Stories

Thu, 30 Jul 2026

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 Your burger costs more this summer, but farmers say they're not cashing in

The prices of beef, bread buns and bagged salad have risen sharply over the past year, figures show.

* Soaring costs have led to a rise in prices, dubbed "burgerflation", with beef, bread buns and bagged salad prices increasing sharply since last summer.
* Despite this, farmers like Heather Oldfield are not earning more for their produce. According to API figures, her family is getting 8% less for their beef compared to the previous 12 months.
* Phil Clayton, a baker in York, says he has increased his prices by 10p-20p due to rising costs of ingredients and rent. However, he disputes the idea that bakeries are profiteering from price rises.
* Robert Archer, mill manager, says haulage costs have been "a big hit", forcing him to increase the price of organic flour he mills in North Yorkshire.
* Mathew Brankley, a farmer in East Yorkshire, believes food is still relatively cheap in the UK compared to other countries. However, he notes that any extra money he is being paid for his crops is being eaten up by rises in prices for fuel and fertiliser.
* A Defra spokesperson says the government is backing farmers with a record £11.8bn investment, but Heather Oldfield feels the pressure of trying to keep her farm afloat while her daughters are aspiring to be farmers themselves.