Why the typical plate in The Woodlands costs $20.22 this quarter
Q1 2026 menu price reading for The Woodlands, TX. Typical plate $20.22, citywide +7.5%. How federal agency rules, open EPA dockets, and a USDA meat award touch
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Policy Regulation
Key points
- Citywide menu prices in The Woodlands rose 7.5 percent in Q1 2026, the typical plate is $20.22.
- BBQ and steakhouse plates rose most, reflecting beef price pressure; a major USDA meat procurement award sits in the same supply chain.
- EPA dockets on pesticide ingredients and USDA AMS rules for fruit handling affect the tools and costs for growers, which show up on produce heavy plates.
- Open records to watch include EPA inert ingredients dockets, the neonicotinoid petition settlement notice, AMS specialty crop rules, and NOAA fishery council meetings.
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