How much food does your family waste?

Grocery shopping only a minor expense? Think again.

The average American family of four spends $9,200 a year on food, rounded to $10,000 when paper goods and personal-care products are added to the mix.

How much of that food ends up in the trash? According to a study conducted in Tompkins County, N.Y., it's around 40 percent. In a similar study by Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab, a whopping 93 percent of those surveyed admitted that they buy foods they never use.

A new book called "American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of its Food" by Jonathan Bloom, there are several ways to curb food waste.

First, it's important to combat refrigerator clutter. The average family of four squanders more than $40 worth of food each week. Take inventory of the ice box and try not to purchase food, especially fresh vegetables and fruits, that you don't eat. Bloom suggests that shoppers should make a detailed food list and to plan out their meals before heading to the grocery store.

Second, pay attention to the fridge's temperature. The average unit should be 37 degrees Fahrenheit with the freezer set at zero. Also, keep veggies in crisper drawers armed with humidity controls.

Finally, invest in produce containers with top vents and bottom strainers. This will help keep the produce longer. Also, food dehydrators can stretch your food-budget dollar to the end of the year, according to this story by Consumer United Advocate.

Click here to learn more about Bloom's "American Wasteland."

Food costs steady despite drop in fuel prices

As gasoline crossed the $4 mark this summer, grocery stores were some of the first places consumers saw prices rise. Although the price of fuel has declined considerably since then, the prices of many food items have remained relatively constant.

"Prices always go up faster than they come down," John Rand, a grocery team leader at researcher and consultancy Management Ventures Inc. in Cambridge, tells the Boston Globe. "They raise prices in anticipation of costs. They very rarely lower them in anticipation of savings."

In addition, the costs associated with fuel and transportation make up only a portion of what consumers are actually paying for when they purchase an item from the grocery store. Meat and produce, for example, are also subject to variations in supply that are dependent upon weather and other unpredictable natural events.

Other items that have a very long shelf life, such as soap and paper towels, are dependent upon contracts between sellers and manufacturers. These contracts are often negotiated before either party knows what fuel or transportation costs will be at the time of delivery.

Just because grocery prices have remained relatively constant does not mean that there are not bargains, however. Stores still need to move their merchandise, and in response to weakening sales figures, more manufacturers may be offering coupons to entice shoppers.

"We also have thousands of temporary price reductions every single week," Judy Chong, spokeswoman for Shaw's, says. "If you just spend some time clipping coupons or you pay some attention, you can get some deals out there."

--Bridget O'Sullivan

Demand growing for holiday food assistance

With the holiday season approaching, more and more food banks and assistance centers around Massachusetts are receiving requests for help.

The slowing economy, which has led to increasing levels on unemployment and tighter credit, has pushed some Americans over the edge. Many people struggling to make ends meet during the holidays last year are now turning to relief organizations for help.

One of the factors making the situation so difficult for consumers is the high cost of food.

Increases in fuel prices have driven up the price of many groceries, especially essentials such as milk, meat and fruit because of the need for those products to be refrigerated. The increase in the price of a turkey, for example, from last year to this year means that unless they get more donations, relief organizations will not be able to help as much as they could in the past.

According to the Boston Globe, the state’s food banks paid about $.80 per pound for turkeys in 2006, but will pay over $1.05 this year. These higher prices translate into an increased need for generosity, but unfortunately the weakening economy may make that a difficult goal.

In order to combat what could be a difficult holiday season, the Salvation Army is planning to begin their signature red kettle campaign earlier this year.

Beginning November 12, bell ringers will begin appearing around Massachusetts.

"We trust the Lord," Major William H. Bode, commander of the Massachusetts division of the Salvation Army, tells the Boston Globe. "And trust the donor."

--Bridget O'Sullivan