AG INSIGHT Pandemic leads to shifts, decline in U.S. food spending The COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in U.S. food expenditures, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). The ERS analysis shows that real total food expenditures in 2020 fell 7.8% from 2019. Food away from home (FAFH) spending decreased by 19.5%, while food at home (FAH) spending outlays went up 4.8%. The pronounced substitution from FAFH to FAH spending was the primary driver of the decrease in real total food expenditures in 2020. Consumption at FAFH establishments generally is a more expensive choice. As a comparison, real total food expenditures during the Great Recession decreased 1.5% in 2008 and 3.0% in 2009. FAFH spending fell 4.9% between 2007 and 2009, and unlike the 2020 recession, FAH spending also declined (4.0%). In 2020, as in previous recessions, U.S. consumers shifted food expenditures to more cost-efficient FAH outlets instead of FAFH restaurants. However, public health concerns associated with the pandemic led many FAFH establishments (restaurants) to operate at a limited capacity or cease operations, compounding the change in how consumers spent their food dollars.
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Cooperative Farming News
Grants available to support wood products, energy innovation
Some $13 million in new funding opportunities is now available to support market innovation in wood products and wood energy. The announcement from Deputy Agriculture Secretary Dr. Jewel Bronaugh came during a recent “Leaders for the Built Environment” virtual event and kicked off National Forest Products Week. Organized by the Forest Service, Dovetail Partners, WoodWorks and the Softwood Lumber Board, the event aimed to challenge senior leaders from companies in attendance – including Walmart and Microsoft – to explore how mass timber construction can support their climate and sustainability goals. The USDA Forest Service is now accepting applications for these funds through the 2022 Wood Innovations Grant Program and the 2022 Community Wood Grant Program. These grants are designed to develop and expand the use of wood products and strengthen emerging wood energy markets that support sustainable forest management – particularly in areas of high wildfire risk. Since 2015, the Community Wood and Wood Innovation grant programs have provided more than $62 million to 288 recipients to support wood products and wood energy projects. The application period for both grant programs closes Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
