Food Rationing

It's sort of like when the local weather channel forecasts snow that never happens. It creates a false demand. I always thought they were in cahoots with the local grocers. I'd go to the store the day after the snow was supposed to hit, but didn't and the shelves would be bare because everyone would panic. I think you could have a very good point about it being in big part a lot of marketing hype. Coming from a farming background, I can tell you there is no reason for us to have a shortage on wheat in the country. We grow enough to feed our own country - but it's getting better prices now by exporting it to other countries. So we export the good stuff and we import poor quality products made with the low grade crap that China uses in what they send to us. One thing the high fuel prices may be good for is that it will no longer be less expensive to import that stuff and we'll go back to manufacturer more here in our own country using products that we can control the quality.

I am in Southwest Missouri. I haven't seen any signs posted about this at any of the retailers here yet. I've just been reading about it in the news and it's been all over our local news channels. I read another article that said a majority of the purchases were restaurant owners who were worried about the impact of higher food prices on their bottom line, so they were the majority of those rushing out to buy in bulk. That makes me feel a little better. Kind of a double-edged sword. Prices go up with demand goes up - by rushing out to stock pile they in turn are going to drive the prices up for us.

I went to Costco the next day and there was a bunch of people stocking up on rice. It was a bit scary. I got 2 bags but that is what we always get and I felt like I was not getting enough. I didnt think it would panic me to see people like this and it got me a bit. I guess that just tells me I am not prepaired enough.