SPAM: The Ham That Failed Its Physical
In his autobiography, "Khrushchev Remembers," Nikita Khrushchev stated, "We had lost our most fertile, food-bearing lands. Without SPAM, we wouldn't have been able to feed our army."
Who buys the most SPAM? In the United States, SPAMmers can be found in Hawaii, Alaska, Arkansas, Texas and Alabama. Over 60 million people in America eat SPAM. Hawaiians lead the nation in SPAM consumption, digesting over 4 cans per person a year.Suzan Harada, a program head at Kapiolani Community College in Honolulu explains Hawaiians' affinity for SPAM, saying, "the military brought SPAM to the islands. Its novelty imparted cachet and World War II rationing firmly entrenched the SPAM habit." She adds, "This was a period when having Western things was really important. Even if you had access to fresh pork and chicken, being able to afford canned food showed status."
Among the 50 foreign countries where SPAM is sold, the United Kingdom and South Korea are the largest markets (how about baked SPAM and Yorkshire Pudding or stir-fried SPAM over rice?). In Korea, SPAM is sold in stylish presentation gift boxes of 9 cans each. SPAM stolen from army PXs always find their way to the Korean black market.
In 1994 Hormel produced its five billionth can of SPAM at its Austin, Minnesota, plant. While SPAM remains the butt of many jokes--David Letterman's SPAM on a rope and the British comedy troupe Monty Python's Green Midget cafe, where SPAM entrees dominate the menu--the luncheon meat's sales are estimated at nearly three billion dollars. The U.S. Armed Forces are one of Hormel's largest purchasers of SPAM.
Today SPAM is a beloved icon in U.S. folk history. Sixty-eight state and regional fairs hold Hormel-sanctioned SPAM recipe contests. A SPAM jamboree is held every Fourth of July weekend in Austin, Minnesota, SPAM's home. Americans across the country hold other SPAM celebrations, such as the SPAM-o-Rama Barbecue in Austin, Texas, the SPAM cook-off in Maui and the SPAM carving contests in Seattle, Washington. Even the Smithsonian considered SPAM as the topic for its Conference on Stuff.
Hormel also offers die-hard SPAM fans the opportunity to buy gifts with a SPAM motif. Items include SPAM-logo T-shirts, watches, sweatsuits, hats, boxer shorts, fanny packs, mugs, golf balls, magnets, sunshades, windsocks, and more. The best-seller from Hormel's gift center is the classic T-shirt with the word SPAN in yellow on a field of blue.
Here's a "gourmet" recipe for SPAM you might enjoy!
Spam Fettuccine Primavera
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