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Carrot vending machines a surprise success

As Congress continues to do nothing about school lunch reform, an Ohio and a New York school have installed all-baby-carrot vending machines. And guess what? The kids bought them.

Tom Laskawy Food

'High-fructose corn syrup'? Never heard of it

Consumers turning against your product? Change its name on ingredient lists! Buh-bye, much-maligned HFCS, and hello, sweetly natural "corn sugar."

Tom Laskawy Technology

Nissan’s smug (?), cute (?), ironic (?) polar bear Leaf ad

A Nissan ad shows a polar bear lumbering down from the Arctic to embrace a commuter in a hug -- a thank-you for driving the fully electric Leaf sedan.

Jonathan Hiskes Technology

The greatest wannabe junk food on the planet — 'extreme baby carrots'

If only vegetables had bright packaging, adrenaline-packed commercials, and millions of dollars for marketing campaigns! Maybe then they could compete with the glitzy success of junk food. Or they could go the route of "baby carrots" and pretend they're junk food anyway.

Ashley Braun Technology

War-era food posters: Wacky, well-meaning, and still relevant [SLIDESHOW]

Skinless frankfurters, laying-hen lessons, fat recycling -- the Obama administration could take a few tips from propagandizing presidencies past.

Grist staff Culture

Will Frito-Lay's new traveling greenhouse really sell more potato chips?

Frito-Lay, the $13 billion business unit of PepsiCo, is spending millions to try and persuade people it's a simple, farmer-friendly company, and I haven't the faintest clue why.

Bonnie Azab Powell Technology

Transit is for lovers

Arlington, Va., wants you to go on a car-free diet -- and find love along the way.

Jonathan Hiskes Culture

Bike branding moves from urban chic to mainstream

Fast Company‘s design blog reports on some inspiring advertising: Americans are riding bikes more than ever, yet cycling is still held up as some sort of cultish hobby relegated to aggro dudes with messenger bags who live and die by their fixed gears. So maybe it’s time for a new image, yeah? Colle+McVoy, a Minneapolis […]