SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. - Feeding family and friends on the Fourth of July means hosting a cookout for a lot of Americans and shoppers this year may be noticing some higher prices than usual for the holiday. 

An Independence Day cookout for 10 people will cost around $71.22, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. They report the average cost is up 5% from last year and up 30% from five years ago. 

Spectrum News 1 stopped by Big Bunny Market in Southbridge to see what some of their go-to recommendations are for the Fourth when you’re feeding a party of 10.

“Usually when you think of a cookout, you're probably looking at burgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken," Jonathan Cournoyer said. "My suggestion would be to start in the meat department, which if you come into our store, is the first department you enter, right near the entrance.”

Big Bunny store owner Jon Cournoyer said that first, you’ve got to decide what you like, so we decided to go with the staples of a hot dog and hamburger focused meal; starting with Kayem hot dogs from Massachusetts.

“We do a lot of Kayem, it's a really popular product in New England and you can get just a great price if you get a 2 pound box for $7.99, which is a great price," Cournoyer said. "So, that's going to feed 16 people for $8. You're looking at about $0.50 a hot dog.”

We grabbed two 8-packs of hot dog buns, a 12-pack of all beef burgers and buns, with a stop at the deli counter to pick up 2 pounds of potato salad.

“Looking for a dessert, I would suggest, we've got Table Talk made right in Worcester," Cournoyer said. "Old fashioned apple pie.”

The locally made pie comes in at about $5.50. For more sides, Cournoyer suggested a whole watermelon, corn on the cob and potato chips.

Last but not least, we couldn’t forget the classic condiments of ketchup, mustard and relish.

Although we strayed from the American Farm Bureau Federation shopping list, our $73.05 total came out to within $2 from their reported average to feed 10 people and we kept it to $7.30 a plate.

“That was cool. I don't typically shop for 10 people but my goal was that we were going to hit that range and it looks like we did," Cournoyer said. "To feed a family of 10, to accomplish that for under $70 is a tough these days. But we do our best to fight that with sales and suggesting items for our customers that can be more economical. That's always been our goal to be a low price, high value grocery store.”

This year marks the first Fourth of July where the AFBF reports nationally, it will cost more than $7 a plate to feed 10 people. But they report prices are in line with the inflation we’ve seen over the last several years.

Individual prices, according to the AFBF 2024 Summer Cookout, are as follows:

• 2 pounds of ground beef, $12.77 (+11%)
• 2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.83 (-4%)
• 3 pounds of pork chops, $15.49 (+8%)
• 1 pound of cheese, $3.57 (+1%)
• 1 package of hamburger buns, $2.41 (+7%)
• 2 ½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.32 (-4%)
• 32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.49 (+2%)
• 16 ounces of potato chips, $4.90 (+8%)
• 13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $3.99 (+2%)
• ½ gallon of ice cream, $5.65 (+7%)
• 2 pints of strawberries, $4.61 (+1%)
• 2 ½ quarts of lemonade, $4.19 (+12%)