Popcorn Propaganda Popped in Iowa
Posted: August 2, 2007
A state corn growers organization decided to use a picture to make a point on how out of control the food vs. fuel debate is getting. The The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) got together for a joint press conference and photo-op to dispel claims that ethanol and higher field corn prices result in higher popcorn prices for moviegoers. The “Popping the Popcorn Propaganda” event clearly illustrated this point by displaying what $5 will buy you at a movie theater versus $5 from a farmer.
Here’s the details from their event:
“The ‘blame ethanol’ game has gotten completely out of control,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “From a consumer standpoint, for $5 you can buy 1 tub of popcorn at a movie theater or 38.5 pounds of popcorn from a farmer, which, when popped fills nearly a dozen 33-gallon trash bags.
“From a farm standpoint, in 2006 the farmer received about 1.4 cents for the corn in that $5 tub at the movie theater. In 2007, that same farmer will receive about 2 cents to fill that tub. How can an increase of 0.6 cents to the farmer justify a price hike to movie goers or crazy headlines in the news media?”
To illustrate the point, IRFA intern Paul Brees spent 6 hours popping 38.5 pounds of popcorn – the amount you could buy from a farmer for $5. During the press conference, the 12 bags of popcorn stood in stark contrast to the one small bag of popcorn from the movie theater.
“We had a very visual example today of what actually goes to the farmer. You can use this same example when you talk about other products made with corn. For example, a six-pack of soda includes just 6 cents of corn sweetener, or only 1 penny per can. If your soda at the store is going up more than 1 cent per can, then you have to wonder where the rest of that increase is going,” said Craig Floss, CEO for Iowa Corn. “We know that it is not making it to our corn growers, so to blame them for the increase in prices at the grocery story is simply not right.”
Duane Said,
August 3, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
It is about time that someone get the real truth out. I have never liked movie theaters anyhow. Prices are always inflated there.
John Coonen Said,
August 3, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Stay on message, guys. This is a MASSIVE MISINFORMATION campaign.
Keith Peltier Said,
August 6, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
This is an excellent visual presentation about how various industries are trying to use the price of corn as a reason to raise prices. Most of the increases are actually in the packaging or getting the product there, which are mostly petroleum based
Paul W. Said,
August 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am
The truth is, most of the cost increase to almost all consumer foods and goods is due to increases in energy prices. By making more energy from corn ethanol, energy supply is increased and energy cost decreased-simple economics. By the way, it is scientific fact that it takes more units of energy to make a gallon of gasoline than what energy it returns, while a gallon of ethanol results in a net energy gain (it comes from the sun!). Also, it is estimated that gasoline costs upwards of $12 per gallon, due to non-pump expenses such as tax money (we all pay as taxpayers) for the military to protect our foreign oil interests (let alone lost soldiers’ lives). It is a terrible lie that ethanol is to blame for the majority of price increases. Shame on those that spread this lie.