The national beef preference began in the Great Plains because of its ideal conditions for raising cattle.
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Harris argues that the extinction of the American bison in the Great Plains was deliberate to get rid of the Native Americans and buffalo so that the plains would be safer for cattle
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"You know, it's hard to beat bacon at anytime of day. But I also am a big fan of corned beef hash."
-Nick Offerman |
After the Great Plains had been converted to cattle grazing, the beef eating trend slowly took over the country. Refrigerated train cars were invented to keep beef good without giving it “ice burn,” and facilitate beef eating all over the country. However, even with all these factors, beef hadn’t beat out pork as the number one American meat source. Cows had overgrazed, so cattle grazing had to move farther and farther from railroads until beef lost its price advantage.
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The transition to beef was fueled in part by women getting jobs and spending less time in the kitchen. Families around the country started turning to the fast food hamburger for dinners.
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Fun Fact: The USDA requires 100% beef for restaurants to call their patties hamburgers, so the movement toward hamburgers meant a movement toward beef.
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