Blaming Mega-Mergers for High Cost of Produce

“Farmers’ Growing Pains” [July 8] describes how the glut of produce has driven down wholesale prices. So why, then, have we seen a steady rise in prices at the retail level?

Could it be the result of the mega-mergers of the ‘90s?

I remember that 10 years ago peaches sold for 59 cents a pound, 39 cents on sale. Now they are $1.99 regular and 99 cents on sale.

Perhaps a future article could investigate how the newly merged and all-powerful supermarkets are paying the farmers next to nothing but charging the public all it will bear.

Jeff Moskin

Culver City