SALEM Check-Out Day stresses food affordability

America's food and fiber is produced by about 25 million workers.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Want a big bang for your buck at the supermarket? Buy American, the American Farm Bureau says.
The American Farm Bureau Federation and county and state farm bureaus across the country are preparing for Food Check-Out Day.
Food Check-Out Day is observed annually and marks the day each year when agriculture experts determine the average American family has earned enough income in that calendar year to pay for the family's food needs for the entire year. This year, the experts have determined American workers pay for their food for the year after just 37 days of work, or Feb. 6.
Ernie Oelker, Columbiana County agriculture extension agent, thinks the farm bureau's promotion is a great idea.
"Americans only have to work 37 days to pay for their food for the entire year," he said. "That's pretty awesome when you think about it."
Lots of middlemen
Oelker said for most foods there are a lot of steps between the farmer and the supermarket, and price increases in food are most often the result of increased costs related to processing, packing, marketing and transportation.
"Eggs are about the most economical food you can buy, even if they are $1 or even $1.20 a dozen," he said. "Think about how many meals you can get from a dozen eggs."
He said poultry farmers do most of the work -- such as washing and packing -- to prepare eggs for market, so there's not very much markup. He said there is only about 20 cents difference between the wholesale and retail price of eggs.
"As we celebrate the efficiency and productivity of America's farmers and ranchers, we should not overlook the fact that farmers and ranchers are currently going through difficult economic times," said Pearle Burlingame, Mahoning County Farm Bureau director. "Low commodity prices, escalating regulatory costs and other factors are threatening the very fabric of the family farm. Prices at the supermarket certainly don't reflect the historically low commodity prices producers have received in recent years."
What farmers get
Oelker said when food prices increase, consumers shouldn't assume farmers are doing well, because the markup rarely is reflected in the prices farmers receive for their livestock, grains or produce.
"Milk is $2.50 or more per gallon, and dairy farmers get about $1.20 of that," he said. "You're paying about $4 a pound for beef, and the cattleman got about $1 per pound when he sold the steer. Bread is about $1.50 for a 1-pound loaf. Farmers are paid 4.4 cents for a pound of wheat."
"Food produced in the United States is the safest and cheapest in the world," said Jayanna Yeakle, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. "Americans spend about 10 percent of their disposable income each year on food. In other countries the percentage is much higher."
Yeakle said though Americans need to work only until early February to pay for the food for the year, they have to work through April or even into May to pay taxes.
Check-Out Day activities
She said farm bureau members across the country are planning a variety of activities to mark Food Check-Out Day and educate the public about United States food production. Pennsylvania's farm bureau collects cash donations and nonperishable food items, which are distributed on Food Check-Out Day to the state's six Ronald McDonald Houses, including the one in Pittsburgh.
Ronald McDonald Houses are housing provided near children's hospitals so parents of critically ill children have a place to stay near the hospital while children are receiving treatment.
"We are the biggest supplier for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Pennsylvania," Yeakle said. "We provide about $60,000 per year in cash and food."
Locally, the Mahoning County Farm Bureau is planning events at Whitehouse Fruit Farms in Canfield. Area children have been invited to enter a coloring contest, and on Food Check-Out Day, the winners will be announced. The top winner's drawing will be reproduced onto paper place mats that will be distributed to area restaurants.
Burlingame said there are 2.16 million farms dotting America's rural landscape. About 99 percent of U.S. farms are operated by individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations.
She said more than 24 million workers -- 17 percent of the total U.S. work force -- produce, process and sell the nation's food and fiber.
tullis@vindy.com