Regional Farmers Supply America’s Super Bowl Wing Feast

Americans are expected to devour 1.48 billion chicken wings during the upcoming Super Bowl, an increase of 10 million wings from last year. Virginia's poultry industry plays a major role in meeting this massive demand, though farmers face significant economic challenges despite the high consumption.

WASHINGTON—As millions of Americans prepare to watch the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 Super Bowl, farmers across the region are working to satisfy an enormous appetite for game day favorites.

According to the National Chicken Council’s annual Chicken Wing Report, football fans nationwide are projected to consume a staggering 1.48 billion chicken wings during the championship game. This figure represents an increase of approximately 10 million wings compared to the previous year’s Super Bowl consumption.

To put this massive number in perspective, if all 1.48 billion wings were placed end to end, they would wrap around Earth nearly three complete times.

Virginia’s thriving poultry sector plays a crucial role in supplying this tremendous demand. Data from the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture shows that 1,168 Virginia farms raised more than 55 million broilers and other meat chickens in 2022.

The poultry industry represents one of America’s most valuable agricultural sectors, generating approximately $45.4 billion in national farm-level receipts during 2024. Virginia alone saw cash receipts for broilers surpass $1.2 billion, based on USDA Economic Research Service statistics.

Economic analysts from the American Farm Bureau Federation recently examined popular Super Bowl snacks and the financial challenges facing the farmers who produce them in their latest Market Intel report.

The Super Bowl ranks as the second-largest food consumption day in America, trailing only behind Thanksgiving.

“As fans gather around their TVs this Super Bowl Sunday, it’s worth remembering that every bite reflects far more than what’s on the plate,” the Market Intel states. “It reflects a highly coordinated agricultural system and the farmers and ranchers working every day to keep it running, even as economic pressures continue to mount well beyond game day.”

Despite strong wing demand, poultry producers face significant challenges within a highly consolidated, contract-driven industry. Farmers receive fixed payments that prevent them from capitalizing when wholesale or retail prices increase. Additionally, producers must finance their own facilities, often investing over $1 million in specialized poultry houses and equipment.

Tortilla chips dominate Super Bowl snacking preferences. These corn-based treats begin with field corn, America’s most extensively planted crop. Virginia’s corn production generated $227 million in value during 2024.

However, corn farmers currently face historically low prices, with projections showing average losses of $173 per acre for the 2026 crop year.

Potato chips rank as the second most popular Super Bowl snack. American farmers annually produce nearly $5 billion worth of potatoes, while Virginia’s 481 potato farms harvested 3,240 acres in 2022.

Although potato demand remains robust, escalating expenses for labor, energy, storage, and other operational costs have exceeded market payments to farmers.

Popular game day items including pizza, queso dip, and charcuterie boards depend on the nation’s approximately 24,800 dairy operations. Dairy products secured fourth place among Virginia’s top farm commodities in 2024, producing over $363 million in revenue.

While U.S. milk production has reached record highs, helping maintain affordable and plentiful cheese supplies for consumers, economic pressures have caused dairy farm numbers to drop by more than 60% between 2005 and 2024.

“Farmers are proud to grow the food America’s families enjoy during their parties, and every other day of the year,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’re fortunate to be blessed with such an abundant food supply, but the reality is, farmers are facing an economic crisis like we haven’t seen in generations.

“We’re grateful for aid the administration has delivered to farmers this year and do not take that for granted, but more steps are needed to ensure farmers can stay in business until markets improve,” he continued. “There will be only one winner in the game this Sunday, but everyone wins when we protect America’s food supply chain.”