"SPAM, Lovely SPAM, wonderful SPAM..."

[Jaman]

Can SPAM save the World?
Global Financial Meltdown...
Pig parts bring comfort.

(my SPAM Haiku for the day)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/business/15spam.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=spam&st=nyt&oref=slogin

The workers make Spam, perhaps the emblematic hard-times food in the American pantry.

Through war and recession, Americans have turned to the glistening canned product from Hormel as a way to save money while still putting something that resembles meat on the table. Now, in a sign of the times, it is happening again, and Hormel is cranking out as much Spam as its workers can produce.

In a factory that abuts Interstate 90, two shifts of workers have been making Spam seven days a week since July, and they have been told that the relentless work schedule will continue indefinitely.

Spam, a gelatinous 12-ounce rectangle of spiced ham and pork, may be among the world's most maligned foods, dismissed as inedible by food elites and skewered by comedians who have offered smart-alecky theories on its name (one G-rated example: Something Posing As Meat).

But these days, consumers are rediscovering relatively cheap foods, Spam among them. A 12-ounce can of Spam, marketed as “Crazy Tasty,” costs about $2.40. “People are realizing it's not that bad a product,” said Dan Johnson, 55, who operates a 70-foot-high Spam oven.

Hormel declined to cooperate with this article, but several of its workers were interviewed here recently with the help of their union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 9. Slumped in chairs at the union hall after making 149,950 cans of Spam on the day shift, several workers said they been through boom times before â€" but nothing like this.

Spam “seems to do well when hard times hit,” said Dan Bartel, business agent for the union local. “We'll probably see Spam lines instead of soup lines.”

Even as consumers are cutting back on all sorts of goods, Spam is among a select group of thrifty grocery items that are selling steadily.

Pancake mixes and instant potatoes are booming. So are vitamins, fruit and vegetable preservatives and beer, according to data from October compiled by Information Resources, a market research firm.

“We've seen a double-digit increase in the sale of rice and beans,” said Teena Massingill, spokeswoman for the Safeway grocery chain, in an e-mail message. “They're real belly fillers.”

Kraft Foods said recently that some of its value-oriented products like macaroni and cheese, Jell-O and Kool-Aid were experiencing robust growth. And sales are still growing, if not booming, for Velveeta, a Kraft product that bears the same passing resemblance to cheese as Spam bears to ham.

Spam holds a special place in America 's culinary history, both as a source of humor and of cheap protein during hard times.

Invented during the Great Depression by Jay Hormel, the son of the company's founder, Spam is a combination of ham, pork, sugar, salt, water, potato starch and a “hint” of sodium nitrate “to help Spam keep its gorgeous pink color,” according to Hormel's Web site for the product.

Because it is vacuum-sealed in a can and does not require refrigeration, Spam can last for years. Hormel says “it's like meat with a pause button.”

During World War II, Spam became a staple for Allied troops overseas. They introduced it to local residents, and it remains popular in many parts of the world where the troops were stationed.

Spam developed a camp following in the 1970s, mainly because of Monty Python, the English comedy troupe. In a 1970 skit, a couple tried to order breakfast at a cafe featuring Spam in nearly every entree, like “Spam, Eggs, Sausage and Spam.” The diners were eventually drowned out by a group of Vikings singing, “Spam, lovely Spam, wonderful Spam.”

(Familiar with the skit, Internet pioneers labeled junk e-mail “spam” because it overwhelmed other dialogue, according to one theory.)

Here in Austin , local officials have tried to capitalize on Spam's kitschy cultural status, even if a decidedly unpleasant odor hangs over the town (a slaughterhouse next to the Hormel plant butchers 19,000 hogs a day). Austin advertises itself as “Spamtown,” and it boasts 13 restaurants with Spam on the menu.

Jerry's Other Place sells a Spamburger for $6.29. Johnny's “Spamarama” menu includes eggs Benedict with Spam for $7.35. At Steve's Pizza, a medium Spam and pineapple pizza costs $11.58.

[tonyj311]

Spam is awesome. I actually just made Spam and eggs on Saturday morning. First time my wife ever ate it and she said it wasnt too bad. My 2 year old gobbled it up.

[Timmy Tucker]

Spam is awesome.

Why do you punish your palate?

[teddy037.2]

Why do you punish your palate?

pfffft. whatever

I think we (hawaii) consume something like 1/3 of all the spam produced. def. more per capita than anywhere else in the world.

it's damn tasty stuff when cooked right  and it's been such a staple, that us islanders know how to cook it right 

[Timmy Tucker]

I think we (hawaii) consume something like 1/3 of all the spam produced. def. more per capita than anywhere else in the world.

    That's insane.


I used to love it when I was younger. Probably ate it at least once a week. About 3-4 years ago, I just woke up one day and decided that I didn't like it anymore. I've eaten it once since then. 

[Randimus Maximus]

it's damn tasty stuff when cooked right  and it's been such a staple, that us islanders know how to cook it right 

care to let the rest of us in on the secret?

[krolik]

Bloody Vikings!

[teddy037.2]

care to let the rest of us in on the secret?

you just gotta be in hawaii to find out... 

Bloody Vikings!

spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans, spam, spam, spam, and spam!

[the_Journeyman]

pfffft. whatever

I think we (hawaii) consume something like 1/3 of all the spam produced. def. more per capita than anywhere else in the world.

it's damn tasty stuff when cooked right  and it's been such a staple, that us islanders know how to cook it right 

Oddly enough, doesn't a lot of pineapple come from Hawaii?  Isn't the Spam on the label being garnished with pineapple?

JM

[erkishhorde]

Pilipinos make a lotta spam stuff too. Some of them are OK.

[NeufUnSix]

I much prefer the salted Brazilian canned beef for the same price (the yellow tin with the cow on the front)... Fry it with onions and serve with mashed potatoes, fantastic. Corned beef hash beats spam anyday.

[supakpow2]

Pilipinos make a lotta spam stuff too. Some of them are OK.

Philipinos or spam? I personally like em. both.

[Howie]

I am a bit of a food elitist, but, well no FHE since us elitists don't eat spam, the stuff probably ain't so bad.  Read the ingredients, then compare most of the common lunch meats and it doesn't seem so bad.  Maybe we should think of Spam as Ham and Pork By Product Pate'

[Popeye the Sailor]

I am a bit of a food elitist

Says the guy cooking squirrels in his avatar....

[teddy037.2]

man, food snobs, eh?

boo.