Sacramento, Calif. (May 5, 2026)—Following a month of federal and state law enforcement crackdowns on anti-competitive behavior, State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) today said that recent legal actions confirm long-standing concerns raised by Central Valley farmers and consumers that markets are uncompetitive — and pushed back against misleading claims that antitrust enforcement harms agriculture.

“These recent crackdowns are proving what I’ve been saying for years – that market manipulation through anti-competitive behavior such as bid-rigging is not only driving up prices for consumers, but also making it harder to compete in a fair marketplace for our Valley farmers and ranchers,” Senator Hurtado said. “The result of a rigged market is an unseen tax increase in the form of rising prices, and it could also drive our smaller, family run farms out of business.”

This week the U.S. Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into major meatpackers over rising beef prices, alleging that a small number of companies control the majority of processing capacity and are using that market power to artificially increase prices for consumers while hurting smaller ranchers.

And just last month, the California Department of Justice alleged that Amazon engaged in price fixing by pressuring other retailers – such as Levi’s and Hanes – to raise their prices for consumers. The recent legal filing was in conjunction with a lawsuit the California Attorney General’s office filed against Amazon in 2022, which alleged anti-competitive behavior.

Anti-competitive behavior hits particularly hard in the California agricultural ranching economy. There are 38 million public and private acres of grazing lands in the state. Central Valley counties lead the way: Tulare County is number one in California for dairy and livestock production. Kern County has the most cattle production in the state and the most farmland acreage.

“This is not just about the cost of beef, it’s about whether we have a resilient, reliable food system in this country,” Senator Hurtado said. “When fewer companies control more of our food supply, we create risk because food security is national security.”

In the Legislature, Senator Hurtado has led efforts to address both traditional and modern forms of market manipulation. She authored – and the Governor signed – Senate Bill 763, which increased the financial penalties to up to $6 million for corporate violators of California’s anti-trust laws. Senator Hurtado has also authored Senate Bill 295, the California Fair Pricing Act, to prevent the use of pricing algorithms that rely on competitor data to coordinate prices.

“Whether it’s backroom deals or algorithm-driven coordination, the outcome is the same,” Senator Hurtado said. “Higher prices, fewer choices, and a system that quietly works against the people in it.”

Senator Hurtado encouraged individuals with knowledge of market manipulation to come forward, noting federal incentives for whistleblowers.

“If we want to fix the system, we need the truth,” Senator Hurtado said. “And we need to make sure people who speak up are protected.”

Senator Melissa Hurtado is Chair of Senate Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government and currently represents the 16th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes portions of Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Kern Counties.

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