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...

Page 1: ALL ABOUT Why are food prices rising so high? Shopping on ... · using a template with only necessary items listed—just check items off as you run out). • Remember to pack your

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

Page 2: ALL ABOUT Why are food prices rising so high? Shopping on ... · using a template with only necessary items listed—just check items off as you run out). • Remember to pack your

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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