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American Morning

American Classics: Meat, Beer and Blowing Stuff Up

Aired July 04, 2001 - 09:58   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Food, flag, fireworks and family. The makings of a festive Fourth of July.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right and don't forget the brew.

KAGAN: Yes, the foam.

HARRIS: CNN's Skip Loescher now has more on the key holiday ingredients.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nothing is more traditional on the Fourth of July than fireworks. Census Bureau figures show Americans spent nearly $125 million on fireworks last year, the bulk of them imported from China.

Also imported, from Taiwan in this case, more than half of the almost 748,000 American flags waved and flown in the U.S. last year.

And what would the holiday be without picnics and barbecues? Each year, the Census Bureau says more than 31 million Americans picnic and 64 million-plus barbecue. July 4 is the most popular day for grilling.

And what will people eat? More than 54 million pounds of beef, mostly hamburgers; 150 million pounds of hot dogs; and untold amounts of potato salad and other assorted family delicacies, all to be washed down by a hefty quantity of the estimated 32 gallons of beer and the 51 gallons of soda each so-called typical American guzzles during the year.

And the result on the fifth may be...

Skip Loescher, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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