Jerky is a snack item that we feel doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Few people give this food much thought, and if they do, it’s only in passing when they see it at their grocery store’s checkout counter. National Jerky Day is attempting to solve that problem by raising the profile, and hopefully, the status, of this snack food so more people appreciate it. Anyone who wants to do so can join in on the fun when this holiday is celebrated on June 12th.

The History Of National Jerky Day

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that National Jerky Day was invented by two organizations that have a financial interest in increasing jerky sales. These two organizations are the Wisconsin Beef Council and Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. They started this day back in 2012, and ever since then, it’s a holiday that’s slowly building in popularity.

The History Of Jerky

According to many different historical sources, jerky was invented as a traditional way to preserve meat by the Incas from at least the 16th century, but the practice probably goes back even further than that. The word jerky comes from the Quechuan word of the Incas for “dried meat,” Ch’arki.

Other Native American tribes also made jerky out of buffalo meat. These tribes would then add this jerky to dried fruit and suet to make pemmican. Pemmican is a food that lasts an extremely long time and is the perfect food for carrying while traveling because it’s nutrient-rich and easy to carry.

Fun Facts About Jerky

Jerky is a food that’s definitely more fun than people think. It’s a food that has gone everywhere from local gas stations and grocery stores to even outer space. To remind everyone just how great jerky is, we’ve decided to list a few fun facts about it below.

• NASA provided astronauts in the 1990s with jerky as a high-protein treat.
• Jerky sales often outsell other salty snacks such as popcorn or pretzels.
• Jerky is extremely low in fat and very high in protein.
• The main health concern about jerky is the amount of sodium used to make it.
• Jerky can contain up to 600mg of sodium per serving.

Celebrating National Jerky Day

National Jerky Day can be celebrated easily enough by heading out to a local grocery store and buying your favorite type. There are many different varieties of jerky available nowadays, from beef jerky to even ostrich and alligator jerky. If buying store-bought jerky doesn’t sound appealing, a person can also make their own jerky using a dehydrator. No matter how a person celebrates this holiday, however, they should make sure they spend the time to post their activities on social media using the hashtag #NationalJerkyDay.