Smithfield Foods is withdrawing from California by early next year, citing red tape like that from Proposition 12 and the generally high costs of doing business in the state. Products such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, dinner sausage, bone-In-hams, and sliced hams, will cease being produced at Smithfield’s Farmer John meat packing plant in Vernon, CA.

HOULA, Lebanon (Reuters) - In a remote village in southern Lebanon, Qassem Shreim crouched low to examine his wheat crop. Food costs have soared amid a global wheat crisis and Lebanon's own economic meltdown, but the builder-turned-farmer feels shielded by his self-sufficiency. Like many families in crisis-plagued Lebanon, Shreim turned to farming after the local pound began to slip in 2019, making his construction work scarce and his grocery runs ever more costly.

(Lebanon) A church in Lebanon will host a food pantry distribution event Tuesday. The monthly Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution will be at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on W4661 County Road MM. The cost is $25 per share and those going can purchase more than one. Organizers say each share may not be identical but will contain at least $100 to $150 worth of groceries.