Rural households in China are buying more food instead of growing it themselves. From 1994 to 2003, cash purchases of food by rural Chinese households increased by 7.4% each year. This shift towards buying food is happening faster than just from having more money. People are eating less home-grown staple grains and spending more on food outside the home. This change is making Chinese diets more diverse, expanding food markets, and creating new opportunities for businesses that sell food.