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Corn board- Moviegoers should be popping madNebraska Moviegoers should be popping mad at what the theaters charge for a tub of popcorn, according to the Nebraska Corn Board. "The suggestion of increasing the cost of a tub of popcorn or the price of a movie ticket because corn prices are higher, borders on the ridiculous," says Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. Farmers receive 22 to 25 cents for a pound of popcorn at today's prices, which means that a tub of popcorn at the movie theater has about 3 cents worth of popcorn in a $5 tub. You can use this same example when you talk about other products made with corn. For example, a 16 ounce soda sweetened with corn sweetener has about 1 penny's worth of corn in it. Or, a box of corn flakes cereal that sells for nearly $4 a box, has a nickel's worth of corn, according to Nebraska Corn Board's data. "It appears that the real profits in movies today rest with some really well paid actors versus some corn farmer getting 22 cents for his popcorn. Especially when you note that according to Access Hollywood, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt just purchased a $70 million home in France to go with their multi-million homes in Germany, England and another two in the U.S. Or the fact that the new Indiana Jones movie took in over $120 million in its first four days," said Hutchens. A recent USA Today article titled "Moviegoers eyes could pop at the price of popcorn," noted that "higher concession prices, which can be 80 percent profit, generally help theaters deal with rising costs more than higher ticket prices do." "Ironically, in some cases the paper pulp in the popcorn tub has increased 40 percent over the last 36 months, making it more expensive than the popcorn that fills it. It seems the award for best acting should go to the concession stand at the local movie theater," concluded Hutchens. If you want more information on the real facts about corn and food costs go to our website www.nebraskacorn.org. The Nebraska Corn Board is a self-help program, funded and managed by Nebraska corn farmers. Producers invest in the program at a rate of 1/4 of a cent per bushel of corn sold. Nebraska corn checkoff funds are invested in programs of market development, research and education. 6/30/08 Date: 7/10/08
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