Corn and The Costly Cookout
My family loves to barbecue. My dad mans the grill and cooks all the usual fixings for family and friends.
But guess what? That cookout is going to cost some cash.
Prices for popular BBQ menu items are up 15% this year, that’s on top of a 27% pop last year. For a party of 12, plan to spend about $229, not including drinks or appetizers.
Corn is the main culprit for the rising prices. Sure, farmers are growing corn, but it’s commercial corn which will end up in ethanol at the gas pump, not on your plate. This means they’re planting less of what consumers want for their cookout: tomatoes, sweet corn and beans.
Expect to pay $1.33 for an ear of corn, that’s up 166% this year! And that’s not all. Cheddar cheese for your burger is up 171%, tomatoes up 33%, hot dogs up 19%, and condiments up 34%. And, thanks to that vanilla bean shortage we discussed, ice cream costs more too.
But it’s all worth it, right? There’s no way to put a a price on a backyard filled with family and friends. Not mine anyway.
Peace Love Profits,
Blake
