(EMAILWIRE.COM, April 23, 2007 ) San Angelo, TX - - The emu may look like a walking grass hut, but the American Emu Association wants consumers to know that products produced by this big bird are anything but silly. Sponsored by the American Emu Association, National Emu Week (NEW) is a nine-day promotional event starting on the first Saturday and running through the second Sunday in May. During NEW, participating emu farms and state emu associations sponsor various activities such as cooking or egg decorating contests while others may offer farm tours to school children, nursing home residents or the general public. NEW will run from May 5 through May 13, 2007 this year.

Emus are members of the ratite family, which also includes ostrich, kiwi, cassowary and rhea. The emu is being raised in the United States for its lean red meat. Recognized as Heart Healthy™ by the American Heart Association, emu meat ranked best in 15 out of 20 essential nutrients in a USDA funded study at the University of Wisconsin. The meat is similar in taste and texture to lean beef. The big birds are grown in the United States without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. According to AEA president Charles Ramey, emu meat is available vacuum packed and either frozen or fresh. “It can be mail-ordered from individual producers or found at retail in specialty food stores, health food stores and retail establishments around the country,” said Ramey. “Anyone looking for emu meat or products can visit the AEA website for information on how to find a producer in their state.”

Important co-products from the emu include leather, feathers for fashion and crafts and the fat, which is turned into an omega rich oil used in health and beauty products. The large green eggs are popular with egg artists, particularly those that carve or sculpt eggs because of the three layers of color found in the shell: white, teal and dark green.

Farmers who have diversified their operations to include emu find the big birds take up little space. Most emu operations in the U. S. are run on less than 10 acres. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that emu are being raised on over 5,000 farms across the country.

For more information about emus and the products produced by this alternative agriculture, visit the American Emu Association website at http://www.aea-emu.org, call (541) 332-0675 or email info@aea-emu.org.

The American Emu Association is a national, non-profit organization that represents an alternative agricultural industry, dominated by the small farmer, who is devoted to humane and environmentally positive practices that will produce beneficial products for society.

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