Farm Bureau: Summer Cookout In Indiana Costs Slightly Less Than Other States

An annual survey from the Indiana Farm Bureau shows a summer cookout in Indiana will cost about $5 per person, slightly less than the national average.

The organization sends shoppers into grocery stores each year and finds an average price for common cookout items like hot dogs, watermelon, lemonade and more.

The cost to feed 10 people is $52.12 this year, a slight increase over the last couple of years. According to the INFB, farmers get less than $8 of that, with the remaining going to other parts of the food industry.

“It’s normal for food prices to rise and fall over time, but unfortunately the farmers’ share of the food dollar is at a record low, and after costs of production, farmers only net 7.8 cents per food dollar,” said INFB 2nd Vice President Isabella Chism in a statement. “Nevertheless, Indiana’s farmers remain devoted to providing a safe, affordable food supply for their neighbors and people all over the world.”

The price of cheese increased about 10 percent compared to last year in Indiana, but nationally the cost of cheese and milk is down. The American Farm Bureau Federation attributes that to increased production and declining demand for fluid milk.

Read More: Hoosier Dairy Farmers React To Declining Consumption, Saturated Market

Hoosiers will pay slightly less for hot dog and hamburger buns this year, but almost a dollar more for a 4 lb. watermelon compared to 2016.

Nationally, the cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $55.07, or about $5.51 per person.