As the Digital Editor for FoodProcessing.com, I spend a lot of time monitoring the Internet. Each day, a cacophony of alerts about media trends, food trends, ingredient trends, etc. fill my inbox. It's enough to make my head spin.

The Corn Refiners Association re-launched its CornNaturally.com website today, turning the site into an educational resource for food and beverage manufacturers seeking to understand more about high fructose corn syrup. The site now features more information about nutritional science and research, consumer attitudes and the manufacturing economics behind sweeteners.

According to CRA, the site offers news releases, fact sheets, white papers and webinars for review. 

All of this talk about the 2012 Food Processing Salary and Job Satisfaction Survey has me thinking about my own job as the Digital Editor of FoodProcessing.com.

My apologies to any other food industry trade shows out there. Other than, perhaps, the Grocery Aisle Bonanzas 'R Us show, the Candy and Snack Expo is hands-down my favorite trade show of the year. Where else can you find my two favorite food types – snacks and candy? Judging by recent reports on consumer trends, I'm not the only one with a hankering for snacks see Survey Reveals Consumer Snacking Behaviors.

I enjoy a good case study. When I come across one, I become enthralled by all of the possibilities for innovation that lay before me.

It just so happens that I came across not one, but several case studies lately that I wanted to share.

Have you checked out FoodProcessing.com on Pinterest yet? If you haven't, you should. Not only is the social networking site popular, it's also part of a growing trend for consumers to look online for guidance on food.

FoodProcessing.com is excited to announce a new addition to its social media family: Pinterest. 

Pinterest, for those who aren't familiar, is a virtual bulletin board, idea book, wish list and notepad all rolled into one. The site has become popular thanks to its ease of use, inviting pictures and thousands of users exclaiming "Gee I wish I had done that." 

You can find us at http://pinterest.com/foodprocessing/ where we'll be pinning fun food stories, new product ideas as well as sharing photos and ideas from our favorite food and beverage processors (which is all of you!).

Dear food and beverage companies: thank you for making my job fun. It's a wonder I get any work done any more with the new apps, sites and products being introduced every day.

Today's favorite app: Jell-O's Jiggle It App.

Oh how I love a food and beverage company with a sense of humor.

Six weeks ago, I reported that Frito-Lay and Comedy Central were teaming up for a limited-edition Cheesy Poofs snack in honor of South Park's 15th season. I'm ecstatic to report that this past Labor Day weekend, I found a bag of said Cheesy Poofs and ripped it open as soon as I got home. 

All I can say is: I understand why Eric Cartman loves them so much. Sure, they taste just like a standard Cheeto's Cheese Puff (and they probably are), but the novelty of snacking on an otherwise fictional snack made my humor-loving heart go pitter-pat. 

Following the fiction-to-reality snack theme, Ben & Jerry's recently reported a new introduction to its line of delicious ice creams: Schweddy Balls.

For my fellow Saturday Night Live fans, this skit-inspired product will probably have you rolling around the cubical farm in a hysterical fit of laughter. According to Ben & Jerry's website, the ice cream will be available both pints and Scoop Shops. Flavor-wise, the delicious dairy snack will contain "Fair Trade vanilla ice cream with a hint of rum and is loaded with fudge covered rum and milk chocolate malt balls."

Food Processing Top 100 lister General Mills has introduced an innovative new concept in e-commerce with its Betty Crocker branded Red Spoon Squad.

According to InternetRetailer.com, General Mills has been testing RedSpoonSquad.com, which allows consumers to learn about new recipes, recieve cooking instructions based on the consumers' culinary level and also arrange for a personal visit from a Red Spoon Squad expert.

Betty Crocker is working with BrandJourney Venturing, a web technology development firm that is building and temporarily operating the new sites for General Mills.

Personally, I think this idea is GENIUS.