Local Food

Is Food Inflation Heating Up July 4th Grills?

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:44:50 GMT

Two industry reports are shining a light on the cost of a July 4^th barbecue.

The economists at Wells Fargo calculate an at-home holiday party for 10 will cost $130. The menu includes chicken breasts, beef sliders, hot dogs, fresh fruit, a vegetable platter, potato salad, corn bread, cake, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine and soda.

Dr. Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist within Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute, says year-over-year food inflation is 2.2%.

For notable food prices from the July 4^th report, he cites the following:

Ground beef: Up 7.4%
Boneless chicken breasts: Up 1%
Watermelon and strawberries: Down 0.6%
Potatoes: Up 1%
Egg prices: Up 40%
Ice cream (1.5 quart): Up less than 1%

Swanson says beef prices year over year have been running 6% to 8% higher.

“When you talk to somebody who’s a processor or a packer, there’s not a part of the cow that moves independent from the other parts of the cow so it’s all right in that category 6% to 8% on a year over year basis the last couple of months based on CPI,” he says.

He says for cost-savings, chicken offers the greatest opportunities in the protein category.

“When you look at the composite pricing from USDA, it’s right around $2.42 to $2.45 a pound — including everything from wings and breasts,” he says.

As for hot dogs, Swanson says the blend inside the casing will drive the price.

“If you go with the all-beef frankfurters, yes, they’re up substantially. If you look for a sausage or bratwurst that has a blend of pork and beef in it, you’re probably finding a much better bargain. Pork has been pretty flat year over year,” he says.

Swanson says the effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza are still being reflected in higher egg prices for menu items such as deviled eggs and salads.

As for ice cream, Swanson says the increase in cost is being attributed to additional labor expense in production.

“We’re seeing a little bit of inflation in that category, but just very modest. We have a good supply of cream and milk in the country right now. The dairymen are doing wel. So, what that reflects is kind of that cost of transformation,” he says.

Wells Fargo uses NeilsenIQ data for its analysis.

American Farm Bureau Market Basket Survey
Using its annual survey, The American Farm Bureau Federation says this year’s food prices are resulting in the second-highest cost for an at-home July 4^th barbecue since 2013 when the survey began.

“High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up — from labor and transportation to taxes,” says AFBF associate economist Samantha Ayoub.

Per AFBF, this year’s cost for an Independence Day cookout will cost $70.92 for 10 people. Included in the calculations are cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, potato salad, strawberries and ice cream.

Last year was the highest cost found by the survey at $7.39 per person.

Year-over-year retail price increases in 2025 include:

2 lb. of ground beef: Up 4.4% to $13.33
Pork and beans: Up 20¢ to $2.69
Potato salad: Up 6.6% to $3.54

Notable reductions, compared to 2024, in food prices per the survey were:

3 lb. package of pork chops: Down 8.8% to $14.13
Chips: Down 10¢ to $4.80 a bag
Hamburger buns: Down 2.6% to $2.35

Pennsylvania Governor Sues USDA Over Termination of Program That Supports Food Banks, Locally Grown

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:54:05 GMT

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a news release that his administration has filed a lawsuit against the USDA for unlawfully terminating the state’s Local Food Purchase Assistance program agreement — a $13 million commitment that directly supports 189 Pennsylvania farms and supplies 14 food banks with fresh, locally grown food.

The governor announced the legal action at the Share Food Program in Philadelphia, one of the state’s largest emergency food providers.

Shapiro said his administration had tried to appeal the termination of the LFPA program by filing an administrative appeal through the USDA, reaching out to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and through meetings with USDA leadership in Washington, D.C. When the USDA ignored Pennsylvania’s request to support farmers, the administration was left with no other choice but to sue, the governor said.

“Pennsylvania farmers do the noble work of putting food on our tables — and for the last three years, they’ve been paid to provide fresh, local food to food banks across our commonwealth as part of a successful federal initiative,” Shapiro said in the release. “When the USDA abruptly terminated our agreement without cause, they ripped away a reliable source of income for 189 Pennsylvania farms — and cut off funding that would have helped provide over 4.4 million meals to families across the commonwealth. That’s not just bad policy — it’s a broken promise. A deal is a deal, and I’ve taken legal action today to ensure the federal government honors its commitment to Pennsylvania.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has administered more than $28 million in federal LFPA funding since 2022. The state said the USDA canceled the most recent three-year contract in March, which was signed December 2024.

Pennsylvania rebuked USDA’s claims that the state was “sitting on tens of millions” in unspent LFPA funds, saying the state’s program operates on a reimbursement basis, paying vendors upfront and is reimbursed by the federal government once the state incurs expenses.

“The USDA’s decision was not just unexpected — it was unlawful, and it has already caused serious harm to Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry,” state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said in the release. “This is about real people — the farmers, producers, and rural communities who are now facing uncertainty as a result. These are hardworking men and women who put food on our tables, support local economies, and preserve our farmland for future generations. Governor Shapiro is fighting for our farmers because the stakes are far too high.”

The governor’s office said the Share Food Program distributed more than 30 million meals to individuals, families and food pantries in 2024. It also deliverd more than 83,000 senior food boxes through USDA programs, rescued nearly 6 million pounds of food and delivered more than 47,000 free home food packages to Philadelphia residents.

“Since 1986, our mission has been to feed the region’s most vulnerable families — and today, we’re serving nearly one million people each month, with more than half of them children,” said George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program. “At Share, we believe food is a human right and hunger is a solvable problem — principles we live by every day. The LFPA program helped us source nutritious food from local farms — but now, with demand at record highs, this cut will hurt real people and damage trust. At a time when demand at our food bank has risen 120% in just three years, losing LFPA hurts real people — and breaks a promise that should have been kept.”

Shapiro’s office said the state is one of the only in the country that uses LFPA funding to support in-state farmers to ensure that federal dollars stay local and support the state’s agricultural economy.

“I started providing fresh fruits and vegetables to Pennsylvania food banks several years ago — from Share in Philadelphia to food banks in Pittsburgh, Mercer County and across central PA. That work gave me a deep appreciation for what food insecurity really looks like. Whether someone is going through a tough time or has long struggled to make ends meet, the need is real — and the people who dedicate their time to helping others are truly inspiring,” said Brian Campbell, owner and founder of Brian Campbell Farms. “It’s not just about putting food on the table — it’s about providing healthy, nutritious options that can change lives. Programs like LFPA made it possible for farmers to cover the basic costs of harvesting, packaging, and delivering fresh produce to food banks. It was enough support to make it doable, and that made all the difference for the people we serve.”

Florida farmers brace for worst as Hurricane Ian strengthens

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:42:23 GMT

Florida farmers, who have dealt with more than their fair of hurricanes since 2000, are actively monitoring the developing Hurricane Ian situation, according to the Florida Department of Citrus.

The National and Central Pacific Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Ian is growing stronger in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. On Sept. 27, the center issued a hurricane watch for the West Coast of Florida from South of Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee.

Read related: Challenges breed toughness for Florida citrus leaders

Total crop loss from hurricanes Irma and Michael in in 2017 and 2018, respectively, was estimated at about $1.5 billion, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.

“In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the Florida peninsula with winds up to 112 mph and accumulated rainfall of up to 14 inches. Both Irma and Michael caused significant property damage across the state, including damage to agricultural crops,” according to UF/IFAS Extension. “For Irma alone, over 5.0 million acres of cropland were affected, including 3.4 million under hurricane-force winds.”

Alan Hodges, director of the University of Florida’s Economic Impact Assessment Program, said in a news release that about 1 million acres of field crops and 3.6 million acres of upland forest in Florida were potentially affected by Hurricane Michael.

Read related: Florida citrus growers battle through challenges

“Florida Citrus growers are committed to providing high-quality, great-tasting Florida citrus and Florida orange juice to consumers.,” said Shannon Shepp, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. “Centuries of history keep hurricanes front and center in the mind of any Florida citrus grower. We are closely monitoring developments related to Hurricane Ian and engaged with state and federal officials.

“Flooding, fruit loss due to wind and even uprooted trees are a very real concern for growers during hurricane season,” continued Shepp. “The key point is that Florida citrus growers are resilient in the face of extreme weather, greening and high-input costs. The commitment to deliver remains strong.”

Read related: Florida citrus acreage contracts by 8% in 2022