Top 10 Stories from 2024 on Expana

It was a big year for the food and agriculture industry. Below are some of the biggest headlines that sent shockwaves through the trade... 

ANALYSIS: US Egg Prices Soar as Production Hits Eight-Year Low Due to HPAI Outbreaks 

May 30, 2024: “Over the past two weeks, U.S. shell egg prices have soared by 45%, largely due to the ongoing spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu. The bird flu has been spreading across the US since February 2022—though not consistently..."

Billions in Aid Approved for US Farmers

As a government shutdown loomed, the US Congress passed spending legislation named the American Relief Act which was signed by President Biden on December 21, 2024. For agriculture and food-related commodities, this legislation contains one-time economic assistance payments, disaster relief payments, as well as partial funding from the rolled-over farm bill.

Part of the funding approved was $10 billion to support some American farmers across the nation. Within 90 days, economic assistance payments will only be dealt to farmers of eligible commodities like corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, canola, mustard...

Butterfly Acquires the Duckhorn Portfolio of Wines for $1.95 Billion

On Christmas Eve, the Los Angeles-based Butterfly Equity acquired a Californian wine maker known as the Duckhorn Portfolio, according to a media alert. The all-cash deal valued Duckhorn at $11.10 per share or approximately $1.95 billion.

Duckhorn encompasses 2,200 acres of vineyards throughout California, Oregon, and Washington state. The company sells brands like Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Postmark, and more. Originally, Duckhorn Vineyards started in 1976 as a family-owned company founded in Napa Valley. Today, their wines are available throughout the US...

FDA Updates “Healthy” Food Definition for US Food Products

Officials from the FDA updated the organization’s definition of the word “healthy,” according to an FDA constituent update. 

A food product’s packaging can bear the word “healthy” if the food adheres to specified limits for saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars. Additionally, “healthy” food contains “at least one of the food groups or subgroups (such as fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy, etc.) recommended by the Dietary Guidelines,” according to the FDA’s new definition. 

For example, a “healthy” grain product should not contain more than 5% saturated fat...