Why do some people insist that USDA organic food is healthier than non USDA organic food? Is organic healthier than non? I read conflicting reports and am confused. Whom should I believe?
Under "Local and Sustainable",how can we make "CSR" or "Community Supported Ranching" more accesable including Butchering regulations?
Why is it that you can no longer find "Prime" in your local store and that the "Choice" cuts standards have lowered?
How will the agricultural industry grow healthier food with less or on pesticides and healthier livestock with less or no use of antibiotics? I believe both of these initiatives are important to provide healthier food that is also more nutritious.
Does acrylamide have anything to do with meats baked at high temperatures
I was raised on raw milk prior pasturization. Why is it not legal to sell / buy raw milk in all 50 states?
Is agriculture a dirty word?
When are we going to start giving credit to the local food movement? Farmers market numbers are up across America. Consumers want local food and want to build relationships with their growers and producers. It is time we add more funding in the Farm Bill for the local food movement as well as small growers and producers in the Farm Bill. Lets give consumers what they want.
When are we going to address the myth that organic is the most healthy alternative? The USDA organic regs specify that this is a style of production. I am not aware of data that indicates organic is healthier, safer, or better for the environment.
Due to marketing tactics, most consumers do not have an accurate perception of where their food comes from. What steps are you taking to improve transparency so that consumers know what kind of operation they are supporting with their dollars?
Do you know where your "fresh baked" supermarket bread is really made?
The USFRA affiliates include the USDA-sponsored checkoff programs, which run advertisements encouraging Americans to consume more beef, pork, milk, and cheese than we currently do. Other USFRA affiliates promote fruits, vegetables, fats, oils, grains, and sugar. What is your opinion of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourage moderate food intake, less sugar, less solid fats, and a largely plant-based diet?
Earlier this year the USDA changed its food and nutrition marketing from the Food Pyramid to the Nutrition Plate. The marketing material has been distributed across the nation to thousands of schools and offices. How is the USDA measuring, long term, these marketing programs as it relates to real health change, and when will intermediate assessments of the program be published?
Has the USDA looked at shifting dollars from subsidy/support programs to healthy eating and nutrition programs? If this has been looked into, what would it take to actually shift dollars out into eating and nutrition programs?
How is conventional farming different from organic farming?
New Survey Released During The Food DialoguesSM: New York Reveals
Knowledge About Food Is Status Symbol for New York Consumers
CHESTERFIELD, MO. (Nov. 15, 2012) – For New Yorkers, food knowledge means social status. According to a new survey of New York area consumers released today by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), 54 percent of New Yorkers believe that being knowledgeable about food is a social status symbol. The survey, released in conjunction with The Food DialoguesSM: New York, found that New Yorkers in general were less informed about how food is grown and raised, but if they could prioritize it, would be more passionate about learning more about food than consumers across the country.
New Survey Released During The Food DialoguesSM: New York Shows Need for Dialogue Despite Confidence in How Food is Grown and Raised
CHESTERFIELD, MO. (Nov. 15, 2012) – Today, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) released findings of a new survey about Americans’ perceptions on food production. The survey, released in conjunction with The Food DialoguesSM: New York, revealed Americans increasingly believe food production is heading in the right direction. However, the survey also found Americans still have widespread misperceptions about how food is grown and raised.
Today is Food Day, a day to promote "healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way." This I support. But some of the lofty ideas, biased language and unsupportable premises offered by the promoters I do not support.
By Robyn Flipse
Did you miss today’s episode of Anderson Live? See Rebecca, a show viewer attend The Food Dialogues: New York and visit Blythe Angus ranch to get answers to her questions about meat.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring “Do farmers rotate their crops? What is the benefit of this practice?”
Here’s what our farmer/rancher expert says:
FROM STARTRIBUNE ON OCTOBER 16, 2012
By Suzzane Vold
Once upon a time, as Johnny circled home base and Jane mastered cartwheels, moms sat in the bleachers, sharing the latest family news and swapping recipes based on meals they’d shared. The world has changed since then. We still gossip (let’s admit, who doesn’t?) and we still talk food. But, while our moms focused on bringing food to the table, we’re talking about how our food is grown and raised, before it ends up in our shopping carts.
We strive to serve healthy foods to our family, but we wonder about whether that glass of milk is safe and wholesome? Are farm animals treated humanely? Are we confident in the environmental stewardship of our farmers?
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance continues to move the dialogue forward between farmers and ranchers and key influencers and consumers, answering questions and bringing to light how food is grown and raised. On June 20-21, 2012, farmers and ranchers head to Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world – for the second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions – held over two days – will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
Washington–The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, comprised of prominent national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners, today announced plans to lead a conversation with Americans, addressing concerns about their food, where it comes from and how it’s raised.
Read the full post at Idaho Farm Bureau News
It seems like everyone is talking about agriculture and food production these days, except those closest to it – farmers and ranchers. That’s the motivation behind a new initiative the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance announced this week at the Agricultural Media Summit in New Orleans.
When Bob Stallman’s daughter called him a month ago to ask him if drinking milk would be bad for her kids, he knew farmers had an image problem.
By Vicky Boyd, Editor, The Grower
Whether it’s the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list or Michael Pollan’s documentary Food Inc., agriculture is having to increasingly defend itself against widespread public criticism.
This Week in Louisiana Agriculture’s Hillary Whittaker travels to New Orleans.
Our mission is to relate to consumers; answer their questions; and build trust,” says Bob Stallman, chairman of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.
View the full post at agprofessional.com
LANSING – The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), comprised of prominent national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), has announced plans to lead a conversation with Americans, addressing concerns about their food, where it comes from and how it’s raised.
Read the full post at Drovers Cattle Network
The New York Times announced in March a contest on whether it’s ethical to eat meat – calling all carnivores. In conjunction with this contest, we asked those who were planning to submit an essay to share theirs with us. We received more than 20 and here’s your chance to read them.
The Times announced their winner on May 3, and while it wasn’t one of the essays we received, here’s your opportunity to read why it is ethical to eat meat.
Farmer Brian Scott recently blogged about the importance of talking to consumers to listen to their concerns but also to clear up possible misperceptions around how farmers grow and raise food. Check out an excerpt from his blog about how he thinks it’s imperative for farmers do a better job connecting with consumers.
Tweet moms hear how their food is grown and raised – from a farmer and rancher
Moms are clearly mindful about what they feed their families, and following March’s Tweet chat, it’s clear they want to hear from farmers and ranchers about how their food is grown and raised. Tweets flooded #FoodD last week as USFRA hosted an online Twitter event – aka a “Tweet Chat” or “Twitter Party” – for moms, farmers and ranchers. Jeff Fowler, a farmer and rancher, was on hand to answer questions and provided insights into how he grows and raises food on his farm in California.
Take a look at some of the key questions and responses moms have regarding how their food is grown and raised.
USFRA Hosts Discussion in Chicago with Food Bloggers Last week, USFRA organized a breakfast discussion in Chicago at a local restaurant with 16 farmers and ranchers from around the country and six local food bloggers. There was no structured presentation, allowing bloggers to eat breakfast with actual farmers and ranchers in a casual setting. While at the table, discussions centered around farmers and ranchers family backgrounds and how their farms or ranches operate. Bloggers also had the opportunity to ask the farmers and rancher their questions.
FROM FOX NEWS ON MARCH 30, 2012
As a mother and RD, I have been curious about hormones in foods and whether or not they are a cause for concern. Hormones are in many foods – including plants. Instead of covering all foods, I am going to focus on cows. There is a lot of marketing that goes into products- especially milk and beef, which creates fear among consumers about the safety of our food supply.
Emily Webel gives us a glimpse into life on her grain and cow/calf operation on her blog Confessions of a Farm Wife, while sharing the joys of teaching her girls about farming. One of her recent blog posts talked about taking her kids to see an agricultural exhibit at a children’s museum. Check out what she has to say about the importance of encouraging farm visits by families and making sure young people get the whole story about farming.
To read more, visit her blog at www.webelfamilyfarm.blogspot.com
Many people have asked farmers and ranchers what we think about World Food Day, organized by the Food & Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (October 16) and Food Day, sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interests (October 24). In a month focused on food and Food Days, it is essential that farmers and ranchers continue our commitment to listening to Americans and to show our support for producing healthy choices for people everywhere. We can find common ground with many different voices on this purpose – even if we disagree on more granular issues.
It´s been said that the average American today has a richer, healthier, more varied diet than the wealthiest people enjoyed a century ago. A visit to any supermarket confirms that impression.
The way people shop for food has changed almost as much as the food they shop for. And it continues to evolve. For some people, it´s a case of “back to the future”-- relying on locally sourced products and farmers' markets, or making a daily trip to the grocery, the produce market and the butcher.
As an owner of a farm and ranch, we care about our animals and the products we produce. The land that we live on is a responsibility that we take very serious. Our children and grandchildren live here. We want it to be even better for them when they continue our business when we are gone.
As an owner of a farm and ranch, I would like to see more schooling and basic learning about how food really gets to the supermarket and the table. This should really start at home and or the schools.
Food leaving the farm is ethically produced and is as safe and wholesome as we know how to provide for our consumers, which includes our own families.
Americans have amazing food choices, and their decisions determine the foods produced for the market. Unfortunately, meal cost often drives decisions rather than nutrition benefit.
Get out there and find the farms, park your car, and go have a conversation with whomever is working. I do it all the time. You will be surprised at what you will learn.
Find and get to know your local FOOD (not feed) entrepreneur and tell him what you think he needs to know.
Obviously all of the choices are extremely important and not to be ignored. Choosing one was a challenge. However, as a farmer in a major metropolitan area (inside the city limits) healthy eating is a very important topic and one we cope with every day. However, healthy eating has a lot to do with food affordability and accessibility. There is not much that separates them! I wish that Americans could read a food label, understand that it is often cheaper to prepare food than to buy ready-made/fast food which are sadly ready made for and on the fast track to a public health crisis that we are not prepared to contemplate.
Farming requires high cost labor inputs. In order to make a profit these labor costs have increased far greater than healthcare costs have each year, yet produce costs have not matched those increases. At some point, the consumer must realize farmers cannot subsidize this loss forever and costs must balance with prices of fruits and vegetables grown locally.
Olive oils are NOT all the same high quality. Dont be fooled by labels with Extra Virgin Olive Oil in transparent bottles with no harvest date on them. Oils are fragile and delicate and decompose over time and lose their healthy qualities. But fresh locally grown and pressed olive oil is better for you. Cook with cheaper canned olive oil. And Spread EVOO on salads and in dips you make for that fresh clean buttery smooth olive oil taste. Many olive oils are 3 and 4th pressed oils that have lost all taste sensations and are nothing more than greasy, oily globs. Don't fall prey to this type of Oil. Demand to read label that has the COOC certification sticker on it. COOC is California Olive Oil Counsel. COOC grades and tests many oils each year by professionally trained olive oil tasters who can tell rancid oil from buttery, pungent oils. Furthermore, buy organic oil. It should state it on the label along with the year of harvest.
I believe that high quality beef begins with high quality care on the farm. I work hard to care for my cattle and the environment. This results in a very safe and nutritious product that I am proud to feed to my four daughters. Farmers and ranchers take great pride in caring for their livestock. Their livelihood depends on raising a high quality, healthy animal that results in a safe and nutritious product for the consumer to enjoy.
USFRA on Anderson Live
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance worked with Anderson Live to bring a viewer to the Martz farm and coordinated a discussion about her food questions.
The panelists look at how farmers and ranchers care for their animals using the latest information and techniques in animal welfare.
Cooking shows, food competitions, online content, books and documentaries -- these are only a few examples of the many ways the entertainment world is addressing the topic of food. But, as more Americans turn to entertainment to influence their food-purchasing and consumption decisions, are they getting the full story? Are these entertainment properties providing content that is fair or accurate? Has entertainment played an important role in our society by raising people's consciousness about food? Should farmers and ranchers be a bigger part of entertainment ventures?
Education and Research in Ag
Farming Methods Co-Exist
Just in time for the holidays, learn about how turkeys are raised at Nilsen Farms in Wilton, Calif. Nilsen Farms uses its natural resources to create sustainable energy and eliminate waste. Watch and learn more.
Farmers discuss the history of corn and soybean farming, how technology has evolved and the role young people involved in agriculture has progressed. Find more about the future of food and ask farmers and ranchers your questions on fooddialogues.com
This is the third of four video recaps of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
This is the full video recap of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
Food Dialogues- Biotech Discussion with Pamela Ronald and Michael Dimock. November 2,2011
This is the fourth of four video recaps of the successful Food Dialogues Town Hall held on September 22, 2011 in Washington D.C., New York, Indiana and California.
Farmers, ranchers and consumers alike all want healthy choices when it comes to food.
MSN.com recently ran an article on the 14 foods you should never eat, which includes hamburgers, corn, wheat and even McDonald’s. And why should one avoid these foods? Cattle raised for beef are “pumped full of growth hormones.” Corn is nothing more than “pesticide factories with roots.” Or, how about their statement that modern wheat is “nothing like the grain your mother or grandmother consumed.” And, avoid McDonald’s all together because their food comes from factory farms.
Oprah influences millions of people on social issues and discussions. Considering her level of impact, it’s critical to tell the whole story – not just one side – which is what happened in a recent O Magazine article. The magazine featured a story on biotechnology and the impact on consumers’ health. USFRA wonders, where was the scientific data and research to back the claims in the article? How is the magazine substantiating this “impact” on health?
http://www.oprah.com/health/Genetically-Modified-Foods-Affect-Health-and-Body
On May 3 The New York Times announced the winner of the essay contest on whether it’s ethical to eat meat. Their winner’s essay wasn’t unfavorable to animal agriculture, but was the article announcing the winner fair?
With Earth Day quickly approaching, media outlets and activists are raising their voices – and often against agriculture. The Sacramento Bee ran an editorial from Heather Moore, PETA Foundation, on her plans for celebrating Earth Day. She advocates eliminating meat from diets – all meats – chicken, pork, beef and fish.
Huffington Post is advocating a week-long challenge, kicking off with meatless Monday. The article claims several negative environmental impacts of raising animals for meat.
Can - or should - one group or one person’s opinion change your mind on removing meat from your diet? How much land would the world need to survive on a vegan diet? Is that even possible and what’s the environmental impact?
Read more here:
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/16/4416991/this-earth-day-eat-as-if-the-environment.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/15/earth-week-2012-challenge-meatless_n_1426827.html?ref=green
Different parts of the country – based on soil, weather and other factors – are good for different types of farming and ranching. Much of the farmland in the middle of the country is best suited for cereal grains. It actually takes more resources and fertilizer and crop protection to get crops that aren’t native to a specific growing region to actually grow.
Buying food that is locally grown has many benefits. In particular, it helps people connect with how their food is grown and raised while reducing the cost of shipping and environmental impact. However, there are some limitations to eating locally in some areas. Given growing seasons and geographies, there is produce that may not be available during specific times of year. All food is essentially locally grown depending on the area where the natural resources and landscapes are conducive to growing them. Foods are often shipped to places where other foods are native in exchange for those that aren’t. Sometimes, local can be resource intensive and therefore not always economically friendly.
Today, Americans have more fresh produce options than ever before. There are 230 average produce options in the average grocery store. According to a profile of how Americans eat, in 2000, consumers ate 20 percent more fruit and vegetables than Americans in the 1970s. http://agecon.ucdavis.edu
Farmers’ markets continue to increase in numbers with more than 7,800 farmers’ markets across the country. Additionally, several farming and ranching organizations are looking at ways to eliminate or reduce food deserts through education, bringing food into struggling areas, donating food and making donations to hunger relief organizations. State Farm Bureaus in particular have taken a proactive approach to assisting food deserts. For example, Ohio Farm Bureau provided funds to Rural Action to get fresh produce to rural areas. http://ofbf.org/news-and-events/news/2359/
Yes. People’s interest in how food is grown and raised has greatly increased. This interest has sparked a desire to start community and urban farms with a tremendous amount of growth over the past 20 years.
In addition, while there is not an official register for community supported agriculture (CSAs), it’s believed there are more than 4,000 CSAs across the country.
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
The drought of 2012 means several things. Farmers and ranchers will see economic impacts. With a challenging growing season, many will face tough management decisions as they look to 2013. Cattle ranchers, dairy farmers, pig farmers and poultry farmers will see increased feed prices, making it hard for them to turn a profit on their farm animals. Consumers could see an increase in food prices around 4.5 percent. This reflects the need to continue to develop technologies that can help farmers and ranchers face the toughest environmental conditions and still produce yields to provide an abundant food and feed supply. http://www.usda.gov/documents/drought-infographic.pdf
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err129/
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB75/
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR105/
The average U.S. household spends 6.4 percent of its household income on food. U.S. consumers spend the least amount on food compared to consumers from any other country. The next closest country is France; French consumers spend 13.2 percent of their household income on food.
http://www.usda.gov/documents/drought-infographic.pdf
Farmers do more with less. Efficiently managing resources, harnessing natural processes, and reducing waste have always been part of what successful farmers and ranchers do. Moving forward, they will continue to find ways to reuse and recycle as much as possible and invest it right back into farms.
This means they innovate to increase yields with fewer inputs as much as they can while protecting the land and taking care of their animals. Also, as long as consumer demand remains strong, farmers and ranchers will respond to the signal to grow their crops and herds as soon as Mother Nature complies. Increased supply, although not something that’s achieved overnight, means lower costs for consumers.
It isn’t that simple. Most often when food prices are high, the grain market may be high as well, but this is most often due to a shortage, which means farmers and ranchers are having a tough production year. Many farmers are struggling in 2012 because of the drought and their failing crops. In addition, the drought comes at a time when the costs of raising food – whether it’s the land, fuel or complying with strict regulations – are going up.
Not always. Grain markets are traded each weekday and can fluctuate greatly. Consumers will not see daily food price fluctuations based on these markets. Food price increases depend on many factors (such as fuel costs), beyond grain commodity prices. Additionally, during a drought year like 2012 when many farmers and ranchers are evaluating feed costs for farm animals – typically corn or soybeans, depending on the species – as well as grasses and forages affected by drought conditions – many will look to reduce or liquidate their herd size or reduce their poultry production. Costs to raise their farm animals are high and may not be economically viable when feed costs rise. With this liquidation of farm animals, the surplus of meat may actually lower the price in stores initially. While this may be temporary until that surplus has leveled out, consumers may actually pay less for meat for a given period of time. Following this price reduction, prices may increase due to low supplies.
Some farm animal producers, like cattle ranchers, may look to alternate feed sources by locally recycling by-products like beets, potatoes, citrus and other local feedstuffs that may help them survive times of high grain feed and forage prices.
USFRA believes consumers have the right to make food choices that best fit their personal needs and household budgets. In particular, USFRA supports healthy choices for everyone no matter their socioeconomic status. For agriculture to provide healthy choices for all Americans as well as people around the world, we need all types of farms and ranches – big and small, organic and conventional, rural and urban. Only when farmers and ranchers work together, sharing best practices and providing a range of choices, can we meet the desires of the marketplace as well as the real needs of a growing population.
Choices
Because America’s farmers and ranchers choose a variety of management styles and methods for growing and raising food, U.S. consumers have a wide array of options. In the past decade, these options have greatly increased. In the average supermarket, consumers choose from more than 38,000 different products. Fresh produce and meat choices have grown in recent years, providing consumers more options than ever before. According to a profile of how Americans eat, in 2000, consumers ate 20 percent more fruit and vegetables than Americans in the 1970s.
http://www.usda.gov/factbook/chapter2.pdf
http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/animal-products/cattle-beef/statistics-information.aspx
http://www.fmi.org/research-resources/supermarket-facts
Additionally, a W.K. Kellogg study showed fresh produce consumption has increased in just the last five years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/americans-eat-more-fresh-foods-than-they-did-five-years-ago/2012/05/22/gIQAyPS1gU_blog.html
Farmers’ markets now provide one percent of Americans’ produce, helping people connect locally with their food. There are approximately 7,800 farmers markets around the country – and the number is growing. Grocery stores now provide U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified organic along with conventionally-grown produce, with varying prices to appeal to all consumers. The United States has the largest market for organic goods, surpassing Europe in 2010. Additionally, new food options like ready-to-eat roasts and new deli counter offerings have grown, adding even more consumer choices.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/08/0262.xml&contentidonly=true
Still, food choices can be challenging for some Americans – particularly those who live in “food deserts.” Food deserts exist in two areas: mainly, inner cities where healthy food choices may not be available and extremely rural areas where populations are low and grocery stores with abundant choices are rare. Communities work with local farmers and ranchers to help resolve some of these challenges and the increase of urban/community gardens have also provided relief for many of these food desert areas.
http://ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-desert-locator/go-to-the-locator.aspx
Many farmer and rancher organizations strive to help people who may not be able to afford food or may not have access. Combating hunger is a major cause recognized and addressed by the agriculture community. One good example of how farmers work to provide food where it’s needed most is the “Farm Share” program. Farm Share is a large-scale food bank and charitable packinghouse working to end hunger. The group donates fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida’s farmers and puts them into the hands of the millions of low-income families in need of nutritious food.
Farmers and ranchers around the country work with their local food banks to donate beef, food, money and volunteer time. The “Beef Counts” program in Idaho and Washington has brought together the beef industry to help feed the local hungry. Likewise, ranchers in Missouri collected more than 15,000 pounds of food to benefit local families. United Egg Producers coordinates the donation and delivery of 12 million eggs annual to local food banks each Easter through Feeding America. Other campaigns have done the same. http://www.explorebeef.org/CMDocs/ExploreBeef/FactSheet_FarmersFightingHunger.pdf
County Farm Bureaus help with food drives, field gleaning, assist local food shelves with donations and serve on boards. Several County Farm Bureau leaders raise one to two acres of sweet corn for their local food pantries.
www.fbmn.org
Prices
U.S. consumers spend a lower percentage of household income on food than consumers in any other country. In 2010, 6.8 percent of final purchases were spent on food.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditures.aspx
Because prices are so low, Americans can choose from a wide range of products and in turn, spend the remainder of their disposable income on other things, thus supporting economic growth in other areas.
http://www.usda.gov/documents/drought-infographic.pdf
Looking back over the past 30 years, the rate of inflation in general, and rate of inflation for food specifically, has fallen. The average annual increase for food-at-home prices between 1990 and 2011 was 2.8 percent.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/Data/cpiforecasts.htm
While food price increases have historically been lower than the average rate of inflation at 3 percent, many consumers felt the surge in 2008 with an increase of 6.4 percent over 2007 prices. Consumers saw another increase in 2011 with a 4.8 percent increase.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/consumerpriceindex.htm
These increases left many consumers concerned. Price increases have been driven in large part by the oil market and spikes in fuel prices. These increases made it more expensive for farmers to grow and raise food, transport it and market it. All industries, including food, farming and trucking felt the impact of increased fuel prices.
No matter the geographical location, the 2012 U.S. growing season is a challenging one. According to Bloomberg News (Aug. 1, 2012), more than half the counties in the U.S. have been designated as drought-stressed. Many consumers are wondering the impact they’ll see at the store. According to the USDA, food prices may increase as much as 4.5 percent (July 25, 2012). Likewise, many farmers are wondering how they may survive the drought and, if they do, how this will impact their 2013 resources and management plans after a challenging year.
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/25/157382534/usda-predicts-food-prices-to-rise-in-droughts-wake
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-01/drought-disaster-declaration-widened-to-cover-half-u-s-counties.html
Wholly or partially funded by one or more Checkoff programs.
Digital map with scroll over
When it comes to the state of America’s food and agriculture systems, it is unlikely we will ever agree with Eric Schlosser [“Healthy food for all: Why is that elitist?,” Outlook, May 1].
There is no doubt that a handful of thought leaders aspire to dictate what is placed on America’s dinner tables. That’s not name-calling; it’s the context of our nation’s ongoing food debate.
Organic foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most mainstream U.S. food retailers. The marketing boom has pushed retail sales of organic foods up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of retailers selling a wider variety of foods, the development of private-label product lines by many supermarkets, and the widespread introduction of new products. A broader range of consumers has been buying more varieties of organic food. Organic handlers, who purchase products from farmers and often supply them to retailers, sell more organic products to conventional retailers and club stores than ever before. Only one segment has not kept pace—organic farms have struggled at times to produce sufficient supply to keep up with the rapid growth in demand, leading to periodic shortages of organic products.
The North American organic food and beverage market has overtaken Europe to become the biggest organic market in the world, according to a new report from Organic Monitor.
Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average, March 2012
Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average, February 2012
Official USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels, U.S. Average, January 2012
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food is a component of the all-items CPI. The all-items CPI measures price changes for all consumer goods and services, including food, whereas the CPI for food measures the changes in the retail prices of food items only.
Like Kiera—and, I'm sure, many of the readers of her article—I was a bit shocked when I calculated how much I spend on food. I like to think I'm thrifty in my food spending habits—I cook a lot and usually eat out only on the weekends—but I don't usually add up my food costs and rarely make serious estimates for food spending when I make a budget, instead assuming that I'll manage to make do with whatever's left after I cut a check for rent, buy a bus pass, and pay my utility bills.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a fascinating new report out that compares consumer budgets in the United States, Canada, Britain and Japan. As the graph below shows, there’s a huge amount of variation in what people in each country are spending their money on:
In Japan, consumers spent more than 17 percent of every yen on groceries, twice the 8.6 percent of every dollar that Americans spent. In the United States, households spent over 7 cents of every dollar on health care, compared with just 1.4 pence of every pound in the United Kingdom. This article compares how consumers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan allocated different shares of total spending to categories such as food, housing, and transportation in 2009. Such variation can be expected, given differences in cultural tastes, the relative availability of goods and services, and institutional factors, such as government regulation and tax laws, among those countries. As shown in chart 1, housing and health care shares of total expenditures were higher in the United States than in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan in 2009, whereas Americans had the lowest clothing (or apparel) share. Canada had the highest clothing and transportation shares, and Japan had the highest food share, among the countries compared.
The ERS Food Expenditure Series contributes to the analysis of U.S. food production and consumption by constructing a comprehensive measure of the total value of all food expenditures by final purchasers. This series annually measures total U.S. food expenditures, including purchases by consumers, governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Because the term expenditure is often associated with household decisionmaking, it is important to recognize that ERS's series also includes nonhousehold purchases. For example, the series includes the dollar value of domestic food purchases by military personnel and their dependents at military commissary stores and exchanges, the value of commodities and food dollars donated by the Federal government to schools, and the value of food purchased by airlines for serving during flights.
USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum
February 23, 2012
Table 97—Percent of household final consumption expenditures spent on food, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco that were consumed at home, by selected countries, 2010
