Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Susan Wingard

County Extension Coordinator

September 13, 2011

Federal Road Programs Available

The Baldwin County Extension Office and Baldwin County Department of Archives and History have had the opportunity to work together on a Federal Road Initiative for our area.  The goal of these programs is to increase awareness of the impact of the Federal Road on Baldwin County.  Living History Presentations are available for fourth grade students and for adults.  The two presentations available are:  Federal Road Overview and How the Federal Road facilitated the War of 1812.  The group presentations will be approximately 30 minutes in length and may be requested by contacting the Baldwin County Extension Office at 937-7176.  We also have exhibits on the Federal Road that will be on display at the Baldwin County Fair on September 27-October 1.

Regional Extension Agent in Agronomy

We welcome Christy Hicks, Regional Extension Agent in Agronomy, to our office.  She began working with us on September 1.    Christy may be reached by contacting the Baldwin County Extension Office.  You will be hearing from her in a news column in the future.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

If you are interested in programs and information for grandparents raising grandchildren, please contact our office to be added the mailing list. 

Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Food

Waste is a key issue in poor management of household food budgets. Americans throw away 10% or more of the food they buy and throwing away food is like throwing away money.

Three main reasons for costly food waste are:

• Buying more perishable food than can reasonably be used before it spoils.
• Failing to use food on hand or to preserve it for future meals.
• Plating more food than can be eaten at a meal.

To put that into perspective, a weekly food budget of $100 adds up to $5,200 annually. With a 10 percent waste rate, the loss would be $520.

To reduce food waste in the home and reduce overall food costs:

• Keep a running grocery list to reduce time and money spent while grocery shopping. Most people who return to a store for one or two items usually add impulse purchases.  The value of time and cost of gasoline add to the cost.
• Buy just enough perishable foods, and keep non-perishables on hand to use until you shop again.
• Buy non-perishable items in bulk or on sale at discounted prices.
• Check upper and lower shelves for lower-priced items, since more costly items often are displayed on middle shelves, within easy reach.
• Check the unit price (cost-per-serving or per use) before buying. Unit prices are posted above or below the displayed item. The lowest unit price is usually the most economical choice, unless the unit is too large for your family to use before the food spoils.
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season at lower prices, or at farmers markets or roadside stands that offer freshly-harvested foods that may not be available in stores (smaller potatoes or apples, for example)​.
• Watch for sales on more expensive items and buy extra if you can, to preserve for future meals.
• Compare price with coupon vs. store brand or generic to save.
• Be aware of prices of regularly purchased food and grocery items to know when a sale really is a sale.
• Invest in washable and reusable food storage and beverage containers, utensils and tableware to reduce cost of disposables.

For more information on saving food dollars, visit our website at www.aces.edu for the publication HE-757, 101+ Ways to Save Food Dollars.

Special thanks to Kristin Woods, Regional Extension Agent-Food Safety, for this information.

Email address: swingard@aces.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5061, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Baldwin County Extension Programs are supported by the Baldwin County Commission.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.