On the recordJuly 25, 2012
I rise today to honor southern Minnesota's own Hormel Foods for its 75 years of producing its world-renowned, iconic product--SPAM. Entrepreneur George Hormel opened up his meat processing plant in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota, but it was his son Jay who came up with the idea of canned spice ham. Thus, in 1937, SPAM was born. SPAM served an essential role in World War II. Over 100 million pounds of SPAM were sent to the European front to aid the war efforts. After the war, SPAM's popularity soared globally. Over 7 billion cans have been sold. Since the inception of SPAM, Hormel has always kept its company's roots in southern Minnesota, providing thousands of good-paying jobs and economic stability for middle class folks in Austin. Hormel also has a rich history of giving back. They've partnered with organizations to provide food for malnourished children around the world. In partnership with the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic, they opened the world-renowned Hormel Institute, which gave us Omega-3 and - 6 fatty acids in cancer reduction. SPAM is an important part of our history. It played an essential role in feeding our troops, in creating jobs, and it has become an iconic American product. So, today, I honor Hormel's past, and I look forward to their future. Happy 75th birthday, SPAM. ____________________
