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According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), potato growers receive a paltry 26 cents on a $5.99 bag of potato chips.
But chips are not the only discrepancy. Farmers and ranchers receive only about 11.8 cents of every dollar consumers spend on food, a figure trending toward historic lows. Farm bankruptcies rose 46 percent from 2024 to 2025, farm debt levels are at record highs, and input costs continue to rise as commodity prices remain low.
This chart reflects what consumers typically buy for their Independence Day cook-outs and reveals how much family farmers earn compared to what consumers pay at the grocery store:
| Cookout Food | Retail Price | Farmer’s Share |
| Hamburger Buns (8 count, 15-16 oz.) | $3.49 | $0.09 |
| Ground Beef/Chuck (1 lb.) | $6.49 | $2.42 |
| Romaine Lettuce (1 lb.) | $3.99 | $0.50 |
| Tomatoes (1 lb.) | $2.49 | $0.92 |
| Watermelon (Red, seedless, whole, 15-20 lbs.) | $7.99 | $2.85 |
| Corn on the cob (4 count, 16-18 oz.) | $4.99 | $0.89 |
| Sliced Cheese (10 count, 8 oz.) | $3.49 | $1.05 |
| Potato Chips (Party size, 13 oz.) | $5.99 | $0.26 |
SOURCE: NATIONAL FARMERS UNION