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Firing up the Barbie

May 24, 2013

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Profile America -- Friday, May 24th. This holiday weekend will see the great seasonal migration begin to decks, balconies and backyards to fire up our gas or charcoal grills. May is not only National Barbecue Month but also National Hamburger Month. While cooking food outside has occurred throughout history -- and prehistory -- grilling became a popular recreation in the U.S. in the 1920s. The first charcoal briquettes sold for the purpose were produced by Henry Ford, using scrap wood left over from making Model Ts. More than a third of U.S. adults enjoy grilling out, and some 12.5 million do so at least twice a week. That may help account for the 58 pounds of beef and 56 pounds of chicken that Americans eat on average each year. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 244
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1240
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/arts_recreation_travel.html
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 217
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/health_nutrition.html