Up next in our Spotlight on States series is Iowa!
Iowa was the 29th state to join the union on December 18, 1846. Des Moines is the state capital. Iowa is the 26th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the states of Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Iowa is 3,207,004 (July 2023 est.); it ranks as the 31st most populous state.
Every state has their own unique symbols, from birds to flowers to songs and more! Here are some of Iowa’s official state symbols:
Find more information about Iowa’s state symbols/facts here.
There are many interesting facts about Iowa. Here are just a few from The Fact Site:
Otto Frederick Rohwedder of Davenport, Iowa invented the first single loaf bread-slicing machine.
Iowa is bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers on the west and is the only state whose east and west borders are formed almost entirely by rivers.
Iowa is the largest producer of corn in the United States.
The iconic baseball field from the movie Field of Dreams is located in Dyersville, Iowa. It is a popular tourist attraction.
Madison County in Iowa is known for its beautiful covered bridges, which were made famous in the book and film The Bridges of Madison County.
Some famous people born in Iowa are former President Herbert Hoover, John Wayne, Johnny Carson, Cloris Leachman, Ashton Kutcher, and many more.
Let’s learn about your fellow panel members in Iowa! Here’s how our Iowa panel members answered some of our state highlight survey questions.
Read full post Previous Post: NCP Blog: Spotlight on Panel Members in Indiana NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog! Up next in our Spotlight on States series is Indiana! Indiana was the 19th state to join the union on December 11, 1816. Indianapolis is the state capital. Indiana is the 38th largest state in the U.S. and is bordered by the states of Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Indiana is 6,862,199 (July 2023 est.); it ranks as the 17th most populous state.One of the great things about summer is the delicious and refreshing seasonal fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonally has its benefits. Food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious when consumed in season. When you buy seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms they are often fresher since they haven’t been transported long distances, or harvested early so they can be shipped to your local stores.Some of my favorite summer produce is watermelon, cherries, corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of seasonal fruits and vegetables from Farm Hippie:
Eating seasonal saves money – seasonal produce tends to be less expensive.
Seasonal produce is fresher – if you compare locally grown produce to store produce most likely you will see a difference in color, vibrancy, and taste.
Seasonal produce is healthier – nutrients decline when produce is stored for long periods of time.
Seasonal produce is more flavorful – when crops travel long distances they go through different processes to prevent spoiling and slow down or speed up ripening.
Eating with the seasons encourages home cooking – buying seasonal produce usually encourages you to cook more, which is better for your health.
Here’s a handy list of fruits and vegetables that grow best in the heat of summer from Whole Foods Market.
Fruits
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons
Cherries
Stone Fruits (peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines)
Watermelon
Grapes
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NCP Blog: Stay Hydrated With Water
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Are you drinking enough water? It’s important to stay hydrated all the time, but especially in the summer when it’s hot outside! I’m always trying to get my family members to drink more water, and sometimes it can be a challenge.
Why is it so important to drink water? According to the American Heart Association, your heart pumps blood throughout the body more easily if it’s well-hydrated. Water also helps your muscles work more efficiently. You can start to feel dizzy, get a headache, or feel more tired when your body is dehydrated. Not having enough water in your body can also lead to serious illnesses like heatstroke.
You’ve probably heard some variation of “drink eight glasses of water every day.” Everyone is different and the amount of hydration you need depends on a lot of factors, such as your activity level, your environment, and your overall health.
According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a good rule of thumb for an adequate fluid intake is 15.5 cups daily for men and 11.5 cups daily for women.
We all know we need to drink water, but sometimes it’s really hard! Maybe you like more variety in your beverages and you get bored with plain old water. Or maybe your lifestyle or job makes it more challenging to drink enough water during the day.
I recently cut back on my soda in an effort to drink more water, and here are some things that have helped me:
1. Know your habits. For example, I drink more water throughout the day if I have a straw, instead of drinking from a cup or a chug-style bottle. You might prefer something else, but the key is to know your own habits and what works best for you.
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NCP Blog: Spotlight on Panel Members in Illinois
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Illinois, known as the Prairie State, became the 21st state on Dec. 3, 1818. It was first organized as a territory in 1809. The state capital is Springfield, and the largest city is Chicago. According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Illinois was 12,671,821 in 2020. It ranks 6th among states in population and 25th in land area. The state ranks third in the United States in the number of highway interstate miles.We all know that summertime is the most popular time to fire up the grill!
Personally, I like to grill at all times of the year! Except maybe in the winter if the temps are too low, or there’s snow on the ground, at that point it might be too cold for me…and the grill!
Do you have a grill? If so, how often do you use it?
According to research by HPBA (2023 State of the Barbecue Industry), the most popular grilling days of the year continue to be:
– Fourth of July
– Memorial Day
– Father’s Day
– Labor Day
Fall and winter grilling has increased in recent years for these holidays and events:
– Thanksgiving
– Christmas or Hanukkah
– New Year’s Day
– Super Bowl
– Valentine’s Day
The top reasons for grilling have remain unchanged since the most recent study:
– For the flavor
– For the lifestyle
– For entertainment
– For the convenience
– >As a hobby
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NCP Blog: Celebrating the Fourth of July 2024
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
The Fourth of July holiday is always a fun time to get together with family and friends to celebrate our country’s birthday! Do you have plans for the holiday? My family plans to spend a lot of time grilling, swimming, and relaxing! We also plan to spend time with friends as well as visit family members.
Independence Day is traditionally a popular time for travel, with nearly 70.9 million Americans planning to venture 50 miles or more from their home this year. This number is up 5% over 2023 and sets a new record, according to Wallethub.
The majority of those traveling (85%) plan to drive, but nearly 6 million people will travel by plane.
For many of us, Independence Day celebrations are all about the food.
According to research from Wallethub, 66% of Americans plan to attend some kind of Fourth of July picnic. And if you’re attending a gathering, you’re likely bringing food! Americans plan to spend $9.4 billion on food this year. Here are a few other fun facts about expected consumer spending:
In 2023, Americans spent $675 million on beef products for the holiday. The second-largest expense for consumer grocery bills last year was chicken at $338 million.
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NCP Blog: Spotlight on Panel Members in Idaho
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Up next in our Spotlight on States series is Idaho! Idaho was the 43rd state to join the union on July 3, 1890. Boise is the state capital and the state’s largest city. Idaho is the 14th largest state in the U.S. It is bordered by the states of Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated population of Idaho is 1,964,726 (July 2023 est.); it ranks as the 38th most populous state.Let’s take a quick dive into the fascinating world of books!
From favorite genres, to when and where our panel members like to read/listen to books, discover some fun and interesting results from NCP’s recent Reading Habits Survey…
Do you read/listen to books?
Yes 77%
No 23%
What book format do you prefer?
Printed books 62%
E-books 18%
Audiobooks 10%
No preference 10%
Where do you read/listen to books most often?
At home 88%
While commuting 5%
While exercising 2%
At work/school 2%
At an outdoor location (park, beach, etc.) 1%
Other 2%
What time of day do you usually read/listen to books?
Morning 11%
Afternoon 24%
Evening 50%
Late Night 15%
On average, how many books do you read/listen to in a typical month?
1-2 51%
3-4 21%
5 or more 13%
I don’t read/listen to books every month 15%
The five most popular genres were Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Historical, and Religion/Spirituality.
When asked what best describes why they read/listen to books, panel members’ top responses were; for relaxation, for entertainment, to learn/gain knowledge and for inspiration/self-help.
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NCP Blog: Spotlight on Panel Members in Georgia
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!
Georgia was established as the 13th colony in 1733, and it became the fourth state on January 2, 1788. The state is bordered by Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Atlanta, the capital city of Georgia, is also the state’s largest city.
According to the US Census Bureau, the estimated population of Georgia was 10,617,426 in 2019. It ranks 8th among states in population and 24th in land area.
– Fruit: Peach
– Crop: Peanut
– Bird: Brown Thrasher
– Mammal: White-tailed deer
– Insect: Honeybee
– Tree: Live oak
– Vegetable: Vidalia onion
– Flower: Cherokee rose
Find more information about Georgia’s state symbols here.
Georgia is home to the oldest state park in the nation, Indian Springs State Park.
There are 350 species of birds in Georgia.
Georgia became the first state to charter a state-supported university on January 27, 1785 when the University of Georgia was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly.
The Okefenokee in south Georgia is the largest swamp in North America.
The largest wild hog ever discovered was found and killed in Alapaha, Georgia. Weighing in at 1,000 pounds and measuring 12 feet in length, the creature was nicknamed “Hogzilla”.
Famous people from Georgia include the singers Ray Charles, Trisha Yearwood, and Amy Grant, Martin Luther King, Jr., the baseball player Jackie Robinson, and Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts.
Want to learn more about your fellow panel members in another state? Here’s how our Georgia panel members answered some of our survey questions!
Previous Post: NCP Blog: Travel Essentials for Summer Vacations
NCP panel members represent consumers all across the country by sharing their shopping experiences and opinions. If you’re not a panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog!