Bellingham Pioneer of ‘Ultra Rice’ Wins Business Week Innovation Honor—Except They Didn’t Name Him

Luke Timmerman10/21/08Comments (2)Follow @ldtimmerman

Duffy Cox isn’t a one-hit wonder with “Ultra Rice.” The Bellingham, WA-based inventor, who has worked to fortify rice with essential nutrients for people in developing countries, has been honored by Business Week for his work to pasteurize eggs while they’re still in the shells.

Cox and his company, Bon Dente International, don’t get the glory in this piece from Business Week, but it’s his invention that’s being recognized with one of the 10 Chicago Innovation Awards. Cox licensed the technology to Lansing, IL-based National Pasteurized Eggs, which has been able to bring these safe-to-eat eggs to the marketplace at stores like Jewel-Osco, Wal-Mart, and Dominick’s.

The Business Week piece notes that they are sold under the Davidson’s Safest Choice label, and are selling well enough that National Pasteurized Eggs predicts revenues will reach $30 million this year, up 50 percent from a year ago.

Luke Timmerman is the National Biotech Editor of Xconomy, and the Editor of Xconomy Seattle. E-mail him at ltimmerman@xconomy.com or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ldtimmerman.