WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Farmers are receiving only pennies of each dollar consumers spend on traditional Thanksgiving foods, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU_ annual report, “Farmer’s Share of the Food Dollar.” Despite elevated grocery prices, the share going back to the people who grow and raise the food remains strikingly low. NFU says decades of consolidation in food processing, transportation, retail, and input markets have left family farmers with little leverage, while consumers continue facing high prices with few competitive alternatives.
The 2025 figures reveal wide disparities between retail prices and the prices farmers ultimately receive. Turkey producers receive just six cents per pound on a $2.49 retail price — barely 2.4% of the consumer dollar. Producers earn 1.3% of the value of boxed stuffing, 2% of dinner rolls, and just 10% of pumpkin puree.
Even where farmers capture a larger share — such as cranberries at nearly 32% or green beans at 25% — the absolute returns remain small. NFU argues these gaps illustrate how corporate control throughout the supply chain erodes both farmer profitability and consumer affordability.
The organization’s Fairness for Farmers campaign continues calling for stronger antitrust enforcement, greater transparency, and more competitive markets. NFU President Rob Larew says fixing the structural imbalance benefits everyone: fair prices for farmers and lower prices for families at the grocery store.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Low farmer shares reflect deep consolidation across the food chain, keeping producer returns thin even as retail food prices remain high.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
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