Building and growth is exponential where I live. Our fast-growing small town is the gateway to a summer destination creating a heavy seasonal population influx. Many of our restaurants are located on the south side of downtown to lure vacationers. When we see another construction site emerge, we wonder, “What’s being built there?” A friend of mine contends that there should be informational flyers provided by each site so concerned and curious citizens can be informed. The latest addition under construction is a burger joint. I thought, “What?! Not another burger place!”
Within a 5.5-mile stretch on one road, there are 18 burger restaurants. I was hoping for a little more diversity in food restaurant options for our expanding community of 28,000 people. How many hamburgers does a city need? That thought calls into question several factors: population, average income, need for fast or familiar food options, and more. So, what does the research say and how did we get here… I wonder.
There’s some debate on where the hamburger originated with documented ties to Germany, Connecticut, and St. Louis. We know that it’s become a solidly American staple. George Motz, a burger expert, shared in a CNN article that German migrants’ frikadellen dish came with them in the mid-1800s. It became a sandwich which earned a place in history as classic American fare found in homes and restaurants across the globe. The favorite treat is so popular that according to All About Burger more than 50 billion burgers are consumed annually in the USA. Yes, BILLION! They say that equates to about 3 burgers per week per person. While I’m not holding up that static at our house, there’s certainly ample opportunity in my community.
Image created in Canva by Barbaree Duke.Being a data and planet minded group of folks, you’re asking some questions in your minds. How many cows does that require? What about the condiments? What about the effects on the planet? Let’s tackle those questions one at a time. A cow can yield around 500 pounds of de-boned, trimmed meat, which can be ground into approximately 2,000 quarter-pound (4 oz) burgers. If we can trust those statistics, that’s 25 million cows. Do we have enough cows? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data in its National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports from July 2025, they reported 94.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms, with 28.7 million beef cows and 9.45 million milk cows plus those being raised for future production. Interesting! Add to those yummy burgers the 11 million bottles of ketchup and 8 million gallons of mustard, and we’re making our way to some staggering, yet tasty statistics.
Now, how does that affect the planet? Where do we start? Each cow needs 1-2 acres of land. In an interesting PBS video from 2012, there’s compelling research about the gaseous issues with all those cows…methane gas to be exact. (Fun fact: I read recently about imagery being collected that sees methane!) We haven’t touched on the acres of wheat, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and more that we need to garnish our delectable treat. We’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and are still faced with many beautifully crafted beef sandwiches on menus everywhere that say, “Eat me!”
What can you do? Eating less of them is the simple answer. In a University of Michigan 2018 study on Beyond Burger, they found that producing plant-based burgers used 99% less water, 93% less land, and 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It’s something to consider for sure!
If you need me, I’ll be contemplating my life choices, lamenting that they put the calorie counts on the restaurant menus, and perhaps considering a veggie burger.
Barbaree Duke
Geospatial Crusader
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