Farmer's costs only small part of food cost

And the farmer's workers get only part of that 11.6 cents. Much of it goes for fertilizer, fuel, income for the farmer, etc.

So we could double the workers pay, and it would add less than 11.6 cents for each dollar we spend on food at a grocery store. And that money would go right back into the economy.

There's a lot of other good info in this article.

http://www.georgiaorganics.org/foodsystem.aspx


[...]

The food system is about industry and efficiency, which are two endeavors American businesses mastered long ago.

For instance, efficiencies are so great that farmers receive an average of only 11.6 cents for every dollar spent on food at a traditional grocery store, according to the U.S.D.A.

The rest of that dollar went to processing, packaging, transportation, distribution, retail trade, and food service, which includes any place that prepares meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption.
[...]

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