Small Potatoes
In early December 2019, media outlets across the US warned of a potential French fry shortage in 2020. These warnings came after the US Department of Agriculture estimated that the…
Immigration or Innovation in Agriculture?
American agriculture has long depended on immigrant labor. Many of these workers are undocumented. In recent years, the US government has increased its immigration enforcement activity, identifying, arresting, and deporting…
Plastic Pollution Problems
Each year, millions of tons of discarded plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans. Approximately 80 percent of that waste was originally discarded on land, with the remaining 20…
Fishy Pricing
In December 2019 the CEO of Bumblebee Tuna was convicted of price-fixing in the packaged seafood market. With this conviction the CEO faces up to 10 years in prison and…
A Spirited Trade War
In the 20 years between 1997 and 2017, US exports of Kentucky bourbon whiskey tripled to a value of $450 million. However, in the second half of 2018 exports of…
Retail Apocalypse
Nearly 10,000 retail stores announced closures in 20191. Payless ShoeSource alone accounted for 2,500 closures as part of the company’s complete liquidation. Other large retailers, like J. C. Penney, are…
Pumpkin Spice in Everything
Every September we begin to see the signs that the fall season is on the horizon. The temperature starts to cool, the leaves start changing colors, and Starbucks begins selling…