Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • C1

Every Wednesday evening, 26-year-old Earyn McGee opens Twitter and asks her followers if they can in a photo of a lizard. Hundreds of users play the game, tweeting McGee with either their excitement over being able to spot the reptile or their frustration at being stumped again. This popular game, which McGee has played with her followers for two and a half years, is one of the reasons the University of Arizona Ph.D. candidate was named among top 30 Under 30 scientists this month. Earyn McGee, a Ph.D.

candidate at the University of Arizona who was named to 30 Under 30 scientists list in December 2020, poses with a lizard during research. COURTESY OF EARYN MCGEE 30 Under 30 Arizona grad student honored on Forbes list KiMi Robinson Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK See MCGEE, Page 3C PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANCINE TODAY NETWORK, AND GETTY IMAGES Arizona Republic THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021 1C THINGS TO DO A Gilbert family has turned their zeal for tofu into a business. Willem Furlong and his father, Clark, recently started Arizona Tofu Company. Out of a Local First Arizona community kitchen, they make protein-packed blocks of various sizes for local food vendors and the general public. Tofu, also known as bean curd, has a prominent place in their diet crumbled with breakfast scrambles, pan-fried for sandwiches and even de- hydrated for jerky.

The food is already a staple in several Asian cuisines and a high source of pro- tein, iron and magnesium. While it tastes bland on its own, there are many ways to season and cook tofu, Willem explained. like to call it a Wil- lem said. really soaks up whatever you add to it and tastes like whatever you want it to taste like. be scared to season that Why they started Arizona Tofu Company Clark began making his own tofu at home about four to years ago.

Both he and his son have spent years in the food industry, Clark as a farmer and Willem in restaurants, so when they saw a potential market for small-batch tofu in metro Phoenix, it seemed to combine their experiences. Tofu makers and distributors can be found elsewhere in the country, such as Northwest Tofu and Ota Tofu, both started by Asian American families in the northwest where from. Willem hopes he and his father can their own niche in Phoenix for tofu. people just see tofu as what comes in their miso soup or occasional- ly at an Indian food place, but really, one of the most versatile foods worked Willem said. can cook it into jerky, crumble it, have it dried, marinaded, fermented, put it in tacos and Arizona Tofu Company currently sources its soy beans from several orga- nic farms in the Midwest, with plans to select one farm as its go-to source.

Wil- lem, who grew up vegetarian, added that sustainability is also an important aspect of their business and they plan on making Arizona Tofu Company zero waste by the end of 2021. He recalled early in life spending time on the family farm in Queen Creek, where his father grew and sold seasonal vegetables. Clark now works as the farm manager at Arizona Worm Farm, which specializes in composting. Some of the excess water and natural Meet the duo behind new tofu company Clark Furlong helps to make tofu for the Arizona Tofu Company, which he founded with his son, at Local First Arizona's community kitchen in Mesa on Dec. 2.

THOMAS REPUBLIC Priscilla Totiyapungprasert Arizona Republic USA TODAY NETWORK See TOFU, Page 6C really soaks up whatever you add to it and tastes like whatever you want it to taste like. be scared to season that Willem Furlong.