Farmers, Not Factories: Why We Must Break the Corporate Monopoly on Food
In America today, four corporations control more than 80% of the beef market, four companies dominate 70% of the pork industry, and just a handful of conglomerates manage most of the nation’s grain processing, seed production, and food distribution. This is not a coincidence—it’s a deliberate design that favors profit over people, scale over sustainability, and monoculture over community.
At Carolina Farm Trust, we believe food should come from farmers—not factories. And we’re actively building a food system that reflects that belief.
How Corporate Consolidation Took Over Our Plates
The corporate grip on agriculture didn’t happen overnight. Over the past 50 years, policies have shifted in favor of vertical integration—where large companies own every step of the process, from seed to supermarket shelf. This gives them near-total control over pricing, production, and availability.
Meanwhile, small farmers have been squeezed out:
