Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker installation view of The Landing (2024) at The Armory Show 2024 The Armory Show 2024 has named Bahamian sculptor Anina Major the winner of its annual Pommery Prize, supported by Pommery Champagne. The prize grants $25,000 to a single artist from the fair’s Platform section, which is dedicated to large-scale installations and was curated by Eugenie Tsai this year. TERN Gallery is showcasing Major’s sculpture Positioned at the heart of the Platform section The Landing showcases multiple ceramic sculptures that resemble woven baskets These sculptures are placed on two wooden platforms a rotating blue neon sign reads “All Us Come Across Water.” This installation addresses themes of migration and movement particularly significant to the artist’s home country The dock’s pallet-like design alludes to persistent commerce in Caribbean ports and the artist’s personal experience moving from the Bahamas to the United States “Anina’s work is a testament to the power of creativity and its ability to manifest from the most unexpected places,” said Amanda Coulson she pays homage to her artistic lineage through her grandmother who passed down the knowledge of straw plaiting which Anina reinterprets in clay That this most humble of Bahamian traditions—now sadly becoming a lost art due to environmental destruction and invasive forms of tourism—is honored this way in the global stage is incredibly meaningful.” Previous winners of the Pommery Prize include Barthélémy Toguo, whose sculpture was presented by Galerie Lelong & Co in 2023, and Reynier Leyva Novo, whose work was shown by El Apartamento in 2022 Meanwhile, the TPC Art Finance Presents Prize has been awarded to Mrs., which is presenting work by Alexandra Barth. This prize is given to one gallery in the Presents section, which is dedicated to young, emerging galleries. Lastly, the Sauer Artist Prize has been awarded to Oliver Herring, whose work is featured at BANK’s booth in the Focus section Correction: The Pommerey Prize was previously listed as $20,000 There’s a special club that I like to call the “Dead Parent Club.”  it’s the subculture of people who lost a parent when they were young there is an instant kinship felt between me and those who lost their parents as children I felt this way when I sat down with Anina Jasper-Brody (SCW ‘26) and Joe Gross (SSSB ‘24) to discuss their podcast “The Letter S.”  Jasper-Brody and Gross went to high school together but met in Queens when Jasper-Brody needed advice surrounding her mother’s remarriage so in 2022 when Jasper-Brody began the project “The Letter S” is a nod towards the tendency for people to assume that everyone has parents and to not acknowledge the lived reality that many people just have one parent Gross said it’s a reminder of something so central in his life That “it’s not necessarily such a negative thing but everything that happened with dropping the letter ‘S’” is crucial to who he is and that the lack of “S” functions as a symbol of “everything that I can learn with it.” For Jasper-Brody when people would say “parents” instead of “parent,” it was incredibly triggering But now she leans into the conversations that that simple letter “S” can open up.  Part of what “The Letter S” hopes to accomplish is trying to make conversations surrounding grief They want to remove the shame that is woven into these feelings They also want to help individuals who haven’t experienced loss to be better equipped when they you can learn from hearing about how these people helped themselves.”  Jasper-Brody and Gross also hope to build awareness around the subtle conversations that can often alienate and exclude people who have lost parents Jasper-Brody shared a story of how all of her roommates were discussing their fathers and she just sat there People can often understand that someone has lost a parent but they do not understand the fundamental shift that occurs between them and those around them.  When I asked them for any advice that they have for individuals who have to navigate uncomfortable conversations around loss Gross imparted what I think is the golden rule: don’t lead with pity but show that you care without overstepping any lines Jasper-Brody also shared that one of the reasons she doesn’t tell people that her father passed away is because of the awkwardness of the conversation but what else are you supposed to say?”  “The Letter S” is a study in having painful conversations with tenderness and grace Jasper-Brody and Gross make sure to navigate these conversations carefully and sensitively while being open to listening and learning One thing that they each learned is that there are so many perspectives and approaches to grief One person they interviewed mentioned that he rarely visits the cemetery which was surprising to Gross who visits his father a few times a year.  I was struck by how kind and motivated Jasper-Brody and Gross are in understanding their own losses and the losses of others I asked them what they hope people can gain from listening to “The Letter S.” Gross shared that “if people understand this meaning of life … [then you] can reflect on your own life.” He adds Jasper-Brody shared that she hopes to build more awareness around the topic and highlight that “everyone will lose a parent at some point in their life,” and you can learn from those who experienced it when they were young: “Everyone can gain from this podcast.”  “The Letter S” opens up crucial conversations around grief give it a listen because you will learn so much more about how others navigate this world Photo Caption: Anina Jasper-Brody and Joe Gross in 2024  ShareSaveCommentLifestyleArtsBahamas-Born Visual Artist Anina Major Wins 2024 Pommery Prize At The Armory ShowByNatasha Gural Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights 06:13pm EDTShareSaveCommentPauline and Nathalie Vranken with Anina Major and Her Winning Piece A rotating neon sign informs us that “all us come across water” and extends upwards from a multi-level wooden dock featuring woven ceramic sculptures crafted with indigenous straw-plaiting methods and plants U.S.-based visual artist Anina Major learned the plaiting technique from her grandmother Major is compelled to explore the relationship between self and place as a site of negotiation Major helped Mar cater to tourists at her stall Using natural materials to create thatch roofs rope and plait dates back to the arrival of free and enslaved Africans to the Bahamas following the Adams–Onís Treaty ceding Florida from Spain to the United States hundreds of African slaves and Black Seminoles escaped Florida and the majority settled on Andros Island in the Bahamas which closed yesterday after welcoming more than 50,000 fairgoers Major was awarded the $25,000 2024 Pommery Prize at The Armory Show co-owner and deputy CEO of Vranken-Pommery Monopole “It is truly an honor to receive this award It is a testament to the power of creativity and its ability to manifest from the most unexpected places not only for the acknowledgment of my work but for this recognition of my artistic lineage," Major said Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Awarding the sixth annual Pommery Prize recognizing contemporary artists coincides with the 150th anniversary of Madame Pommery’s introduction of Brut Champagne to the world Maison Pommery continues to craft cuvées that prioritize painstaking selection and expertise APANAGE BRUT 1874 King's Privilege made its debut at The Armory Show The Armory Show preview last Thursday kicked off with the introduction of the newly-released luscious, velvety Apanage 1874 King's Privilege at the Pommery Lounge The pale yellow-gold color and the tiny bubbles are as much an aesthetic pleasure as a tasting triumph marrying the excellence of terroirs with world-leading restaurants Champagne Pommery Lounge at The Armory Show The country’s drawn out conflict has seen children recruited as soldiers on all sides Anina is a seasoned fighter with a feared reputation in her all-male resistance unit cartoons and football – she supports Manchester City When the Guardian met her she was about to turn 18 and was on crutches, her ankle twisted during a scramble to escape a Myanmar military airstrike. A soldier of the Chin militia, the four years of civil war against the ruling junta have consumed much of Anina’s adolescence in a challenge to both Myanmar’s military rule and patriarchal norms She has killed more men than she cares to tally “I hate people boasting about how many they’ve killed,” she says Houses bombed by Myanmar military jets in Falam township Anina – her nom de guerre – is the only female resistance fighter among hundreds besieging the military’s last garrison Her marksmanship has won respect in a deeply patriarchal society where girls are dismissed as too weak for combat yet children are widely recruited a predominately Christian territory bordering India would mark a milestone in the armed struggle for democracy It would be the first time resistance forces have captured a district centre without support from established ethnic armies Created after the military ousted an elected government in February 2021 these civilian-formed resistance forces are dominated by young people The Chin fighters want to push the junta forces back to Myanmar’s Buddhist heartland and defeat them there But they face an enemy equipped with Chinese and Russian jets and which answers battlefield losses with atrocities as a junta transport plane thunders overhead Her friends call her Anina – which sounds like “close by” in Burmese – because they say they feel her presence even when she isn’t there Her real identity remains hidden to protect her family Anina on a crutch after twisting her ankle in an airstrike 4 January.Myanmar has a long history of children being drawn into armed conflict the country has appeared on international lists where children are recruited by both the governing military and ethnic militias fighting for autonomy In June 2022, the UN Secretary General’s annual report on children and armed conflict documented verified cases of child recruitment in the country: 260 boys and 20 girls Most were attributed to the Myanmar military with 222 cases while others were recruited by various ethnic armed groups The situation has worsened since the 2021 coup many young people who remained in the country have sought to join anti-junta resistance groups A UN committee warned that in just over a year after the coup as many as 382 children had been killed by the military and its allies over 1,400 children had reportedly been arbitrarily detained including those who participated or were suspected of participating in protests or whatever they do because you’re a woman and the other Chin snipers patrol the mountains The two sides are close enough to trade taunts never lingering – to do so risks death by rocket-propelled grenade “We heard about the girl sniper,” a captured junta soldier told the Guardian “We were told the snipers here were accurate and scary; that in one night joining village deer hunting parties with her father “I don’t fear the sound of the gun,” she says “My father told me how to focus and concentrate on the target.” ‘My father told me how to focus and concentrate on the target’: Anina with a hunting rifle in a village at the frontline in Falam.She joined the uprising aged 14 after the military opened fire on peaceful protesters across the country so she was assigned to cleaning and cooking duties But she was drawn to elements of the resistance that challenged the military’s deep-rooted chauvinism and misogyny “We were told men and women would be treated the same,” she says Her path to becoming sniper began with Azad a self-described “leftist internationalist” from the southern US who had spent four years fighting alongside Kurdish forces in Syria before joining Myanmar’s resistance a year ago Anina tied for top place among 12 trainees Azad he feared the bullet had exploded in the chamber Now helping to form a group of foreign volunteers Azad sees the struggle in Myanmar as a “revolt against the textbook example of state power – fascism” “It’s a natural uprising coming from the human inability to accept dictatorship,” he says meeting a foreign fighter in these remote hills seemed “unbelievable” at first “He wants [us] to have the same freedom he has in his country,” she says Free newsletterGet a different world view with a roundup of the best news The only under-18 in the sniper squad – a teddy bear tucked into her tactical vest – Anina first lost her education to pandemic lockdowns Anina carries a teddy bear tucked into her tactical vest.Now the CNDF’s defence secretary and former national karate champion Olivia Thawng Luai insists that the CNDF officially deploys only fighters aged 18 and over in combat roles but says some youths like Anina threaten to join other armed groups if refused She says Anina was urged to stay in education “We couldn’t convince her,” Olivia Thawng Luai says She adds that children should not be fighting but be educated “to lead our land” “They should be pursuing their dreams,” she says says women have had to “push twice as hard to be taken seriously” though the conflict is forcing all of Myanmar “to rethink gender roles” Recent reports say the military junta in Myanmar plans to conscript women to replenish its depleted ranks “The real test is whether these changes last,” Thinzar Shunlei Yi says “If women are good enough to fight and die for freedom they should also be good enough to lead in a new Myanmar.” is a fellow sniper with bloodshot eyes from night operations They wear matching hairbands on their ankles from their first meeting at a rebel camp two years ago keeping her phone on flight mode to avoid their calls Anina stays in abandoned houses while fighting with the CNDF.She has a message for girls and young women: “Don’t tolerate being looked down on she spends her time in bomb craters and abandoned homes “I don’t look like someone who dances now,” she says SearchAnina Urlaß joins Northern Talent Cup as only woman in 2025 fieldVIVIEN STREBELOWJan 172 min readPart of the "Race Towards MotoGP," the Northern Talent Cup serves as a youth and development series for motorbike riders The 2025 entry list features 24 riders from 13 nationalities including one female competitor—14-year-old Anina Urlaß who has one clear goal: racing in MotoGP one day Photo credits: ADAC Presseportal / Toppmoeller FotografieThe Northern Talent Cup is one of the key series on the ladder to MotoGP; it features races held alongside MotoGP with seven rounds and 14 races taking place across Germany compete on Honda NSF250R motorcycles equipped with Pirelli tyres which have been in use since 2024 and share the same tyre compound as MotoGP The Northern Talent Cup aims to provide riders from northern and central European countries with a clear pathway on the Road to MotoGP the organizer of the MotoGP World Championship the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as well as the co-organizer of the R&G British Talent Cup and Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup One of the 24 riders from 13 nations this year is 14-year-old German Anina Urlaß Anina made guest starts in the 2024 season after turning 14 in August securing a 7th-place finish in her first race in the NTC and battling for a podium in her second race before a mistake saw her drop back The ambitious young talent has one clear goal: "racing in MotoGP" one day Coached by former MotoGP rider Stefan Bradl Anina aims to outperform her competitors in the Northern Talent Cup before moving up to the Red Bull Rookies Cup and eventually joining the MotoGP roster in Moto3 in a few years Anina has already proven she’s a rider to watch having won the Mini GP Austria series in 2023 in the MiniGP 190 class She is set to be one of the standout talents of the 2025 season which kicks off from April 11th to 13th at Assen as part of the World Superbike support program followed by six additional rounds in Germany Or you simply want to stay up-to-date with their results Privacy Policy Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers cover Excerpted from Crafted Kinship by Malene Barnett (Artisan Books) These craftspeople from the Caribbean diaspora are each custodians of Caribbean craft redesigning narratives to reclaim their cultural identities amplifies 60 pioneering voices as they honour their heritage define their identity and envision futures where cultural birthrights are valued plus four additional artists from the book share insights into their works’ significance ‘By finding new interpretations of traditional Caribbean art I connect with ancestral foundations and expand their narratives to reflect contemporary Black experiences,’ Barnett says ‘This allows me to explore themes of identity creating a living dialogue that preserves these traditions and advances them for future generations.’ She holds an MFA from Rhode Island School of Design has received numerous awards and residencies Her works are in the permanent collections of private and public institutions ‘Cultural memory is our survival,’ explains Major ‘Much of our understanding of Caribbean culture is from external perspectives we are uniquely positioned to explore new interpretations especially firsthand experiences that broaden our understanding of the region This is particularly important when discussing traditions that face threats of cultural erasure.’ race and gender using meaningful materials like hair she was taught to thread a needle by her Jamaican grandmother With 500+ global exhibitions over 30 years Massachusetts-based artist adds to the ancestral archives through works that encourage viewers to claim freedoms and refuse injustices ‘We embody our ancestors in every fibre of our being and strand of our hair,’ says Clark ‘As an artist invested in the crafts passed through my Afro-Caribbean roots it is my responsibility to create new branches We depend on our ancestry to expand our ingenuity.’ escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox Morel Doucet, a Miami-based multidisciplinary artist and art educator from Haiti he explores themes of climate gentrification migration and displacement amongst Black communities in the African diaspora Doucet has exhibited internationally and has works in prestigious collections such as the Pérez Art Museum Miami and those owned by Microsoft ‘My works use traditional motifs and techniques to address contemporary themes weaving threads of heritage and modernity to create dialogues resonating across generations,’ Doucet explains ‘Challenging stereotypes and expanding narratives about Caribbean identity creates a more complex and inclusive understanding of our culture traditional art forms become powerful tools for storytelling connecting historical struggles and triumphs with current global issues like climate change and social justice.’ Bahamian-American multidisciplinary artist April Bey lives in Los Angeles and explores themes of identity race and cultural hybridity through Afrofuturism and pop culture queer resilience and diasporic connections Bey weaves personal history with global perspectives to envision a utopian world of empowerment and autonomy ‘Caribbean culture is dynamic and ever evolving,’ says Bey ‘Honouring and adapting ancestral practices to reflect modern experiences challenges the colonial narratives that commodified Caribbean traditions forward-thinking cultural force rather than a static relic of the past.’ malenebarnett.com/ Starbucks Philippines marries its celebrations for Philippine artistry and International Women’s Month by spotlighting the artists who utilize their creative spirit beyond the canvas For the brand’s #StrongLikeCoffee Fireside Chat digital and social impact Jamie Silva of Starbucks Philippines hosts artists Anina Rubio and Alab Pagarigan as they fill the room with a conversation driven by their inspirations and the heirlooms they wish to impart for the next generation Situated within the communal spaces of Starbucks’ Abad Santos Tondo Community Store the panel conversation also focuses on inspiring the students from the coffee company’s nonprofit partners and Mano Amiga to encourage them in pursuing their creative paths You experimented with things or dismantled toys to build something new we forget that we are still kids at heart,” recalls visual artist Anina Rubio when asked about the roots of her creativity Throughout her career, Rubio shared that her underlying passion for the sciences sustained her curiosity while working in the corporate world evidently becoming an integral aspect of the 39-year-old’s creative signature as well as the very purpose of her mediums of expression which creates bespoke pieces with an eclectic arrangement of upcycled fabrics to countless murals that blend flora and fauna with symbolisms of community and environmentalism her work later saw its messages resonate with that of the Seattle-founded coffee brand’s own collaborating for a mural in the very branch that staged their conversation in Tondo the message I want to convey is to bring people back closer to nature and themselves holding space for the audience to relate to that piece based on their personal experiences,” she expounds For contemporary artist Aze Ong centering her creative language in woven fibers came naturally through her exposure within her mother’s textile business Despite the challenges that befell her medium’s reputation during the earlier scenes of art and sculptural work her persistence later caught the eye of enthusiasts and scholars abroad bolstering the Laguna-native’s career in installation and performance art Ong ventures across Metro Manila providing insight for her solo exhibitions while captivating more through her installations one of which being situated in the Starbucks Reserve Hiraya store in Tagaytay City “Sometimes it’s difficult to comprehend something at first because it’s something new the challenge is there for you to naturally make others see that there is something there,” she expresses “Doing murals for other people is basically like a dance, it’s a relationship where two individuals have that back and forth and a nice collaboration because it celebrates everybody’s individuality,” multimedia artist Tara Soriano explains.  Whether that is depicting her interpretations of growth and potential through literature and coffee within Starbucks’ 2nd community store in Maysilo to creating a life-sized welded sculpture of a horse named “Tommy,” Soriano emphasizes how she relishes the challenge of blending her narratives with that of another And amid the numerous acronym-structured idioms she shared during their conversation the creative shares that her definitive message is for the next generation to embrace their curiosity no matter the medium Keep an open mind and encourage others to just try Despite growing up with illustrative mediums through the lessons he shared with his father, Alab Pagarigan shares that his mother was the one who encouraged his explorative nature with brass and copper wire as his primary material the sculptor has depicted the various interactions and connections that bridge people together through his work “Why I chose those materials was mainly to showcase their strength and given that they’re basically lifetime materials I also get to tell an underlying narrative of stability over time,” the sculptor shares as he described his intention of using brass and copper for his installation within the Starbucks Shangri-La The Fort Ave With his mother and wife as his sources of inspiration Pagarigan continues to create pieces that invoke a sense of empowerment letting his many hallowed creations be an invitation for others to reflect on themselves And in highlighting the artists who reflect the coffee company’s values for connection and empowerment the decade-spanning coffee brand wishes to let their works serve as an heirloom for the next generation Starbucks released a collection of notecards which features the unique artworks from the featured artists.  Sold within the brand’s community stores in Tondo the brand pledges that portion of the proceeds go directly to its partners in AHA and Mano Amiga to give more children the opportunity to receive proper education.  we celebrate those who uplift and inspire,” said Jamie Silva “By bringing together Filipino artists and youth from our Community Store nonprofit partners we’ve created a space for dialogue and empowerment and inspires positive change.” This commitment will continue through youth art workshops reinforcing Starbucks’ dedication to youth education Visit the Starbucks Community Stores in Abad Santos, Tondo, Manila and Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong City to learn more about youth empowerment programs, and visit the Starbucks Instagram and Facebook pages for more upcoming projects 20 February 2025 – Statement by Minister David Maynier I visited Durbanville Primary School to announce our 2024 Story Stars winners!  Story Stars is an annual creative writing competition for all Grade 4 learners in the Western Cape otherwise known in her story as “Anina Mouse” Congratulations to all our winning learners As the winner of the 2024 Story Stars writing competition Anina’s story has been made into an animated film narrated by and starring Anina as Anina Mouse Anina was approached at the end of last year about her winning story, so that we could record her voice for the animated film that was revealed today. The Story Stars film can be viewed or downloaded here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/story-stars She follows in the footsteps of our previous Story Stars winners Keschrie Booysen from Philadelphia Primary School (2020) Umar Jones from Blossom Street Primary School (2022) and  Zia van den Berg from Kenridge Primary School (2023) took Felix and Felicity to a magical land of toffee trees a cheese curls forest and a pretzel prison spelling and vocabulary throughout.  Congratulations Anina It was wonderful to see the winning story come to life at the premiere of her animated film The animators clearly had fun with their artistic interpretation of Anina’s characters and scenery sounds and characters in this entertaining short film While I too would also like to escape to a Candy Floss cloud on many a day it was a pleasure being at Durbanville Primary School this morning handing over the prizes to our three winners there is a dedicated teacher behind every entry in school-based competition Congratulations to Durbanville Primary School Grade 4 teacher for encouraging their learners to take part in Story Stars Thank you to all the other teachers and schools who participated we also launched the 2025 Story Stars competition The 2025 Grade 4 learners of the Western Cape can now write the next instalment of Felix and Felicity’s adventures.  The idea behind the competition is to get learners excited about creative writing and the opportunities it can bring In a survey of a class of Grade 4 learners in 2019 it was evident that their interests lay in watching cartoons and becoming YouTube stars We decided to create a competition which encouraged reading and creative writing that could ultimately result in an animated film written and starred in by the winner themselves. It is then published on You Tube and other social media platforms The Story Stars winning entries from previous years can be read and viewed online to enjoy We would like to encourage all Grade 4 learners to enter the competition and for their teachers to submit the best stories in their class We are looking for creative and adventurous stories from Grade 4 learners In 2025 we will choose a winner in every language with the ultimate winner being chosen from these top stories Each winner’s school and teacher will also receive prizes The deadline for entries is 12 May 2025 which will be watched by thousands of learners across the Western Cape the Story Stars winner will receive a tablet The winning school also receives a R10 000 transfer payment for learning and teaching support material.  The 2nd and 3rd prize winners each receive a tablet The winning teacher also receives a bookbag and a voucher.  We can’t wait to see who our next Story Star will be and encourage all of our Grade 4 learners to enter Kerry MauchlineSpokesperson to Minister David MaynierWestern Cape Ministry of EducationKerry.Mauchline@westerncape.gov.za 2023 winner: Zia van den Berg – Kenridge Primary School 2022 winner: Umar Jones – Blossom Street Primary School  2021 winner: Xia Du Toit – Laerskool Mikro  2020 winner: Keschrie Booysen – Philadelphia Primary School 1981Following149Follow149149 FollowersAnina Major is a visual artist from the Bahamas Her decision to establish a home contrary to the location in which she was born and raised motivates her to investigate the relationship between self and place as a site of negotiation Culinary art and upcycled veggies disrupt the ready meal market with inspiring format 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FoodTech start-up ANINA Culinary Art is reshaping the future of ready meals by merging art with technology through a culinary experience of meals from upcycled vegetables The ANINA pod is a complete meal made from vegetables that have been rejected for sale due to a less-than-perfect appearance — a major source of fresh produce waste ready to cook format is a single-size portion that allows for a quick and nutritious meal in just a few minutes It can be cooked on the stovetop or in a microwave Each disc-shaped container holds two full cups of vegetables—40% of an adult's daily nutritional requirements—and is ideal for consumers seeking a fast nutritious & delicious meal solution at work or home Watch the video here The ANINA range was launched in Israel with three recipes: Each ANINA pod provides a plant-based meal replete with protein The products are currently available online The technology is patented from the food-grade lamination process to the pod structure The unique technology forms flexible sheets from fresh vegetables "We produce these vegetable sheets with minimal processing and textures of the original vegetable," says Mor Wilk "The heart of our technology is the creation of the layers "The heart of our technology is the creation of vegetable sheets The flexibility of these sheets enables us to form any 3D structure and create any recipe in a decorative pod each set to its unique controlled cooking time." The container's outer shell is made from a layer of dried vegetables or fruits while the inner core contains a range of natural ingredients "ANINA is making a real impact on the food industry by mitigating food waste and turning it into innovative plant-based products with an exciting look and feel," avers Anat Natan ANINA's co-founder and CEO. "The result is a balanced delicious meal with all the nutrients you need ANINA is responding to a growing demand for making the most of unwanted veggies and turning them into something artistic that appeals to the eye and palette  Following the successful product launch in Israel and the positive feedback we received from American millennials we are set to bring our products to the US." were concerned by the huge amounts of perfectly good fresh produce that typically gets tossed in the trash due to cosmetic reasons such as size Living across from a bustling farmers market located in the heart of Jerusalem surrounded by fresh produce and herbs carrying exotic flavors and aromas the duo sought a solution to the food waste challenge They acquired leftover vegetables at the market and spent two years testing various techniques before settling on one that worked best to preserve the components of a heat-and-eat meal This led to the design of an entirely new food concept Large quantities of food are wasted because of an emphasis on appearance. In fact, half of all produce in the US is thrown away because it is less than "picture perfect" for selling This equates to a staggering 60 million tons of completely fine fruits and vegetables discarded every year [1] Food losses mean lost income for farmers and higher prices for consumers Upcycling provides a highly sustainable solution to food waste while supporting a circular economy The ANINA team is on a continuous mission to find new ways to improve efficiency and reunite consumers with nutritious food "We buy leftover produce directly from farmers," explains Brantz "This provides them income for vegetables they usually have to discard." "We're changing the way we eat," adds Natan. "And we're shaping the future for a meaningful culinary consumer experience The ANINA meal capsule also addresses today's fast-paced lifestyle which too often forces consumers to compromise on the quality of the food they eat ANINA was founded in June 2020 by Anat Natan brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business management for CPG companies such as Nestlè and Tnuva specializing in marketing and business enterprise a BA in economics and communication from Hebrew University in Jerusalem ANINA has secured USD3.3M in a safe round from Strauss Group by The Kitchen Hub Wordcreate Inc., and the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA) Email: [email protected] Web: www.aninafoodtech.com Email: [email protected] Web: www.nutripr.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1904070/ANINA_Culinary_Art_Ltd.jpg [1] https://earth.org/facts-about-food-waste/ Do not sell or share my personal information: Israeli food tech start-up Anina is using upcycled vegetables to create ready meal “pods” that use up imperfect vegetables for healthy plant-based meals About 33 percent of the world’s food is wasted every year—close to 1.3 billion tons Much of that comes from fruits and vegetables that are misshapen and unlikely to sell at retail A growing number of companies are diving into this “ugly” vegetable category reducing food waste and creating secondary revenue market streams for farmers it’s bringing food waste to its whole plant-based “meal-in-a-pod” technology “Anina is responding to a growing demand for making the most of unwanted veggies and turning them into something artistic that appeals to the eye and palette,” Anat Natan “Anina is making a real impact on the food industry by mitigating food waste and turning it into innovative plant-based products with an exciting look and feel,” Natan says delicious meal with all the nutrients you need.” The meals can be cooked on the stovetop or microwave in a matter of minutes Each pod contains two cups of vegetables—nearly half the recommended daily intake “We buy leftover produce directly from farmers,” explains Esti Brantz who co-founded the company after realizing there was an opportunity to convert local food waste into a solution for the global issue “This provides them income for vegetables they usually have to discard.” Anina uses a patented lamination process for thin slices of vegetables to build its layered pods that are filled with ingredients including herbs and spices It currently offers bowls in three flavors: Mediterranean “We produce these vegetable sheets with minimal processing and textures of the original vegetable,” says Mor Wilk “The heart of our technology is the creation of vegetable sheets each set to its unique controlled cooking time.”  The technique was developed over two years of testing Anina has secured USD $3.3 million in a safe round from Strauss Group by The Kitchen Hub Following a successful product launch in Israel Anina is now focused on bringing products to the U.S “We’re changing the way we eat,” says Natan “And we’re shaping the future for a meaningful culinary consumer experience The Anina meal capsule also addresses today’s fast-paced lifestyle Founded by serial entrepreneur Sonalie Figueiras in 2011 Green Queen is a multi-channel digital news platform and a trusted global impact media brand Our award-winning reporting reaches millions of readers globally Green Queen is the world’s leading food and climate media with a focus on future food innovation and food system decarbonization one of the most important consumer products and investment opportunities of our time Our coverage includes breaking news and product launches and exclusive interviews with entrepreneurs and key ecosystem players from every continent Green Queen is an editorially-driven media publication Over 98% of our content is editorial and independent Paid posts are clearly marked as such: look for 'This is a Green Queen Partner Post' at the bottom of the page teachers and chaperones filed into the theatre and took their seats in the main house of the Oriental Theatre waiting to be taken away by the beautifully crafted Spanish-language animated film "AninA." The screening was held as part of Milwaukee Film's education screenings during the film festival Mulberry High senior Anina Rivera officially joined the Navy Reserve last week an MHS math teacher and retired Navy commander administered the oath of enlistment at the Navy recruiting office in Lakeland watched the moment remotely via smartphone along with her history class at Lakeland Highlands Middle “We’re very proud,” Jose Rivera said “There have been members of our family serving in the military continuously since before World War II.” Anina is joining the Navy Reserve as an intelligence specialist and will report to boot camp in October She is in the dual enrollment program at Polk State College and plans to further her education at the University of South Florida Anina’s swear-in day was attended by a special guest: Rear Adm deputy commander of the Navy Recruiting Command He presented Anina with a challenge coin in recognition of her performance on the ASVAB (military aptitude test) Jose Rivera noted that he had administered the oath of enlistment many times to recruits during his own Navy career but doing so for Anina proved highly emotional “My wife actually made a comment through the phone: ‘Hey Joe they just get sea spray in their eyes.’” The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students Not because it would taste bad but because as first century Roman gourmand Apicius wisely observed Western consumers are so turned off by blemished produce that as much as six billion pounds of fruit and veggies go unharvested or unsold in the United States every year mainly for aesthetic reasons, according to the Ugly Produce is Beautiful campaign Two Israeli industrial design students, Esti Brantz and Meydan Levy, were disturbed to see the quantity of imperfect-looking produce rejected by shoppers at Jerusalem’s open-air Machane Yehuda market Brantz and Levy began buying these unattractive vegetables from the market’s vendors and spent two years developing an attractive way to present them to mainstream consumers Their efforts led them to launch a food-tech startup, Anina Culinary Art Anina now offers five varieties of all-natural ready-to-heat “meals-in-a-pod” artfully composed from visually flawed produce “We buy leftover produce directly from farmers,” explains Brantz Every single-serving pod contains two full cups of vegetables — 40 percent of an adult’s daily nutritional requirements — for a fast nutritious stovetop or microwave meal to make at work or at home “We don’t care if a tomato has a nose or a zucchini has a funny curve,” says CEO and cofounder Anat Nathan that sell exclusively ugly produce direct to waste-conscious consumers Brantz and Levy didn’t find anyone using these vegetables to create ready meals They used techniques from the art world to invent pretty pods of vegetable “sheets” made from unmarketable produce “Vegetable sheets are the heart of our technology They’re strong and flexible and can be filled and molded in a novel process,” says Nathan a culinary school graduate with more than 20 years of marketing and business management experience at food companies including Nestlè and Tnuva “We produce these vegetable sheets with minimal processing colors and textures of the original vegetable,” adds Mor Wilk Each pod provides a plant-based meal replete with protein and fiber The outer shell is a layer of dried vegetables or fruits while the inner core contains a range of natural ingredients such as lentils and rice The varieties now sold in Israel online and in some specialty shops include Pasta Primavera Bowl It contained mostly dried vegetables (zucchini garlic and parsley) plus pasta and natural seasonings The package had both kosher and Vegan Friendly certifications “We are focusing on going to the US market and Singapore and Spain with great partners who know the market and consumers well,” says Nathan “We are looking to partner with additional leaders in other global markets Food corporates today understand that innovation comes from startups.” and did a culinary analysis with a US chef “We’re changing the way we eat,” adds Natan which too often forces consumers to compromise on the quality of the food they eat.” For more information, click here The punch bowls are brimming with booze at Anina If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy opening a new bar that is as bright as Brass Tacks is dark Owners Anthony Healy-London, Matt Conway, and Josh McAdam decided to flip the script for the new space while retaining the same neighborhood vibe as Brass Tacks and we didn’t really want to mess with that,” Healy-London told Eater SF “So we decided to do something that was really different but at the same time we felt would be as well-received and complementary to what we’re doing next door.” Conway is the main creator of the cocktails with lighter drinks like spritzes and aperitivos As for the space, it’s full of bright colors and light, with Sayre Ziskin (who also designed Brass Tacks) creating a more open feel. The walls are light and covered in a botanical mural from Lucila Dominguez and patterned Moroccan tiles and an artist from Venice Beach created multicolor ceramic pendants to decorate since it will need to close early to comply with neighborhood regulations But there are eight beer garden tables and pretty string lights March 10 and will be open weekends from 12 p.m Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. United StatesChevron CaliforniaChevron San FranciscoChevron So who’s there?The group is a mixed bag. You're likely to see herds of friends, Tinder dates, and coworkers. But everyone is dressed down, and definitely channeling vacation mode. How are the drinks?Call it subliminal messaging, but the tropical punch bowls and spritzes sell themselves. Try the Avila, with tequila, Aperol, grapefruit, lime, and Prosecco ($70) with a group, or the seafoam spritz ($13), with elderflower, lime, Prosecco, and lemongrass if you want something just for yourself. Worth ordering something to eat, too?The only consumption that takes place is in liquid form. But this is in the heart of Hayes Valley, so there are plenty of eateries nearby. Did the staff do you right?Not feeling anything on the menu? The mixologists know their stuff, so if you're willing to trust them and tell them what you like, they're sure to whip up a good, custom option. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?It's a prime spot for day drinking a sunny Sunday afternoon with friends. But it's also a convivial atmosphere for a casual date. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Two industrial design students were so concerned by the huge amounts of perfectly good fresh produce being wasted they spent two years working on a healthy solution Esti Brantz and Meydan Levy noticed that fruit and veg was getting tossed in the trash due to cosmetic reasons such as size they sought a solution to the food waste challenge With the leftover vegetables they spent two years testing various techniques before settling on one that worked best to preserve the components of a heat-and-eat meal Anina was founded in June 2020 by Anat Natan brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business management for consumer packaged goods companies such as Nestlè and Tnuva Anina says it is reshaping the future of ready meals by merging art with technology through a culinary experience of meals from upcycled vegetables According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation a staggering 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year That’s one-third of all food produced for human consumption And The Eco Experts say it all adds up to more than three trillion meals wasted over the course of each year This is especially alarming when more than 820 million people suffer from chronic undernourishment – more than 10 per cent of the global population if the world’s wasted food was given to chronically undernourished people it would provide each person with 3,659 meals per year To play their part in reducing food waste, the team created the Anina pod which is a complete meal made from vegetables that have been rejected for sale due to a less-than-perfect appearance—a major source of fresh produce waste the company says are produced in a ready to cook format Each disc-shaped container holds two full cups of vegetables—40 per cent of an adult’s daily nutritional requirements The range was launched in Israel with three recipes including pasta primavera a Mediterranean bowl and a Vietnamese bowl The technology is patented said: “Anina is making a real impact on the food industry by mitigating food waste and turning it into innovative plant-based products with an exciting look and feel Anina is responding to a growing demand for making the most of unwanted veggies and turning them into something artistic that appeals to the eye and palette.  Following the successful product launch in Israel and the positive feedback we received from American millennials we are set to bring our products to the US.” vice president of research and development for Anina said: “We produce these vegetable sheets with minimal processing The heart of our technology is the creation of the layers each set to its unique controlled cooking time.” The container’s outer shell is made from a layer of dried vegetables or fruits The team says upcycling provides a highly sustainable solution to food waste while supporting a circular economy and Anina is on a continuous mission to find new ways to improve efficiency Anina has secured $3.3 million in a safe round from Strauss Group by The Kitchen Hub and the Israeli Innovation Authority (IIA) As Europe’s top biotech website for over a decade Labiotech.eu offers trusted insights and updates for the global life sciences community Get the world's #1 plant‑based magazine beautiful purpose with its vegan meals created to tackle food waste The company uses its proprietary technology to create pods that feature thinly sliced and layered fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes and nutritious core fillings—including grains The result is a ready-to-heat meal that only requires a cup of water and eight minutes in the microwave or on a stovetop “ANINA is making a real impact on the food industry by mitigating food waste and turning it into innovative plant-based products with an exciting look and feel,” Anat Natan delicious meal with all the nutrients you need.” The proprietary technology lies in both the lamination process and how the composition of the meal performs in the microwave—where every portion is cooked optimally together leaving a multi-textured experience with softer vegetables and toothsome grains This creates the experience of a chef-cooked meal that can be replicated at home with just water and a microwave.  The idea for ANINA was developed by ​​Esti Brantz and Meydan Levy, two eco-minded industrial design students who lived near a farmers’ market in Jerusalem. The duo acquired leftover vegetables from the market to develop a broader solution to food waste and after two years of development The vegetables that ANINA uses to create its pod shells were destined to be discarded due to cosmetic reasons such as size, shape, or blemishes, a major source of food waste that has nothing to do with the quality of produce but rather aesthetics.  ANINA solves this issue by presenting vegetables in an artistic way that gives them new beauty while maintaining their nutrition and textures of the original vegetable,” Mor Wilk the startup produces three meal flavors: Pasta Primavera (vegetables and pasta); Mediterranean bowl (vegetables and black lentils); and Vietnamese bowl (rice noodles and vegetables) Each meal is packed with two cups of vegetables which comprises 40 percent of an adult’s daily nutritional requirements.  the company is producing and distributing its meals locally in Israel but is looking to expand its manufacturing and distribution worldwide “Following the successful product launch in Israel and the positive feedback we received from American millennials we are set to bring our products to the US,” Natan said.  Globally, approximately one-third of all food intended for human consumption is wasted annually. The US discards more food than any other country, with about 60 million tons of it going to waste every year These wasteful practices equate to income losses for farmers and higher prices for consumers.  Natan hopes that ANINA can make a meaningful impact on reducing food waste “We’re changing the way we eat,” Natan said The ANINA meal capsule also addresses today’s fast-paced lifestyle ANINA’s artistic approach is one of the growing solutions to fighting food waste the vegan way New York-based food upcycling company Matriark Foods launched its climate-friendly vegan pasta sauce line primarily tomatoes—one of the highest greenhouse gas emitters among produce dumped in landfills.  Anna Hammond was inspired to launch Matriark Foods after working as the Executive Director for The Sylvia Center a food-education program that works with various portions of the food industry to solve the issue of food insecurity The new sauce is available in climate-friendly cartons in three flavors: Gentle Marinara Matriark uses upcycled tomatoes that it purchases directly from farmers despite them being too big or blemished for the market and packs its sauces into climate-friendly cartons instead of glass The resulting products feature 37 percent lower emissions than comparable pasta sauces according to a life cycle analysis by Planet FWD a leading carbon management platform.    our ultimate goal is to invigorate and accelerate a transformation of our food system,” Hammond said in a statement “We want to create a domino effect by empowering consumers to prevent food waste with the products they buy and to inspire all brands to support a more resilient and efficient food system that addresses the climate crisis.” DON'T MISS OUT: Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter Anna Starostinetskaya is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco CHECK IT OUT All things plant‑based,in your mailbox and inbox An Israeli company aims to change the unwholesome perception of the ready meal category by using unwanted vegetables to make meal capsules Israeli startup Anina is hoping to disrupt the ready meal category by upcycling unwanted vegetables from retailers and turning them into meal capsules ready-to-eat meal capsules rich in vegetables and nutrients The design is unique and visually appealing and the capsules cook in the microwave in eight minutes Natan claims it meets all of the consumers’ needs for taste which gives the vegetables the leading role of the show,”​ she said The company is a member of the Upcycled Foods Association and sources what it calls the most favourable fresh vegetables discarded by retailers due to aesthetic reasons These vegetables are layered and coated in a laminate to produce the capsule — similar to the outer peel and inner core of fruits and vegetables This upcycling method provides a solution to food waste and supports a circular economy using unwanted produce allows for a healthy mix of coarsely cut vegetables made accessible in a user-friendly fashion “They dissolve at exactly the right time — when all the ingredients have been cooked to perfection creating the ultimate tasty and nutritious meal They are designed to create an empathetic connection between people and what they eat,”​ said Natan Anina has a range of recipes in different shapes spanning multiple cuisines and burghul and black lentil vegetable stew “They are an essential part of the nourishing experience They encapsulate everything we love about food and express the unlimited potential of food-based innovation.” The brand is also planning to make healthy snack bars using dressed fruits piloting currently and aiming for a launch next year “We utilize our unique fusion of innovative technology expertise in design and knowledge in culinary arts to create magical foods,” Natan said “We aim to increase the usage of ugly produce in the food industry.” There’s a growing hunger for plant-based knowledge which is currently underserved by mainstream media Collated on The Vegan Review are stories from all aspects of the lifestyle; political perception Cover Tech entrepreneur Anina Ho believes that safeguarding her well-being requires tailoring the perfect healthcare plan (Photo: Karl Lam / Tatler Hong Kong) Tech entrepreneur Anina Ho believes that safeguarding her well-being requires tailoring the perfect healthcare plan (Photo: Karl Lam / Tatler Hong Kong) It’s no secret that living in an always-on-the-go city like Hong Kong requires people to push themselves to the brink to maximise their personal lives and careers But doing so means other important aspects of life—like health—can be neglected “I believe that prioritising my health is essential for success and happiness in all areas especially with my hectic lifestyle,” says Anina Ho tech entrepreneur and director of Trinity Global Investment “My schedule is extremely busy and with the demands of work it becomes so easy to neglect my physical and mental well-being.” Ho takes a simple yet effective approach that encompasses all facets of well-being To ensure that she stays at the peak of health—and can be productive at work—she prioritises a self-care routine that includes getting enough sleep exercising regularly and consuming nourishing food all of which help her maintain her physical and mental health.  Given that Ho spends a lot of time on the road—she travels at least once a month—she ensures that her focus on health can go wherever she does “I need to know that I can pick up the phone and be connected to a network of healthcare professionals,” she says “I trust that no matter where I am in the world—or what I’m doing—with Cigna Healthcare insurance plans director of Trinity Global Investment (Photo: Karl Lam / Tatler Hong Kong) Above Anina Ho ensures that her focus on health can go wherever she does (Photo: Karl Lam / Tatler Hong Kong) Anina Ho director of Trinity Global Investment (Photo: Karl Lam / Tatler Hong Kong) Ho also recognises that health is not a one-size-fits-all proposition and believes that safeguarding her well-being requires tailoring the perfect healthcare plan for her situation “Bespoke health assessments offer a comprehensive health evaluation that takes into account my age and gender personal medical history and overall lifestyle habits,” she says I can ask for tailored recommendations from a Cigna Care Manager to improve my health markers and reduce my risk of future health issues.” This wide range of high-quality body check providers extends across Hong Kong Ho ensures that she can continue to maintain her busy lifestyle while dedicating her time and energy to all the different demands and interests in her life.