By Amanda Hill

This July 4th we have much to celebrate in Texas—our freedom, our families and, though not as important as the first two, lower grocery prices. Each quarter, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) surveys food prices on 16 common items in its Grocery Price Watch survey. For the second quarter of 2012, food prices fell slightly from both the previous quarter and this time last year.

If you’re looking for an affordable July Fourth meal, Grocery Price Watch shows you can cook out for a family of four for less than $20. Less than $20?!? That’s a steal, at least at my house. For just $18.84, you can serve two pounds of grilled pork chops, rice, pinto beans, a salad and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream for dessert. Yum!

Here’s the full basket of items in the TFB Grocery Price Watch survey:

 Grocery Price Watch

(Click here to see a larger version of the chart.)

I’m grateful for the farmers and ranchers who grow our food here in Texas and the United States. They work every day, including July 4th, to make sure I can afford to feed my family healthy and safe food. As we celebrate this week, I hope we’ll all take a moment to reflect on the people who make this country great—our veterans and active duty service members, farmers and ranchers, our community heroes and so many more.

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Texas Table Top.