50 Great Ideas

Greener produce

Testa Produce is not just tilting at windmills. The wind turbine at its new commercial foodservice distribution center in Chicago can generate 750 kilowatts, power enough to supply nearly a third of the building’s needs. With 70-foot blades and standing 238 feet high at the facility’s entrance, the huge turbine is a powerful symbol of the company’s commitment to sustainable technologies. The turbine is the latest eco-friendly innovation at the wholesale distributor’s operation. Solar panels generate electricity and hot water. The building boasts a roof covered with over an acre of plants, which insulates the building. Rainwater runoff is collected for non-potable purposes. The building is entirely lit by LED lights, and the delivery fleet is powered by biodiesel.

#50 | Using your noodle

#49 | Eat a pita, feed a kid

#48 | Ask the staff chaplain

#47 | I’ll be calling you

#46 | Rolling in dough

#45 | Fried chicken flies the coop

#44 | A penny for your calories

#43 | Better than a lobster bib

#42 | Bending the bento

#41 | Billboard redux

#40 | Dining at the fountain of youth

#39 | Building a better box

#38 | Roll out the barrel

#37 | Mochi Madness

#36 | A toast to Belgium

#35 | Screening employees on the screen

#34 | An Olive Garden customer sat here

#33 | Setting the e-table

#32 | The buck strolls here

#31 | Gin game

#30 | Childhood revisited

#29 | Moveable feast

#28 | Certified gluten free

#27 | Buy a car, eat a meal

#26 | Locating the best Happy Hour

#25 | Local broadcast

#24 | Tabletop taps

#23 | Double the pleasure

#22 | The three Bs

#21 | Cocktails to amuse

#20 | Fans of the grape

#19 | Whole animal accessorizing

#18 | Translucent menus

#17 | Have oven will cater

#16 | Allergic interaction

#15 | Greener produce

#14 | Competing to win at weight loss

#13 | Space saver

#12 | Test kitchen=test market

#11 | Be my guest

#10 | Plug in and eat up

#9 | Rx for pilferers

#8 | Hands free—and clean

#7 | Some like it too hot

#6 | Chicken fried steak gets its day

#5 | The staff that reads together…

#4 | Twinkle toast

#3 | Stick with this

#2 | Stamp of approval

#1 | From seed to fork

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Greener produce

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