School Food Tech: Franklin Special School District in Tennessee is rolling out a Firex Cucimix automated cooker to boost scratch cooking, consistency, and fresh options in cafeterias. Global Rice Trade: India’s rice exports to 26 priority markets topped the three-year average in Nov 2025–Mar 2026, with the UAE leading growth. Theme-Park Bites: EPCOT’s International Food and Wine Festival kicks off at Disney with 30 global dishes and new stops like basil pesto chicken dumplings, running through Nov. 21. Restaurant & Hospitality Moves: Marc Forgione is named Signature Chef at Belmont Park, and Tavola in Hell’s Kitchen leans into its Italian deli legacy with deep, heritage-driven cooking. Community Food Culture: Shetland’s climate festival returns with local-produce cooking demos plus poetry and kids’ activities. Food Safety Watch: France’s recall notices don’t show a simple rise, but officials say better visibility is making alerts feel more frequent. Rosh Hashanah Planning: New holiday main-dish ideas focus on fish like salmon chraimeh and other needs-based menus for the season. Local Flavor Events: Casa de Campo’s Dominican Republic Food & Wine Festival returns Oct. 9–10 with Michael Mina and a Dinner Under the Stars.