It takes less than 40 days for the average American to earn enough income to buy 12 months of groceries, according to statistics compiled by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. The women labeled the milestone ‘Food Check-Out Day’ and celebrated Feb. 7 by donating $1,500 worth of food to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
“We wanted to highlight the fact farmers produce the safest, most affordable and abundant food supply in the world,” said Clara Wichert, committee chairperson.
Americans spend just 10 percent of their disposable income on food compared with consumers in France, 18 percent, United Kingdom, 22 percent, Japan, 26 percent, and India, 51 percent.
“Food is a great bargain in this country,” Wichert said.
The Fairview farmer said it’s even more remarkable when compared with how long it takes to pay the tax bill.
“The average American has to work 100 days to pay federal, state and local taxes each year,” Wichert said.
The Ronald McDonald Houses were targeted because of service to families in need of assistance during a difficult illness.
“It’s a very caring place for families, and we want to share our food with them,” Wichert said. “They have enough on their minds without worrying about groceries.”
In addition to the Ronald McDonald Houses, farm women throughout the state contributed to local food banks, soup kitchens and women’s shelters. Some examples include Grant County Farm Bureau donating groceries to the Medford Food Bank; Garfield County Farm Bureau purchased $100 in food items for the Horn of Plenty Food Bank in Enid; Rogers County Farm Bureau made a $200 donation to the domestic abuse shelter in Claremore; Major County FB purchased groceries for needy families through the Department of Human Services; Noble County Farm Bureau gave $100 worth of groceries to the Mission of Hope Food Bank in Perry; and Muskogee County Farm Bureau donated food to the Ark of Faith Foundation in Muskogee.
This is the ninth consecutive year Farm Bureau Women leaders have celebrated Food Check-Out Day.
