Although I am starting to feel a bit like a doomsday blogger, I keep finding and receiving story after story about the spiraling cost of food and the food shortfall at food banks that is accompanying it.
This story came to me from FoodLinks America's newsletter and I am reprinting most of it here because it's so important:
Skyrocketing Food Prices Contribute to Hunger Woes
'The rapidly rising cost of groceries is severely squeezing the budgets of low-income American households. Even for families receiving food stamps and other nutrition assistance, prices are increasing faster than benefits, sending numerous households to emergency food sources such as food banks and food pantries to try and cover the difference.
Officially, according to the federal government, the cost of food at home rose 5.1 percent between February 2007 and February 2008. But double-digit increases on many staple items generated consumer concern. During the same time period, bread prices rose by 12 percent, rice and pasta by 13 percent, cheese by 15 percent, milk by 17 percent, and eggs by 25 percent.
For low-income people, there is little relief in sight. “Increasing food costs may prove to be a greater problem for families than soaring oil prices,” FRAC observed. “The average household spends three times as much for food as for gasoline, with food accounting for 13 percent of household spending compared to four percent for gas.” To view the FRAC paper, go to: http://www.frac.org/pdf/factsheet_foodcosts_apr08.pdf."
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Grow Your Own For National Garden Month
April is National Garden Month and for the second year in a row, the National Garden Association (NGA) is emphasizing how important it is to eat locally, pointing out that one of the best ways to do this is by growing your own fruits and vegetables. Eating locally is not just one of the hottest trends around, but is an important part of environmental and economic sustainability.
Most produce travels thousands of miles by refrigerated truck to get to your local grocery store. Local eating eliminates the need for long distance transport reducing the amount of fossil fuel devoted to your food supply, it helps local growers and the local economy, and you will get the freshest and best tasting food around.
Gardening helps in reducing global warming and climate change. Growing organically is even better because it emphasizes building soil organic matter not only improves the plant health and growth, but also keeps carbon out of the atmosphere.
The NGA also suggests that you consider donating excess garden produce to those in need by growing extra vegetables in your garden this summer. As the NGA points out, it’s estimated that almost 33 million Americans (including 13 million children) resort to emergency food because they cannot afford to purchase the food they need.
They talk about using the Plant a Row for the Hungry Campaign. As they say on their site, "Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national campaign, sponsored by the Garden Writers Association, to help feed hungry families. The concept is simple. Plant extra produce in your garden and donate it to a local food shelf, shelter, or soup kitchen. It's a great way to help your community, and if you include your kids or grand kids, a valuable life lesson." http://www.nationalgardenmonth.org/
Most produce travels thousands of miles by refrigerated truck to get to your local grocery store. Local eating eliminates the need for long distance transport reducing the amount of fossil fuel devoted to your food supply, it helps local growers and the local economy, and you will get the freshest and best tasting food around.
Gardening helps in reducing global warming and climate change. Growing organically is even better because it emphasizes building soil organic matter not only improves the plant health and growth, but also keeps carbon out of the atmosphere.
The NGA also suggests that you consider donating excess garden produce to those in need by growing extra vegetables in your garden this summer. As the NGA points out, it’s estimated that almost 33 million Americans (including 13 million children) resort to emergency food because they cannot afford to purchase the food they need.
They talk about using the Plant a Row for the Hungry Campaign. As they say on their site, "Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national campaign, sponsored by the Garden Writers Association, to help feed hungry families. The concept is simple. Plant extra produce in your garden and donate it to a local food shelf, shelter, or soup kitchen. It's a great way to help your community, and if you include your kids or grand kids, a valuable life lesson." http://www.nationalgardenmonth.org/
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