The Rural Blog

A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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California lawmaker launches bill to highlight healthier foods in grocery stores

Mexican produce suppliers and U.S. grocers tap dance around tariffs to keep aisles stocked and prices steady

Kroger-Albertsons merger blocked by judge who sided with Federal Trade Commission's anti-trust argument

Smaller food makers and independent grocers bear brunt of distributors' fees. Bigger grocery stores have the advantage.

Grocery store chains still use 'old-school' spying to out-price competitors. The practice has piqued antitrust interests.

Coffee prices continue to spike as global demand grows and supplies lag; China is driving increases

Faced with ballooning grocery bills, many Americans have switched from national to private-label brands

When dollar stores open in rural places, local independent grocers take more of a hit than their urban counterparts

Produce is getting a makeover: Branded veggies and fruit hit grocery store shelves and e-commerce sites

Grocery prices weigh heavily on American minds; executives say 'shoppers will adjust.' Can they afford to?

Rural residents often have limited retail choices for groceries and staples; when dollar stores close, they have even less

Larger retailers used their dominance to push suppliers and squeeze competitors during pandemic, FTC report shows

Hanging on to the local grocery store is important to rural residents and economies

Smaller meatpacking businesses struggle to compete with mega processors, USDA grants aren't enough

How can the local supermarket be saved? This rural Kansas town of 1,000 has some tips for Chicago.

Small town grocer co-ops and technology offer innovative answers for residents living in food deserts

With smart planning and community spirit, some rural places succeed in keeping their local grocery stores open

When Safeway and Fry's started talking about merging, rural Arizona residents pushed back

Some farm groups object to proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, saying a bigger grocer will hurt small farmers

A tale of two towns and dollar stores: One blocked Dollar General, one allowed it on 3-2 vote; local merchants worry