Harris' claim: Higher food prices are an expression of corporate greed

The rising food prices of recent years are neither the fault of farmers nor of “greedy” corporations, a conservative North Carolina research organization concludes in a new documentary series and report.

Rather, higher energy prices and more regulations are the cause, according to the John Locke Foundation’s documentary series “Sowing Resilience.”

A list of changes is recommended, including streamlining the zoning and permitting process and forming coalitions to combat overly restrictive regulations at the federal and state levels.

The series examines policy decisions on agriculture made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and policy responses to it have exposed supply chain vulnerabilities and other areas that still need solutions,” says a report from the foundation accompanying the series. “The pandemic has also exacerbated North Carolina's growing problem of food insecurity. According to the USDA, over 10% of North Carolinians struggle to secure enough food for a healthy lifestyle. Only about 6% of adults in the state report consuming at least two servings of vegetables or fruit per day. At the same time, over a third are obese, based on body mass index.”

At the same time, food prices have shot up by 25% between 2019 and 2023, according to the foundation. The last three years have been under the Biden administration, which is pushing Vice President Kamala Harris and her first federal law against price gouging by food suppliers and food retailers.

“Climate policies such as carbon pricing significantly increase farmers' operating costs, translating into an annual increase of $1,330 in the grocery bills of a family of four,” said the John Locke Foundation, a conservative North Carolina-based think tank. “Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and emissions monitoring requirements increase participating farms' annual operating costs by an estimated 34%, which is prohibitive for many smaller farms, even though they need market access.”

The report refutes the claim that higher food prices are the result of corporate greed.

“There is competition in many segments of the food industry,” explains the foundation. “Large-scale and coordinated price gouging is unlikely.”

Higher fuel costs are cited as the main reason for rising prices in grocery stores.

Overly restrictive zoning and permitting regulations have also hampered food production in North Carolina, the foundation's report says.

“One of the biggest challenges with zoning regulations is their complexity and the cost of compliance,” the reports say. “Farmers often face a maze of rules and regulations that require time, money and expertise to navigate – diverting resources from essential farming activities and placing undue burdens on farmers, especially smaller operations with limited human and financial resources.”

Originally published by The Center Square.