New statistics show nearly half of total food dollars in the US spent away from home. More dollars are spent by the typical American consumer on dining out than ever before and nearly as much as is spent on food prepared at home. New statistics show a continuing trend towards eating away from home as the fast pace lifestyle of today shows no signs of slowing down. Oregon agriculture continues to strategically provide products to restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments where consumers spend their money. “Our food products reach consumers through a variety of ways,” says Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. “The latest national statistics show that the restaurant trade and the food service industry are increasingly important customers of what Oregon producers and processors have to offer. That’s because consumers are more often looking outside the home for their meals.” According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS), Americans now spend 49.6 percent of their food dollars away from home– the highest percentage on record. Thirty years ago, only about 40 percent of those food dollars were spent away from home. Fifty years ago, that figure was less than 30 percent. The latest numbers shouldn’t come as a surprise to the restaurant industry. Another statistic indicates the average person eats out more than 200 times a year.
