On January 17th 1929 the daily King Features comic strip Thimble Strip introduced the United States to their new hero, Popeye. Created by Elzie Grisler Segar, Popeye would overtake the strip and become it's titular character. In 1932 there was a change made to Popeye that would have significant economic impacts, he started to consume spinach for strength.
Popeye became linked with the green leafy vegetable in the minds of millions of people. The result was a significant in crease in spinach consumption which some equate to saving the spinach industry. A 2010 study linked an increase in vegetable consumption to watching Popeye. The spinach industry took notice and has erected statues to the famous sailor in Crystal City, Texas, Chester Illinois, and Alma, Arkansas which has claimed itself the spinach capital of the world.
So, why was spinach the vegetable of choice for Popeye? Spinach was chosen for it's high iron content which, while high, isn't that high. The choice of spinach was based on a study gauging the amount of iron in spinach. In the study the decimal point was accidentally placed one off so that spinach appeared to have ten times the amount of iron is actually does. While the error was discovered in the 1930s it wasn't well known until a 1981 publication brought it to the public's attention.
-Professor Walter
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