1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to support Senate Bill 4007, the Family Grocery and Farm Relief Act, as an important step toward restoring fairness, competition, and resilience in our nation’s food system. Today, more than 45 percent of all U.S. cattle are processed by just 11 meatpacking plants, and the top four companies control over 80 percent of the domestic beef market. This level of concentration is not just an economic concern; it is a structural vulnerability. When so few corporations dominate such a critical part of our food supply, disruptions—whether from pandemics, natural disasters, or labor shortages—have outsized impacts on both producers and consumers. The consequences are evident. Farmers and ranchers often receive shrinking margins while consumers continue to face elevated grocery prices, even years after the peak of pandemic-related disruptions. This suggests that consolidation has enabled dominant firms to preserve higher prices and maximize profits rather than allowing competitive market forces to bring costs back down. More broadly, the U.S. food system has become highly consolidated, increasingly exploitative, and insufficiently resilient. Independent producers struggle to access fair markets, smaller processors face significant barriers to entry, and consumers are left with fewer choices and higher costs. A system this concentrated cannot adequately withstand shocks or serve the long-term interests of American families. The Family Grocery and Farm Relief Act represents a meaningful effort to address these challenges by promoting competition, supporting independent producers, and strengthening regional supply chains. By encouraging diversification and reducing bottlenecks in processing and distribution, this legislation can help build a more stable and equitable food system. I respectfully ask that you support Senate Bill 4007 and prioritize policies that restore competition, protect producers, and ensure that American families have access to affordable, fairly priced food.