In case you’re wondering exactly why and how food prices are going up (and, having just come back from the grocery store, I certainly am), The Agricultural Advocate posted an extensive blog about the what and why behind food prices using graphs, charts, and analysis of USDA data. The bottom line: biofuels and energy do matter. Not only are farmers growing more corn for biofuel, but they’re also planting fewer acres of other crops to make room for corn. Energy pops up throughout the Agricultural Advocate’s analysis, but it’s not the only factor.
So, next time you’re at the grocery store, here’s what you should know heading to the register:
The Bread Aisle
Wheat has doubled in price in the last few years, and the cost of bread has risen from $1.02 in 2001 to $1.32 in February 2008. But that 30-cent increase in price isn’t only about wheat prices (according to the Agricultural Advocate’s calculation, only six-cents can be attributed to wheat prices). The other 26-cents comes from the increase in the price of fuel when it comes to processing, packaging, and shipping the wheat to retailers. The message: buy local bread when you can to cut d own on some of those fuel costs.
Posted to RiverWired by Samantha Cleaver
RiverWired is a network of sites and blogs with eco-friendly news, videos and community to help people live just a little greener – and have a lot more fun.
