As Central NEW YORK SEES Record HIGH Grocery Costs, Schumer Announces Landmark Legislation to Break UP the Meatpacking Monopolies, HELP Farmers, and Drive DOWN COST of MEAT for Families

Schumer Says Four Corporate Giants Dominate Meat Market, Rigging The System Against Central NY Families, And Squeezing Farmers Who Keep Just 16 Cents Of Every Dollar Spent On Food New Schumer Bill Will Break Up Big Monopolies, Lower Prices For Consumers, And Restore Real Competition To Help Boost Farmers And Smaller Meat Producers Schumer: New Bill Will Bring Down Costs For Families At The Grocery Store As Central New Yorkers experience some of the fastest price growth for groceries in the country, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood with Central New York families and local partners at the Tops supermarket in Auburn to introduce the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act . The Senator’s new landmark legislation would break up the big meat monopolies, boost farmers Upstate, and lower grocery costs for families. “The meatpacking monopoly is driving up costs for New Yorkers in Central New York at the grocery store and rigging the game against local farmers. Corporate giants dominate the meat market and set prices sky-high for families, all while squeezing profits from farmers by eliminating competition, and it needs to end,” said Senator Schumer. “That’s why I’m introducing legislation – the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act – to break up the monopoly and lower costs. This bill is centered around making groceries more affordable, making farmers more profitable, and putting the needs of working middle-class people ahead of the interests of powerful corporations. America’s economy and our Main Streets are stronger when costs are lower and we have true competition, and this bill will do exactly that.” According to analysis from the Urban Institute , New York’s 22 nd Congressional District – which covers all of Madison and Onondaga Counties, and parts of Cayuga, Cortland, and Oneida Counties – has experienced some of the fastest price growth for groceries in the country in the past ten years. Grocery prices have increased from $730 to $1,130 each month, a whopping more than 50% increase. New York’s 24 th Congressional District – which covers all of Wayne, Oswego, Seneca, Yates, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming, and Genesee Counties, and parts of Niagara, Ontario, Jefferson, Steuben, Schuyler, and Cayuga Counties – has seen an increase from $710 to $1080 each month, also a more than 50% increase. These price hikes are forcing more and more families to dip into savings or utilize credit options just to buy food. According to a new analysis from the Urban Institute released last week, 1 in 5 adults used savings to pay for food, and more than 25% of adults who use credit cards to buy groceries struggled to make their repayments. Additionally, the analysis showed 1 in 10 adults used Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, and more than one-third of those who did missed a payment. Schumer explained that a major driver of high meat prices is a food system rigged in favor of corporate monopolies. Four companies, Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill, and National Beef, control 85% of the beef market, 67% of the pork market, and 60% of the chicken market. Schumer’s Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act is a competition-driven, pro-farmer, pro-rancher, pro-worker, pro-consumer, cost-of-living bill that breaks up dominant meatpackers and uses all available tools to stop unfair pricing that drives up grocery bills for American families. The bill would force the biggest meatpackers to choose a line of business instead of dominating beef, pork, and chicken all at once, and aims to provide financial and technical assistance to farmers’ cooperatives and small businesses that seek to acquire, operate, or expand meatpacking plants or facilities, helping make more local supply chains to lower costs. In addition, to directing the FTC to go after foreign-controlled conglomerates that squeeze American producers and distort U.S. markets. “Working families are stretched thin every time they walk into a grocery store, and they deserve relief. Senator Schumer’s Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act is a smart investment in both consumers and the local farmers who help feed our communities,” said UFCW Local One President Frank Deriso . By addressing costs throughout the food supply chain, this legislation can help make groceries more affordable while supporting good-paying union jobs and a stronger local economy. UFCW Local One is proud to stand with efforts that put working families first.” “For over a century, generations of Post family farmers have produced beef and pork on our farm in Scipio. This year, our farm will raise around 65 cows and 65 pigs, while the four biggest meat producers will raise tens of millions. That lets the big producers set prices and control markets in ways that are good for their bottom line, but bad for local farmers and grocery prices. While local farms struggle with inconsistent demand and volatile prices at auction houses and in the freezer trade, big producers sell by the truckload to consistent demand at stable prices,” said Post Family Farm Owner Ken Post . “The playing field has been uneven for far too long, and it’s high time we leveled it. Today, I am proud to stand with Senator Schumer in the fight to rein in the big four and provide local farmers the support to grow, expand, and produce locally raised meat at prices our families, friends, and neighbors can afford. On behalf of local meat farmers here in Central NY, I would like to thank the Senator for coming to our community today advocating for local meat production, and always supporting NY State agriculture.” ###