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Each year Ohio Farm Bureau gets highly involved with National Food Check-Out Day. Consumers had numerous opportunities to learn more about this celebration as the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Ohio Grocers Association cooperated in a week-long promotion surrounding Food Check-Out Day.

Members of county Farm Bureaus throughout Ohio work with local grocery stores and the Ohio Grocers Association to promote the message of Food Check-Out Day. In-store activities included shopping sprees, giveaways and a large number of activities to support local charities. In many cases, Farm Bureau and the grocers donated food to local pantries and relief agencies.

Food Check-Out Day celebrates the affordability of food in America. The 2002 Food Check-Out Day will be celebrated Feb. 8. This date marks the day when the typical family has earned enough income to pay its annual food bill.

"With the cost of utilities, gasoline and other essentials seemingly climbing every day, it's nice to know that our most basic need, food, remains relatively inexpensive," Pat Petzel, OFBF director of promotion and education, said. "From the farmer to the grocer, everyone in the food production and distribution chain plays a role in helping us feed families affordably."

United States Department of Agriculture statistics show the average American family spends 10.4 percent of its disposable income on food. That percentage has dropped from 24.7 percent in 1930 and 17.4 percent in 1960.