Lovin’ it (or not), McDonald’s, as the United States’ largest fast food chain, purchases a significant amount of U.S. agricultural products. This year, in honor of National Agriculture Week, local McDonald’s franchisees, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles, and local suppliers gathered Wednesday at a Frankfort McDonald’s restaurant to recognize the Kentucky ingredients that end up on McDonald’s menu.
As part of the event, Quarles signed a proclamation recognizing March 21 to 27 as National Agriculture Week in Kentucky. The McDonald’s restaurant was an appropriate setting, due to the McDonald’s ongoing support of Kentucky products. In 2021, the McDonald’s system purchased more than $379 million dollars’ worth of products from Kentucky, part of the $8 billion economic impact that the food and agriculture business make in the state.
“McDonald’s depends on the success, resilience and sustainability of the many businesses of Kentucky’s agriculture industry to bring us the quality ingredients and products we need so we can serve delicious meals to every customer,” said Jon Peter, Kentucky McDonald’s Owner/Operator.
McDonald’s 2021 purchases included more than 200 million pounds of chicken, 640 million pounds of corn, 210 million pounds of soybeans and 68,000 gallons of milk. More than 50 percent of Kentucky’s land is used in some kind of agriculture, including more than 73,000 farms that total nearly 13 million acres.
“McDonald’s has been a wonderful agriculture partner to the state of Kentucky for decades,” Quarles said. “As a true McDonald’s fan, there is nothing better than knowing that some of my favorite menu items come from farmers here at home.”
“McDonald’s demands the highest quality in all its food supply network. Our Kentucky relationship with McDonald’s helps us tell the rest of the world about the quality of food supply coming from our state,” said Rep. Richard Heath, Kentucky House of Agriculture Committee Chair.
