put a damper on

English/NBC Nightly News 2008. 8. 6. 20:33
damper
one that deadens, restrains, or depresses.
ex) Rain put a damper on our picnic plans.

From the NBC Nightly News on the night of August 4th, right before the clip embedded below :

There was another ominous sign on the economy today. Consumer spending. After adjusting for inflation dropped in June, as Americans were hit with the biggest increase in prices in 27 years in this country, the inflation picture driven by high gas prices mostly, put a big damper on the goverment stimulus payments that went out in this past spring.




<iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26011423#26011423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>


And in this economy, folks are making different choices, cutting back on what they buy and for how much and asking themselves just what is staple and what's luxury. That question ripples right through the American economy, our report tonight from NBC's Anne Thompson.

More than 7 million cups shipped each week, the crisp pace of business at Stonyfield Farm - the nation's largest organic yogurt producer.

"How many servings of yogurt are in this warehouse?"
"About 11 million."

CEO Gary Hirshberg is a true believer in organics. Now some 3% of America's food industry.
But many wonder if organics, more expensive than conventional food, can survive inflation.

"Consumers are cutting back on luxury items. But those who are purchasing organic know that it's something that's good for them, and good for their family as well as good for the air(?)."

To be organic, food must be produced without chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic hormones. And grown in a way that replenishes the soil.

Sales of such food and beverages totaled $1 billion in 1990, almost $17 billion in 2006 and are projected to pass $23 billion this year.

Yet for all the optimism within the industry, farmers and producers worry there is a point, a price point, where even the most dedicated organics consumer says enough.

Legina and Brad ________ 35 cows in Vermont, produce 600,000 pounds of organic milk a year, most of it going to Stonyfield for yogurt. But this year, fuel and feed has made their milk more expensive.
----> 2010.8.31 : Legina and Brad Fidler's 35 cows in Vermont produce .... Fidler : their family name, maybe.


"The biggest price increase has been in our grains."

George Siemon is the CEO of the country's largest group of organic farmers. He says grain and feed prices are up because of shortage of organic growers.

"Having to pay more for feed means we have to pay more for the farmers, which means consumers have to pay more."

Hirshberg concedes his yogurt consumers have a limit.

"We've taken 8 cost increases. For example, on organic milk. But we've only been able to pass along two price increases."

The sales have slowed. Hirshberg expects another year of double digit growth. As consumers still value what's not in organic food.

Anne Thompson, NBC News, Bedford, New Hampshire.




: