Your recent story regarding the high cost of Christmas dinner has, in my opinion, missed an important point.
Your article leaves the reader with an impression that the cost of a Christmas dinner is too high - I beg to differ.
The items listed represent enough food to feed a minimum of 12 people. Considering the total cost is set at $77.60, that works out to $6.40 per person.
That is a reasonable cost for a turkey, ham, salt beef and vegetable dinner by most people's standards.
And how about the traditional soup that usually follows Christmas dinner? Liquid from the cooked vegetables combined with meat leftovers make a nutritious soup.
It is reasonable to assume six additional meals could be had from Christmas dinner leftovers.
In summary, even if we raise the total cost by an additional one dollar, we are able to provide 18 meals for average cost of $4.80 per meal.
That is about the same cost as a large double-double with a honey crueller thrown in.
The point I wish to make is this: food is cheap in this country, dirt cheap. We need to recognize and appreciate this fact.
I agree with your article's point that food prices are likely to rise in the near future; I differ, however, on the likely cause.
Food prices may rise due to the fact the agriculture industry is failing to attract young people. In Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a very serious challenge.
Put simply, the young do not want to follow the way of the back-brace.
Hard work, long hours and limited income make the industry unattractive.
The number of farms in this province is down, way down. The average age of current farmers is 56 and there are no lineups to fill those empty tractor seats.
Since Christmas is a time to give thanks I propose the following: as we sit around our festive tables full of bountiful, reasonably priced food, let's raise our glasses and give thanks to farmers.
Let's salute the hands that feed us.
It won't cost a dime.
Mike Fleming
St. John's
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Well how about you change your life to get out of the minimum wage society.