David L. Ortega
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dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega
@dlortega.bsky.social
4.8K followers 240 following 170 posts

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

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Economics 31%
Agriculture 24%
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dlortega.bsky.social
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

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · 2d
Really unprecedented

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Stephen M. Walt, Kori Schake , and 88 more

federalreserve.gov
Federal Reserve @federalreserve.gov · 2d
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com

Reposted by David L. Ortega

civileats.com
Civil Eats @civileats.com · Dec 15
“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.
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.
civileats.com

Reposted by David L. Ortega

nationalfoodmuseum.bsky.social
National Food Museum @nationalfoodmuseum.bsky.social · Dec 3
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 [email protected]!

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Dec 1
White House launches “Media Bias” tracker and dashboard 👀

www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/?q...
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...
www.whitehouse.gov

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 29
U.S. shoppers spent significantly more because everything costs significantly more.
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 29
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

Reposted by David L. Ortega

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 29
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

Reposted by Marc Lynch, David L. Ortega, Sara Wallace Goodman , and 3 more

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 27
Talking turkey prices with my friends at @pbsnews.org 🦃🍂

Reposted by David L. Ortega

apnews.com
The Associated Press @apnews.com · Nov 24
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

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 22
No, Thanksgiving is not 25% cheaper this year.

Reposted by Richard Waite, David L. Ortega

npr.org
NPR @npr.org · Nov 17
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

Reposted by David Feldman, Rosemary A. Joyce, David Rothschild , and 8 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Nov 16
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.

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 16
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.

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 15
The arsonist turned firefighter

Reposted by David L. Ortega, Timothy D. McBride

marciabrown.bsky.social
Marcia Brown @marciabrown.bsky.social · Nov 14
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...
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

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 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. 👇
nytimes.com The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 10
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

Reposted by David L. Ortega

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 10
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

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, David L. Ortega, Nathan P. Kalmoe , and 1 more

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Nov 8
Here's the promised longer explainer:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
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
www.stevevladeck.com

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 6
Food prices since Trump took office

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 6
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!
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Nov 6
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.

Reposted by Christian E. Weller, Jonathan Hopkin, David L. Ortega , and 1 more

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Nov 6
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.

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 6
We’ve made America so great that I just booked a backup rental car for my weekend return flight home. 🙄

Reposted by David L. Ortega, Southern Africa

anniewaldman.bsky.social
Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · Nov 6
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.

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 6
*checks price data*

Wholesale turkey 🦃 prices 40%🔺y/y

Retail beef roast 🥩 prices 18%🔺

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 6
SCOTUS skeptical of Trump’s tariffs during oral arguments today.

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Nov 3
Since the president took office, food prices have increased 1.7% 📈

Groceries are up 1.6% 🔺

Menu prices are up 2.5% 🔺
lincolnproject.us The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · Nov 3
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)

Reposted by David L. Ortega

lincolnproject.us
The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · Nov 3
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)

dlortega.bsky.social
David L. Ortega @dlortega.bsky.social · Oct 27
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.

Reposted by David L. Ortega

monscience.bsky.social
Nsikan Akpan @monscience.bsky.social · Oct 25
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. 🧵
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