Pigs & Ketchup
10/2/2007
Couldn’t resist mentioning a couple of blurbs from today’s Wall Street Journal:
First, in anticipation of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing next summer, the Chinese government is establishing a special program to raise pigs specifically for Olympic athletes. While I don’t know how many athletes eat pork during competition, apparently the quality of pork in China is suspect enough that special (organic) diets, exercise regimens, etc. are necessary. There’s a bit of fuss since the Oympic pigs are getting better treatment than a typical Chinese worker…
Meanwhile, back in the old US of A, Heinz is trying to increase the sugar content of tomatoes so they don’t have to buy as much corn syrup for making ketchup. Apparently, demand for corn by ethanol producers is driving up the cost of syrup faster than the price of ketchup.
Speaking of global warming (we really weren’t, but since I mentioned ethanol, I get to use it as a segue), over the weekend the New York Times had a piece “worrying” about what we’ll do for Spring and Fall fashions when there’s no more seasons. I guess in about 10,000 years or so that might be a reasonable concern. I wonder what will happen to winter wheat …?
– Chris