ODD FACTS

Do you like trivia? I do sometimes. I found some new, but unusual, items to share.



1. Philadelphia Brand cream cheese was made in New York.
Cream cheese was first made in 1872 in New York State by dairyman William A. Lawrence. Eight years later, the enterprising cheese distributor A. L. Reynolds packaged the cheese in foil wrappers and called it Philadelphia Brand because the public associated the City of Brotherly Love with high-quality food products. To this day, Philadelphia cream cheese has a monopoly on the cream cheese market.

2. Gatorade does have something to do with "Gators".
In 1965, a coach for the Florida Gators college football team and one of the university's kidney specialists came up with a concoction of water, salt, sugar, and lemon juice to keep the school's football players hydrated and energized while playing football under the hot Southern sun. Two years later, Gatorade was marketed nationally and has since netted the University of Florida more than $90 million in revenues.

3. SPAM stands for something!
In 1937, in Austin, Minnesota, the Hormel Company developed the first canned meat product that did not require refrigeration. Made of chopped pork shoulder and ham (a cut from the pig's buttock and thigh), it was marketed simply as "Hormel Spiced Ham." The public's response was anti-climactic. Other companies developed their own canned meats, and Hormel's product was soon at risk of getting lost in the shuffle. To save the day, a decision was made to offer a prize to the person who could think up a catchy new name. The winning entry was "Spam". Several versions of the name's meaning are in circulation - the two most credible are: It's a blend of "spice" and "ham," and it stands for "Shoulder of Pork and Ham." What is known for certain is that Kenneth Daigneau, a Broadway actor - and the brother of a Hormel vice president - submitted "Spam." As the contest winner, he was given a prize of $100. If you travel to Austin, Minnesota, you can visit the Spam Museum.

4. What does the Frisbee have to do with pie?
The Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, sold pies. Local college students used the empty tins (embossed with the words "Frisbie's Pies") to play catch. In 1948, Walter Morrison and Warren Franscioni found a way to capitalize on this free toy by creating a plastic version called the Flyin' Saucer and later renamed the Pluto Platter Flying Saucer. When the founders of Wham-O bought rights to the toy and renamed it Frisbee, sales truly went out of this world.

5. What is a chicken noodle in Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup?
"Chicken with Noodles" soup was a variety introduced to the public by Campbell's in 1934. Despite the fact that it is now considered a mainstay comfort food, sales back then were slow - until the product's name was misread during an episode of the popular Amos 'n' Andy radio show. Once listeners heard the words "chicken noodle soup," consumer interest was captured. Folks began to call Campbell's to ask about this "new" soup. Wise to a good thing, the company quickly dropped the "with" and the "s" and renamed the soup to match the blooper that raised its sales.

6. Marshmallows used to soothe sore throats.
Today a marshmallow is a spongy treat cooked over campfires. Up until the mid-1800s, marshmallow candy was used medicinally. Doctors extracted juice from the roots of the marsh-mallow plant and cooked it with egg whites and sugar, then whipped it into a foamy meringue. This hardened and the resulting candy soothed children's sore throats. Eventually, advanced manufacturing processes replaced the root juice with gelatin, which eliminated any healing properties.

Finally, grocery stores offer lots of convenience items, but don't buy the following items because they cost more:

1. Cosmetic and skin care items (higher prices)
2. Pre-ground coffee (high mark ups)
3. Party supplies (higher prices)
4. Kitchen appliances (few choices)
5. Hardware (light bulbs, extension cords, tools, nails, etc.)
6. Cookware and bakeware (heavily marked up in price)
7. Some fruits and vegetables (some are loaded with pesticides), buy organic apples, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, and potatoes; safe to purchase are asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and onions.
8. Gourmet cheese (pricey items with a short shelf life)

Save money, shop the dollar and discount stores.