Latest Competition Progress at USDA Highly Informed by Open Markets Scholarship

Open Markets Institute Food Program Manager Claire Kelloway weighed in on the USDA’s latest actions to improve fair competition in food and agriculture -- actions heavily informed by Open Markets' scholarship.

Open Markets Submits Comment on USDA’s Proposal to Ensure Fair Livestock Markets

Open Markets submits comment on USDA's proposal to define unfair practices under the Packers & Stockyards Act.

Reuters - Kroger case tests FTC Chair Khan's bid to protect workers

Food program manager Claire Kelloway argues that the Kroger-Albertsons merger would likely lead to store closures, job losses, and reduced wages for workers, emphasizing the need for the Federal Trade Commission to consider these labor impacts in its antitrust review

ClippingsOpen MarketsAugust 26, 2024August 2024, 2024, Claire Kelloway, FTC, Food & Agriculture

Open Markets Submits Comment to USDA on Strengthening Poultry Grower Payment Systems Rule

Open Markets Institute Food Program Manager Clare Kelloway led a comment submission to the USDA in support of the agency’s proposal to regulate unfair tournament payment systems under the “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule.

Open Markets Responds to USDA’s New Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets Rule

Open Markets Institute Food Program Manager Clare Kelloway released a statement concerning the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture’s newly-proposed Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act:

Too Big to Feed: The Threats of Corporate Consolidation on the Food Supply

Open Markets and the producers behind Food, Inc. 2 hosted a roundtable discussion on how monopolies took over our food system and what policy makers can do to break them up. Upon requests, participants will received a link to view Food Inc. 2, which puts the issue of corporate consolidation in the spotlight.

Open Markets Institute Responds to New USDA Ruling on Packers & Stockyards Act

Open Markets Institute Food Program Manager Clare Kelloway released a statement on the USDA’s Packers & Stockyards Act rule on poultry tournaments.

Open Markets Co-Sponsors Food, Inc. 2 Premiere & Impact Campaign

Open Markets Institute has partnered with the media company Participant and partners, to cosponsor the Washington, DC premiere of the documentary film sequel, Food, Inc. 2, on April 9th, and an impact campaign to improve our food system by taking on corporate power and the harmful practices that power enables.

Open Markets’ Claire Kelloway Applauds USDA’s Improved Protections for Farmers Under the Packers & Stockyards Act

Open Markets Food Program Manager Claire Kelloway released a statement on release of The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule for improvements to Packers and Stockyards Act enforcement against discrimination, retaliation and deception in the meatpacking industry.

FTC Sues to Block the Kroger-Albertsons Merger

Open Markets Food Program Manager Claire Kelloway released a statement regarding the Federal Trade Commission’s move to block a merger between two of the nation’s largest grocers, Kroger and Albertsons.

The American Prospect - Corporate Attack Dogs Find a New Subject to Bully

Open Markets Institute was mentioned in an article in support of Beth Baltzan, an adviser to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and a former senior fellow at OMI, who is being targeted by Big Tech firms and the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page.

Mother Jones - The Farm Bill Hall of Shame

Food systems program manager Claire Kelloway elaborates on the urgent issues that should be addressed in a new farm bill.

StarTribune - Turkey growers crying foul over USDA decision favoring industry players including Jennie-O, Cargill

Open Markets’ food systems policy director Claire Kelloway on new USDA rules for chicken tournament systems that leave out turkey farmers.

ClippingsOpen MarketsFebruary 7, 2024January 2024, 2024, Claire Kelloway, Food & Agriculture, Mergers & Acquisitions

Progressive Farmer - Groups Oppose Fertilizer Plant Deal

Open Markets Institute was listed among the groups that have signed onto a letter opposing Koch Industries’ purchase of OCI Global’s Iowa Fertilizer Company for $3.6 billion, which would further consolidate the industry and damage competition and prices

Marketplace - Amid scrutiny, Kroger and Albertsons say merger may take longer than planned

Marketplace quoted Open Markets’ food systems policy director Claire Kelloway on how the proposed merger between grocery store giants Kroger and Albertsons would increase the company’s negotiating power with brands.

ClippingsOpen MarketsJanuary 16, 2024January 2024, 2024, Claire Kelloway, Wins, Food & Agriculture, Mergers & Acquisitions

Kickbacks and Corporate Concentration: How Exclusionary Discounts Limit Market Access for Community-Based Food Businesses

Food and agriculture systems program manager Claire Kelloway co-wrote a paper with senior fellow at American Economic Liberties Project, Matthew Buck, examining exclusionary payments as an unfair tactic used by dominant retailers to abuse their market power to corner food retail markets and marginalize new and community-based producers.

ProMarket - The Kroger-Albertsons Merger Will Not Help Grocery Competition

Food systems program manager Claire Kelloway argues that the main reason Kroger and Albertsons want to merge is to achieve Walmart’s monopsony power, and permitting mergers on these grounds will only harm suppliers, workers, and consumers.

Report by Detroit-based Chef Kiki Louya & Open Markets Examines How Peanut Farmer Cooperatives Are Taking on “Big Shell”

A new report by chef Kiki Louya, published by the Open Markets Institute, examines the peanut industry, where farmer-owned cooperatives like Premium Peanut have seen great success taking on the giant shelling monopolies, and explores how other farmers might use cooperatives to circumvent monopolists.

Monopoly Matters