Cookout Costs Cool Off Slightly in California
As Californians prep for their Fourth of July barbecues, there’s a bit of good news at the grocery store. According to the American Farm Bureau’s annual market basket survey, the average cookout for ten people will run $70.92, or $7.09 a plate—just three cents less than last year. Out West, it’s still the most expensive region at $73.50, but that’s over six dollars cheaper than last summer.
What’s driving the cost? Beef. Two pounds of ground chuck now average $13.33, the highest price ever recorded in the survey. Drought-driven herd reductions and screwworm import concerns are tightening supplies. Meanwhile, chicken prices stayed flat at $7.79, and pork chops down nearly 9% to $14.13 for three pounds.
On the produce side, hand-picked crops like strawberries and lemons nudged prices upward. But potato salad stayed nearly even, thanks to dips in celery, onion, and potato costs.
It’s worth noting: farmers see just 15.9 cents of every food dollar—even as their expenses climb. So this Independence Day, as you flip burgers or pour lemonade, tip your cap to the California producers who make it all possible.
