Are Those Burgers And Salads On Your Dinner Plate Actually Invasive Species? Here's How It's Costing You At The Grocery Store.
Forget lionfish and kudzu—the real invasive species sneaking onto your plate and depleting your wallet are the ones you're already buying. From wild boar tearing up farm crops (driving up pork and veggie prices) to feral hogs and venomous caterpillars threatening your favorite summer salads and cheap fruit, a new report reveals these ecological crashers are responsible for an estimated 20 to 40 percent of price hikes on everyday staples. Your wallet is taking a direct hit because ecosystems are collapsing under the weight of non-native plants and animals. The fix? Farmers are passing massive control and crop-loss costs directly to your grocery bill, making that Sunday barbecue or bag of salad greens a lot more expensive.