Hostess Trouble & Turkey Surprise

Hostess Trouble & Turkey Surprise plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

If names like Ding Dong’s and Ho Ho’s mean anything to you then you might want to pay attention. Hostess, the make of these and the perennial treat the Twinkie appears poised to close its doors after a labor strike has severely crippled the confection maker. Already in Chapter 11 for a second time they have ceased the manufacture of products and will sell off any already baked goods before selling off the brand names and closing down operations. Hostess also makes Wonder and Home Pride Bread, Dolly Madison, Drake's and Nature's Pride snacks.

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. Have you bought your turkey yet? According to economist Dave Harvey, you just might get a little surprise when you do.

HARVEY: Many grocery stores discount turkeys, especially at the Thanksgiving period so they may actually be selling them at cost of maybe even at a loss basically to get the consumer into the store and hopefully they will buy all their supplies for Thanksgiving at that store.

A reminder though to you late turkey buyers, a frozen turkey takes several days to thaw properly in the refrigerator so don’t wait too long to pick yours out.

Speaking of turkey’s, here’s Lacy Gray with today’s Food Forethought.

What would we have served for Thanksgiving if Ben Franklin had gotten his wish and the turkey had indeed ended up America’s National Bird? Turkeys have been running around the countryside for nearly forever. Turkey bones have been found by archaeologists dating back to almost six thousand years, so they were probably on somebody’s dinner menu at sometime or another during all that time. But why did ol’ Ben think the turkey could hold such a distinguished place in our nation’s beginnings? Well, wild turkeys, while they don’t look like they could move very fast, being rather short and wide, can actually run like the wind and fly at least as fast as the legal speed limit. And wild turkey’s feathers are quite colorful, including black, brown, golden, and shades of red to iridescent blue. Domestic turkeys are a whole different matter, they have mostly white feathers, and they can’t run, let alone fly, which seals their fate when it comes to Thanksgiving fare. So, while Mr. Franklin didn’t win the majority vote to have the turkey be our National Bird, he would probably be happy that the turkey has definitely secured a place in our nation’s history and hearts. After all, they do say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.