U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for April 18

WASHINGTON, April 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SUNDAY, APRIL 18: GRITS FESTIVAL

Profile America — Sunday, April 18th.  Today, the folks in St. George, South Carolina, are winding up their 25th annual World Grits Festival, celebrating one of the nation's most enduring regional foods.  Before it's over, some 45,000 people will have enjoyed the festival, complete with food, entertainment, amusement rides, contests, and a parade.  Grits used to be served only in the South but now appear regularly alongside bacon and eggs in many parts of the country.  Hominy grits can be made from oats or rice but most often are made from processed corn.  The increasing popularity of grits is part of the rise in our consumption of corn products.  While each of us ate about 13 pounds of such products in 1980, that figure now is more than 32 pounds.  Profile America is completing its 13th years as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:  www.worldgritsfestival.com

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 212

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau