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The Tip is 'Watch What You Eat' While in the grocery store recently I noticed that the apples were from South America. Next to South American apples were a bin of apples labeled Made in USA. I decided to go with the Made in America apples since they were US grown. Always remember the Big Secret- buying more American made products helps put Americans back to work. It will guide you to food you will want to eat that is grown with US labor. If you just take a moment to look and think before you buy, it is likely you will find what you are looking for. Also, be careful because sometimes labels are not what they seem. Some companies use the letters USA to fool you into thinking they are American products. Trust only those products that literally claim their country of origin. Look for labeling like: Product of USA, Made in USA, Grown in USA, or other definitive markings. And last, when you begin the journey of purposely identifying American products keep in mind that it may take a little time but the more you look the easier it becomes. You will start to remember which brands are made in the USA and which aren't. This knowledge makes it easy and will accumulate over time. Some food items are not grown in the USA and you will learn that too. The Big Secret tells us we don't need to purchase everything from USA manufacturers just a little more than we are accustom to. If you can average $200 a month more on domestic purchases than you otherwise would it adds up fast. $2,400 a year is equivalent to 7 MILLION new American jobs. We believe that is a good thing. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Homer Laughlin FIESTA?, America's favorite dinnerware, was introduced by The Homer Laughlin China Company with great fanfare at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show in January, 1936. FIESTA? was the creation of Frederick Hurten Rhead, a second generation Stoke-on-Trent potter who had become Homer Laughlin's design director in 1927. FIESTA? was an immediate hit with the public and, by it's second year of production, more than one million pieces were produced. The original five colors were Red, Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Green and Ivory. Turquoise was added early in 1937. The shapes of FIESTA? were created in an Art Deco style with concentric circles highlighting the bright colors. The first six colors were produced through the 1930's and 40's until a change in fashion direction dictated a change to a softer palette of pastel colors at the beginning of the 1950's. Color trends moved back to brighter colors in the early 1960's and FIESTA? moved with the trend. By the late 60's earthtones were in vogue and the dinnerware industry turned in that direction. Popularity of these colors proved to be short-lived and sales began to fall. At the end of 1972, FIESTA? was retired after 37 years of production. The retired dinnerware line soon became popular with collectors, especially those who had childhood memories of this brightly colored dinnerware. As years passed, the value of the original FIESTA? colors and pieces grew as more people became avid collectors. In 1985, officials of Bloomingdale's, the prestigious retailer in New York City approached Homer Laughlin about reproducing a dinnerware line from the past. Soon the two companies agreed that FIESTA? had the greatest chance for commercial success. In early 1986, Bloomingdale's introduced a new line of FIESTA? with a new color palette and with improvements to the body and glaze. Homer Laughlin was the country's leading producer of restaurant china and it was determined that the new FIESTA? should be made of the same durable, restaurant- quality china body as the company's other products. The ceramic glaze would be lead-free, a comparatively new innovation in the china industry. This new version of FIESTA? was an instant success and a new generation of consumers became converts to FIESTA's popularity. Over the next twenty years, new colors have been introduced and FIESTA? has become a trendsetter of color for the housewares industry. In the seventy years since FIESTA? was first produced, there have been a total of 38 colors in the line. Today, Homer Laughlin introduces one new color each year and FIESTA? has become the leading dinnerware brand in casual tabletop, as well as a consistent leader in bridal registries across America. All the while, collectors have continued to add to the dinnerware to which they were first introduced by their mothers and grandmothers. Today, FIESTA? dinnerware is the most collected dinnerware in the history of the tabletop industry with well over one half billion pieces produced. |
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