From Deseret News archives:

Food costs hit home: Utahns are struggling to cope with skyrocketing prices

Published: Sunday, April 20, 2008 12:24 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Record-high gas prices are detouring school custodian Fabian Hernandez to the food line.

"Gas prices are so high, I can't get food," the veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf wars said last week as he lined up outside Hildegarde's Pantry in downtown Salt Lake for emergency food help. "That's why I'm here today."

Many Utahns have seen skyrocketing prices for gasoline and food staples make a dent in their wallets.

"I went grocery shopping yesterday. Are you kidding? It killed me," said Cynthia Millar, a Murray mother of five who budgets about $650 for food each month. "I spent $750 yesterday — and I didn't buy any meat. That's for the month."

Some people are altering budgets and habits to make ends meet. But it appears more and more Utahns have no place else to cut.

The Utah Food Bank's 2-1-1 hotline this year has taken double the calls for food assistance than it did in the first quarter of 2007. Crossroads Urban Center served 44 percent more families last month than it did the same time a year ago. For Hildegarde's Pantry, a ministry of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, that number increased nearly 50 percent.

Utahns also spent a record $13 million in food stamps in March.

Story continues below
Wasatch Front food prices jumped 3 percent between February and March. But this is no locals-only problem. Globally, food prices have risen 57 percent in the past year, driven by huge increases in staples such as corn, wheat and rice. The prices of cereals are up 88 percent, those of dairy products have increased 48 percent, and costs of oils and fats have risen 107 percent, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

Reasons for the price hikes are interrelated and complex in our global food market. They include increased demand, especially from developing countries such as China and India, where a growing middle class can now afford to drive and put more food on the table — particularly meat. At the same time, food supplies are down because of drought in Australia, one of the world's largest wheat producers. And the skyrocketing price of oil, fueled by a declining dollar, have raised commodity prices.

"The total impact of these rising food prices is much bigger than people realize, especially when it's in combination with the cost of every other basic necessity going up," said Bill Tibbitts, Crossroads Urban Center's anti-hunger advocacy project coordinator.

How did we get here?

Recent comments

In terms of food prices, I subscribe to a fabulous and inexpensive...

KC | April 23, 2008 at 4:10 p.m.

It is about greed, our greed at wanting something for nothing. We...

HappyGirl | April 21, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.

Isn't it nice how the media chooses to word articles to sell papers....

Go Outside | April 20, 2008 at 10:45 p.m.

Image
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Cynthia Millar makes strawberry jam in her Murray home. Food prices are rising globally, and Millar is looking for ways to deal with the pinch.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

2 of 3 becomes 3 of 4! u will need to rebuild next year after losing 24...

Real Champions

If you watched Sportscenter last night you would know that 2 NHL teams have...

@Murray Dad: well said. We have made it a habit to invade lands without...

The article points up the quagmire we start when we have govt. involved!...

Bronco, Kyle rubber match

time of year. UTAH vs. BYU, Utah fans and Cougar fans talking smack about...

Only a ute would brag about their loss to TCU. They beat you so badly that...

Letters: Palin on the fringe?

I'm hoping she does run. I'm hoping she gets the nomination because if so,...

Reagan much-beloved in Utah

I love Utah. I love the Pioneer Settlements, the heritage and culture, as...

Hi:I´m argentine and I´m very happy for Javier Morales.And, of course, for...

That's the only thing keeping SLCC from becoming a truly great athletic...

Advertisements