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Mayor issues SPAM challenge

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 - 09:27:56 am CST

Mayor Chris Beutler has a challenge for the city of Lincoln: Donate 200 cans of SPAM to the needy, and he’ll donate 200 cans, too.

Beutler announced his challenge during a press conference Tuesday to try to inspire Lincolnites to open their cupboards to the needy. He chose to highlight the quirky canned meat made in Austin, Minn., because he said it was one of his “favorite treats” as a child.

“As it turns out, canned meat in general is one of the top needs of the Food Bank,” he said. “As the slang term for unwanted e-mail, SPAM has kind of gotten a bad rap over the last few years. My hope is the Mayor’s SPAM Challenge will restore its good name in Lincoln and help to feed many hungry people this holiday season.”

Story Photo
Mayor Chris Beutler
SPAM surge not enough to boost Hormel profit

Consumers looking to slice their food budgets bought more canned SPAM and Dinty Moore stews and shied away from more costly microwave meals, Hormel Foods Corp. said Tuesday.

But double-digit sales increases for the company’s canned foods weren’t enough to offset significantly higher costs for commodities and a hefty investment loss, leading to a big drop in profit during the period.

With its stable of such recession-friendly products, the company holds a unique position in an economy that has led a growing number of consumers to bypass the neighborhood chain restaurant and make a run to the grocer instead.

But the success of the company’s canned food hasn’t been a panacea. In the division that includes canned items, operating profit slipped 3 percent. The culprit, the company said, was slower sales of the more expensive Hormel Compleats microwave meals.

Chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Ettinger said shoppers are making “trade-offs of value over convenience, at least in the short run.”

Factories in Austin, Minn., and Fremont, Neb., supply SPAM to all of North America, South America and Australia. Factories in Denmark, the Philippines and South Korea supply the rest of the world with its SPAM, according to Hormel’s publicists. -- AP

Beutler’s staffers served diced SPAM and crackers at the press conference.

While some may smirk at SPAM, Food Bank Director Scott Young said a can of SPAM will be eaten and is appreciated by the more than 40,000 people who live below the poverty line in the 16 counties the Food Bank serves.

According to the Hormel Foods, the geniuses behind SPAM, the already-cooked meat can be fried, grilled, baked or zapped with a laser cannon.

Cans of SPAM — which sell for about $3 — can be dropped off at any city office, including the mayor’s office at 555 S. 10th St., or the F Street Rec Center. On Dec. 15, the cans will be counted, and Beutler said “(My wife) Judy and I will pony up.”

(Although he said his wife recommends people buy SPAM Lite.)

Young — who called himself a “SPAM Guy” too and joked that the ham and pork substance is “solid and gelatinous all at once” — decided spur-of-the-moment to kick in another 100 cans of SPAM, to match donations.

But seriously, he said local groups that serve the needy are seeing demand like never before.The Food Bank is on track to give out 4 million pounds of food, but there is demand for about 6 million, he said.

The number of students on free and reduced lunch is “up significantly,” he said.

People began lining up at 7 a.m. and formed a line two blocks long at one recent food giveaway, Young said.

Aside from canned meat, people also appreciate canned soup, canned fruit, Hamburger Helper, peanut butter and jeally and cereal.

And SPAM — when you’re hungry, you really appreciate it, Young said.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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Old days wrote on November 25, 2008 11:42 am:
" Spam caserol, Elbow macoroni, mushrum soup spices and sliced spam "

 All Hail SPAM wrote on November 25, 2008 11:44 am:
" If you like SPAM, vacation in Hawaii sometime. The locals there love the stuff. I appreciate the high fat content (pork fat rules), and the generally yummy and greasy nature of the stuff. Eat it with pineapple, it's a match made in heaven. "

 John wrote on November 25, 2008 11:47 am:
" I was born and raised in Lincoln. I now teach on the Navajo Nation Reservation where spam is a staple in the Navajo diet. The first time I went to a Bashas supermarket on the rez I was amazed at the amount of spam on display. Spam is also one of the items regularly donated to our church food pantry. I must admit it is not one of my favorite foods, but it's OK when fried and smoothered with mustard. One thing the article left out was that SPAM was invented in Nebraska. "

 SPAM-A-LOT wrote on November 25, 2008 12:01 pm:
" I resent the implication in the article that SPAM is a last-resort food. SPAM is actually great for everyone, rich, poor and in between. There's some places SPAM-crazy, like Hawaii for instance. Try a SPAM musabi, they're all the rage. "

 Hummmmm wrote on November 25, 2008 12:03 pm:
" Oh boy, the mayor is trying to kill everybody. Wonder what the heart
institute and diabetes places think of the mayor NOW??? The sodium in
canned soup??? Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to my spinach and see
scallops!!!! Well he's trying, he can't help it if he's uneducated!!! "

 Sean1 wrote on November 25, 2008 12:36 pm:
" Ahhhhh Spam! Saved half the world from starvation during WWII! Love it! Especially all the new recipes that come out of the yearly Spam festival. Want more? Including directions to the Spam museum? Got to WWW.spam.com.
MMMMMMMMMMM! "

 DR wrote on November 25, 2008 12:41 pm:
" Maybe we can use cans of SPAM to build the new Arena!!! How many licks does it take to get to the center of a can of SPAM???? "

 SPAM lover wrote on November 25, 2008 12:46 pm:
" Go to the spam site and there are all kinds of recipes from contests. Things like baked apples and cake and dips and casseroles and yes, even some stuff with pineapple! "

 Eric wrote on November 25, 2008 12:48 pm:
" ...or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam. "

 wHY SO expensive wrote on November 25, 2008 1:13 pm:
" It's produced in Fremont, NE, why is it so expensive? I'll donate one. "

 mythbuster wrote on November 25, 2008 1:14 pm:
" Sorry, John. SPAM was invented in Minnesota, although some of it is currently produced in Fremont, NE. "

 Idle wrote on November 25, 2008 1:22 pm:
" Well played, Eric. Well played. "

 Scott wrote on November 25, 2008 2:29 pm:
" I'll have the SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, baked beans, and SPAM. "

 Good Times wrote on November 25, 2008 2:45 pm:
" A mayor that does more than just talk - you're doing great Mayor Beutler. "

 Yep wrote on November 25, 2008 3:26 pm:
" Why not cans of Tuna, more healthy. No wonder people are fat and sick! "

 Nope wrote on November 25, 2008 4:07 pm:
" Because if he said "tuna", people like you would be screaming about dolphin killing, and still wouldn't donate any. Lighten up. "

 GG wrote on November 25, 2008 4:24 pm:
" I believe the whole point of this is to get people to donate to the food bank. SPAM may not be the healthiest, but it's protein that doesn't rot within a week. I think it's commendable what the Mayor is trying to do and I plan on buying some SPAM tonight. If you feel better about tuna, then donate tuna. I guarantee they'll take it too. "

 Fred from Ralston wrote on November 25, 2008 11:03 pm:
" At $4.00 a pound, SPAM isn't any bargain. Why not buy the real stuff. "

 Lumir wrote on November 26, 2008 5:12 am:
" What a great idea! SPAM is awesome! Try it on the grill! "

 Tara wrote on November 26, 2008 10:17 am:
" Hmmmmmm, its hard to get heart disease and diabetes if you starve to death first. Are the spinach and "see" scallops what you donate to the food pantry, or what you choose to eat in your own home? I'm sure the hungry and homeless people in Lincoln would appreciate it if you donated reduced sodium canned soups or cooked soup from scratch some night at Matt Talbot. "

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