I would encourage you to read this thoughtful article (featured in Entomofago) by cricket farmer, Adam Brody, of Cricket Farm New York. He apparently hosted a cricket concert at the Dixon Place theater. You might go to dinner theater and enjoy a steak, fish, chicken, etc. , but I bet you won’t hear your dinner (cows, fish, chickens, etc.) sing for you. As you have herd, schools, flocks a group of crickets are called an orchestra.
Here is a cricket song slowed down. Snopes says this video‘s claim to be crickets slowed down is unproven– but the possibility is fascinating.
Friends often tease me about eating bugs, facetiously saying I can have all the stink bugs I want. I was surprised to find people actually do eat stink bugs. I have not tried them yet, but here’s a related video (also in Entomofago). And you might notice what many of the insects-as-food pioneers have realized. Names are important. Ask me if I want to eat a stink bug, I am turned off. Ask me if I’d be willing to try a jumile (a stink bug), and I am less resistant.
Stars continue give support to entomophagy. Dawn O’Porter tried some ants and gave a positive review. You can read about it here.
There’s not a lot new information, but Crickstart posted a concise list of benefits of entomophagy. One of the seldom mentioned benefits is the frass (cricket poop). It apparently is in high demand.
Laura Shine (Twitter @shineonlaura) wrote a cautionary article: “Opinion: Edible insects are one hop closer to our plates“.
Here’s one more excellent article, What Happens to Your Body if You Start Eating Bugs. It explores how insects potentially could help people keep their blood pressure down, fight anemia, and supply b12, and other vitamins and minerals.
If anybody is interested in giving insect-as-food a try, check this out: A friend was ordering cricket flour, and she was disappointed that so much of the cost was shipping rather than the product. She knew free shipping was an option if you ordered a sufficient quantity, but she didn’t want that much. I jokingly said we should form a co-op. Then I thought (I do that occasionally), “Why not?” A co-op would allow folks to order larger quantities and reduce shipping charges. So that is the 1st purpose of the Bug Co-op group.
James Rolin wrote on the Bug Co-op page, “Okay folks.. Cowboy Cricket Farms here ready to make a chirp! Let me know if we can be of any assistance to anyone.” Maybe you want to check out the products on their website.
And you can find lots of other insect-as-food products here.
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