As Americans load up their 4th of July holiday week barbecue and picnics, Minnesota farmers want to let people know what the price of their goods are in the store - and what they see in their pockets.
Let's say you're having a cook out with family and friends and want to serve a traditional 4th of July meal. That, of course, is some burgers at a lot of home. Those cost roughly $5.99 at the store right now and that is a higher cost than normal.
"The producer's share or farmer's share is $2 of that. Family farmers deserve a fair share for the food dollar and the work that we put in working 365 days a year to put food on the table for families across the country," says Minnesota Farmer's Union Vice President Anne Schwagel who talked about those dwindling profits.
These days, less than 2% of the population is farming.
"So, folks are pretty disconnected about where their food comes from and what it takes to go into it," says Schwagel. "And what we're paid for our labor as farmers and producers."
She says, in the end, the system needs to be more fair to those producing the food.
"We need a food system that works in this, fair for everyone and not just the handlers in the middle," sasys Schwagel.
Schwagel says the margins have not always been this tight.
"Back in the 50s, we were getting close to 50% of the food dollar, and that percentage has continued to shrink over time," she says.
The Farm Bureau tracks the cost of the July 4th holiday meal and they say 2025 is the second-highest on record (2024 was slightly higher).
The Farm Bureau survey includes popular items such as cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, homemade potato salad and desserts such as ice cream and cookies. They say it will once again cost about $70 to feed 10 people, falling right under the 2024 price.