Farmer’s Share Days to Raise Awareness of Difference in Food Cost and Farmer’s Share of Food Dollar

Several Farmer’s Share Days sponsored by Montana Farmers Union in the coming weeks will educate consumers about their food dollar and how decades of mergers and acquisitions have resulted in uncompetitive, fragile food supply chains that don’t fairly compensate farmers.

“The Farmer’s Share shines the light on what our family farmers and ranchers are facing and underscores the need for Fairness for Farmers. These Farmer’s Share Days at county fairs not only provide education to consumers and producers alike, but can empower everyone to advocate for family farmers and ranchers in our communities and in our state,” said Rachel Prevost, MFU’s member services and government affairs director. 

According to the USDA, off-farm costs including marketing, processing, distribution, and retailing account for more than 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the U.S., meaning farmers only receive roughly 14 cents of every dollar that consumers spend on food.

During the Farmer’s Share Day events, fairgoers who visit the MFU fair booth to learn more about the Farmer’s Share and receive a voucher will enjoy a cheeseburger at the Farmer’s Share of 75-cents, with MFU making up the cost difference.

Events include:

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Aug. 8, at the Roosevelt County Fair, 75-cent cheeseburgers will be offered at the Roosevelt County 4-H food booth with a voucher from the MFU informational booth.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Aug. 9, at the Northeast Montana Fair, 75-cent cheeseburgers will be offered at the Valley County 4-H Food Booth with a voucher from the MFU informational booth.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Aug. 17, at the Chouteau County Fair, 75-cent cheeseburgers will be offered at the 4-H Chuckwagon with a voucher from the MFU informational booth. People who attend the Chouteau County MFU Local meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the MFU booth will receive a ticket.

Montana Farmers Union will continue to offer Farmer’s Share events around the state in the future. You can learn more about these and other upcoming events here.

Learn more about the Farmer’s Share here.