The prices of cookout foods, such as spare ribs, hot dogs, cheeseburgers and potato salad, cost less than the national average in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
The bureaus compared the prices of 14 food items in 28 states.
The PFB shopped at two grocery store chains with multiple locations across the state.
The average cost per person for a party of 10 is $5.11. The AFBF found the national average is $5.51 per person.
“Prices vary from supermarket to supermarket, and the price of several key items, such as pork spare ribs, hamburger, watermelon and even corn chips can greatly affect the price consumers pay for their cookout items,” Mark O’Neill, PFB director of media and strategic communications, said. “Food prices are likely higher in more rural areas where there is less competition or only one local grocery store to buy from. Ultimately, Pennsylvania shoppers should expect to pay less for food items associated with a July 4th cookout than the average American.”
Nationally, the price has decreased $0.63 compared to Independence Day 2017 due to record meat production this year.
Food prices, however, do not help farmers who receive only 15 cents of every food marketing dollar, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series.
“The figures are even more bleak after accounting for the costs of production, as American farmers net only about 8 cents per food dollar,” AFBF Director of Market Intelligence John Newton said.