Paying more for less food

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - While the dollar value of the country’s food import bill has risen steadily since 2008, the actual amount of food imported in terms of weight and quantity has consistently decreased since 2010. In response to a question in the Senate on Tuesday, Trade Minister Vasant Bharath said the food import bill for 2008 was $4.2 billion; for 2009, $3.8 billion; 2010, billion; and 2011, $4.7 billion. The top items in terms of expenditure over that period were generally, sugar, (molasses and honey); milk and cream; vegetables (dry); vegetables (preserved); wheat; fruit and nuts (fresh); fruit juices; rice; eggs; cereal and flour preparations; feed for animals; edible productions and preparations and other meat, fresh and chilled.