Earlier this week I had the opportunity to interview retired farmer Merle Anderson for my Between the Lines blog (Three Pieces of Advice From the Father of Ethanol). For those who truly know, love and respect Merle, he is none other than the “Father of Ethanol”. Thirty four years ago, Merle got a group of farmers together in Minnesota (he was a farmer in Climax, MN) to see how they could find a home for their surplus crops and their answer: ethanol. For the next 30 years or so, corn happened to be the only crop for ethanol that took off, but if Merle is right, other crops will have their day in the sun too.

Yet despite the successes of the of corn ethanol industry, there is something that is really bugging him and that is the lack of support from the food industry whom he feels should be supporters of a product that helps the food industry, not hurts, them.

Below is a letter to the editor from Merle that we have received permission to reprint. After you read it, you will definitely be looking at groceries in your cart a bit differently – even though you grew the food.

When I walk through the big doors of the Modern Grocery Store it seems like I’m walking through the pearly gates of Food Heaven.

Then I stop and ask myself if farmers produce most of the basic food items in these places, why does the Grocery Industry Lobby join in a lawsuit against farmers and renewable fuels?

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has lobbied against farmers by blaming ethanol for the high cost of food. Not true! The cost of food is up because of three plus dollars a gallon for fuel prices. Cost of processing, wrapping, boxing, and transportation is where your increased costs are.

The GMA has recently joined with Big Oil and others opposing groups in a lawsuit against the EPA because E15 was partially approved in our cars and pickups.

So as I wander through Food Heaven it causes me to ask these questions:

Does the GMA realize that the ethanol industry has done a lot of good things for our country?

Does the GMA realize that the ethanol industry is playing a role in what we call value added and make agriculture more stable? (Remember farm families buy groceries too!)

Does the GMA know their effort against ethanol is causing our country to buy more foreign oil to the tune of $1 Billion a day of a transfer of our wealth?

Does the GMA have something against the creation of jobs, rural community development, continuing growth of a local tax base and lower gas prices at the pump?

Does the GMA have strong feelings against cleaner air? Or better yet, do they have problems with better and cleaner air in our metro areas?

If the grocery industry’s answer to these questions are negative, they should apologize to farmers and to their customers.

Next time you are in your local Food Heaven, ask to talk to the manager, ask if they are a member of Grocery Manufacturers Association. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you think.

As I walk back into the real world, I have to say, come on America! Support the ethanol industry, its doing good things for you and our country.

Find that gas station with a blender pump , if you have a Flex-Fuel Vehicle, push that E85 button. If you don’t push the E30 button.

You will feel good about it. And you can take your wife to the Grocery store and buy her groceries with the money saved.