5@5: RxBar founder steps down | Tech rare in food safety | Midwest states look at green energy

RxBar founder steps down as CEO

Peter Rahal started his protein bar company in the basement of his parents’ suburban Chicago home. He sold the company to Kellogg in October 2017 for $600 million. While he won’t be running the company—or moving back to his parents’ basement, we’re guessing—he will continue to work on product development and consult with Kellogg. Read more at the Chicago Tribune …

Survey finds slow take-up of digital methods to enhance food safety

Digital technology isn’t widely used in the field of food safety, according to a survey of more than 1,600 food experts. Less than 10 percent of the respondents said they use digital technology extensively; nearly 40 percent said they plan to use technology in the future. Read more at Food Safety News …

The Midwest is calling for a clean energy revolution

The land of corn, soybeans, pork and milk might be turning green. Lawmakers in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin all are considering plans to transition to carbon-free energy. Other states in which Democrats rule the legislature and the governor’s office are also working on clean energy legislation. Read more at Grist …

Whole Foods CEO: If marijuana becomes legal, our stores might sell it

Will Whole Foods sell alternative proteins? John Mackey was asked that question recently, and after he said yes, he brought up the possibility of the company selling marijuana products. Not only would his company likely do so, he said he expects most grocery stores to follow suit. Read more at Weedmaps …

Art Cullen is bringing rural farm politics to the national stage

A Pulitzer-Prize-winning small-town newspaper owner in Iowa wants to tell the world about how agriculture changed as corporations took control of the industry. His book, Storm Lake: A Chronicle of Change, Resilience, and Hope from a Heartland Newspaper, was published in October, and he shared the story with Civil Eats. Read more at Civil Eats …