Farmers have fewer buyers to choose from, while large produce companies have gained more control over how food moves from farms to consumers.

This consolidation has created a national risk, as the reach of companies like Taylor Farms now spans the entire country, leaving smaller players vulnerable.

To address this, experts suggest strengthening antitrust enforcement by investigating dominant produce firms for anticompetitive, exclusionary, or abusive business practices, while closely scrutinizing mergers and acquisitions that would further concentrate produce markets.

Additionally, there is a call to investigate contracts that shut out farmers and smaller businesses from selling to major buyers, ensuring a fairer and more resilient food system.