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Story
August 19, 1952
Madison County Democrat
London, Madison County, Ohio
What is this article about?
An article highlighting the intricate process of meat production and distribution across the U.S., from Western farms to Eastern tables, involving diverse professions and resources, contrasting with the ease of purchase.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
NOT SO SIMPLE
There's nothing very complicated about a steak. It's obtainable in various shapes and weights and types, and if you want one all you have to do is go to the butcher, select the cut you want, pay for it, and carry it away.
But to produce that steak, or any other kind of meat, is a complex business that calls for a great many diverse skills and resources.
First of all, most of our meat is raised West of the Mississippi while most of it is consumed East of that river. A very wide chasm must be bridged before livestock running in Western farms and ranges becomes meat-on-the-table in Eastern homes.
A great many people have their hands in the job of turning beef and other meat animals into cuts ready for oven and frying pan. These include the men who look after the cattle, the steelmakers who provide fencing and many other items, the lumbermen who cut the wood used in barns and corrals, the railroaders and truck drivers who carry the animals to market, the bankers who finance production, the packers who process and distribute the meat, the retailers who sell it to you, and many more.
Incidentally, some fraction of the price you pay when you buy meat may represent money that came to you as a result of the operations of the meat industry because the task of supplying this vast nation with meat, if all its far-flung ramifications are taken into account, involves millions of people who benefit economically in direct or indirect fashion.
So while there's nothing complicated about buying a piece of meat, it's a complicated job to get it ready for you to buy when and where you want it.
There's nothing very complicated about a steak. It's obtainable in various shapes and weights and types, and if you want one all you have to do is go to the butcher, select the cut you want, pay for it, and carry it away.
But to produce that steak, or any other kind of meat, is a complex business that calls for a great many diverse skills and resources.
First of all, most of our meat is raised West of the Mississippi while most of it is consumed East of that river. A very wide chasm must be bridged before livestock running in Western farms and ranges becomes meat-on-the-table in Eastern homes.
A great many people have their hands in the job of turning beef and other meat animals into cuts ready for oven and frying pan. These include the men who look after the cattle, the steelmakers who provide fencing and many other items, the lumbermen who cut the wood used in barns and corrals, the railroaders and truck drivers who carry the animals to market, the bankers who finance production, the packers who process and distribute the meat, the retailers who sell it to you, and many more.
Incidentally, some fraction of the price you pay when you buy meat may represent money that came to you as a result of the operations of the meat industry because the task of supplying this vast nation with meat, if all its far-flung ramifications are taken into account, involves millions of people who benefit economically in direct or indirect fashion.
So while there's nothing complicated about buying a piece of meat, it's a complicated job to get it ready for you to buy when and where you want it.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What keywords are associated?
Meat Production
Supply Chain
Livestock Transport
Economic Interdependence
Industry Complexity
Where did it happen?
West Of The Mississippi (Raising); East Of The Mississippi (Consumption)
Story Details
Location
West Of The Mississippi (Raising); East Of The Mississippi (Consumption)
Story Details
The simplicity of buying a steak contrasts with the complex production process involving cattle raisers, steelmakers, lumbermen, transporters, bankers, packers, retailers, and others who turn livestock into meat for consumers, benefiting millions economically.