Food Check-Out Week

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Americans benefit from a safe, reliable food supply that remains remarkably affordable. In fact, in just five weeks, the average American will have earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the entire year.

That's why the California Farm Bureau celebrates the fifth week of the year as Food Check-Out Week. In 2008, we commemorate Food Check-Out Week from Feb. 3-9.

The latest statistics compiled by the U.S. Agriculture Department indicate American families and individuals spend, on average, just 9.9 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

Applying that figure to the calendar year means the average household will earn enough disposable income--that portion of income available for spending or saving--to pay for its annual food supply in only five weeks.

By contrast, residents of Japan must work until Feb. 20 to earn enough to pay for their annual food supply; in China, it would take until April 5 and in Indonesia, until July 20.

The percentage of disposable personal income spent for food in the United States has declined, gradually but consistently, for many years. The USDA says food is more affordable today due to a widening gap between growth in per-capita incomes and the amount of money spent for food.

This overall decrease is made more notable by the fact that trends indicate Americans now buy more expensive convenience food items for preparation at home, as well as more food away from home.

In comparison to Food Check-Out Week, most Americans work until late February to pay for their health and medical care; until early March to pay for housing and household operation; and, according to The Tax Foundation, until mid-March to pay their federal taxes.