“Pecan production is destined to become one of the most important lines of orchard development in the United States.”—Cong. Record of the United States, p. 1101, Vol. 54.
Right Foods—The Increasing Demand
No matter what may happen, the demand for nourishing foods is sure to grow so long as the population increases. Railroads, steel, electricity—all are recent developments, none of them indispensable to mankind. But existence itself depends on nourishing foods.
“Then,” you say, “no business should be surer than that of supplying food to the growing population of America.”
Correct, provided you supply the right food.
Food standards are changing
For food standards are changing. Prove that fact, if you will, by the figures of the U. S. Census Bureau for the years 1900 and 1910, a period unaffected by the World War.
During that period the population of the United States increased from 75,091,575 to 91,972,266—an increase of virtually 223
10 per cent. Therefore, the production of any foodstuffs should increase by the same percentage during that period to provide for the same consumption per capita.
Less beef, less pork, more nut meat
Has the consumption of beef increased during that period? Apparently not—for there were 8.7 per cent. less cattle on the farms in 1910 than in 1900. Nor was there any material increase in imports. That there was not a corresponding increase in the price of beef during this period, is indicated by the fact that the value of all cattle on American farms increased only 1.6 per cent. between 1900 and 1910—an increase only one-fourteenth as great as the increase in population.