A SpokenFood Editorial
Sure — Jason was celebrating a $24 burger basket. But mere days after that burger was digested and dispatched, he openly sniggered at not only millions of Minnesotans – but basically our entire eating nation – all of whom are wondering why basic groceries cost 40–50% more than they did three years ago.
And when SpokenFood stepped in to point out that this wasn’t just “expensive,” but part of a much bigger economic picture, Jason replied:
“Price gouging! LOL… People love to complain about prices.”
Dismissive.
Condescending.
And factually wrong.
So we responded.
Caption: The first exchange, when we questioned Jason on pricing
The Problem: “People Love to Complain About Prices”
Minnesotans aren’t complaining.
Minnesotans are drowning.
Food has become one of the most brutal economic pressure points since 2021. Families aren’t whining — they’re trying to figure out why the bill is $60 when it used to be $38.
So we replied with actual data:
- Diesel is down 11% from its 2022 peak
- Food-at-Home CPI is still up 40–50%
- A buyer at UNFI told us corporate added a “blanket 30% pad” on procurement
- Distributors raised prices even when input costs dropped
This is the part of the conversation Jason never talks about — not because he’s malicious, but because his lane has never been the economics of food.
And in fairness, he is a respected, experienced voice on restaurants and the dining scene.
He’s earned that reputation.
But this?
This is bigger than a burger.
Caption: Part II — the escalation and the invitation.
This Was Never About a Burger
Jason’s original post was innocent.
It was celebratory.
It was nostalgic.
But that’s precisely why the collision happened.
Because while he was remembering the good old days of the Saint Dinette burger, Minnesotans are remembering the good old days of affordable groceries.
SpokenFood and Jason operate in different corners of the food world:
Jason’s Mission:
- Celebrate chefs
- Celebrate dishes
- Highlight experiences
- Tell stories about restaurants
SpokenFood’s Mission:
- Expose distributor price padding
- Investigate supply-chain manipulation
- Track CPI, diesel, procurement
- Hold corporate food systems accountable
And here it is — the line you asked to include, exactly where it belongs:
These two missions were always going to collide.
He talks about the plate.
We talk about the pipeline.
He talks about flavor.
We talk about freight.
He talks about nostalgia.
We talk about economics.
He talks about food memories.
We talk about why groceries cost 50% more even when diesel is cheaper.
Both missions matter — but only one explains why families feel poorer every week.
The Invitation: “What Say You?”
In our follow-up, we told Jason:
“This isn’t about gourmet burgers.
It’s about a broken system affecting every aisle.
And you of all people are singularly positioned and qualified to talk about what happens both before and after the checkout.
What say you?”
This was not sarcasm.
This was not hostility.
This was an invitation — a challenge, yes, but a respectful one — for a veteran food communicator to join the real conversation:
Why does food cost so much?
Who’s profiting?
Who’s paying?
And who is brave enough to talk about it?
Respect + Accountability:
Let’s be absolutely clear:
Jason DeRusha is not the villain here.
He’s not responsible for the price spikes.
He’s not engineering the procurement padding.
He’s not controlling distributor markups.
He’s a respected voice in MSP food media, and he’s earned that respect.
But sometimes respected voices get too comfortable inside the restaurant bubble — where the conversation stays on flavor, not finance.
And when he called real economic pain “complaining,” he crossed into territory that deserves pushback.
Not because we dislike him.
Because families deserve better than dismissal.
What Minnesotans Deserve — And What Comes Next
SpokenFood is not here to argue about burgers.
We’re here to expose:
- the quiet 30% procurement padding
- the systemic inflation that doesn’t track real costs
- why pasta costs $3
- why a can of vegetables went from .79 a can to $1.29
- why cereal is nearly double
- why no one in the corporate chain is ever held accountable
Jason’s voice matters — and we hope he uses it. Why? Because price-gouging is hiding in plain sight.
But whether he does or not, SpokenFood will keep digging. Because Minnesotans aren’t “complaining.” They’re being squeezed. And someone needs to say something – so we did.
Let’s see what Monsieur DeRusha has to say in response. Hopefully, you’ll hear about it soon during ‘Drivetime with DeRusha’, his afternoon program on WCCO Radio.
One can only hope.
Sources/Images: Facebook, SpokenFood Data from BLS/EIA