U.S. consumers spend less than 10% of their disposable income on food each year, while those in other countries spend much more.
U.S.A. 7%
Netherlands 12%
Mexico 25%
India 30%
Pakistan 49%
Nigeria 57%
Average per capital annual food expenditures equal $4,576 in the U.S. Of the 10% of disposable income Americans spend on food each year, 50% is for food eaten at home and 50% is for food eaten away from home.
The USDA tracks how much of the different types of food we eat on average annually (annual per capita consumption).
MOST POPULAR FOODS IN THE USA
94.9 lbs – Flour (white & whole wheat)
87.7 lbs – Chicken
51.5 lbs – Beef
46.7 lbs – Potatoes
31.4 lbs – Tomatoes
21.9 lbs – Cheese
11.9 lbs – Apples
11.3 lbs – Bananas
About 8% of US farms market foods locally through direct-to-consumer or intermediated sales (farmers’ markets, farm stands, Community Supported Agriculture, food hubs, etc.). Buying local provides the opportunity to talk with those who grow or produce fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, meats, cheeses, baked goods and other value-added foods.
Transporting, processing and packaging farm-grown foods so they’re ready to be enjoyed on our tables costs significantly more today compared with the recent past. The farmer’s share of the retail food dollar is as low as 2% to 4$ for bread and cereal, and as much as 35% for some fresh market products.
Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents (on average) out of every retail dollar spend on food that is eaten at home andaway from home. In 1980, farmers received 31 cents out of every retail dollar spent on food in the United States. The farm share in a dollar food purchase is higher for food consumed at home, compared to food consumed away from home – 24 cents vs only 5 cants.
Off farm costs – marketing expenses associated with processing, wholesaling, distributing and retailing of food products – account for 84 cents of every retail dollar spend on food.
-2017 American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, USDA-ERS (Food Dollar Series)
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