Rising food prices forcing change

By SHEILA SELMAN
sheila.selman@goshennews.com

August 09, 2008 11:23 pm

— If grocery shopping hurts more than it used to, you’re not alone.
Recent studies by the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Agriculture and Indiana Farm Bureau confirm what shoppers already know — prices have gone up nationwide.
People are changing their buying habits because of increased prices and health concerns. Grocery store workers are seeing it. Local farmers markets vendors are seeing it. And shoppers are admitting to it.
Ingrid Friesen Moser, Goshen, said, “It’s changed how I shop.” She tends to buy more of the basics, and she shops at the Millrace Farmers Market.
“I base our diet on about what’s fresh and in season,” she said.
But Friesen Moser is also looking for a good price and watches for sales.
“Before I don’t think I was tuned in (to sales),” she said.
Mary Sholtey of Syracuse said she grows most everything. But she’s made cuts on the number of stops she makes. When she’s buying gas, Sholtey said she’ll buy a pop. And instead of just haphazardly buying items, she’ll make a list of items she needs and, as a result, makes fewer trips.
Coupons don’t really factor in for her. “The thing with coupons is they are for more expensive items” than what Sholtey would normally buy.
One change is that instead of stocking up on items, Sholtey will wait until she’s almost done with a product before replacing it. And then there’s mom, “Mom, bless her heart, watches the ads closely” and lets Sholtey know when items are on sale.
Paula Juday of Goshen said what’s changed for her is that she usually tries to get everything in one trip instead of a “hit-and-run” approach. She also shops for bargains more often.
Lisa Cook of Ligonier, who relies on Medicaid and WIC vouchers to help her family, said money is always tight, so higher prices haven’t affected the way she shops. “I always watch what I buy,” she said.
Ben Beyeler of Goshen said he doesn’t know that his shopping habits have changed greatly. He shops at the Goshen Farmers Market and tries to buy most products from local farmers.
He’s cut down on processed foods that he buys. “You have to eat,” he said.
Recent food prices, though, are lower than what they were about 30 years ago, Beyeler said.
“Americans want cheap, cheap, cheap food,” he said. “You get what you pay for.”
He goes to the farmers market because it allows the farmer to do what he loves and most of the money stays in the community.
Nationally, Beyeler said, 13 to 15 percent of grocery store money stays in the community, compared to about 42 percent of farmers markets.
And now with some local industries suffering, Beyeler said, “it’s more and more important to keep money locally.”
He added that there are a lot of benefits that go hand-in-glove with buying local produce. Food security and food safety is huge, he said, adding that there’s no better way to be secure in your food than to know your local farmer.