At what price?

by Diane Olson

I am a consumer and I approve this article! Oops, I guess election year rhetoric has invaded my thought process. But, while I’m on that subject, let me share my platform.

As a consumer, I enjoy safe, abundant and affordable food. Although it may sound trite, as citizens of America we are fortunate. Our grocery shelves are lined with thousands of food items just waiting to be selected and purchased.

Yes, we often grouse about the prices, but food is very affordable in America. We spend only 10 cents of each dollar on food while countries like India spend over 50 cents. Certainly there are other differences, but price is a noticeable one.

Food prices fluctuate. In an effort to chronicle food prices, since 1989 the American Farm Bureau has utilized volunteer shoppers in each state to chart prices on 16 basic items that span the commodities.

So what are the prices for the third quarter of 2004? Actually, Missouri prices were slightly less than the national average. The items totaled $40.38 on the national level and $36.47 in Missouri for a cool savings of $3.91 for shoppers in the Show-Me state.

When comparing second and third quarter prices, all but two items were slightly to significantly lower in prices. Only bacon and all-purpose flour trended higher. Bacon was up 16 cents reflecting a per-pound cost of $3.62, while flour was up 17 cents to $1.84 for a five-pound bag.

A five-pound bag of Russet potatoes remained constant with a price of $1.48. Vegetable oil, corn oil and mayonnaise also remained steady. The bumper crop of corn and soybeans are likely to cause little fluctuation here.

All the other items were lower in price than in the second quarter. The most significant change was in center-cut pork chop prices which dropped from $4.34 per pound to $2.96. The same item on the national survey was $3.43 per pound. Additional items that cost less this quarter include sirloin roast, whole fryers, ground chuck, eggs, cheddar cheese, apples, oat cereal and white bread.

Milk prices were up 4 cents over the same time last year, but down 59 cents from the second quarter for a third quarter price of $2.76 per gallon for whole milk. Missouri milk prices were 47 cents less than the national price.

Consumers are still demanding protein as they embrace popular diets. This trend influences the price of protein-rich items. Indirectly, it may determine prices of other items that are carbohydrate laden.

So, my fellow Americans, I support the efforts of our agricultural producers. They work hard to provide an abundance of affordable food for our nation while receiving only 19 cents of each dollar we spend on food. They get my vote every day.

(Diane Olson, of Jefferson City, Mo., is the director of promotion and education for the Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.)