As farmers head into orchards and vineyards for the yearly harvest, many people are unaware of the similarities between cider apples and wine grapes. Both fruits thrive with ideal natural growing conditions and boast thousands of different flavorful varieties; hard apple cider was even served as an alternative to Champagne after World War II, according to White Plains, N.Y.-based Heineken USA. 

PepsiCo Recycling, a division of Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc., is expanding its second year of the Zero Impact Fund, which offers eligible colleges and universities an opportunity to bring campus eco-innovations to life. 

Folgers, a brand of Orrville, Ohio-based J.M. Smucker Co., announced the release of Folgers Simply Gourmet flavored coffees.

New York-based HOTSHOT, an innovative company that got an initial jolt from an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, is bringing HOT canned coffee to consumers.

Evolution Fresh, a brand of Seattle-based Starbucks Corp., previewed its 2018 innovations: seven new organic smoothies that combine cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juice with probiotics, coconut milk and other functional ingredients.