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Spam Turns Serious and Hormel Turns Out More (economic bright spot)
NYT - Business ^ | 11/14/08 | Andrew Martin

Posted on 11/15/2008 6:35:31 AM PST by xtinct

The economy is in tatters and, for millions of people, the future is uncertain. But for some employees at the Hormel Foods Corporation plant here, times have never been better. They are working at a furious pace and piling up all the overtime they want.

Jerry’s Other Place sells a Spamburger for $6.29. 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Food; Society
KEYWORDS: hormel; spam
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To: TADSLOS

I think some of that stuff is featured in the movie “Alien.”


41 posted on 11/15/2008 11:16:30 AM PST by verity ("Lord, what fools we mortals be!")
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To: xtinct
Laughing burns a lot of calories. You're going to need some protein.

Do you like sushi?


42 posted on 11/15/2008 11:25:34 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: Lady Jag

rofl... are you a PhotoShop expert? These are great.


43 posted on 11/15/2008 11:30:24 AM PST by xtinct (Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another. Plato)
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To: dighton
You see? Not everything in connection with this financial debacle is ALL bad!!
44 posted on 11/15/2008 11:33:57 AM PST by MozarkDawg
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To: xtinct
Yes, I'm an artist (paint) who self taught digital graphics years ago. Thanks for the compliments!

I'm getting hungry posting these and I have no Spam!

Rack of Spam was a real winner at the Hicks cookout in RI a few years ago.


45 posted on 11/15/2008 11:56:27 AM PST by Lady Jag (DONATE NOW at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: tbw2
"What is the brown pile on the right? And what’s the top left stuff?"

SOYLENT GREEN!

46 posted on 11/15/2008 1:06:46 PM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: TADSLOS

What the heck is the black thing on the right??


47 posted on 11/15/2008 1:32:04 PM PST by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: jimtorr; KosmicKitty; tbw2
Upper left- shredded pork (kalua pig)
Upper right- macaroni salad
Lower left- Teriyaki Chicken
Lower center- Steamed White Rice
Lower right- Lau Lau (Taro leaf stuffed with either fish or pork)
Spam and hot dogs piled on top

That's about a 4000 calorie lunch, and Hawaiians eat them on a regular basis. More Spam is sold in Hawaii than anywhere else- a favorite K-Rat item brought back from the Nisei 100th Bn and 442nd RCT who fought in North Africa and Europe during WWII.

48 posted on 11/15/2008 3:50:54 PM PST by TADSLOS (McCain Courted Socialism and Brought Us Marxism Instead)
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To: Terry Mross

” ... too much salt ...”

Look for Spam Lite, in the pale blue can.


49 posted on 11/15/2008 6:53:44 PM PST by Cloverfarm (Children are a blessing ...)
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To: xtinct
I like SPAM. It's especially good sliced and grilled with a couple of fried eggs and toast. I like it with waffles, too.

Guess I should buy it once in a while!

BTW, I also saw a Velveeta commercial on TV yesterday.

50 posted on 11/15/2008 10:42:23 PM PST by GVnana ("I once dressed as Tina Fey for Halloween." - Sarah Palin)
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To: xtinct

The basic gist of this argument in the Times article is bogus. They are trying to point to increased Spam sales as a sign that Americans are struggling to put meat on the table. This is BS. As stated in their own article, Spam sells at $3.20 a pound. There are plenty of fine meat choices out there that sell for $3.20 a pound and less - just about everything, in fact (except T-bones, beef tenderloin and fillets).

Sales of Spam are increasing for one simple reason - we are a fat, lazy, unhealthy country overall. We like junk.


51 posted on 11/16/2008 5:05:39 AM PST by Magnatron
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To: Magnatron
Sales of Spam are increasing for one simple reason - we are a fat, lazy, unhealthy country overall. We like junk.

Sales of Spam are increasing for one simple reason - shelflife. People suspect that a time is coming soon when that $3.20/lb meat will unaffordable or unavailable due to supply line disruptions.

Hard times a comin' - stock up and prepare to hunker down.

52 posted on 11/16/2008 5:13:05 AM PST by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: meowmeow

“Hard times a comin’ - stock up and prepare to hunker down.”

I’m not ready to build any bunkers yet.

We’ll survive this latest hiccup, just like we survived Clinton.

...plus, wait ‘til you have to adjust your eyes to the light after four years underground. That’s gonna hurt.


53 posted on 11/16/2008 5:25:45 AM PST by Magnatron
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To: xtinct
Actually all food processing companies are doing rather well.

People are not going out to eat to save money but they still have to eat so it is a good business to be in during a downturn.

54 posted on 11/16/2008 5:29:27 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Faith Manages)
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To: dighton; Lady Jag; xtinct


55 posted on 11/16/2008 9:55:44 AM PST by MozarkDawg
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To: Magnatron
Mag, I've been prepping since Gulf War I. If nothing really bad ever happens, the residents of Fort Meow can live in total comfort and security through any hurricane, ice storm, terrorism, trucker strike, influenza outbreak, bad tummy virus, democratic administration or wacky civil riots.

Yeah, I'm paranoid and crazy, but my family has no worries. Because they know Mamma Cat is paranoid and crazy. And I DON'T stock Spam.

56 posted on 11/16/2008 10:13:22 AM PST by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: meowmeow

It was what the extras in the living dead films were chewing :)


57 posted on 11/16/2008 12:41:13 PM PST by billphx
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To: billphx

Did I mention we are prepared for zombie attacks as well? ;)


58 posted on 11/16/2008 1:38:22 PM PST by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: MozarkDawg

59 posted on 11/16/2008 8:21:26 PM PST by Justice Department ("Comedy is allied to justice." Aristophenes)
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