Why It Matters
The annual cost of hosting a backyard cookout for ten people has reached its highest level since tracking began a decade ago, driven by increases in beef, pork, and specialty ingredients. Rising food costs at the consumer level reflect persistent pressures on agricultural production and supply chains that affect household budgets across North Dakota and the nation.
What Happened
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual summer cookout survey found that a ten-person gathering with a standard menu now costs $73.82, up from $70.92 last summer. The 4% increase matches the broader inflation rate and reflects rising prices across nearly all cookout staples except eggs and potatoes.
Ground beef prices rose 5.5%, climbing from $13.33 per two pounds in 2025 to $14.06 this year. Pork chops increased 4.7% to $14.79 for a three-pound purchase, while chicken breasts gained $0.27 to reach $8.06 per two pounds. Strawberries jumped 12%, and canned pork and beans spiked nearly 14%—the second consecutive year of sharp increases for that item.
The surge in bean costs traces to rising aluminum prices affecting canned goods, while strawberry inflation stems from frost damage, transportation expenses, and labor costs. Conversely, egg prices dropped $0.71 per four-egg carton as avian influenza flocks have largely recovered. Potato salad costs fell nearly 18%.
Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson emphasized that “an updated farm bill and risk management tools are critical in helping family farms during times” of economic pressure—a statement underscoring the sector’s ongoing challenges despite higher consumer prices.
By the Numbers
$73.82 — cost of a ten-person cookout in summer 2026
$2.90 — price increase from summer 2025
4% — year-over-year cost increase
$56.67 — cookout cost a decade ago (2016)
14% — price jump for canned pork and beans
12% — increase in strawberry prices
5.5% — rise in ground beef costs (two pounds)
$6.49 — retail price per pound of ground chuck
$2.42 — farmer share per pound of ground chuck sold
$0.12 — farmer income per dollar consumers spend on food
The Farm-to-Table Gap
While consumer prices climb, the portion of each food dollar reaching farmers and ranchers has narrowed further. At the retail counter, ground chuck sells for $6.49 per pound, yet farmers receive only $2.42 for that same pound—a gap industry analysts attribute to corporate consolidation in food processing and distribution. The disparity reflects a structural issue: farmers and ranchers now capture just under twelve cents for every dollar U.S. consumers spend on food.
Zoom Out
The cookout cost survey, tracked annually since 2016, reveals that inflation-adjusted prices have remained relatively stable over the decade—fluctuating by just $2.41—yet last summer’s cookout cost $1.50 less than a decade ago when adjusted for inflation. Presently, ground beef prices topped $6.50 per pound in early 2026, reflecting volatile commodity markets. The Trump administration’s trade deal to increase U.S. beef imports from Argentina may further influence domestic cattle markets and consumer prices in coming months.
What’s Next
Agricultural policy decisions—including the shape of the next farm bill and commodity support programs—will influence whether cookout costs continue to rise at the pace of broader inflation. The gap between farm-gate income and retail prices remains a focal point for farm advocacy groups pushing for policy intervention on consolidation and market access.