amber w a ves v olume 4 circle6 issue 5 statistics 36 data feature revised market basket reflect consumers changing produce purchases hayden stewart hstewart ers usda gov more and of what spend for their groceries has gone to the firms that process package distribute agricultural commodities farm share retail food prices likewise been shrinking example farmers earned 33 percent spent fresh fruit at foodstores in 1982 but just 20 2004 vegetables shrank from 34 19 however new research finds recent estimates understate dollar going farmer s series measures spread or difference between price paid by mix foods purchased revenues supplying those spreads nine commodity groups dairy meat products poultry eggs fats oils processed bakery cereal aims inform both policymakers community about cost
