By Daniel Munch and Faith Parum
Key Takeaways:
- Super Bowl abundance reflects the scale of U.S. agriculture. From chicken wings and cheese to chips, pizza and guacamole, farmers and ranchers from the 50 states and Puerto Rico supply the ingredients for one of the largest single-day food events of the year.
- Strong consumer demand does not guarantee strong farm margins. Across livestock, field crops and specialty crops, rising costs for labor, energy, inputs and financing have outpaced prices paid to farmers, leaving many producers facing tight or negative margins even as grocery shelves remain full.
- Super Bowl demand highlights how production constraints shape food sourcing. Exports help support farm prices for commodities like dairy, corn and wheat, while the spike in Super Bowl demand for foods like salsa and guacamole exposes the cost, seasonal, labor and regulatory pressures that limit U.S. tomato and avocado production and increase reliance on imports during peak consumption periods.
Americans will once again come together this Super Bowl Sunday, not just to cheer on their teams, but to enjoy classic game day foods. From buffalo wings and pizza to chips, queso, guacamole and salsa, farmers and ranchers across the country supply the ingredients that end up on millions of watch party tables.
For consumers, the Super Bowl represents the abundance of the U.S. food system. For farmers, it highlights the scale and coordination required to supply a single day of peak food demand, even as many farmers face rising costs, tight margins and growing uncertainty. Here’s a closer look at where some Super Bowl favorites come from and the challenges facing the farmers behind them.
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