Ethanol pushing up the price of popcorn, pizza

More acres are being used for field corn, putting the squeeze on popcorn production

Ethanol is being blamed for driving up the price of all that is right with America – from popcorn to pizza.

Poppycock, say ethanol’s defenders.

The food fight is coming at a time when soaring demand for ethanol has set off rallies in field corn prices, causing farmers to increase the number of acres planted this year.
The state average corn price on Friday was $2.82 a bushel, down 37 cents from a week ago, but up 94 cents a bushel from a year ago.

That’s a 50 percent annual increase, which is prompting farmers to plant more field corn, used in ethanol.

Demand has led to a 65 percent increase in contract costs to get farmers to plant Jolly Time brand popcorn, said Garrett Smith, president of the American Pop Corn Co. in Sioux City, which makes the popular brand.

Des Moines Register