Farmers’ Share of Our Food Dollars

For every dollar spent on food at a grocery store, an average 75% of it is put towards the processing and moving of that food from farm to plate. As the physical distance of the source of our food widens and as our food is processed and passed through more and more hands, a smaller portion of our food dollar makes its way into the pockets of food producers. As the farmers’ share of our food dollars lessens, farmers are left with less power in the marketplace.

When adhering to Cooperative Principle #7 (Concern for Community), food co-ops are a powerful force to help communities and foodmakers capture more of a community’s food dollars. Food co-ops are generally the most committed of any grocer to supporting foodmakers (both domestic and foreign) with the fairest prices possible. When food co-ops are committed to shrinking the distance between farm and plate, they are also creating a food system that places more power into the hands of food producers.

Credit: Good Foods Co-op (Lexington, KY)

Local foodmakers for Littleton Food Co-op (Littleton, NH)