Is organic taking over my produce section?
By Jessica Domel
I absolutely love cooking, but going to the grocery store stresses me out.
I live in a community where the organic section of the grocery store is so large that it makes searching for traditionally-grown produce feel like an Easter egg hunt.
It literally took me at least 10 minutes one day to find traditionally-grown spinach. I found the variety of organic blends right away, but the more affordable, traditionally-grown spinach was hiding over by the seafood freezers behind a cart of other produce.
read moreGrocery Price Watch: Texans paying more at the store
By Amanda Hill
For months now, we at Texas Farm Bureau have been anticipating a rise in food prices as the epic drought of 2011—which lasted, in some areas, through 2012 and into 2013—caused crops to wither and cattle herds to shrink. Texans’ food costs actually declined for a few quarters, but it seems the drought has finally caught up to prices at the grocery store.
According to the first quarter Grocery Price Watch survey, Texas food prices are up about 5.5 percent over last quarter and a little more than 3 percent from this time last year. Here’s a look at the 16-item basket of food staples:
read moreFarm families buy groceries, too
By Monica Minzenmayer
Like many of you, I wear a lot of hats. Of my many roles, I’m most proud of being a wife, a mom and a farmer. My husband and I raise our two kids on our farm in Rowena, located about 30 miles outside of San Angelo in West Texas.
My days are probably a lot like yours—jam-packed with responsibilities around our farm, shuttling kids to school events, volunteering for activities in our community. And, of course, there are the weekly chores around the house, laundry and grocery shopping… Yes, farmers buy groceries, too.
read moreNever a bare grocery shelf
By Amanda Hill
What would it be like to go to the grocery store and none of the shelves be stocked? No cereal. No milk. No fruits and veggies. To be honest, that thought doesn’t usually cross my mind.
And why should it? In America, we’ve never even come close to that problem—thanks to generations of farmers who continue to take the reins.
A new crop of young and enthusiastic farmers is emerging, ready to continue agriculture’s legacy. In a time when many college graduates are left unemployed, agriculture majors have an incredible job placement rate. I’ve seen rates near the 100th percentile from major agriculture programs like Iowa State, leading students to opt for a life on the farm over careers in investment banking and law.
read moreGrocery Price Watch: Steady food prices for Texans
By Amanda Hill
Good news, Texans! On average, food prices are holding steady at the grocery store, according to Texas Farm Bureau‘s Grocery Price Watch survey. Based on the survey’s third-quarter results, Texans paid $44.91—on average—for a basket of 16 staple food items.
Check out the full Grocery Price Watch survey results below, or read TFB’s news release with more information. TFB has been polling grocery prices across Texas each quarter since March 2009.
But good news for customers also can mean trouble for farmers.
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