Due to time constraints and the organization of our household, I don't do much grocery shopping of late. For a while to be precise. I don't even pay much attention to how much my wife spends on preparation of meals. The other day however my elder boy, Elijah did the customary stop off at the shop on the way to the grocery store to get that evenings dinner (in our home we shop each day for meals. These are children that if you left butter in the house for more then a few hours, they would eat it!) So I handed him $40 for dinner, milk and soy for the baby and sent him on his merry way. Several minutes later he re-turned, stating he needed $20.00 more as he was short. Well of course in traditional "Daddy" fashion, I spouted off! Accusing him of "getting to much!" and "Not Shopping wisely". He stood blank faced until I finished my tirade, then took the twenty anyway. Upon arriving home I questioned Angela, and she assured me that prices were going up. WAY up!
I was skeptical to say the least.
Forgive me, as I am sometimes a little behind on the times, but this morning I caught this little news gem that has me a tad concerned!
4 Rising Food Costs That Will Hurt Your Wallet
Angie Mohr
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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Prices are on the rise in grocery stores across the country. You may not notice the changes right away; that loaf of bread may be only a dime more expensive than it was last year. The soda you buy may be the same price but it's now 1.5 liters instead of two. Many of the major cereal manufacturers, such as General Mills, have warned of impending price increases.
Why Are Grocery Prices Going Up?
While almost every grocery store aisle is affected by rising prices, a large part of the reason all comes down to two commodities: wheat and corn. Both food staples have been hit hard for the past two years - a combination of climate change, natural disasters and crop disease. Russia has experienced severe drought for the past two years and had stopped exporting wheat altogether to ensure enough of a domestic supply. They have resumed limited exports as of July 2011 but supplies are still short. A disease called wheat rust UG99 has wiped out crops across Africa and is spreading to other wheat-producing countries at a rapid pace.
There have been many corn crop failures across North America also, but the real culprit for corn is that it is being used to make ethanol, an arguably sustainable fuel. Hundreds of thousands of acres that once grew corn for people now grow it to power our cars.
At first glance, it may seem like these increases will only mean you'll be paying more for a few grocery items like bread and popcorn, but wheat and corn are included in the vast majority of foods that you may eat every day. Here are four areas where you will see rising prices.
1. Cereals, Breads and Pasta Products
Most processed cereals are made from corn and these will be hit hard by price increases in the next year. The commodity price of corn has nearly doubled since 2010 and is rising again due to the massive drought Texas is facing. Breads, rolls, cakes and cookies will all rise in price from the steep jump in the price of wheat. According to food manufacturers, the industry has been holding back from increasing retail prices but cannot absorb the costs any longer.
2. Sweets
Most processed "sweets," from soda to cookies to jam, are made with high fructose corn syrup. The lack of corn supply is causing prices in these areas to steadily rise. Watch out for shrinking packages, as well. Many companies will keep the same price point but drop the amount you get.
3. Beef, Pork and Chicken
Almost all industrialized meats fed on corn, mainly because it was the cheapest feed available. As the price of corn rises, there are still no cheaper alternatives, so the price of meat rises because of the higher input price.
4. Cat and Dog Food
Pet food contains grains in one of two ways: processed dry food often contains corn as one of its primary ingredients and canned food contains meat chunks or wheat-based thickeners. It's not just the cost of human food that will go up.
The Bottom Line
You might not be able to do anything directly about rising grain prices, but you can shop smarter. Look for loss leader sales on those groceries that you purchase regularly. Make more of your own food directly from raw ingredients, such as cookies and rolls. Pet food can be stored for six months to a year so stock up when you can find a good price. Paying more attention to prices in the grocery store will help you stretch your food budget the farthest.
OUCH!
I can only say we have been a tad bit Polyannish. I do recall warnings regarding genetically modified crops, that had not been suitably field tested. Could that have had anything to do with the strain of crop killers? Also In the Presidential debate in 2000 (remember that travesty?) the right side of the isle boasted the benefits of Ethanol. MANY warned of the possible ill-effects of dependency of a food product for fuel. Especially one SO important a staple in our current food chain! So odd that all the warning and cautions the "Tree Hugging" alarmists that were so harshly marginized and ridiculed now seem to become realized.
hmmm?
in the end, it is definitely past time to make some harsh changes in our lifestyles. Not wanting to sound like a profiteer, mind you but as I have stressed in the past one sure fire way of saving yourselves some green, while becoming green is park the gas guzzler and start walking or riding a bike to work. But it here, or somewhere else, that's fine. But do as so many are starting to realize is the wise choice. Help save a corn field today!
The Taco you save, may be your own!
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