Meat and dairy prices are experiencing a sharp increase in the second half of 2014. According to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, people are paying about a 2 percent increase at grocery stores.
The Semi-Annual Marketbasket Survey found items such as beef, dairy and pork were among products that increased in price. The survey showed the cost of 16 items that could be used to prepared one meal increased $1.06 compared to last year. Out of the 16 items surveyed, nine decreased and seven increased in average price.
Kate Struttman, Chief Development Officer for Southeast Missouri Food Bank, said the organization is seeing more people in need due to the increase in food prices.
“Our buying power doesn’t go as far,” Struttman said. “We are typically able to turn a dollar into seven meals and we’re definitely having a little trouble with that because things do cost more.When it comes to food drives and food donations, the number is going down.”
According to Feeding America, southeast Missouri has a 17.2 percent food insecurity rate, making 129,070 food insecure people. Southeast is the third district in the state for highest food insecurity rate. Food insecurity is measured by the lack of access to foods for household members to live a healthy lifestyle.
“We see people in need every single day, 365 days a year,” Struttman said. “There due tend to be more people who come forward toward around the holidays, but typically if you’re in need, you’re in need, no matter what month.”
The region is also the top Missouri district for people who live below the threshold of Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). An estimated 61% who are eligible for SNAP are below 130% poverty which indicates food insecurity.
Struttman said the poverty level is decreasing throughout the United States, but residents in southeast Missouri are still struggling.
“The unemployment rate is not going down here in southeast Missouri,” Struttman said. “We’re not seeing the relief that a lot of other parts of the country are.”
Struttman said there are many factors contributing to the poverty level and food insecurity in the region.
“In the 16 counties we cover there are a lot of places that are just strictly rural and that makes it hard to access food,” Struttman said. “It increases the price it costs to get to the grocery store and it also takes down the ability for people to get there.”
The Southeast food bank distributes 7,414,458 pounds of food annually to 16 counties. Pemiscot county has the highest number of food insecurity rate in the region at 23.9 percent for the total population. An estimated 4,410 people and 1,470 children are food insecure.
“For us having over seven million pounds of food is really great for as many rural areas as we cover,” Struttman said.
According to a report by Feeding America, food insecure people reported needing an additional food budget of $2.26 per person per day or an additional $68.74 per month in 2012.
There are many ways people can give back to those need. Struttman said anyone can go to semofoodbank.org and donate money or volunteer time. The organization also has the Neighborhood Assistance Program. If someone with business income donates $1,000, they receive $500 tax deductible and $500 tax credit back on their Missouri taxes.
Farmers and hunters can contribute too. If farmers donate the proceeds they make from one acre, Monsanto will match it and donate money to the food bank.
Hunters can donate deer meat to food pantries through the Share the Harvest program. Hunters can take meat to a preapproved processing plant and the meat will be distributed to pantries.