Holiday Gas Prices & Vilsack's Thankful

Holiday Gas Prices & Vilsack’s Thankful plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

If you are planning on traveling this Thanksgiving holiday it appears that gas prices are going to make it a little easier. Average prices in the northwest are around $3.50 according to AAA. The national average is $3.42. Of course gas prices are higher in the west and extreme northeast but this years prices are down from last year at this time. The price in the northwest is down about 50 cents from last month. Good news.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is plenty thankful and during his weekly address gave us a preview.

VILSACK: Rural American provides so much for all of us including extraordinary outdoor recreational opportunities, clean water, renewable fuel and energy, jobs for folks across the country and a safe secure and a abundant food supply. Our farmers, ranchers and growers are the most productive on earth. America still faces a historic drought and the recovery continues from hurricane Sandy. I know that in the months and years to come the hard working folks in rural America will further strengthen our nation. Today I’m thankful for their work and glad the USDA can support their efforts. Throughout the holiday season my family and I will also remember those who struggle to put food on their plate and give thanks that so many ordinary Americans stand up to fight hunger in their own communities.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

According to results from the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2012 Food and Health Survey parents of children younger than eighteen focus more on the health needs of their kids, than they do on their own nutritional needs. Such results aren’t necessarily surprising. Most good parents will strive to give their kids the very best they can afford to give them, whether that’s for food, clothes, or educational needs. And as is often the case, that’s done through parental sacrifice. The survey also goes on to report that a large percentage of parents don’t get enough in the way of regular exercise. Again, not surprising when considering that most parents of children under the age of eighteen also hold down a full time job while trying to raise a family, which doesn’t leave them with much “me” time. On the flip side, eighty-seven percent of parents surveyed believe that it’s good for their health to sit down and eat meals with their children. The constant message coming from parents throughout the survey is that their children are their top priority. Their hearts are in the right place, now we just need to convince them that they need to take care of those loving hearts with a heart healthy diet.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.