Looks like the milk industry has learned a valuable lesson from the oil industry - - get every seller to sell at the same price and you can make billions. When anyone calls you on it, you say, "It's a worldwide situation of supply and demand". And don't forget to blame it on the price of feed corn in a growing ethanol production effort.
What I want to know is how much milk is poured down the drain as unsaleable while still within the marked "use by" date? Same with chilled orange juice that's priced so high it won't sell - - is it offered at a reduced price? Never - - that would "ruin the market". To charge the high prices on perishable foods that they do, they have to make sure slightly out of date products are destroyed rather than sold at a reduced price. There ought to be a law against such waste.
How do I know about all this? - - I suspect it's what takes place, based on what I see at Flea Markets. Off and on, refrigerated consumables are sold at
1/4 to 1/3 the supermarket price. These sales are very popular and you better get there early. I've seen packaged meats, butter, cheese, and every kind of fresh juice for sale. There aren't very many supermarket managers, however, that will buck the system and off-load this still viable food to flea market sellers. To most, having a job is preferable to helping people in need.And then there's the bread situation - - a 24oz loaf is getting close to $4.00 a pop. I shop at a place that always has one or more of the premium brands on sale for $1.98. I suspect someone will eventually get on the phone to all the markets and end that practice. But for the time being, it's a glimmer of sunshine in a rather dismal picture.