APAS study reveals farmers receive less of the food dollar

With more than half of the products tracked, the portion of the retail food dollar returning to producers declined in 2025, while grocery prices remained elevated – raising the question: if not farmers, what is driving food price increases?

“Food inflation is a complex issue, but what’s clear is that producers and consumers are not on opposite sides,” Prybylski said. “Both are being impacted by a supply chain that lacks transparency.”

The report highlights a growing disconnect in the food system:

• Producers are facing rising input costs, including fuel, fertilizer, and other essential inputs

• Commodity prices remain volatile and are set by global markets

• Consumers continue to face persistently high grocery prices

Because producers operate in global commodity markets, they cannot set prices or pass on rising costs like other parts of the supply chain. APAS is calling for greater transparency to better understand where costs are accumulating and who is benefiting.

APAS says the federal government’s recently released National Food Security Strategy is an important step forward, particularly its focus on supply chains and market power within the food system.

“For years, we’ve been calling for greater insight into what’s happening between the farm gate and the consumer,” Prybylski added. “The federal government’s commitment to examine supply chains and pricing is a positive step toward bringing more transparency.”

Prybylski said APAS wants to bring greater awareness to the realities faced by producers and contribute to a more informed national conversation on food prices.

The full report is available here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattiosonmedia.com

by Alice McFarlane

APAS study reveals farmers receive less of the food dollar

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