As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family gatherings, National Farmers Union released the updated “Farmer’s Share of the Food Dollar” for items typically enjoyed during a Thanksgiving meal. These figures reveal how much family farmers earn compared to the amount consumers pay at the grocery store.
“Consumers may notice higher prices this year for many of the ingredients used in their Thanksgiving meals as they prepare to gather around tables filled with cherished holiday dishes. These rising costs, however, often don’t translate to fair compensation for America’s family farmers and ranchers,” said Rob Larew, NFU President.
Larew blames corporate consolidation within the food system.
“Over the years, corporate consolidation has left our agriculture and food systems fragile and uncompetitive. Today, monopolies dominate everything from food processing and distribution to the markets for seeds and farm equipment, leaving farmers at a disadvantage,” he said. “This Thanksgiving, as we celebrate with friends and family, we must also acknowledge the challenges our food producers face. Family farmers and ranchers deserve a fair share of the consumer dollar.”
Farmer’s Share Breakdown
The report included the following items from a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, with their retail prices and what farmers earn per item:
- Turkey: Butterball Frozen Turkey, 16-20 lb. (price per lb.) — Retail: $2.42, Farmer’s Share: $0.06
- Mashed Potatoes: Signature SELECT Farms Russet Potatoes, 10 lbs. — Retail: $6.99, Farmer’s Share: $1.22
- Stuffing: Mrs. Cubbison’s Seasoned Stuffing, 12 oz. — Retail: $4.39, Farmer’s Share: $0.07
- Pumpkin Pie: Signature SELECT 100% Pure Pumpkin, 15 oz. — Retail: $4.29, Farmer’s Share: $0.14
- Cranberries: Signature Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz. — Retail: $2.99, Farmer’s Share: $0.86
- Boneless Ham: Signature SELECT Smoked Boneless Ham (half), 2 lb. — Retail: $15.98, Farmer’s Share: $1.28
- Sweet Corn: Signature SELECT Sweet White Corn, 16 oz. — Retail: $2.99, Farmer’s Share: $0.34
- Dinner Rolls: Signature SELECT Artisan White Dinner Rolls, 18 oz. — Retail: $3.99, Farmer’s Share: $0.10
- Green Beans: Signature SELECT Farms Green Beans, 20 oz. — Retail: $5.00, Farmer’s Share: $0.98
NFU’s Fairness for Farmers campaign is working to solve the monopoly crisis in food and agriculture. Through stronger antitrust enforcement and greater transparency, we can increase the farmer’s share of the food dollar and bring fairness for farmers and consumers alike.
NFU says the data was sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service and other industry sources.
