Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,
Farm Bureau understands that Americans want safe, healthy, nutritious food at a reasonable price. During the week of Feb. 17-23, we are acknowledging Food Check-Out Week.
It takes just seven weeks for the average American family of four to earn enough disposable income to pay for the family’s food supply for the entire year. In comparison, Americans must work for 100 days—or 14 weeks—to pay for their yearly taxes.
The USDA’s research has found that U.S. consumers spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food. Whereas other countries spend much more. India, for example, pays close to 45 percent of their income on food.
More than 21 million American workers produce, process, sell and trade the nation’s food and fiber. But only 3.2 million of those people live on farms—slightly less than two percent of the total U.S. population. Of the 2.13 million farms that dot America’s rural landscape, 98 percent of them are operated by individuals, family partnerships, or family corporations.
As farmers, our job is to provide consumers with the highest quality food possible. Growing and raising wholesome, safe food is our top goal. We’ve done a good job and we’re going to continue to look for every opportunity to improve quality and safety.
Scott Anderson
Winnebago County Farm Burea President