Protect The Harvest | Railroads Have a Massive Impact on Food Security

By Jaclyn Krymowski for Protect The Harvest

The role trains and railways play in our economy and food system, food security, and their value in the transport of essential goods are greatly undervalued by the public. Even when the dangers of a union strike make headlines, the threat gets little more than a passing thought. Preserving the integrity of our railways is not a matter of mere convenience. It is essential to the function of agriculture, food, and many interconnected industries.

Railroads and Dominos

Many of our country’s raw materials and commodities rely heavily on the railroad for transportation. The railroad impacts not only domestic consumers but also the export supply chain.

A widespread rail strike would ripple across our economy and infrastructure in a domino-like effect. Almost immediately, consumers and producers would feel a huge impact. Consumers would feel the emptiness of grocery store shelves and further strain would be placed on already inflated prices for domestic raw goods and packaged products. Of all consumer-ready packaged food products, about 30% are moved by railway. Likewise, processors for many packaged products, such as cereal, cooking oils, and bread, rely very heavily on rail deliveries of raw ingredients.

According to Tom Madrecki, Vice President of Supply Chain for the Consumer Brands Association, without railroads,