David L. Ortega
@dlortega.bsky.social
Food Economist | Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University | Venezuelan 🇻🇪
Pinned
David L. Ortega
@dlortega.bsky.social
· Dec 30
What to Watch in 2025: Key Issues Shaping the Food Economy
As we enter 2025, the #food economy faces major developments that will shape the sector. Here are 5 issues I’ll be watching closely: 🧵
1/n
As we enter 2025, the #food economy faces major developments that will shape the sector. Here are 5 issues I’ll be watching closely: 🧵
1/n
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Do you think America needs a National Food Museum that explores everything from history to climate? If so, help build it!
Visit the Museum’s website (www.nationalfoodmuseum.org) to subscribe to our newsletter, send a donation, or simply send us your suggestions at info@food.museum!
Visit the Museum’s website (www.nationalfoodmuseum.org) to subscribe to our newsletter, send a donation, or simply send us your suggestions at info@food.museum!
December 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Do you think America needs a National Food Museum that explores everything from history to climate? If so, help build it!
Visit the Museum’s website (www.nationalfoodmuseum.org) to subscribe to our newsletter, send a donation, or simply send us your suggestions at info@food.museum!
Visit the Museum’s website (www.nationalfoodmuseum.org) to subscribe to our newsletter, send a donation, or simply send us your suggestions at info@food.museum!
U.S. shoppers spent significantly more because everything costs significantly more.
Breaking News: U.S. shoppers spent significantly more online this Black Friday than last year, seizing on deals despite inflation and economic worries.
U.S. Black Friday Sales Defy Tariffs and Economic Woes
Data on spending this week shows that consumers are shopping big for the holidays despite inflation and economic worries.
nyti.ms
November 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
U.S. shoppers spent significantly more because everything costs significantly more.
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Again, as with all the other federal budget cuts that are incinerating 20-25% of the funding & the entire budget model of every R1 university in 🇺🇸, this is a five-alarm emergency that requires immediate, loud, collective condemnation by our university presidents. Total 🦗 as it’s all being gutted.
November 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Again, as with all the other federal budget cuts that are incinerating 20-25% of the funding & the entire budget model of every R1 university in 🇺🇸, this is a five-alarm emergency that requires immediate, loud, collective condemnation by our university presidents. Total 🦗 as it’s all being gutted.
Talking turkey prices with my friends at @pbsnews.org 🦃🍂
November 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Talking turkey prices with my friends at @pbsnews.org 🦃🍂
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Bird flu and another disease have shrunk the U.S. turkey population to a 40-year low this year.
Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more
Bird flu and another disease have shrunk the U.S. turkey population to a 40-year low this year. Wholesale turkey prices are expected to be up more than 40% as a result.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Bird flu and another disease have shrunk the U.S. turkey population to a 40-year low this year.
No, Thanksgiving is not 25% cheaper this year.
November 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
No, Thanksgiving is not 25% cheaper this year.
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Wholesale prices for a turkey have jumped 40% from a year ago. n.pr/4phUXtP
Thanksgiving could be more expensive this year. Here's how to navigate higher prices
Wholesale prices for a turkey have jumped 40% from a year ago.
n.pr
November 17, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Wholesale prices for a turkey have jumped 40% from a year ago. n.pr/4phUXtP
Reposted by David L. Ortega
KARL: The president claims that Thanksgiving costs are down 25%. Does he know that's not true?
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
KARL: The president claims that Thanksgiving costs are down 25%. Does he know that's not true?
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
HASSETT: Well if you look at Walmart--
KARL: Wait a minute. I've gotta stop you. The Walmart package this year contains much less than the one last year. That's why the price is less.
The arsonist turned firefighter
November 15, 2025 at 2:54 AM
The arsonist turned firefighter
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Brooke Rollins says on Newsmax SNAP participants will have to re-apply for the program.
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump administration will require SNAP participants to reapply for benefits
The move is part of USDA chief Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the nation’s largest anti-hunger program and get rid of “fraud.”
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Brooke Rollins says on Newsmax SNAP participants will have to re-apply for the program.
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Ahead of Thanksgiving, many families, and the grocers who serve them, face tough choices.
Delays in #SNAP payments strain budgets and ripple through communities.
I spoke with @nytimes.com about what’s at stake for families and food retailers. 👇
Delays in #SNAP payments strain budgets and ripple through communities.
I spoke with @nytimes.com about what’s at stake for families and food retailers. 👇
There’s growing concern among grocery stores, restaurants and food producers, as some economists say the lapse SNAP payments is likely to cause lower-income households to scrutinize their spending more.
With SNAP on Hold, Low-Income Shoppers Cut Back and Businesses Worry
A delay in SNAP benefits mixed with a decline in foot traffic has many stores, restaurants and food producers concerned about sales.
nyti.ms
November 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Ahead of Thanksgiving, many families, and the grocers who serve them, face tough choices.
Delays in #SNAP payments strain budgets and ripple through communities.
I spoke with @nytimes.com about what’s at stake for families and food retailers. 👇
Delays in #SNAP payments strain budgets and ripple through communities.
I spoke with @nytimes.com about what’s at stake for families and food retailers. 👇
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Food prices since Trump took office
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Food prices since Trump took office
Food economist here 🙋🏽♂️ would like to disagree and point out that grocery inflation since Trump took office has accelerated relative to the preceding months.
Also those price increases for coffee, ground beef, chocolate, bananas, and canned goods in recent months? That’s in large part the tariffs!
Also those price increases for coffee, ground beef, chocolate, bananas, and canned goods in recent months? That’s in large part the tariffs!
Q: Food prices are still going up. Grocery prices are still going up. How do you respond?
MIKE JOHNSON: All of the economist have shown that food prices always go up. There's an inflationary level that's built in to grocery prices.
MIKE JOHNSON: All of the economist have shown that food prices always go up. There's an inflationary level that's built in to grocery prices.
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Food economist here 🙋🏽♂️ would like to disagree and point out that grocery inflation since Trump took office has accelerated relative to the preceding months.
Also those price increases for coffee, ground beef, chocolate, bananas, and canned goods in recent months? That’s in large part the tariffs!
Also those price increases for coffee, ground beef, chocolate, bananas, and canned goods in recent months? That’s in large part the tariffs!
Reposted by David L. Ortega
We crunched the federal data and found the US is on track to have the *fewest inspections since 2011* (excluding pandemic years).
In recent years, the FDA has typically been able to conduct ~110 foreign food inspections each month, but in March, the number of inspections dropped almost in half.
In recent years, the FDA has typically been able to conduct ~110 foreign food inspections each month, but in March, the number of inspections dropped almost in half.
November 6, 2025 at 1:31 PM
We crunched the federal data and found the US is on track to have the *fewest inspections since 2011* (excluding pandemic years).
In recent years, the FDA has typically been able to conduct ~110 foreign food inspections each month, but in March, the number of inspections dropped almost in half.
In recent years, the FDA has typically been able to conduct ~110 foreign food inspections each month, but in March, the number of inspections dropped almost in half.
We’ve made America so great that I just booked a backup rental car for my weekend return flight home. 🙄
November 6, 2025 at 1:42 PM
We’ve made America so great that I just booked a backup rental car for my weekend return flight home. 🙄
*checks price data*
Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y
Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺
Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y
Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺
November 6, 2025 at 11:13 AM
*checks price data*
Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y
Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺
Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y
Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺
SCOTUS skeptical of Trump’s tariffs during oral arguments today.
November 6, 2025 at 1:56 AM
SCOTUS skeptical of Trump’s tariffs during oral arguments today.
Since the president took office, food prices have increased 1.7% 📈
Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺
Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺
Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
Trump denies grocery prices are up and then says people will be fine because "their 401ks are up." (Nearly half of Americans have no retirement savings)
November 3, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Since the president took office, food prices have increased 1.7% 📈
Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺
Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺
Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
Chocolate prices are scary high this Halloween 🎃🍫📈
Cocoa costs have surged to record highs after years of poor harvests in West Africa — where most of the world’s cocoa is grown.
The result? Smaller bars, more fillers, and higher prices.
Cocoa costs have surged to record highs after years of poor harvests in West Africa — where most of the world’s cocoa is grown.
The result? Smaller bars, more fillers, and higher prices.
October 27, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Chocolate prices are scary high this Halloween 🎃🍫📈
Cocoa costs have surged to record highs after years of poor harvests in West Africa — where most of the world’s cocoa is grown.
The result? Smaller bars, more fillers, and higher prices.
Cocoa costs have surged to record highs after years of poor harvests in West Africa — where most of the world’s cocoa is grown.
The result? Smaller bars, more fillers, and higher prices.
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Breaking down what’s behind your rising grocery costs with my friends at PBS NewsHour 🛒📈
🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
October 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Breaking down what’s behind your rising grocery costs with my friends at PBS NewsHour 🛒📈
🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Since Sept. 1, bird flu outbreaks have wiped out 1.2 million turkeys from farms supplying meat for dinner tables—or 20 times more than at the start of last year's flu season. Egg-laying hens face a similar uptick.
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
Bird Flu Roars Back: What It Means for Thanksgiving | Think Global Health
Since September, turkey and egg farms have lost millions of birds, renewing pressure on food prices and biosecurity
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
October 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Since Sept. 1, bird flu outbreaks have wiped out 1.2 million turkeys from farms supplying meat for dinner tables—or 20 times more than at the start of last year's flu season. Egg-laying hens face a similar uptick.
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵
I wrote about what this could mean for Thanksgiving, egg prices, and biosecurity. 🧵