25, 2015, the products subject to recall are 17 ½ boxes of Aurora Packers Intact Beef Round Flats., Skyline sold the product under their D&S label (Establishment number: 19300), ground and tested one and a half cases of the product. On April 21, 2015, these products were found positive for E. coli O157:H7. The remaining intact, products were sold to Jack & Pat’s Old Fashioned Market in Chicago Ridge, Ill., where the product was ground and sold in various amounts of ground chuck patties, ground chuck, ground round, sirloin patties and porter house patties.

Kraft, Hormel good military employers

Two food companies made Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers list. Kraft Foods ranked No. 45 while Hormel Foods ranked No. 68. Topping the list was Verizon. Walmart ranked No. 26.