KENT KRIEGSHAUSER/The Register-Mail

Bill Gustafson, left, checks with his counterpart, Bob Conn, in hat, while comparing items accumulated during a grocery race Monday morning at the East Main Street Hy-Vee store. Gustafson and Conn were selected from a drawing to assist Josh Gibb and Chuck O'Brien in the race by pushing the carts. The event was part of Food Check Out Day.

Farm Bureau tops the competition in shopping race

Food Check-Out Week opens with Gibb vs. O'Brien

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

By JOANIE STIERS

The Register-Mail

The radio personality's cart held a dozen cans of fruit and a package of elbow macaroni at Main Street Hy-Vee.

"This poor family is going to be on a lean diet," a spectator said.

O'Brien knew he was sluggish. "My wife does all the shopping," he said.

This week is Food Check-Out Week, recognizing that the average American has earned enough income in five weeks to pay for their family's annual food supply. U.S. citizens spend 10 percent of their disposable income on food, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. By comparison, citizens of France spend 18 percent and Japan, 26 percent.

"We want everyone to know what farmers are doing for us," Knox County Farm Bureau Manager Josh Gibb said during a live remote of O'Brien's morning show.

Before the race, Alderman Wayne Allen read a city proclamation, declaring Food Check-Out Week in Galesburg. State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, prepared to officiate the race and wore a referee's shirt and whistle.

Competitors Gibb and O'Brien were teamed with a Hy-Vee customer and had five minutes to buy as many items as possible on a grocery list, which represented a half month's worth of food for a family.

The winner was clear. The FM95 cart could have gone through the express lane. The Farm Bureau cart was filled to the brim. A dented box of Hy-Vee's version of Raisin Bran was evidence of the winning team's momentum, as were the checkout totals: $139.85 and $52.30.

The groceries were donated to FISH Food Pantry. The customer contestants won $200 and $100 Hy-Vee gift cards respectively. And they are allowed limitless time to shop.