News Release

(GAINESVILLE, Fla.) -- Food in America is affordable. In fact, between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6, the average American will have earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the entire year, according to Florida Farm Bureau.

As a result, Florida Farm Bureau is celebrating Feb. 6 as Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Day. According to the latest statistics compiled by the Agriculture Department’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

Applying the current 10 percent statistic to the calendar year, it means the average household will have earned enough disposable income—that portion of income available for spending or saving—to pay for its annual food supply in just 37 days.

“Not only is America’s food supply the world’s safest, but it’s also the most affordable,” said Carl B. Loop Jr., president of Florida Farm Bureau. “In Florida, our 44,000 farms are among the most productive in the world, furnishing the nation with a dependable and safe supply of food and providing Florida with a stable economic base.”

In 2002 Florida Farm Bureau kicked off its ag promotion campaign, “Safe, Affordable and Abundant: Food for Thought from Florida’s Farmers.” “Observing Food Check-Out Day goes hand-in-hand with our campaign,” Loop said.

To mark the occasion, many county Farm Bureaus will be working with Ronald McDonald Houses throughout the state. The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-away-from-home” for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in nearby hospitals. The food will be used to help feed visiting families staying at the House.

In comparison to Food Check-Out Day, Tax Freedom Day, the day the average American has earned enough money to pay federal, state and local taxes, was April 27 last year, according to the Tax Foundation.

“I find it amazing that people can pay for their yearly food supply nearly three months earlier than it would take them to satisfy their tax burden,” Loop said. “Rather than being an economic burden, food remains quite a bargain for shoppers. That’s the way it should be.”

“This day should hold meaning for most Americans,” Loop said. “As food producers, we are proud of the role Florida farmers play in making our food supply more affordable for all.”

The percent of disposable personal income spent for food has declined over the last 25 years. In 1970, Food Check-Out Day would have been 14 days later – Feb. 21. According to the USDA, food is more affordable today due to a widening gap between growth in per-capita income and the amount of money spent for food.

This overall decrease is made more notable by the fact that trends indicate Americans are buying more expensive convenience food items for preparation at home, as well as more food away from home.

The Agriculture Department’s latest statistic, compiled for 2001, include food and non-alcoholic beverages consumed at home and away from home. This includes food purchases from grocery stores and Children’s (WIC) program. The statistic also includes away-from-home meals and snacks purchased by families and individuals, as well as food furnished to employees.

“Food Check-Out Day tracks the amount of income needed by Americans to purchase food on an annual basis,” Loop said. “Americans expect a lot from the food grown by farmers. They not only want and expect their food to be safe but they also want variety and low cost. Florida’s farmers meet those expectations with a safe, affordable and abundant food supply.”

Florida Farm Bureau celebrates 61 years of service to agriculture this year. The Florida Farm Bureau is the largest independent agricultural association in Florida, representing the interests of more than 150,300 member-families. There are Farm Bureaus in 62 counties in Florida, where agriculture comprises a stable, vital leg of Florida's economy, rivaling the tourism industry in economic importance.