ALL ABOUT Why are food prices rising so high? Shopping on ... · using a template with only...
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ALL ABOUT Shopping on a Budget Printed on elemental chlorine-free, 10% post-consumer recycled paper using soy ink. 2/10 www.strongertogether.coop Why are food prices rising so high? • Oil is at a record-breaking price, and most produce travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to a grocery store. (Just another reason to eat local!) • Increased demand for corn for ethanol production means that the price of corn has doubled in the last year.(Let’s hear it for grassfed cows!) • Increased demand for meat and dairy products from our quickly growing and developing world population means a greater demand for grain feed. (Eat your veggies!) • Organic farmers do not receive federal tax subsidies, so organic prices reflect the true cost of producing food while preserving our resources, land, and environment for future generations. The USDA guide to healthy,thrifty meals can be found at: www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood.htm Thanks to Liz McMann of Mississippi Market in Saint Paul, Minnesota for writing this brochure. food_brochure_shopping.indd 1 2/24/10 2:23 PM
Transcript of ALL ABOUT Why are food prices rising so high? Shopping on ... · using a template with only...
A L L A B O U T
Shopping on a Budget
Printed on elemental chlorine-free, 10% post-consumer
recycled paper using soy ink. 2/10
www.strongertogether.coop
Why are food prices rising so high?
• Oil is at a record-breaking price,andmostproducetravelsanaverageof1,500milestogettoagrocerystore.(Justanotherreasontoeatlocal!)
• Increased demand for cornforethanolproductionmeansthatthepriceofcornhasdoubledinthelastyear.(Let’shearitforgrassfedcows!)
• Increased demand for meatanddairyproductsfromourquicklygrowinganddevelopingworldpopulationmeansagreaterdemandforgrainfeed.(Eatyourveggies!)
• Organic farmers do not receivefederaltaxsubsidies,soorganicpricesreflectthetruecostofproducingfoodwhilepreservingourresources,land,andenvironmentforfuturegenerations.
TheUSDAguidetohealthy,thriftymealscanbefoundat:www.cnpp.usda.gov/USDAFoodPlansCostofFood.htm
Thanks to Liz McMann of Mississippi Market inSaint Paul, Minnesota for writing this brochure.
food_brochure_shopping.indd 1 2/24/10 2:23 PM
Getting started
Make a realistic budget• Trackyourpurchasestogeta
baselinemeasurement.• Setagoaltomeetyourneeds.• Trysettingasideacashallowanceforyour
grocerypurchases.• CheckouttheUSDA’sfoodplansand
otherresourcesatwww.cnpp.usda.gov
Change your patterns at home• Washandprepveggiesandfruitsto
encourageusage.• Useafridgemessageboardtonote
perishableitems.• Cookstaplesinlargerbatchesfor
“planned-overs.”• Eattogetherasahouseholdtoreduceuse
ofconveniencefoods.
Plan before you shop• Donateexpiredorundesiredfooditems
fromyourkitchen.• Takeacupboardinventorybeforeplanning
mealsandshopping.• Planmealsaroundperishables.• Keeparunninggrocerylist(consider
usingatemplatewithonlynecessaryitemslisted—justcheckitemsoffasyourunout).
• Remembertopackyourgrocerybags,bulkjars,andeggcartons!
Shop wisely• Lookforsalesonitemsalreadyonyourlist.• Onlyusecouponsforitemsalready
onyourlist.• Beflexible—adaptrecipesfortheseason.• Focusonwhole,unrefined,andbulkfoods.• MindtheDirtyDozenwhenchoosing
organicvs.conventionalproduce.• Jointheco-opforadditionaldiscounts.
© 2010 National Cooperative
Grocers Association (NCGA)
Reevaluate your methods• Tryanyplanyoumakefortwomonths
beforeadjustingasneeded.• Keeptrackingyourspending!
Other things to consider• Askyourentirehouseholdtogetonboard
withthebudget.• Considerstartingagardentoproduce
someofyourownfood.• Considerreducingtheamount ofmoneyyouspend eatingout.
AccordingtotheEnvironmentalWorkingGroup,theseconventionalproduceitemshavethehighestconcentrationofpesticideresidue.
Fruits VegetablesApples BellpeppersCherries CarrotsGrapes(imported) CeleryNectarines KalePeaches LettucePearsStrawberries
ThislistcomesfromEWG’sratingofnearly43,000produceitemstestedforpesticidesbetween2000and2005.Afulllistisavailableat www.foodnews.org
T h e D I RT y D O z e n
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