I see that one of our discount supermarkets here in Scotland is in hot water today. They have introduced reindeer steaks to their frozen meat section and folks are complaining. Not only do the public and animal rights bodies consider selling this delicacy so near to Christmas a no-no (you may be eating one of Santa's sleigh pulling favourites ) but they say that the reindeer are under constant stress from farming techniques and transportation. They have also begun selling pheasant, partridge, quail, venison, ostrich and wild boar. What are your views about 'exotic' meats being sold in our shops? Is it a good idea to have a wide choice on offer or would you rather they stuck to the more traditional selection?
I'm all for selling wild boar. We have a feral hog problem here in Texas--they tear up fields, uproot trees and endanger anything smaller than a Sherman tank. I don't know about the rest--don't like venison and haven't had any of the birds mentioned. However, if you know the right folks, you can get some rattlesnake meat locally. I have avoided meeting those people . . . .
One persons exotic is another persons every day meal, depending on what part of the world you live in. Eileen, isn't Goose the most common holiday meal in the UK? Or is that a rumor perpetuated by A Christmas Carol? I don't remember seeing them in stores here, so they are exotic where I am. There have been Ostrich farms and Emu farms out in west Texas but I don't think there was that much of a market for the meat so that fad ended. Trouble was the farmers turned the birds loose and there was a problem with feral Ostriches and Emus for a few years. Wild boars are becoming a problem in the cities too. So most people around here will have no problem with that showing up in the grocery store. I like Venison if it is seasoned properly. Buffalo shows up in the meat section of some stores once in a while, but it is farmed not wild caught. Haven't had any of those birds either even tho I have seen Quail in the store once in a while. There is one grocery store chain that will carry Rattlesnake once in a while, I guess after they have the annual Rattlesnake hunt out in west Texas. Even tho it is reputed to taste a lot like chicken, I will not be trying it to verify that!! I agree that selling Reindeer meat around the holidays was not a well thought out plan but then how many 'Santa believing' young ones actually pay attention to the meat counter at the store. Online I found several sites with info about getting started in Reindeer farming and meat production, looks like it might be a common food item in the future.
I love it that we have so much choice and don't have any problems giving anything a go. I have eaten venison, pheasants, partridge, hare, rabbit, pigeon...the list goes on, including eating our own quail. Different cultures eat different foods, and with such a diverse population in most towns and cities these days, shops have to cater accordingly, and we have been able to buy unusual fruits and veggies for ages, so why not meat also.
Well. Personally, I would be unlikely to buy most of those specialty meats but I'm not opposed to them being sold. I think it's great to have so much variety. I'm thinking of how wonderful I feel to have some exotic fruits and veggies or fish to choose from -- the meat buyers should be so lucky. OK, reindeer is a little alarming around Christmas time if you have a sensitive side, which I do. But my thought is, if that's the case, I should just walk past the case quickly and get on with my day. Interesting question. How is it being resolved in your town, Eileen?
We used to have venison in Wisconsin and there is a hunting season for deer here but I haven't seen it for sale in the stores. I tend to stick with what I know so haven't tried a lot of different meats. dooley
Sorry, but... Here's the frequent reindeer meat eater's view on the subject: In northern Scandinavia there's a people whose life is based on the reindeer, and it has been for ages. These people are called the Sami. You can read more about them on Wikipedia. Their reindeer are not farmed, at least not the way I think of farming animals. They free-range until they're gathered to sort the dinners-to-be from the rest, not unlike what sheep farmers do when they herd their flocks together in autumn. We have access to reindeer meat the year round. It's tasty, not too expensive as a rule, and it's fairly local. We're certain that Santa's reindeer are not among the ones we eat. I guess the reindeer aren't driven all the way to Scotland before they're slaugthered, so it's just the meat that gets to travel far. We have access to Argentinian Angus meat, Norwegian bred ostrich meat, Parma ham, African antelope meat, Australian kangaroo meat and some snake steaks and quail now and then. Sweden has wild boar, Norway won't have them, and any individ detected when trying to cross the border will be shot and presumably eaten. If the animal rights bodies wish to fight for animals' rights to humane transport they ought to start closer to home, right across the channel. If my memory serves me correct there was a huge outcry about the dismal treatment of bovines going to the slaughterhouse not too long ago. Actually I'd rather discuss the cost efficiency of transporting food half-way around the planet versus cultivating it nearer to home.
The animal rights people are determined they are going to stop the reindeer meat from being sold here in the UK. I don't see a problem with having it for sale myself. Surely, if they are going to object, then they should be trying to ban all 'exotic' varieties of meats that are being sold - not just one. After all if you don't want to eat then you simply don't have buy it. I think Droopy has a much more valid argument when she says:- "Actually I'd rather discuss the cost efficiency of transporting food half-way around the planet versus cultivating it nearer to home." I'd be interested in your views on this subject.
I have heard that in Korea, you can find dog meat in supermarkets - While to me this is unthinkable (as I have grown up with a pet dog). Which is why I consider dogs to be man's best friend. However someone from Korea will have different notions about the whole concept... Just like in India they worship the cow 24/7, while here in Pakistan we make beef burgers out of them daily. And in China, snake meat is common in supermarkets. In fact people in Japan consider puffer fish (which is extremely poisonous) to be a delicacy... While somewhere in Africa (don't exactly remember where), monkey meat is common. In Mongolia and Kazakhstan, horse meant is not frowned upon - The list is actually endless. So when compared to these facts, reindeer meat just doesn't seem too big of a deal. That anyway is my opinion about the whole issue.
Apples, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, strawberries, potatoes (other than sweet potatoes), sugar peas, snow peas, rhubarb, almonds, walnuts, cocoa, coffee, tea, table grapes and many other veggies and fruits are not commercially viable for growing in Texas. Individual gardeners grow some of these veggies tho but that is for their own family use. There are watermelons, some citrus', peaches, pecans, wine grapes, cantalopes grown in parts of the state, but not enough to feed the entire state population. There is a new growth of Olive growers around the middle of the state. I try to buy local produce when at a farmers market, which is great. But even the local farmers at the markets have a very limited variety of produce...I mean just how many meals of green beans, black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes can you expect your family to happily eat. Forget tomatoes and onions, my family won't touch them. Some of veggies just won't grow in other parts of the world in quantities to feed all the population of that country, because of too much heat, not enough heat, too much rain and not enough rain. There are probably ways to grow anything anywhere but the costs are higher than most countries can afford.
I agree with toni. A lot of what we eat comes from other corners of the world, and I wouldn't like to do without. What I consider a problem is the fact that we could produce a lot more fruit, veggies and meat than we do, but it seems more convenient to get shiploads of it from elsewhere. I'm not opposed to import/export as a whole, I'm just opposed to shutting down farming land instead of finding different use for it. I also worry about the uniformity of the crops grown. Farmers must make a living, but if one region grow potatoes only since it's the easiest thing to do, it doesn't bode well for the wildlife variety in that area. I find this a very complicated theme to discuss.
Well, I can understand your point of view (that one cannot avoid importing food). However, in Pakistan we are always taught to be as self-sufficient as possible. Because whenever disaster strikes, no one from the outside will ever come for assistance in time... Which is why we grow over 95% of our own food, as well as raise all of our livestock too. It really is a very rare sight to see something that is imported (in the food department). Karachi city where I live - Is a mega metropolis of almost 16 million people! Therefore to sustain it, you just have to grow your own stuff. There really is no way to import all that stuff all the time. Anyway my point is that if we can do it, then why can't anyone else? We recently had the worst floods in the past 100 years. Yet food here is still not running low. Yes the cost of some items has gone up, but there seriously is no actual shortage. Here is a link that will show in detail about the impact the recent floods had on us. http://pakistaniat.com/2010/09/29/bbc-d ... more-15122 Over 20 million people displaced, and valuable farmland under water. Yet only 1,600 reported deaths. How? Self-sufficiency, the only answer. Of course, our territory is such that it give us 3 crops a year. So that is a big advantage, however South Korea only gets 1 crop per year. Yet they too easily sustain themselves very nicely.
Sorry Toni I meant to answer your question but got distracted. No goose isn't the main holiday meal here. In fact very few are actually sold in this area. We have more turkeys at Christmas than any other meat followed by chickens then ducks - at least here in Scotland anyway.
You know what people? I think the actual problem is that no one truly understands people like us anymore... Yes animal rights people will tell you one thing, while the activists for the consumers say another - Basically (as I see it) the whole issue soon gets politicized. And as we all know from experience, nothing good ever comes out from playing politics... Of course, if the politicians too could take the time and actually maintain a small garden of their own once in a while, (like us over here at this forum) - Then perhaps they too would understand the people better. As Bruce Springsteen's song Badlands goes: Working in the fields till you get your back burned, turning the wheels till you get your facts learned.
