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How Walmart is Devouring the Food System (Infographic)

| Written by Stacy Mitchell | 15 Comments | Updated on Dec 1, 2012 The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/infographic-walmart-food/

Walmart now captures $1 of every $4 Americans spend on groceries. It’s on track to claim one-third of food sales within five years. Here’s a look at how Walmart has dramatically altered the food system — triggering massive consolidation, driving down prices to farmers, and leaving more families struggling to afford healthy food.

This infographic was also published on Grist and Huffington Post.  Click to enlarge.

Infographic: Walmart is Taking Over the Food System

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About Stacy Mitchell

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, where she directs initiatives on independent business and community banking. She is the author of Big-Box Swindle and also produces a popular monthly newsletter, the Hometown Advantage Bulletin.  Connect with her on twitter and catch her recent TEDx Talk: Why We Can’t Shop Our Way to a Better Economy. More

Contact Stacy   |   View all articles by Stacy Mitchell

15 Comments

Stacy Mitchell: Why We Can’t Counter Corporate Power by Being Better Shoppers | Screw Cable said...

[...] banks dominate our banking system. Agribusiness giants monopolize food production. Walmart captures $1 of every $4 Americans spend on groceries. One company, Amazon, accounts for over one-third of everything we buy [...]

Dec 15, 2012

Michael Melio said...

Thanks for this very informative — if not upsetting — graphic. We are in agreement, that unless and until we disempower monopoly capitalism, the nation’s economic, political, and environmental health will continue to decline.

Dec 20, 2012

Mary Anne said...

since milk and other farm products are paid a subsidy by the Federal government, how can you show the true “cost” without mentioning it??

Dec 20, 2012

Stacy Mitchell said...

Mary Anne,

I think you misunderstand Federal Milk Marketing Orders. There is no subsidy for milk, but the federal government does set a minimum floor price that dairy processors must pay for raw milk they buy from farmers. This makes good sense because there isn’t really a competitive market. Milk is bulky and expensive to ship, so farmers generally have to sell to the nearest milk plant. They are largely captive, if you will. The government sets a floor price so they are not underpaid.

The government-set floor price for class 1 fluid milk averaged $11.92 between 1995-2000. It averaged $10.87 between 2005-2010 (adjusted for inflation). So, as you can see, farmers have been losing ground, while consumers are paying more. Supermarket chains and dairy processors are pocketing the difference.

Stacy

Dec 21, 2012

Vinz said...

Thank you Stacy for the infograph, could you please provide us with more information about Amazon, as you stated in your first comment that such company accounts for over a third of everything we buy. If you could explain us a bit further.

Muchly appreciated.

Dec 29, 2012

Elizabeth said...

The minimum floor price for milk does not completely cover the cost and a living wage for dairy farmers in my area. Different parts of the country have different circumstances and the governments’ “one size fits all” pricing is forcing many dairy farmers in my area (upstate NY)out of business. Thanks for your very helpful information.

Dec 31, 2012

How Walmart is Devouring the Food System [Infographic] said...

[...] awesome infographic by the ILSR – outlines how powerful Walmart has become in US food market. Farmers are now getting less % of [...]

Jan 7, 2013

Walmart throws around its growing weight in our food system « The Conscientious Omnivore said...

[...] I recently came across the infographic below, which was put together by Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. It details the large and growing influence that mega-retailer Walmart has in the American food [...]

Jan 11, 2013

How Walmart is Consuming the Food Industry and Economy – Infographic | Sustainable Sass said...

[...] comparisons aside, this infographic from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance paints a pretty unsettling image of how Walmart is affecting the economy and food industry. $1 out [...]

Jan 31, 2013

Walmart’s Death Grip on Groceries Is Making Life Worse for Millions of People | Just Food Now "News and Views" said...

[...] fewer buyers, farmers are struggling to get a fair price. Between 1995 and 2009, farmers saw their share of each consumer dollar spent on beef fall from 59 to 42 cents [7]. Their cut of the consumer milk dollar likewise fell from 44 to 36 cents.  For pork, it fell [...]

Mar 28, 2013

Walmart’s Death Grip in USA | kracktivist said...

[...] fewer buyers, farmers are struggling to get a fair price. Between 1995 and 2009, farmers saw their share of each consumer dollar spent on beef fall from 59 to 42 cents. Their cut of the consumer milk dollar likewise fell from 44 to 36 cents.  For pork, it fell from [...]

Mar 29, 2013

Walmart’s Death Grip on Groceries Is Making Life Worse for Millions of People (Hard Times USA) | said...

[...] fewer buyers, farmers are struggling to get a fair price. Between 1995 and 2009, farmers saw their share of each consumer dollar spent on beef fall from 59 to 42 cents. Their cut of the consumer milk dollar likewise fell from 44 to 36 cents.  For pork, it fell from [...]

Mar 31, 2013

Walmart’s Death Grip on Groceries Is Making Life Worse for Millions of People (Hard Times USA) | Pakalert Press said...

[...] fewer buyers, farmers are struggling to get a fair price. Between 1995 and 2009, farmers saw their share of each consumer dollar spent on beef fall from 59 to 42 cents. Their cut of the consumer milk dollar likewise fell from 44 to 36 cents.  For pork, it fell from [...]

Apr 1, 2013

Walmart’s death grip on groceries is making life worse for millions of people » RickMick | RickMick said...

[...] New England. With fewer buyers, farmers are struggling to get a fair price. Between 1995 and 2009, farmers saw their share of each consumer dollar spent on beef fall from 59 to 42 cents. Their cut of the consumer milk dollar likewise fell from 44 to 36 cents. For [...]

Apr 1, 2013