Yes, but incredibly corrupt businessmen from that era created such changed demand that it redefined how people view essential vs luxuries.
Back then, having ice was a seasonal thing for everyone, a mostly year-round thing for rich landowners storing ice in their vaults, and not a thing ever at all for folks living in hot climates like the UAE. It’s why smoked food/adobe sauce exists from before mechanical refrigeration or readily available ice.
Charlie boy changed that. He shipped ice all over the world, creating demand where there wasn’t any - and caused widespread impacts to cultures and economies, not to mention the environment. Now chilled food/drink is available (if not prevalent) in most societies, and isn’t thought of as a luxury item - in the US lobbying tells us that “Ice is food” and should qualify for food stamps
Not exactly a new business model. That’s pretty much how it used to be done.
That picture is harvesting ice from frozen lakes in the winter. Not exactly the same…
Yes, but incredibly corrupt businessmen from that era created such changed demand that it redefined how people view essential vs luxuries.
Back then, having ice was a seasonal thing for everyone, a mostly year-round thing for rich landowners storing ice in their vaults, and not a thing ever at all for folks living in hot climates like the UAE. It’s why smoked food/adobe sauce exists from before mechanical refrigeration or readily available ice.
Charlie boy changed that. He shipped ice all over the world, creating demand where there wasn’t any - and caused widespread impacts to cultures and economies, not to mention the environment. Now chilled food/drink is available (if not prevalent) in most societies, and isn’t thought of as a luxury item - in the US lobbying tells us that “Ice is food” and should qualify for food stamps
The timing is terrible, however.