Why Are Groceries So Expensive?

Today I’d like to dive into a favorite topic: Food supply in America and why we have the bizarre concept of food deserts. The answers, at least most of them can be found in an Atlantic article that you can find here.

Source: Pixabay

My interest in food deserts began in earnest during the last election when we had a candidate who seemed to be very interested in all aspects of food, its preparation and how sharing it with friends and family, and how this can strengthen all of us. Kamala Harris never spoke about grocery inflation, only the joys of cooking. Had she ventured into costs she would have met some real support and maybe changed the election outcome.

As luck would have it the Atlantic article and my interest, while converging, stem from completely different places. In my view, at least initially, the focus was not on food deserts per se but on pricing food. Nonetheless, the two are related. I had noticed through my experience as a shopper that competition had died in most grocery marketplaces. Where I live in New England there is seemingly a lot of competition between grocery stores, but when you dig down the reality is different.

Here in the Northeast, two chains, Shaws and Star Market, are both owned by Albertsons. I have one of each within easy driving distance. Also, Hannaford and Stop & Shop are owned…