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FOOD CHECK-OUT WEEK CELEBRATES AFFORDABILITY OF FOOD
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Just 36 days into the New Year, the average American household will have earned enough disposable income - that portion of income available for spending or saving - to pay for its annual food supply, according to the Alabama Farmers Federation, a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation.That's because, even in times of skyrocketing land and energy costs, the cost of food in America remains extremely affordable according to the latest statistics compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. As the American Farm Bureau Federation heads into its annual Food Check-Out Week on Feb. 4-10, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food. Applying that statistic to the calendar year means the average household will have earned enough to pay for its annual food supply by Tuesday, Feb. 5. Not only is America's food supply the world's safest, but it's also the most affordable, said Kim Earwood, director of the Federation's Women's Division. "The safe, abundant and affordable domestic food supply produced by America's farmers and ranchers is responsible, at least in part, for our nation's increasing standard of living," she said. "Compared to food, Americans work longer each year to pay for their housing, federal taxes and medical care." According to the Tax Foundation, Americans must work 52 days each year to pay for health and medical care, 62 days to pay for housing/household operation and 77 days to pay their federal taxes. Earwood said the affordable, high-quality food enjoyed by consumers is a product of a successful food production and distribution system, as well as America's farmers' and ranchers' continued access to effective and affordable crop protection tools. Food Check-Out Week should hold meaning for most Americans, she said. "Although we are concerned that some Americans cannot afford to buy the food they need, we are proud of the role Alabama 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 15 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 2005, includes food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed at home and away from home. This includes food purchases from 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 Week tracks the amount of income needed by Americans to purchase food on an annual basis, Earwood said. "Despite a few fluctuations over the past few years, food prices have remained relatively stable over time."
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