Lobster: The New Thanksgiving Turkey?
Each year around this time, lobstermen and state officials in Maine remind Americans that they have an alternative to turkey. Lobster prices are, by one estimate, at their lowest level in eight years, and the industry's in trouble. Eating lobster this Thursday is good for the economy — and historically accurate. Records show lobsters were eaten during the first Thanksgiving Day feast.
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STEVE INSKEEP, host:
Now, every year around this time, fishermen and state officials, in New England, especially, remind Americans that they have an alternative to turkey. And that is today's last word in business - lobster. Or, as some people might pronounce it, labstah. This year, lobster prices are, by one estimate, at their lowest level in eight years. The industry is in trouble, so eating lobster this Thursday is good for the economy. And also, incidentally, historically accurate. Here's incoming State Senate Minority Leader Kevin Raye, in the state of Maine.
Senator KEVIN RAYE (Incoming Republican State Senate Minority Leader, Maine): Some foods that we think of as virtually synonymous with Thanksgiving, like sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie, were not on that menu for the first Thanksgiving. But one item is an item we seldom associate with this holiday, and that's lobster.
INSKEEP: If you do opt for lobster, we have another tip from Maine's presumptive speaker of the house. Do not mess it up with anything like potatoes, or other fish. You just need butter, salt, pepper, cream, milk, and a lobster. And that's the business news on Morning Edition from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.
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