Economy was the hot topic at Fish Fry

The Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Fish Fry is an annual tradition. This year, they finally served fish, with a side of economic reality.

For the past ten years pork was the main dish at the Purdue Ag Fish Fry. It was to support Indiana's Pork Producers but perch is back on the menu.

"Now we actually have an Indiana Fish producer who can supply this much fish for the event," Director of Aquaculture Steven Hart said.

So this year participants enjoyed a feast of perch and pork.

"It really gets the word out there that local raised products are available, local raised fish plus with the changes in the world and all the issues we've had with food safety knowing that you can get a product that is locally raised is I think going to be even more important as years go by," Hart said.

It's as important as the economy right now.

"Sometimes you hear a lot of complaints about how food prices are going up and a lot of that gets pointed back at the farmer when in reality a lot of the costs that the farmer has to deal with are going up as well," Hart said.

Indiana's farmers are dealing with the same issues most American families are dealing with. Higher costs for farmers mean a higher cost of doing business.

"We are concerned but we are certainly in better shape because we had the good year before the bad year," Farmer and Purdue Trustee John Hardin said.

Hardin said last year was a very good year for Indiana's farmers which helped soften the blow. He also said buying local is becoming more important to American consumers, that too helps Indiana's farmers.

"Knowing who grows the food means something to the significant part of our population," Hardin said.

The economy though uncertain isn't taking as big a bite out of the Agriculture business as it is the Manufacturing business.

Saturday's keynote speaker and the Fish Fry was MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. She is the chief foreign correspondent for NBC news.