| As times change, so do companies. In 1806 | | | | hazards. The AHA recommends women have no |
| William Colgate founded a company to make | | | | more than 100 calories from added sugar a day |
| soap, candles and starch. Colgate toothpaste | | | | and that men limit those calories to 150. A |
| wasn’t made until 1873. In 1837 John Deere | | | | 12-ounce can of Classic Coca-Cola contains 140 |
| was a frustrated blacksmith in Grand Detour, | | | | calories. Things might go better with Coke – |
| Illinois trying to make plows that cut through the | | | | just not so much. |
| area’s clay. When he started to make his | | | | A few years ago activist/entrepreneur, Jeff |
| plows with cast steel, he started the John Deere | | | | Berman, told farmers in Dove Creek, Colorado |
| Equipment Company. In 1866 David McConnell sold | | | | that he would build a plant to convert sunflower |
| books door-to-door. To appeal to women | | | | seeds to biodiesel if they would grow the |
| customers he offered free perfume. When the | | | | sunflowers. Convinced there was more money |
| perfume became more popular than the books, | | | | per acre in sunflowers than in beans and wheat, |
| McConnell founded the California Perfume | | | | farmers were growing thousands of acres by |
| Company – which became Avon. Change | | | | 2008 and the plant was under construction. |
| changes us. | | | | That’s when federal subsidies for biofuels |
| By the end of 2011 the Coca-Cola Company plans | | | | ended. Berman’s plans had to change. Instead |
| a change – to put nutrition facts – what | | | | of biofuel, the sunflower seeds make food-grade |
| Coca-Cola calls “energy information” – | | | | sunflower oil. Nevertheless, hulls and pieces of |
| on the front of almost all its packaging worldwide. | | | | plant material are turned into gas to help power |
| This change is in response to the public wanting | | | | the plant. Both sunflowers and hope continue to |
| this information easily visible and to the American | | | | grow. |
| Heart Association adding sugar to its list of heart | | | | |