Published: May 21, 2008 02:16 pm            

Memorial Day picnic cost up, but still affordable

Cost of summer picnic remains affordable at approximately $3.50 per person

The cost of a summer picnic remains affordable for Minnesotans at approximately $3.50 per person. The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation recently conducted an informal survey of the prices of basic items found in a summer picnic basket. The average cost of a picnic for 10 this summer is $35.42, up $5.04 from 2007.

“Americans continue to enjoy an abundant, affordable food supply, produced with pride by dedicated, hardworking farmers and ranchers,” said MFBF President Kevin Paap. “As we gather with family and friends this summer, we can be assured that our producers take every step to provide a safe, healthy and tasty meal for families across the state.”

The MFBF survey shopping list included hot dogs and hot dog buns, cheeseburgers and buns, potato salad, baby carrots, broccoli florets, baked beans, corn chips, watermelon, lemonade, single-serving milk and condiments, all in quantities sufficient to serve a picnic for 10.

Item averages included:
• 1-quart of deli potato salad, up 92 cents to $5.97;
• 2-quarts premixed lemonade, up 69 cents to $2.63;
• 8 ounces of fresh broccoli florets, up 65 cents to $1.21;
• Four 8-ounce single-serve chocolate milks, up 40 cents to $1.12 each;
• One 8-count package of hot dog buns, up 35 cents to $2.05;
• One 8-count package of hamburger buns, up 33 cents to $2.11;
• One 15-ounce bag of corn chips, up 12 cents to $3.13;
• Two pounds of ground beef, up 28 cents to $5.58;
• One 16-ounce can of baked beans, up 24 cents to $1.54;
• 8 ounces of raw baby carrots, up 6 cents to 78 cents;
• 2 pounds of watermelon, down 5 cents to $1.37;
• One pound of hot dogs, down 28 cents to $2.04.

A combined group of miscellaneous items including cheese slices and condiments for the picnic (yellow mustard, ketchup, sweet relish, onion) cost $2.52, up two cents from 2007.

“The Memorial Day picnic survey results demonstrate you can still eat a holiday meal rich in all the food groups for a reasonable price,” said Jim Sartwelle, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. “Despite an increase in the overall price for the picnic basket of items — driven chiefly by rising energy costs — Minnesotans should consider this: U.S. consumers still spend less of their incomes on food compared to citizens in other countries, and the U.S. farmer still takes home less than one-fifth of the retail food dollar.”

Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of Minnesota should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages.

This is the second year the MFBF has conducted this survey. While Farm Bureau does not make any statistical claims about the data, it is a gauge of price trends around the state. A total of nine volunteer shoppers from across Minnesota participated in this year’s survey.

        

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