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Where Does Your Food Dollar Go?
Although less than 2 percent of Americans live on farms, we all participate in agriculture at least three times a day—at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yet, as we browse the smorgasbord of options on our supermarket shelves, it's easy to forget that many of these products were produced right here in Alabama. It's also easy to forget that, as Americans, we enjoy the safest, most affordable food and fiber in the world.
Check this out:
- Americans spend about 10.7 percent of their disposable income on food, compared to 11.2 percent in England; 14.9 percent in Australia; 17.6 percent in Japan; 24.5 percent in Mexico; and 51.3 percent in India.
- More than 90 percent of the food items consumed in the United States are produced whole or in part by American farmers.
- Per capita income in the United States increased 48 percent from 1970-1997. Meanwhile, food expenditures increased only 23 percent, mostly due to an increase in the number of Americans dining out.
- It takes just 40 days for the average American to earn enough money to buy their food for an entire year. In contrast, it takes them 131 days to earn enough to pay their federal, state and local taxes for one year.
- Since 1978, the share of the American food dollar spent on processing and marketing has increased 180 percent.
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