Report challenges Harris’ assertion higher food prices equal corporate greed – Washington Examiner
The article from the John Locke Foundation addresses the rise in grocery prices over recent years, arguing that these increases are not solely due to farmers or corporate greed, but rather are influenced by rising energy costs and increased regulations. The findings are part of a documentary series titled “Sowing Resilience,” which highlights policy decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic that contributed to vulnerabilities in the food supply chain. The report indicates that over 10% of North Carolinians struggle with food insecurity and that the pandemic aggravated this issue. It notes that grocery prices have surged by 25% from 2019 to 2023, a period coinciding with the Biden administration’s implementation of policies that, according to the Foundation, have negatively impacted food costs. These include climate policies that reportedly increase family grocery bills significantly. The organization suggests reforms such as simplifying zoning and permitting processes to mitigate these issues.
Report challenges Harris’ assertion higher food prices equal corporate greed
(The Center Square) – Rising grocery store prices over the last few years aren’t the fault of farmers or “greedy” corporations, a conservative North Carolina research organization concludes in a new documentary series and report.
Instead, higher energy prices and more regulations are the culprit, according to the John Locke Foundation documentary series Sowing Resilience.
It recommends a list of changes including streamlining the zoning and permitting process, and building coalitions to fight overly restrictive federal and state mandates.
The series examines policy decisions on agriculture that were made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy reactions to it exposed supply-chain and other vulnerabilities that still require solutions,” states a foundation’s report that accompanies the series. “The pandemic also worsened the growing food insecurity problem in North Carolina. Over 10% of North Carolinians struggle to secure enough food for a healthy lifestyle, according to the USDA. Only about 6% of adults in the state report consuming at least two servings of vegetables or fruits per day. Meanwhile, over one-third are obese, according to the Body Mass Indexes.”
At the same time, grocery prices skyrocketed 25% from 2019-2023, the Foundation said. The last three years are in the Biden administration, which pushes Vice President Kamala Harris and her first price gouging federal law on food suppliers and grocers.
“Climate policies such as carbon pricing add significant expenses to farmers’ operating budgets, translating to an annual increase in a family of four’s grocery bills by $1,330,” the Locke Foundation said. “Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting requirements and emissions monitoring increase participating farms’ annual operating expenses by an estimated 34%, beyond the reach of many smaller farms despite their need for market access.”
The report challenges the assertion that higher food prices are the result of corporate greed.
“There is competition across the many segments of the food industry,” the foundation states. “Widespread and coordinated price gouging is unlikely.”
It cites higher fuel costs as a key reason for rising prices at the grocery stores.
Overly restrictive zoning and permitting requirements have also hampered food production in North Carolina, the foundation report concludes.
“One of the most substantial challenges with zoning regulations is their complexity and cost of compliance,” the reports says. “Farmers often face a maze of rules and regulations that require time, money, and expertise to navigate – diverting resources away from essential farming activities and placing an undue strain on farmers, particularly smaller operations with limited staff and financial resources.”
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