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Check it out! |
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By JULIET BRISKIN | Central Texas Edition |
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February 14, 2002 -- For the past five years the Texas Farm Bureau has celebrated National Check-Out Day. On Friday, Feb. 8, the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Department of Agriculture and HEB Grocery Stores hosted a press conference in Waco to spread the word about the safe, affordable and abundant food available across the United States. "If you consider yourself an average American," stated Kenneth Dierschke, Texas Farm Bureau vice president, "you have earned enough income as of today, February 8, to buy your food for the entire year." According to Dierschke, Texas farmers and ranchers should be proud of their roll in making America strong. "This year especially, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to thank the many people that make our national blessing of abundant food possible," said Dierschke. Susan Combs, Texas commissioner of agriculture, stated that in the midst of a very shaky economy we all have to be careful shoppers, but food in America is one of our greatest bargains. According to Combs Americans spend only about 10.6 percent of their net disposable income on food compared to countries such as Japan where its citizens spend over 20 percent of their income on food for a single year. "I think it is terribly important to highlight how fabulous the Texas farmers and ranchers are," stated Combs. "We have the safest most abundant food supply in the world and I thank my lucky stars I live in this country." In honor of this landmark day the Texas Farm Bureau employees hosted a food drive for the Caritas Food Pantry. Jim Rogers, assistant director of Caritas, accepted the donation for the organization. According to Rogers, Caritas has been serving the community in McLennan County for 35 years. "We have thrift stores, provide emergency assistance and have a food pantry," said Rogers. "Caritas serves over 1200 families a month just with food." |
