Food Check Out Week reminds consumers food is affordable

(Gainesville, Fla.) — With economic concerns looming large in the minds of most Americans, the average cost of food continues to remain affordable overall. According to the most recent information from the Agriculture Department’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service, it takes just five weeks for the average American to earn enough income to pay for the entire year’s food supply. American families and individuals spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food, much less than many other nations.

The average household will have earned enough disposable income—that portion of income available for spending or saving—to pay for its annual food supply in about 37 days or five weeks, according to the Florida Farm Bureau Federation. In recognition of this, county Farm Bureau’s throughout the state are celebrating Feb. 3 – 9 as Food Check-Out Week.

”Not only is America’s food supply among the world’s safest, it is the most affordable,” said John Hoblick, president of the Florida Farm Bureau. “The abundant, affordable and safe domestic food supply produced by America’s farmers’ and ranchers’ is responsible, at least in part, for our nation’s high standard of living.”

“Americans work longer each year to pay for their housing, federal taxes and medical care, compared to how long they work to pay for food,” said Hoblick. According to the Tax Foundation, Americans work an average of 52 days each year to pay for health and medical care, 62 days to pay for housing/household operation and 77 days to pay federal taxes.

Hoblick said the food we enjoy as consumers is a product of our successful food production and distribution system, as well as America’s farmers and ranchers continuing to have access to effective and affordable crop protection tools.

This week should hold meaning for most Americans, he said. “We remain concerned that some Americans cannot afford to buy the food they need, but we are proud of the role Florida farmers play in producing the most affordable food in the world.”

The percent of disposable personal income spent for food has declined over the last 35 years. In 1970, it took Americans 14 more days to earn enough income to pay for their food supply for the year. According to USDA, food is more affordable today due to a widening gap between growth in per-capita incomes and the amount of money spent for food.

This overall decrease is made more notable by trends indicating Americans are buying more expensive convenience foods, as well as more food away from home. USDA’s latest statistic, compiled for 2006, includes food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed at home and away from home. This includes food purchases at grocery stores and other retail outlets, including food purchases with food stamps and vouchers for the Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) program. The statistic also includes away-from-home meals and snacks purchased by families and individuals, as well as food furnished to employees.

Food Check-Out Day tracks the amount of income needed by Americans to purchase food on an annual basis, Hoblick said. “There have been some slight fluctuations over the past few years, but food prices have remained relatively stable over time.”

Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 142,000 member-families statewide. There are Farm Bureaus representing 64 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida’s economy. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization and is not associated with any arm of the government. More information is available on the organization’s website, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org.