Thanksgiving is this Thursday and Americans will come together to give thanks and enjoy a safe and affordable meal with their families. It's important to remember where our food comes from and the family farmers and ranchers who provide America with such a bountiful harvest.
Did you know that farmers and ranchers receive only 20 cents of every food dollar that consumers spend on food at home and away from home? According to the USDA, off farm costs including marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States.
Here's a look at the farmer's share for a traditional Thanksgiving meal:
Food
Retail Price $
Farmer’s Share $
10 lb. Turkey
11.90
6.46
Boneless Ham
4.29
0.51
Sweet Potatoes
2.98
0.41
Mashed Potatoes
2.64
0.40
Stuffing
4.77
0.73
Bread
2.99
0.12
Broccoli
4.19
1.21
Carrots
2.99
0.71
Apple Pie
6.29
2.25
Milk
3.75
1.77
Source: http://nfu.org/
If you are interested in where you can find some locally grown products, Cornell Cooperative Extension has put together an Agri-Tourism Guide. The brochure was made possible with grant funding from the NYS Department of Ag & Markets. You can call the office at 585-343-3040 for one or check out our website http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/home for the most up to date version. Look under Agri-tourism Guide - Listings.
