Puerto Rico Senate committee hears agriculture officials on meat-price surge; department cites grain and freight costs, unveils production incentives

SAN JUAN — The Comisión de Desarrollo Económico, Servicios Esenciales y Asuntos del Consumidor of the Senate of Puerto Rico held a public hearing Aug. 4, 2021, to investigate sudden increases in food prices, with particular attention to fresh meat. Secretary of Agriculture Ramón González Beirós and agronomist Jorge Campos Merced testified that international grain-price spikes and higher freight costs are principal drivers of domestic price increases and described steps the department is taking to expand local production and protect consumers.

"Según el Chicago Mercantile Exchange, el precio del maíz ha incrementado en un sesenta por ciento en mayo del veinte veintiuno en comparación con el año pasado," Jorge Campos told the committee, adding that soya rose about 50% and wheat about 33% in the same period. Campos said shipping costs and rising oil prices have added up to roughly a 20% increase in maritime transport fees, which feed into final retail prices.

The department presented production figures: Puerto Ricans consume about 123 million pounds of beef annually, of which roughly 13.5 million pounds — about 11% — is produced locally. On poultry, officials said the main local…