"We don't value food because it isn't expensive enough."

[OceanAnnie]

I read this article and it made me so mad. Food is plenty expensive and the cost is rising!

The article was linked elsewhere. I read it awhile back, but when I think about it !

What are your thoughts about it?

ETA: Forgot the link! http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...le-value-food-not-expensive-enough?CMP=twt_gu

 

[nugov2]

I didn't really read much of it, but skimmed it. I do agree to an extent. Our grocery bill is high, but not so high that we don't have a lot of food waste. We throw away food in our house all the time I have even taken out meat to defrost and then we end up eating out/having a taste for something else and never get around to cooking it. We don't eat left overs like we should and mostly toss them. I am trying to get better, but most of my mommy friends complain they do the same thing so I think it is common. On grocery day I am still throwing away more than I should If prices were really high we probably would be less inclined to waste food.

 

[Marionnette]

I read this article and it made me so mad. Food is plenty expensive and the cost is rising!

The article was linked elsewhere. I read it awhile back, but when I think about it !

What are your thoughts about it?

ETA: Forgot the link! http://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...le-value-food-not-expensive-enough?CMP=twt_gu

Meh! It's one line taken out of context from an article that addresses more than just the interviewee's attitude about the cost of food. She's a lot more crunchy compared to me but I understand her point. People don't treasure things that don't cost them dearly. If food is abundant and affordable, we are more likely to allow it to spoil and be discarded.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I didn't really read much of it, but skimmed it. I do agree to an extent. Our grocery bill is high, but not so high that we don't have a lot of food waste. We throw away food in our house all the time I have even taken out meat to defrost and then we end up eating out/having a taste for something else and never get around to cooking it. We don't eat left overs like we should and mostly toss them. I am trying to get better, but most of my mommy friends complain they do the same thing so I think it is common. On grocery day I am still throwing away more than I should If prices were really high we probably would be less inclined to waste food.

Meh! It's one line taken out of context from an article that addresses more than just the interviewee's attitude about the cost of food. She's a lot more crunchy compared to me but I understand her point. People don't treasure things that don't cost them dearly. If food is abundant and affordable, we are more likely to allow it to spoil and be discarded.

I don't think it was taken out of context. It was the title of the article! It was her overall perception of food in general. But to each their own.

Buying groceries for a home or restaurant is not an exact science. It's all a guesstimate. I suppose we could buy much less and use what we have and make more frequent trips to the grocery. But then we are wasting gas to get to the grocery.

I was surprised when traveling in Europe their fridges were very small and they went grocery shopping almost daily. Of course people that lived in the city could do that. Our country is more spread out and not as pedestrian.

A lot of variables come into play. But I don't think making food more expensive to decrease waste is the answer.

 

[Marionnette]

I don't think it was taken out of context. It was the title of the article! It was her overall perception of food in general. But to each their own.

Buying groceries for a home or restaurant is not an exact science. It's all a guesstimate. I suppose we could buy much less and use what we have and make more frequent trips to the grocery. But then we are wasting gas to get to the grocery.

I was surprised when traveling in Europe their fridges were very small and they went grocery shopping almost daily. Of course people that lived in the city could do that. Our country is more spread out and not as pedestrian.

A lot of variables come into play. But I don't think making food more expensive to decrease waste is the answer.

Nor do I. But I understand her perspective on a much larger scale. It's not just food. It's the whole "throw away" mentality of our society. When it's cheaper to replace something than it is to repair it, we toss the old and purchase the new. When food is abundant and cheap, we're more likely to just toss it out when it nears its useful end, instead of making sure that we use it while it is edible.

And FWIW, it was the author who chose that one quote to title the article in order to grab your attention. The article itself has very little to do with driving up the cost of food in order to force people to cherish it.

 

[supergoofy]

Personally food is not that expensive. You can buy all sorts of food for very cheap.

Now good for you and good food is expensive I'll give you that.

But the biggest issue I see is the plentifuliness of food. Maybe its me or maybe its where I live but if I take a map and plot a mile in every direction of my house it is insane the amount of food we have. 3 major grocery store, a handful of convenience stores and who knows how many fast food places.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Nor do I. But I understand her perspective on a much larger scale. It's not just food. It's the whole "throw away" mentality of our society. When it's cheaper to replace something than it is to repair it, we toss the old and purchase the new. When food is abundant and cheap, we're more likely to just toss it out when it nears its useful end, instead of making sure that we use it while it is edible.

And FWIW, it was the author who chose that one quote to title the article in order to grab your attention. The article itself has very little to do with driving up the cost of food in order to force people to cherish it.

Just my opinion, but I don't think food is so cheap anymore. It's ever rising. Once the price rises for whatever reason, it doesn't ever go back down. I think "cheap" is a relative term.

I have been seeing a trend in recycling and repurposing things out of necessity because it isn't just food prices rising. Everything is rising.

I guess it's all in your POV. I know the author chose the quote, but IMO it does reflect the overall position of the farmer. I'll agree to disagree with you on it.

 

[JanaDee]

Personally food is not that expensive. You can buy all sorts of food for very cheap.

Now good for you and good food is expensive I'll give you that.

But the biggest issue I see is the plentifuliness of food. Maybe its me or maybe its where I live but if I take a map and plot a mile in every direction of my house it is insane the amount of food we have. 3 major grocery store, a handful of convenience stores and who knows how many fast food places.

Within 1 mile of our house, we have one small convenience store, with a very limited and very expensive grocery section. No fast food, no major grocery stores, etc.

 

[RitaE]

I think her position probably applies quite well to our family.

Food is a very small part of our finances personally and it takes almost no effort for us to obtain it. Heck, I make a couple clicks on the computer and it shows up on my doorstep the next day in green Peapod boxes. I hardly ever think about whether or not I can afford something in relation to food. If somebody wants a meal, then we buy it. It is extremely rare for me to say "Too expensive" in regards to food and I rarely make the effort to preserve it.

When I clean out my refrigerator, there are always a couple half used going old bags of vegetables or leftovers that nobody ever got around to eating. Our raccoons eat well.

If you compare us to a more traditional agricultural based family where a large portion of the family time, effort and resources was spent planning, obtaining, and storing food - our family's waste is probably quite horrific.

 

[MillauFr]

One thing I have noticed is that the food is more expensive at a store like Whole Foods. The customers appear to be in much better health though. Is there a connection? And if so what is the reason?

 

[Marionnette]

One thing I have noticed is that the food is more expensive at a store like Whole Foods. The customers appear to be in much better health though. Is there a connection? And if so what is the reason?

That demographic group has a tendency to be more focused on their health than the general population. They are more likely to focus on a healthy diet and will exercise more in order to maintain their level of fitness. I'm not convinced that the quality of the food at Whole Foods is a contributor to the outward appearance of health that you are seeing. The benefits are not visible to the naked eye.

 

[Planogirl]

I would think that food isn't so expensive for those at a certain income level. I bet that there are plenty of people out there who would like to eat more healthy food but can't afford it.

I respect what the lady in the article is doing. She is choosing a lifestyle that fits her needs and also one that she can handle. Nothing wrong with that but that lifestyle isn't going to work for everyone. Most of us will still have to rely on stores for most of our needs and that is expensive, at least for many of us.

She said "Four pints of milk for a quid, are you kidding me?" Is that a good price?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I would think that food isn't so expensive for those at a certain income level. I bet that there are plenty of people out there who would like to eat more healthy food but can't afford it.

I respect what the lady in the article is doing. She is choosing a lifestyle that fits her needs and also one that she can handle. Nothing wrong with that but that lifestyle isn't going to work for everyone. Most of us will still have to rely on stores for most of our needs and that is expensive, at least for many of us.

She said "Four pints of milk for a quid, are you kidding me?" Is that a good price?

Not to her. But it's all relative like you stated. There are plenty of people that find food to be expensive. That number is growing.

Perspective is everything. She's looking at it as a single woman that runs a farm. If she were a mother that has a household budget that's stretched thin, I imagine she'd see it another way.

Interesting perspectives.

 

[Suzie13]

I don't think it was taken out of context. It was the title of the article! It was her overall perception of food in general. But to each their own.

Buying groceries for a home or restaurant is not an exact science. It's all a guesstimate. I suppose we could buy much less and use what we have and make more frequent trips to the grocery. But then we are wasting gas to get to the grocery.

I was surprised when traveling in Europe their fridges were very small and they went grocery shopping almost daily. Of course people that lived in the city could do that. Our country is more spread out and not as pedestrian.

A lot of variables come into play. But I don't think making food more expensive to decrease waste is the answer.

Yes our fridges are small. When I go to the USA I feel like I could live in your fridges. I have two fridges btw.

 

[JanaDee]

I would think that food isn't so expensive for those at a certain income level. I bet that there are plenty of people out there who would like to eat more healthy food but can't afford it.

I respect what the lady in the article is doing. She is choosing a lifestyle that fits her needs and also one that she can handle. Nothing wrong with that but that lifestyle isn't going to work for everyone. Most of us will still have to rely on stores for most of our needs and that is expensive, at least for many of us.

She said "Four pints of milk for a quid, are you kidding me?" Is that a good price?

A quid is $1.70.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Yes our fridges are small. When I go to the USA I feel like I could live in your fridges. I have two fridges btw.

Nothing against small fridges. Just an observation.

 

[kerplop]

Food is only cheap if you have a surplus of money coming in every month. Families that struggle to get by would hardly call food cheap, they don't have enough money for it as-is!

 

[SEA333]

The "budget" $450-600 I spend on groceries every month for 5 people, one being a teen athelete (not counting eating out...this is JUST groceries that we bring home) is certainly not a drop in the bucket in my view, but I can see how this could be a minimal expense for someone making more money than us. And still, we throw stuff out. But I also have to say that while I wish I could find more in my budget for better cuts of beef or wild caught salmon, I very often have to look at the price of a roast and put it back till its on sale and buy the whole chicken fryer instead. $5 to roast a whole chicken that will feed my entire family vs a small beef or pork roast for $12.99 that is mostly fat. (Which none of us will eat) yes, we throw some stuff away, but if that translates to my family needing higher prices to decrease waste, it will be hello hamburger and canned corn, goodbye brussel sprouts (yes, my kids actually love these!) and strawberries.

 

[PlainJane]

She stated that people would think she's narrow minded in her thinking based on her economic status, well she's right, that's exactly what I think. Maybe she doesn't have to give two thoughts to how much she spends on groceries or eating out, but not everyone shares that luxury. I have a limited amount of money I can spend each month on food if we want to be able to meet our other responsibilities. I'm not considered weird in my social circle for this either (we'd all be considered middle class by the numbers).

I have to menu plan, go with a list, try to work with what's already in the pantry and fridge, and attempt to use things before they go bad. I don't always succeed, especially with produce, it's so hard to gauge how long it will last. Even with that though, as I look at our usage I try to adjust to reduce waste.

Yeah, I'm finding it hard to understand why my family and people that have less to work with than us should have to suffer so that "rich" people can get it together and stop wasting food.

 

[ilovemk76]

Just my opinion, but I don't think food is so cheap anymore. It's ever rising. Once the price rises for whatever reason, it doesn't ever go back down. I think "cheap" is a relative term.

I have been seeing a trend in recycling and repurposing things out of necessity because it isn't just food prices rising. Everything is rising.

I guess it's all in your POV. I know the author chose the quote, but IMO it does reflect the overall position of the farmer. I'll agree to disagree with you on it.

Lets compare to 1950:

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/dunklin/Odds/1950.htm

You will see that food has not stayed at the same proportion to income but other items, such as housing, has exceeded the pace.

Milk was .82 (I think this is per gallon). Now it is ~$3.50 or 4.25 times. The average income was $3,216. 4.5 times would be $13,668.