12/23/08 Tis the Seaon & Holiday Feast

Tis the Season & the Holiday Meal plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. As the Northwest continues to dig out from a strong weekend winter storm that stranded passengers on planes and trains and automobiles, yet another storm system is taking aim on the region. Mountain passes and interstates have kept road crews busy just trying to keep them open. So if you have been dreaming of a white Christmas, you are in luck. More of the white stuff is headed our way. Stores are reporting brisk sales of snow shovels, ice melt and numerous auto dealers are completely out of tire chains. If you are planning on travelling this holiday, check conditions in advance, start as early as possible and travel safely. It looks like the holiday feast will be a bit more spendy this year. But one item should be cheaper according to USDA's Economist, Ephraim Leibtag. LEIBTAG: Dairy products are down so if you are using some of the dairy products, especially milk and cheese, those prices are lower than they were a few months ago. Still overall cheese products are more expensive this year but actually if you are buying milk, that's one example the gallons of milk in the store are actually lower price now than they were a year ago. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. As Christmas quickly approaches and you're checking off items on your gift list hopefully you'll be checking off a donation to your local food bank. The demand for food boxes this year has grown by over 30 percent. The increased demand is nation wide and food banks report that they are supplying families that they have not helped before. Reportedly the Department of Agriculture has increased their level of commodity food to food banks by 35 percent; equivalent to 900,000 pounds! The main source of donated foods to food banks is from growers and processors. Farmers Ending Hunger, who supplies food for the needy has, in addition to the 1 million pounds of fruits, vegetables and grain products they have donated this year, donated 25 cows a month for much needed protein in food boxes. So, in the true spirit of Christmas this year, share your abundance with someone less fortunate. The good feeling you'll get and give will surpass anything bought at a store. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.