From Harford County Public Schools:
Fourteen high school juniors from Harford County completed their fifth and final week of classes at the “Ice Cream University” on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at TIC Gums, Inc. Texture Innovation Center in White Marsh, MD. The classes were led by faculty from Cornell University and representatives from local businesses. The costs of the classes were paid for by the sponsors. These supporters were: Broom’s Bloom Dairy, Cornell University, Harford County Public Schools, Star Kay White, and TIC Gums, Inc. The course provided an opportunity for college-bound juniors with an interest in science and/or marketing to learn first-hand about new food product development and how to successfully market and sell their new offerings.
What Is Food Science?
Food science is often misunderstood or mistaken for food service.
“Food science incorporates chemistry, physics, biology, and fluid dynamics,” said Tim Andon of TIC Gums, Inc. and a Cornell graduate. “The types of occupations we want to help encourage are scientific roles in both the food development and manufacturing industry.”
Real World Product Development
Students worked in groups to create and manufacture their own flavors of ice cream. During the first weeks of study, scientific principles such as emulsions, osmosis, specific gravity, freezing, point depression, overrun calculation, ice crystal formation and statistical know how for tracking and maintaining quality were taught, as these are just some of the technical skills needed for a career in food science. After learning the basics of ice cream development and manufacture, the focus turned to flavor selection, the addition of “inclusions” like fruits, nuts or cookie dough, through to packaging. Ice cream is but a single food type where these same skills will translate.
In later weeks, students were taught how to develop and present advanced marketing plans for their respective products.
“We believe that these students will be better prepared to both decide on a food science career and have the benefit of this type and level of prior exposure before the start of college course work,” Andon concluded.
Where to Sample/Buy the Student Concoctions?
The winning flavor, and all the others, will be available for sale at Broom’s Bloom Dairy (http://www.bbdairy.com/), which is located at:
1700 S. Fountain Green Road,
Bel Air, MD 21015
About TIC Gums
TIC Gums is a global leader in advanced texture and stabilization solutions for the food industry. Food and beverage companies rely on TIC Gums to improve the texture, stability, consistency, nutritional profile, and shelf appeal of their products. Legendary customer service, high quality standards, giving use to netsuite for food and beverage companies, and the unrivaled knowledge of our Gum Gurus® has made TIC Gums the industry leader for more than 100 years.
I love science and think internships and opportunities like this are great, but fewer advantages like this are being given to students interested in arts or humanities.
ok then lets add a food science class