LIFE'S NEW FOOD -- 'GATOR AND OSTRICH 

CHANGING PATTERNS IN WORLD TRADE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FOOD SECTOR, ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON NORTH AMERICAN FARMERS. NO LONGER ARE MAJOR OVERSEAS FOOD IMPORTERS BUYING AS MUCH OF OUR CORN AND WHEAT AS IN THE PAST.

MARKETS FOR MANY OTHER CROPS ARE ALSO DWINDLING DUE TO CHANGING DIETS, RISING CROP PRODUCTION IN EMERGING COUNTRIES, WEATHER CHANGES AND FLUCTUATING CURRENCIES ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. DOES THIS PRESENT AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY? REMEMBER, IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS TO GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR, BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER TO GET IN ON THE EXCAVATION!

WHEN FARMERS FARM DIFFERENTLY, DIET CHANGES. OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND!

FARMING'S CHANGING. IN NEW ZEALAND TEN PERCENT OF ALL FARMERS ARE NOW RAISING DEER. THIS TREND HAS ALREADY STARTED IN OUR WEST.

A DECADE AGO PEOPLE ONLY ATE SUSHI OR NACHOS WHEN THEY TRAVELLED. THE SAME APPLIED TO CALAMARI, HUEVOS RANCHEROS, ETC. REMEMBER WHEN EVEN PASTA ONLY CAME IN TWO SIZES? AS THE WORLD GLOBALIZED OUR DIET CHANGED, EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT NOT HAVE NOTICED IT AT THE TIME.

TOMORROW EXPECT TO EXPLORE OTHER LANDS VIA YOUR PALATE. TWO SUCH DELICACIES TO EXCITE YOUR TASTE BUDS OR YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO MAY BE OSTRICH AND ALLIGATOR. THEY ARE GOOD EATING AND THEIR SKIN MAKES GREAT SHOES!

SOME RANCHERS IN OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS HAVE SWITCHED TO THE FAST- RUNNING BUT GAWKY OSTRICH. THE MACHO IMAGE OF CATTLE RANCHERS DOESN'T DROP MUCH AFTER YOU SEE WHAT A 300 POUND MALE BIRD CAN DO WHEN IT KICKS.

THE ARID CLIMATE OF BRUSH-COVERED AMERICAN LANDS IS BARELY SUITABLE FOR CATTLE, BUT IS SIMILAR TO AFRICAN PLAINS WHERE THESE INDIGENOUS BIRDS ARE RAISED IN HUGE FLOCKS. OSTRICH FARMING IS BECOMING BIG BUSINESS. SOUTH AFRICA PRODUCES ABOUT 73,000 BIRDS A YEAR. BREEDING PAIRS SELL FOR UP TO US$20,000. PIONEER BILL HARVEY, WHO OWNS THE BIG TEX OSTRICH RANCH IN ANGLETON, TEXAS PREFERS OSTRICHES TO TRADITIONAL CATTLE RANCHING. OSTRICHES CAN BE RAISED ON SMALLER SECTIONS OF LAND, LAY 50 TO 70 EGGS A YEAR AND WHEN SLAUGHT- ERED NOTHING IS WASTED. THE FEATHERS ALONE CAN BRING UP TO US $150 A POUND.

TOM MANTZEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN OSTRICH ASSOCIA- TION, SAYS GUCCI SHOES MADE FROM OSTRICH SKIN SELL IN MANHATTAN FOR $995 A PAIR! A TYPICAL OSTRICH SKIN PROVIDES ENOUGH MATERIAL FOR 14 PAIRS OF SHOES AND A COUPLE SLICK WALLETS. (MY FAVOURITE BELT IS MADE OF OSTRICH). MANTZEL PROUDLY POINTS OUT THAT THERE ARE NOW 1,000 OSTRICH RANCHERS IN THE U.S. "THIS IS A VERY VIABLE INDUSTRY", HE SAYS, "NOT SOMETHING SOMEBODY JUST COOKED UP". BUT "COOKING UP" IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AS OSTRICH MEAT RACES INTO TOP RESTAURANTS AND FOOD COUNTERS. ACCORDING TO MANTZEL, "IT TASTES LIKE PRIME VEAL AND HAS VERY LITTLE CHOLESTEROL".

IN A WIDENING RIPPLE FROM THE BAYOUS OF LOUISIANA AND FLORIDA SWIMS ANOTHER EXOTIC MORSEL FOR THE BURGER-JADED CROWD: GATOR MEAT. DON'T LAUGH. I HAVE EATEN ALLIGATOR SEVERAL TIMES IN THE U.S. AND ITS LARGER COUSIN, THE CROCODILE, IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA. PROPERLY COOKED, THE TAILS FROM BOTH ARE DELICIOUS.

BOTH OSTRICH AND GATOR ARE HEALTHIER THAN MANY OTHER FOODS ACCORDING TO MANY GASTRONOMICAL AFICIONADOS. LESS FAT, MORE PROTEIN, MORE PSYCHOLOGICAL "STRENGTH". MORE SUPPORT FOR THE THEORY: "YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK AND EAT."

ALL THIS SOUNDS EXOTIC. BUT SO DID SUSHI A FEW YEARS AGO. NOW IT'S VERY PROFITABLE. ARE YOU BEING TOO CONSERVATIVE? BESIDES, WHAT GREAT COCKTAIL PARTY TALK: YOU AND YOUR GATOR FARM/OSTRICH RANCH. MORE INFORMATION: AMERICAN OSTRICH ASSOCIATION. PHONE: (713) 666-7171. P.S. I'VE SENT AWAY FOR RECIPES. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. OSTRICH AND GATORS COULD REPLACE "WHEATIES" AS THE ALL-AMERICAN BREAKFAST FOOD.

* * *

< previous | chapter index | next >
back to Main Chapter Listing
back to Home Page