Posted on 04/03/2010 9:14:00 PM PDT by pissant
PROSPECT HARBOR, Me. — The women in their smudged aprons here at the sardine cannery work together in mesmerizing synchronization. Their hands flying, they fill the empty tins that clatter along the conveyer belt, packing in pieces of cut herring like, well, so many sardines.
On April 18, the clanking will cease. The bells and buzzers that regulate the pace of packing will fall silent. The old plant, the last sardine cannery in the United States, is shutting down.
Once a thriving national industry — and the backdrop of John Steinbeck’s gritty “Cannery Row” — sardine canneries have been dwindling for the last half-century. They have fallen victim to global competition, corporate consolidations and a general lack of appetite, at least in the United States, for sardines, despite their nutritional value and attempts by chefs to give them an image makeover.
Bumble Bee Foods, which has owned the plant here since 2004, attributed the closing to federal regulations that have reduced the amount of Atlantic herring, sardines before processing, that can be hauled from the sea. (Although Bumble Bee is the owner, the cannery is still known as the Stinson plant, after the founding family.)
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Winner of “Most Unusual Thumb” award?
You know....I’ve eaten a sardine in my life. Not really sure why, either. I’m not averse to canned fish or strong tasting fishes - heck, I eat anchovies, and I figure a sardine’s gotta be milder than that.
My one grandpa loved ‘em, though (sardines). He especially liked the kind that came packed in mustard.
A cupboard full of canned sardines and a few 50# sacks of rice - both quite cheap - will feed a family a good long while when TSHTF. Stock up!
Canned mackeral are actually tastier IMO, and 30-50# boxes of Japanese or Korean Soba noodles from the local Oriental supermarket are a tasty substitute for the rice if that gets old.
“Last I heard, the place was brisling with activity.”
Dearest Shibumi - you do know that there is a special place in Hell for people who pun?
Love & kisses, Satin Doll
Isn’t herring a cold water fish? How does Morocco score the catch? Unless they are just tinned there?
Several good links for photos above. Prospect Harbor folk are hearty, but this has been tough.
Cracker, sweet pickle chip, sardine, dab of horseradish.....eat!
Thats a snack worth eatin’!
It's not called The Great Dempression for nothing.
As I have been saying, soon a sociality security check for one month will be moer than the gnp.
They cannot continue violating economic laws and principles with impunity.
As long as there is one idiot and one parasite that votes, there will always be a Democrat politician.
As long as there is a Republican Party and Democrat Party, the Democrat will rule, regardless of the Numbers of Democrats vs. Republicans.
Yes. And I sauid, Sardines are all over the place. Salmon eat them
It is responses like yours from someone who has been here for so long that make me just want to sit in the background and say nothing. The big point is that all of the things that we made and did in America are being exported overseas due to government actions. The cheap labor will not remain overseas forever, and at some point there will be a collapse and most likely even a war. We will be in no position to fend for ourselves. Personally I believe that is part of the plan.
***Isn’t herring a cold water fish? How does Morocco score the catch? Unless they are just tinned there?***
I don’t have a clue. The can I had said “Product of Morroco.” (Kosher)
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