FI GROW Solutions is a partner agency that works with credit unions and community banks to help drive growth and sales. We think bank marketing is broken! We decided to "Hit Record" during our strategic conversations around what's working for our partners, to share with other bank and credit union marketers and executives. If you're looking for best practices for your bank or credit union, join us while we talk all things sales, marketing and strategy for financial institutions!
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Equal parts "Mad Max" and "The Stand," this post apocalyptic saga is set in a world 15 years after the collapse of the world as we know it. A brother and sister grow up in rural Maine and unwittingly embark on a adventure to save the City from the religious zealots and ruthless military fight for control over the fallen world. An epic serialized audio drama adventure with 30+ actors, cinematic sound design and original music. Winner of Mark Time Award for sci-fi audio and finalist in Romania ...
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On the Green Fence lives up to its name in looking at complex, often divisive environmental issues from multiple angles. It’s not about greenism, but about delving into the major concerns of our time in an engaging and human way. DW reporter Neil King sits on the fence and explores the role business, society and science play in our transition to a more environmentally friendly world. In so doing, he aims to make sense of issues that affect us all, but which are often over-simplified or convo ...
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Episode 71 - What Will Work to Drive More Sales Success at Your Bank or Credit Union
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In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of Fi Grow Solutions, and Danielle Fancher, Director of Sales, delve into innovative strategies for enhancing sales success in banks and credit unions. They discuss the importance of prioritizing service-oriented skills over traditional sales abilities, the benefits of proactive customer engagement through CR…
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Episode 70 - Guest CMO Discusses How Real Content Improved Social Media Ad Results by 50%!!
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In this episode of FI GROW Solutions' inaugural client feature, Meredith Olmstead, CEO and Founder of FI GROW Solutions, discusses with Christin Vaughn, CMO at Allegiance Credit Union, the transformative digital marketing strategies they've implemented. The focus is on leveraging real, engaging content created by Allegiance Credit Union's staff to …
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After a great run, the On the Green Fence podcast is coming to a close. But we also have some good news for you.By DW
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Episode 69 - How to Set Digital Ad Budgets for Your Bank or Credit Union
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In this information-packed episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Ida Burr, Director of Digital Ads Management, dive into the nuances of budgeting for digital ads in the banking and credit union sectors. They discuss the strategic allocation of funds across various types of digital advertising, including social media, pay-per-cli…
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Episode 68 - How Lending & Retail Teams Can Work with Marketing to Reach Everyone's Goals!
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In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Nida Ajaz, Senior Vice President of Marketing, discuss strategies for integrating marketing and sales within financial institutions. They highlight the importance of Google reviews for enhancing business reputation and SEO, and share effective methods for deepening customer relations…
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Episode 67 - How to Avoid BIG Mistakes with Email Data and Bank or Credit Union Marketing
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In this episode, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Kristin Mock, an inbound marketing strategist at the company, explore real-world challenges and solutions in data management for digital marketing. They discuss a specific incident involving data upload errors at a financial institution and provide practical advice for avoiding simil…
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Episode 66 - Here's a Few Spring 2024 Google Search Tips for Banks & Credit Unions
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In this conversation, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Rebecca Gwaltney, FI Grow's inbound marketing manager, delve into the critical role of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for banks and credit unions. They explore the latest trends in consumer search behavior and discuss strategic SEO practices aimed at boosting the online presen…
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Episode 65 -Believe it or Not...Social Media for Banks & Credit Unions has Really Not Changed Much in the Last 10 Years!
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In this episode, Meredith Olmstead and Sophie Bawany, of FI GROW Solutions, are chatting about how to build trust and credibility through social media specifically for banks and credit unions. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of social media for financial institutions. Their discussion highlights the enduring importance of social…
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Episode 64 - Idenitifying & Addressing User Experience Problems with Your Bank or Credit Union Website
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Meredith Olmstead and Kristin Mock, of FI GROW Solutions, dive deep into the crux of enhancing user experience on digital platforms for banks and credit unions. Their insightful dialogue sheds light on common pitfalls and strategic maneuvers essential for any financial institution aiming to refine its digital branch. Key Takeaways: Monitor Key Indi…
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Episode 63 -Leveraging YouTube Pre-Roll Ads for Your Bank or Credit Union
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Meredith Olmstead and Ida Burr, of FI GROW Solutions, delve into the evolving landscape of digital marketing for financial institutions, focusing on the impactful role of YouTube Pre-Roll ads. Their discussion sheds light on this innovative strategy, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance the marketing efforts of banks and credit unions…
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Episode 62 - The Power of User Generated Content for your Bank or Credit Union
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Meredith Olmstead, CEO and founder of FI GROW Solutions, and Dean DeCarlo, President of Mission Disrupt, engage in a discussion about the increasing significance of user-generated content (UGC) in the financial sector, specifically focusing on banks and credit unions. This conversation provides a deep dive into the strategic use of UGC as a tool fo…
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Episode 61 - Using AI to Create Digital Ads that Really Convert
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Meredith Olmstead and Ida Burr, of FI GROW Solutions, explore the dynamic intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital advertising, shedding light on how this technology can be leveraged to enhance marketing strategies. They discuss the practical applications of AI in creating and optimizing digital ad campaigns, emphasizing its role in…
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FI GROW Solutions Episode 60 - Cranking Up Your Bank or Credit Unions Content Campaigns.
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Meredith Olmstead and Rebecca Gwaltney from FI GROW Solutions delve into the world of content creation for your community bank or credit union. Learn more about how to effectively become an authority and trusted resource for your members or customers through effective content campaigns. Key Takeaways: 1. Content Campaigns for Financial Institutions…
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Episode 59 - How To Know if Your Bank or Credit Union Needs Rebranding Help
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Meredith Olmstead and Nida Ajaz from FI GROW Solutions delve into the critical signs that indicate a financial institution’s brand may need rejuvenation, highlighting that a brand extends far beyond mere aesthetics to encompass customer perceptions and company culture. Key Takeaways: 1. Community Connection: If your target audience is unfamiliar wi…
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Episode 58 - How Much Should Your Bank or Credit Union REALLY Spend on a New Website?
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Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Duncan Craig, leader of agency Raka, discuss the importance and budgeting for websites, especially for financial institutions. Key Takeaways: A well-budgeted website for financial institutions should range around $150,000 to ensure quality, strategy, and flexibility. Underspending on websites can lea…
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Episode 57 - Is your Bank or Credit Union on TOO Many Social Media Platforms?
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Meredith Olmstead of FI GROW Solutions and Sophie Bawany discuss evolving social media strategies for financial institutions. Three Key Takeaways: Know Your Audience: Different age groups favor different platforms; younger users lean towards TikTok and Instagram, while older ones use Facebook. Tailor Content: Platforms require unique content to mat…
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Episode 56 - Creating Successful Multicultural Marketing Efforts for Banks and Credit Unions
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In a discussion between Meredith Olmsted, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Stephanie Chadwick, CEO and COO of Edge, the two experts delve into the complexities and nuances of multicultural marketing for banks and credit unions. They emphasize three key takeaways: the importance of "transcreating" rather than merely translating content to resonate cult…
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Episode 55 - The Do's & Don'ts of Using AI for Your Financial Institution Content
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Meredith Olmstead and Kristin Mock from FI GROW Solutions discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) can benefit and hinder marketing strategies, particularly in the context of banks and credit unions. Three Takeaways: AI can be a valuable tool for generating content ideas and doing keyword research but should not be relied upon to write entire artic…
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Episode 54 - Traditional vs. Digital Ads: Which is Really Better for Financial Institutions
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In a detailed discussion, Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Nida Ajaz, VP of Marketing, explore the complexities and strategies involved in combining traditional and digital advertising for banks and credit unions, emphasizing the need for clear messaging and budget balance. Key Takeaways: Importance of Messaging: When it comes to ad…
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Episode 53 - Tips for Leading a Creative Team at your Bank or Credit Union
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Meredith Olmstead, CEO of FI GROW Solutions, and Ben Bauer, Executive Director of Exclamation Services, discuss various topics related to leading creative teams at financial institutions, including: Adapting to Change: They talk about how the global pandemic has forced credit unions and community banks to rethink traditional work models, leading to…
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Can we recycle our way out of the plastic crisis?
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Globally only 9% of all plastic waste is recycled. But why are mechanical recycling rates so low? And could chemical recycling help achieve our targets or is this the wrong approach to the plastic waste problem?By DW
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Substituting fossil-based plastics with compostable ones could help address plastic pollution. But not all bioplastics are eco-friendly or biodegradable. A startup from the UK says seaweed is the answer.By DW
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Could plastic-eating enzymes help curb pollution?
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Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste ends up in the environment where it can last for centuries. But the discovery of plastic-gobbling enzymes has raised hopes of solving this mounting problem. Some scientists have called these tiny plastic eaters a game changer. But is this really a scalable solution? And does it make economic sense?…
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The growing microplastics problem: risks and solutions
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Microplastics have been found everywhere — from the deepest parts of the ocean to the heights of Mount Everest. A problem that is set to intensify as we produce over 400 million tons of new plastics every year. But just how dangerous are microplastics? And what can we do about them?By DW
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Episode 52 - How to Avoid Getting Scammed by Your Digital Ad Agency
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The FI GROW team discusses crucial factors in choosing a digital marketing agency. Key concerns include maintaining access to your own Google Ads account and avoiding agencies that lock clients into long-term commitments or charge based on ad spend. They emphasize the need for agencies to provide personalized ad strategies and focus on actual conve…
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Each year, the world produces 430 million tons of plastics – and that figure is set to triple by 2060. How did plastics become such a big part of our lives? And what needs to be done to limit their environmental impact?By DW
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Episode 51 - What's Better for your Bank or CU a Brand Ambassador or Influencer?
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What is the difference between Brand Ambassadors and Social Media Influencers? A brand ambassador represents the institution they're working for, building their name, and their trust. A brand influencer is someone who is a brand on their own. So when they work with a credit union or a bank, they're coming in as a partner for a short-term campaign a…
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Trailer: The global plastics crisis, new podcast series
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Global plastics production has doubled over the past two decades. Despite rising consumer awareness, there is more single-use plastic waste than ever before. Pollutive plastic waste is set to triple by 2060. Microplastics are in our food and water and even entering our bodies. How did we get here and what can we do about it? This series launches in…
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By 2050, half the world's population could be affected by at least one allergy. Is global warming to blame? Find out more about rising pollen levels and one of the most allergenic plants in the world that is now also spreading in Germany. (This episode has been republished and updated).By DW
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Episode 50 - What Impacts An Influencer Can Have for Your Bank or Credit Union
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Your bank or credit union should be better leveraging the people in your community to spread the word of the quality customer service and community support your institution provides. In this episode we discuss how to: Set a clear expectation of influencer deliverables based on what you need for your financial institution. The different types of con…
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How lab-grown meat could help the climate
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Global demand for meat is growing, but animal agriculture has a significant carbon footprint. Could cultivating steaks, nuggets and sushi in a lab be a solution? (This episode has been republished and updated).By DW
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Episode 49 - How to Use NPS Surveys for Your Bank & Credit Union
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What is a NPS Survey? NPS stands for Net Promoter Score, and you survey your customers with this metric to measure the likelihood of retaining those customers. In this episode the FIGROW team discusses how to really leverage those survey results to help improve products and services for banks and credit unions…
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Climate crisis: Is cli-fi counterproductive?
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Climate fiction has become a significant cultural phenomenon, reflecting the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for creative responses to this global challenge. But how does it affect the consumer and is it doing more harm than good?By DW
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Cli-fi is growing increasingly popular as the climate crisis deepens. But could this mainly dystopian genre play a constructive role in tackling the challenge of global warming?By DW
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Episode 48 - Fighting Scammers on Your Bank or Credit Union Facebook Page
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Facebook scammers continuously evolve and figure out new ways to attack our clients' Facebook pages. In this episode we discuss what types of scams are currently trending and best practices to mitigate any negative effects it may have on your bank or credit union's social presence.By FI GROW Solutions
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The German town of Andernach uses its public spaces to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs that anyone can pick free of charge. It's also a social project that has given some residents a new purpose in life. So what would it take to turn your home town into an edible one? (This episode has been republished and updated)…
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Supermarkets stock thousands of food products flown in from all over the world. And we've become used to this bounty of choice, often at the cost of the environment. But what is driving this excessive food consumption and how can we make better food choices? (This episode has been republished and updated).…
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Machines that can outsmart humans are the stuff of sci-fi novels. But some in the tech industry believe that if rapid advances in AI continue, there could someday be systems that attain — or surpass — human intelligence. Philosopher Nick Bostrom shares his thoughts on what that would mean for our species and some of the ethical questions that shoul…
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AI: What are the downsides for the environment?
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Artificial intelligence has tremendous potential to help us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the technology itself has a big carbon footprint, and in some cases it's being used to accelerate activities that make climate change worse.By DW
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Episode 47 - Better Leveraging Tools, Techniques & Time for Sales at Your Credit Union or Bank
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When it comes to sales enablement there are three areas we try to help our client team members with, those being saving time, being more effective, and more successful in following up with leads that are coming in. So how do we accomplish this? The FI GROW team discusses: Sales tools that are great to use Automating the sales process How to make ti…
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The field of artificial intelligence is growing fast. Not only is it bringing profound changes to the way we live and work, it's also proving to be a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.By DW
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Climate change: The biggest health threat to humanity
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The impacts of climate change are making us sick and claiming the lives of 13 million people every year. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the single biggest health threat humanity faces. So what does it mean for our health if we fail to meet our climate goals and what can we do about it? (This episode has been republish…
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Episode 46 - Content vs. Copywriting for Banks & Credit Unions
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What is the difference between content writing and copywriting? Content writing is used to inform. It is all of the details that you're trying to educate someone on. Versus copywriting, which is meant to persuade. It's going to be your sales and how you grab their attention, speaking to those emotions. In this episode, the FI GROW team discusses be…
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The Rhine: Protecting a precious water source
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Ahead of World Water Day, we look at how the Rhine was transformed from a heavily polluted and stinking river into a clean waterway. Today, it supplies over 30 million people with high quality drinking water. But new threats are emerging for Germany's longest artery. (This episode has been republished and updated).…
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Imagine your work week is reduced from five to four days without a pay cut. That's precisely what some companies in the UK did over a six-month trial period. Apparently, this is good for workers, business and the environment. Is the four-day work week overdue?By DW
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Episode 45 - Facebook vs. Google: How to Leverage Online Reviews for Your Bank or Credit Union
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Online reviews are important when it comes to people researching your institution and are considering applying for a new account or loan. So what are the benefits of Facebook and Google reviews? The FI Grow team discuss current best practices and how to leverage your bank or credit union's online reviews to enable new business.…
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Human composting: The push for greener burials
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Most Germans choose to be cremated when they die. But this process has many environmental downsides. A green funeral startup from Berlin wants to make human composting the new normal. But just how eco-friendly is this and why hasn't it taken off in Germany yet?By DW
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Rationing carbon: A fairer way to fight global warming?
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Rationing could be an effective way of reducing carbon emissions rapidly and fairly, according to a recent study by UK scientists. But just how would this work and would people really go along with it?By DW
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Episode 44 - How to Structure New Website Pages for Successful Organic Search
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When building a client's new website, they often suggest to group multiple products on one website page. We don't recommend putting multiple product lines on your pages because it ruins the SEO value. So when a client says, "I want to put RVs, ATVs, boat loans, and UTVs all on one page" -- we start the conversation by trying to explain the SEO valu…
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Europe's appetite for frogs' legs puts species at risk
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The trade in frogs legs is thriving. Every year, millions of tons of the delicacy are exported from Asia to the European Union, the world’s biggest customer by far. But scientists warn the trade is unsustainable, and that Europe’s insatiable taste for the amphibian’s limbs could cause some species to die out altogether.…
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