Issue: I am from Maine. I love Maine. I am all about local - before it was COOL to support local. So when the battle cry came out late last summer to buy lobsters from Maine lobsterman - we did. We like lobster, but we started having it more often and served it to more people, made it in many different ways. Here is a little html file to give you an idea of the situation of the lobstermen. Later on, there were a bunch of other late adopters started talking about the price of lobster being in the $3/# range, (while diesel prices were through the roof). But getting this word out was good. So again, we were reminded to continue to eat Maine lobster as part of the weekly meal routine.
New Year's Eve 2008. We decide to make lobster- it seemed perfect. The price had climbed up to $4.50/#. When I was at the Deli Counter looking into the lobster tank, I saw a sign over it stating as follows:
"insert store name here, is a long-time supporter of communities where we operate. In Maine, the lobster industry is faced with tough times. insert store name here, is doing it's part to lower our lobster prices for our customers to enjoy."
So I proudly ordered the guys up and I even bought a few extra to make a lobster stew after. I felt so patriotic, I practically whistled the Maine State Song on my way out the door. (Here are the lyrics, I am not kidding!)
I got home and started cooking the lobster. They need to be cooked LIVE , (if you didn't know, they look green when they are ALIVE), so I started right away, the water boiling and dropped them into the pot. We ate them- they were tasty.
Lobsters are banded to protect them from going after each other, pinching you and also for ID purposes. I noticed the bands that came off of more that a couple of the lobsters, read "PRODUCT OF CANADA."
I was dumbfounded.
Let the record show, I love Canada and I love Canadians. They are our neighbors after all, and I have great friends from there. If you want Maine Lobsters and they are truly Maine lobsters, go here or here. Just in case there is a shortage of Maine lobsters, or if you want to make sure the ones you are getting are from the Gulf of Maine, they both will help get you what you order.
BUT - I felt duped, used, betrayed, whatever you call it. I feel even worse for the Maine Lobsterman. I went back to the insert store name here, to take a photo of the sign I had read and if I hadn't done it quickly, they were not going to let me take the photo in the first place. I needed permission - apparently. Now oddly enough, I have tried to upload the photo I took of the sign to this blog and the insert photo option on blogger doesn't seem to be working either!
What I said in my head: I have to ask permission to take a photo of a sign in a public place? You don't have to ask permission to screw me in a public place?
What a country! (Perhaps I should start singing Oh Canada! (I even know the words) when I leave insert store name here...but I won't be going back.
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