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David L. Ortega

@dlortega.bsky.social
5K followers 244 following 169 posts

Food Economist | Professor and Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University | Venezuelan 🇻🇪

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by David L. Ortega
Vital City @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants City-owned grocery stores to sell food at an average of 30% below market prices. But who ultimately pays to keep those prices low? Food economist David Ortega on Mamdani's grocery stores.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Vital City @vitalcitynyc.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New York’s city-run grocery store plan combines two different goals: expanding food access and lowering grocery prices. Food economist @dlortega.bsky.social argues the second deserves closer scrutiny. Read ⬇️ www.vitalcitynyc.org/mamdani-city...
vitalcitynyc.org
Zohran Mamdani's Promise and the Reality of Supermarket Prices
An economist explains what food really costs and why.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Marketplace @marketplace.org · 15/03/2026
Food affordability remains a top concern for many Americans. The Center for American Progress is out with a new report looking at one potential solution, but economists are weary.
marketplace.org
Can price caps bring down grocery bills?
A new proposal suggests freezing prices on staple foods — but economists warn price controls could bring shortages and other unintended consequences.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Betty Lin-Fisher @blinfisher.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Are #Walmart customers getting overcharged for misweighed meats? A Georgia man's TikTok series has gone viral showing mislabeled meats that led some shoppers to be charged more than double. Read my @usatoday.com story. www.usatoday.com/story/grocer...
usatoday.com
Are Walmart customers getting overcharged for misweighed meats?
A Georgia man has gone viral on TikTok for finding mislabeled meats at Walmart that could lead to shoppers being overcharged.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
-14 F this morning in Michigan 🥶
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 16/01/2026
The government has an inflation-busting meal idea: “It can cost around $3 a meal for a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, corn tortilla and one other thing.” WSJ reporters hit grocery stores to look for a meal as described at that price. 🔗 on.wsj.com/4qX5FH2
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Really unprecedented
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Civil Eats @civileats.com · 15/12/2025
“An agenda that Americans were told would lower prices has instead pushed them higher, creating an affordability crisis just in time for the holidays,” writes @dlortega.bsky.social, a food economics and policy professor at @michiganstateu.bsky.social, in an op-ed.
civileats.com
Op-ed: What Affordability Really Means for Families and Farmers This Holiday Season
Tariffs, immigration policies, SNAP cuts, and more are raising food prices and grocery bills. Americans deserve better.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
White House launches “Media Bias” tracker and dashboard 👀 www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/?q...
whitehouse.gov
Media Offenders
Explore the Media Bias Tracker that fact checks and holds Fake News accountable. False claims debunked, Hall of Shame for serial offenders, Leaderboard of networks ranked by Repeated Lies. Stay inform...
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
U.S. shoppers spent significantly more because everything costs significantly more.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
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.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Talking turkey prices with my friends at @pbsnews.org 🦃🍂
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
The Associated Press @apnews.com · 24/11/2025
Bird flu and another disease have shrunk the U.S. turkey population to a 40-year low this year.
bit.ly
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.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
No, Thanksgiving is not 25% cheaper this year.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
NPR @npr.org · 17/11/2025
Wholesale prices for a turkey have jumped 40% from a year ago. n.pr/4phUXtP
n.pr
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.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16/11/2025
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.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Talking #tariffs and food affordability on CBS Evening News. Rolling back some of the #food tariffs helps ease upward pressure, but prices are downward-sticky. Any relief at the grocery store will take time.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
The arsonist turned firefighter
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Marcia Brown @marciabrown.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
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...
politico.com
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.”
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
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. 👇
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 08/11/2025
Here's the promised longer explainer: www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
stevevladeck.com
190. SNAP WTF?
A very quick explainer on what (and why) Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Food prices since Trump took office
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
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!
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
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.
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.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
We’ve made America so great that I just booked a backup rental car for my weekend return flight home. 🙄
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
*checks price data* Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
SCOTUS skeptical of Trump’s tariffs during oral arguments today.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Since the president took office, food prices have increased 1.7% 📈 Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺 Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
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.
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Breaking down what’s behind your rising grocery costs with my friends at PBS NewsHour 🛒📈 🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Nsikan Akpan @monscience.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
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. 🧵
thinkglobalhealth.org
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
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 25/10/2025
POTUS: - stops $ to buy US farmers' products for hungry Americans shrinking farmers' domestic market - vaporizes US farmers' foreign markets via tariffs - sends billions tax $ to Argentina to bail out Trump donors while Argentina boosts its farmers sales to US farmers' former customers
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Breaking down what’s behind your rising grocery costs with my friends at PBS NewsHour 🛒📈 🔗 Full segment youtu.be/YqIGSdKn184
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
👀🍿
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
CBS News | Breaking news, top stories & today's latest headlines @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy · 22/10/2025
cbsnews.com
Wholesale turkey prices are soaring ahead of Thanksgiving. Here's why.
Wholesale prices for frozen turkeys are expected to be $1.32 per pound this year, a 40% increase from last year's average.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
🥴
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Lansing, Michigan #NoKings
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Great article out today in the NYT on the history of processed and ultra processed foods. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
How America Got Hooked on Ultraprocessed Food
They promised convenience and cheap nutrition. But they became one of the greatest health threats of our time.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Well, well, well... looks like they’re finally catching up. Now do #tariffs 🤔 www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
washingtonpost.com
Trump administration says immigration enforcement threatens higher food prices
U.S. farmers face labor shortages and potential food price hikes due to Trump’s immigration policy, the administration acknowledged in a Federal Registry document.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
"BLS will publish the September 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. No other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services." www.bls.gov/bls/092025-c...
bls.gov
September 2025 CPI Release Rescheduled
September 2025 CPI Release Rescheduled
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
About those soybean sales to Chinas...
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Turkey prices are set to rise this Thanksgiving 🦃🍽️📈 Bird flu and AMPV have hit flocks hard, pushing bird numbers to a 40-year low. Production is ~6% and wholesale prices are 🔺~25% y/y. No need to panic as there will still be plenty of 🦃 in stores, but you may likely pay a bit more this year 💸.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Turkey prices are set to rise this Thanksgiving 🦃🍽️📈 Bird flu and AMPV have hit flocks hard, pushing bird numbers to a 40-year low. Production is ~6% and wholesale prices are 🔺~25% y/y. No need to panic as there will still be plenty of 🦃 in stores, but you may likely pay a bit more this year 💸.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
The drop in international student arrivals into the US is pretty staggering. Nearly 20% less students traveled to the US this August compared to last year. 🌏 24% drop in students from Asia 🌍 32% drop in students from Africa
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Reposted by David L. Ortega
Will Masters @willmasters.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
The tomato theory of everything 1/3
bostonglobe.com
Winter is coming. So are tariff-induced price hikes on tomatoes and other produce. - The Boston Globe
A rise in produce prices could be a sign of higher costs to come as President Trump’s tariffs on imported food become more significant.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Farmers don’t want government payments, they’re looking for access to export markets, and our current trade policy is making that extremely difficult. Also, four weeks is an eternity for soybean farmers.
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David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
As if high food prices weren’t enough, now even storing your groceries will cost more thanks to the #tariffs www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/r...
nytimes.com
Home Builders, and Homeowners, Brace for Impact of Kitchen Tariffs
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