Baker's March on Washington to Protest Wheat Prices

Bakers March on Washington to Protest Rising Wheat Prices

"Members of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Master Bakers met here today to consider means of dealing with the sharp advance in the price of flour, almost 100 per cent, which, it was declared, is driving many small bakers into bankruptcy.”
-- Chicago Tribune, Sept. 6, 1916

Harkening back to those days of food protests, a Band of Bakers March, organized by the American Baking Association, which represents 85% of the baking industry, led a march on Washington on March 12th, 2008 to protest rising wheat prices. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. With the critically low reserves and severe conditions in the wheat markets, the American Bakers Association (ABA) is calling on all bakers to come to Washington and demand action by USDA and Congress," said ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie.

The Energy Independence and Security Act, signed into law in 2007, increases the amount of ethanol to be used in fuel, leading to rising grain costs that—along with rising fuel prices and rising food exports—threaten bakers’ profits and jobs. Durum wheat prices increased from $5.16 per bushel February 2007 to $16.40 by February 2008; a 317% increase. The Bush administration has said it opposes limiting exports.

"ABA has repeatedly urged the White House, the USDA and Congress to provide meaningful relief to alleviate the growing wheat crisis” said MacKie “Unfortunately those calls have gone unheeded. Now is the time for all bakers, from all organizations, to join ABA in coming to Washington to deliver this important message personally.” MacKie and other ABA representatives were to meet with newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and senior White House officials in Washington on the day of the march. MacKie told a news conference: "Our concern is that there is a sense at USDA that this is a temporary blip… it's going to get much worse.”

Links:
http://www.americanbakers.org/MarchonWashington.htm
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2008/03/us-bakers-march-on-washingto...