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Readers’ Swap may be more important than ever, as the rising cost of food has consumers wondering how to cut corners.

Many people now are relying on basic, traditional recipes and focusing on grocery items in season to get through a money crunch at the register.

Sharing ideas to save money may be the best first step.

According to experts with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the state is on trend with national food inflation, about 6.7 percent, as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

The Tyler Paper will track the average cost of four basic, staple items each month in the Food section as provided by the BLS.

They are: Milk, Flour, Eggs and Extra Lean Ground Beef.

In April 2000, all purpose flour cost, on average, .28 cents per pound. Last month the cost was listed at .51 cents.

Whole milk cost $2.77 per gallon in 2000, and $3.80 per gallon in April 2008.

Grade A large eggs cost an average .93 cents per dozen, and in April, cost 2.07 per dozen.

Extra lean ground beef was listed at $2.24 per pound in 2000 and $3.15 in April.

“This, combined with the rising fuel prices is putting additional stresses on many of the clients that we work with, including limited resource families,” said Jenna Anding, associate department head for extension and program leader.

Although higher prices are affecting the consumer, the news for Texas production is good, also according to an agriculture production report released from the extension service May 14.

Production for 2007 was a record $21.8 billion because of higher crop and livestock prices, according to the report.

“Add another $20.8 billion worth of purchased items, such as tires, fuel and other agribusiness supplies used to produce a crop, and the total economic impact to rural Texas tops $42.6 billion,” said AgriLife Extension economist Dr. Carl Anderson, who led the study. “Higher crop prices and strong livestock prices have contributed to a substantial increase in economic activities across the rural areas of Texas.”

He said the increased demand for grain used in ethanol production pushed grain prices “up to the highest level in memory.”

Crop values in 2007 totaled $10 billion — an increase of more than 50 percent from 2006, according to the annual extension survey of estimated agricultural production values for Texas counties.

The following are major crop values and those recording gains in excess of 100 percent for 2007:

Wheat, $779 million — more than double

Corn, $1.1 billion

Sorghum, $818 billion

Feed Crops, $3.3 billion (135 percent increase)

Vegetable Crops, $397 million (6 percent increase)

Fruits and nuts, $183 million (14 percent increase)

Livestock values increased 14 percent to $10 billion, matching 2007 crop values, according to the study.

The largest increase was 54 percent for $1.2 billion in milk sales. Poultry rose 12 percent to $1.2 billion, while beef cattle totaled $7.1 billion, an 11 percent increase.

“With increasing demand for food and fiber worldwide, agriculture is destined to play an even greater role in the future,” Anderson said. “A large area of productive soils and excellent export transportation facilities favor farming and ranching operations.”

On the other hand, the extension’s county consumer programming is reflecting the increase in purchase price, according to Smith County family and consumer sciences agent Shelia Lewis.

“We are really advising people to shop with a list,” she said. “That’s the first thing people can do to limit what they’re buying down to the basics. It’s all about planning and logistics.”

Ms. Lewis also suggests weighing the option of eating out versus buying lunches, which sometimes can save enough weekly to make up for the difference in fuel prices, not to mention the savings to and from the eatery on your lunch hour.

“We’re also seeing some co-op shopping, which really hasn’t been done in many years,” she said. “Two or three families go somewhere like Sam’s and buy in bulk and split the cost. That saves food, and it saves money.”

Ms. Anding said there are strategies that can be employed to deal with rising food costs, but realizes some families have already resourced all they can.

“I’m very mindful that we also work with families who are already putting these strategies in place, yet continue to have problems due to other challenges and an overall lack of resources,” she said.

The extension office advises planning a food budget and sticking to it. Set it up weekly or monthly.

To do this, look at your current income, bills and gas expenses. Take a close look at how much is spent on groceries, eating out, convenience store/vending machine purchases. If you are not sure about those expenses, try tracking them for one month.

Set the budget and set that money aside for the purpose of grocery shopping.

Next, plan meals and snacks in advance. Look at the foods you already have on hand and make a list accordingly. Also, taking a look at weekly sale papers can be a good place to start planning a menu.

Consider meals that would make a second-day lunch or whose leftovers can be incorporated into another recipe, like a soup or stew.

Shop and keep in mind to make sure fruits and vegetables are in season, not damaged or spoiled and dates are current.

Pick store brands over national brands. Compare coupons versus store brand pricing. Sometimes, even with a coupon, the better deal is from the store.

Resist impulse buys.

Reduce food waste by storing food properly.

“It’s all about creativity,” Ms. Lewis said. “Planning meals that will extend your dollar takes a lot of that.”

If you have creative ideas to save money, either at the register or by recipe, and would like to share them with your neighbors, write to Readers’ Swap.