Happy National Lobster Day! Enjoy our fun lobster facts...

Today is National Lobster Day! In fact, there are two National Lobster Days each year, on June 16^th and September 25^th.  National Lobster Day not only gives us a great excuse to eat lobster, it also emphasizes the important role that lobster has played in our U.S. History.

Happy National Lobster Day from Lobster Gram

Here are some of our favorite lobster facts:

• Historical lore notes that lobster likely joined turkey on the table at the very first Thanksgiving Day feast in 1621.
• Lobster was once considered peasant food. In the 1800s during colonial times, lobsters were incredibly plentiful that lobsters sometimes washed ashore in two-foot-tall drifts during low tide. Most New Englanders only ate lobster when other food was scarce; and many servants, slaves, and prisoners had to live off of lobster during this time period. In fact, one Massachusetts community had to pass a law that limited how often you could serve lobster to your servants. It was a modest three times a week!
• Lobster Newburg was featured on the menu at the inaugural dinner celebration for President John F. Kennedy.
• Lobsters are one of the most healthy and nutritious sources of protein. Studies show that 3 1/2 ounces of lobster meat (without the butter) contains only 90 calories, 24 grams of protein, is high in selenium, contains omega-3 fatty acids, and while it does contain 72 mg of cholesterol, that amount comes in less than the same size serving of chicken (85 mg).
• Many lobster species can live to be over 100 years old.
• Most lobsters travel over 100 miles a year and have migratory patterns.
• The largest lobster documented by the Maine Department of Marine Resources was caught in 1977 off the coast of Nova Scotia, approximately 100 years old and weighing in at 44 pounds, 6 ounces.

Back in 1987, Dan Zawacki, founder of Lobster Gram, originated the idea of shipping live Maine lobster “fresh from our shore to your door®”.  The idea spread, helping generate a booming industry of lobster being delivered fresh to your doorstep. In the state of Maine alone, lobster fishing is a $1 billion industry.

In addition to the annual National Lobster Day on June 15^th, on August 6, 2015, the United States Senate designated September 25^th as National Lobster Day. The law, proposed by Maine Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, established a new holiday recognizing lobster’s place in American history and culture. Thousands of families make ends meet thanks to the 120,000,000 pounds of lobster meat fisherman catch in the U.S. each year.