| Prices are rising and supplies are tightening, for a | | | | and demand, the equilibrium of good and ill also |
| number of reasons. We are seeing food prices | | | | depends in part on governments. Strained supply |
| increasing at their highest rate in years. The price | | | | at home and abroad is driving up food prices. |
| of food is subject to the cost of production and | | | | Wheat is seeing its tightest supply in the United |
| the recent concern of rising oil prices and fertilizer | | | | States since 1946, and soybean supplies also are |
| prices is having a big influence. The increasing price | | | | on rocky ground. Summing it all up, demand is |
| of food is moving at a faster rate than it's risen | | | | soaring, supply has dwindling, and food is being |
| since 1990, at 4 percent in the United States. | | | | poured into the gas tank. Can we honestly believe |
| Costs for raw materials for fertilizer, not including | | | | that in the long term, thriving farms and open |
| oil, have themselves been increasing as demand | | | | markets will provide a secure food supply? |
| for food increases. As we all feel the pinch at the | | | | In general, food prices in the stores are much less |
| pump with the price of oil rising, so do the costs | | | | volatile than prices at the farm-level and tend to |
| of planting, harvesting, and delivering food. | | | | rise at a much smaller rate that the change in |
| American families, who are already strapped by | | | | farm prices. Saying that overall rising food prices |
| rising energy costs, are being hit again in their | | | | are responsible for the shortages doesn't make |
| household budgets as food prices increase at the | | | | sense, considering that there would not be enough |
| fastest rate since 1990. | | | | rice regardless due to climate and poor |
| Americans are reeling from sticker shock at the | | | | government practices in the countries like the US |
| pump while government scrambles to avert a | | | | that are having shortages. What can we do to |
| fast-moving crisis before it spins out of control. | | | | stay in control when food prices are rising? Here |
| Global food price hikes are becoming a crisis. | | | | are some possibilities, eat more leftovers, cook |
| These and other conditions have been referred to | | | | more at home, take meals from home, stock up |
| a "perfect storm," by United Nations World Food | | | | on good deals and make a plan to build up an |
| Program executive director Josette Sheeran | | | | emergency food storage plan. |
| recently stated. | | | | What Can We Do to Help? |
| Energy plays its part too. Increased costs for | | | | We are interested in what you would like to have |
| transportation, labor and energy have driven | | | | us find and make available to you. Your |
| cereal products alone up 6% in recent months. | | | | suggestions are welcome and encouraged. |
| Energy costs hit us coming and going, it costs | | | | Contact us with your requests and suggestions |
| more to process food and then it costs more to | | | | and we will do our best to find the resources for |
| move it out to the market. Energy is going to | | | | you at an affordable price. |
| continue to get more expensive, not less. Energy | | | | We have just made some updates to our |
| costs are the largest single force driving inflation. | | | | website. Visit us and see what's new. Some |
| Supply and Demand | | | | suggestions have been implemented and there |
| Some once said, "Supply and demand is not a law, | | | | are more to come. Thanks to everyone who has |
| it's a policy" Even though the cost of food is | | | | given us suggestions or has left us food storage |
| controlled by fundamental constraints of supply | | | | tips. Keep them coming! |