Plant-based Meat Demand Off and Gas Prices Higher Again

**Honey bees not only create agricultural products, they help facilitate the Florida ag industry, pollinating crops and bolstering our food supply.

So, www.morningagclips.com reports, when Hurricane Ian made landfall last week, many Florida colonies were devastated, according to Amy Vu, an apiculture specialist with the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab.

Adding to the losses, some out-of-state beekeepers had moved their colonies into Florida, where they often overwinter.

www.morningagclips.com/hurricane-ian-impacts-to-beekeeping/

**The federal government is seeking input on a grant program intended to help address labor shortages and legal migration pathways and improve the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain.

Farm employers from different states have urged that the grant program include incentives to help agricultural employers curb their travel costs for employees with H-2A visas.

They’re also requesting a streamlined process to extend program contracts beyond 10 months.

**Plant-based food is a hot market, but plant-based meat alternatives are not, according to a recent study by Deloitte Insights.

Data from Deloitte's Future of Fresh survey suggests dramatically improved taste in recent years unlocked new interest, but the portion of the population open to trying and repeat buying may have peaked.

With inflation, fewer people are willing to pay a price premium.

And finally, some assumed benefits are being questioned by consumers.

**The nation’s average gas price climbed for the third straight week, rising 13.8 cents from a week ago to $3.92 per gallon.

The national average is up 22.5 cents from a month ago and 67.0 cents higher than a year ago.

The national average for diesel increased 18.0 cents in the past week to $5.04 per gallon.

OPEC cut oil production by two million barrels a day recently, causing an oil price surge of 20%.