Farmers have paid a high price for cheaper food

TODAY, the average worker earns the price of a pound of round steak in 36 minutes. Thirty years ago, it would have taken the same worker almost two hours to earn the money to buy the same steak.

Over the next few weeks, consumers’ attention will be drawn to these changes in the cost of what’s in their shopping basket over the past three decades since Ireland became a member of the EU.

The awareness programme is being undertaken in a joint venture between the EU and Agri-Aware, to sell the message that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — perceived by many as a payout system for farmers — has brought cheaper food to consumers. Food is significantly cheaper in 2005 than it was in 1973 — that’s a fact. The reason: food prices have not increased as much as wages.