David Branch will be making changes to his Fourth of July celebration menu for this year.
Branch said, “I’m not doing the ribs.” Branch stated that he is not making beef brisket or other foods that he would normally eat.
This is not a common problem. Inflation has made it more difficult to stock holiday parties with traditional foods. This is 11% more than last year. Branch co-authored a study which estimated how much the prices of certain Fourth of July foods have risen for a party of 10 people. Branch is a Wells Fargo food and agribusiness advisor, meaning he monitors industry trends.
This year, the high prices of chicken and red meat are putting a strain on our wallets. Branch suggests trying other protein options, such as shrimp and pork butt. Based on data from May 2021, the study shows that shrimp has become 8.2% more expensive than in July 2021 and that pork prices have risen by 3.1%.
Sure, that’s painful. These increases are not as severe as chicken breasts which are 24% more expensive in July than last year.
Branch stated that even though chicken and ground beef are less expensive per pound than shrimp, it is important to consider how many people you will be feeding and how much protein each person needs. You might need two pounds of ground meat for burgers and one pound for tacos. This makes burgers more costly per person, not counting condiments.
His advice? Do your research and find out how much each meal costs. It may be that a particular meat is more expensive than others, or that vegetarians are better. Branch will be enjoying shrimp tacos after scoring frozen bags at a bargain price of one and one.
There are many reasons food prices have risen. Global supply chains have been disrupted by the pandemic. Corn and soybean prices, which are used to make animal feed, have soared. As a result of the bird flu epidemic, U.S. poultry farmers have had to eat millions of chickens in recent months.
The war in Ukraine is also affecting wheat prices. Ukraine is the top exporter of wheat in the world, and the Russian blockades have prevented millions of tons from leaving the country.
Inflation is at its highest point since 1994. This holiday weekend, it’s important to look for sales opportunities and be creative with your menus in order to reduce the economic pain. Branch suggests being flexible, even as the economic rollercoaster continues.
Branch stated that it was just difficult times. Branch said, “You can still look for opportunities and have fun with your family and friends to celebrate Fourth of July without breaking the bank.”
Enjoying a fireworks show doesn’t have to cost anything.