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Should We Stock Pile Food?

By
Real Estate Agent with Craft Real Estate

If you are like I am you thought corn-based ethanol was a good thing. I thought the increase in food prices was from the cost of gasoline. I am sure that they both play apart.  According to the Times magazine Ethanol is a Clean Energy Scam. Times says, ethanol is hyped as an eco friendly fuel. Times says Ethanol increases global warming, destroys forests and inflates food prices. So why are we subsidizing it?  The demand for corn has shot prices to record levels.  Eager to cash in soybean farmers switch their crop to corn. Soybean prices rise as supplies shrink. It ripples to the cattle market.  Farmers in Brazil are expanding into fields previously used as cattle pasture lands.  Displaced ranchers, in turn, clear new grazing lands in the rain forest releasing carbon.  It's Global!

In the Southwest Times of Fort Smith Arkansas there is an article about stock pilling food. I can't believe it. My mom has always talked about there was no food in the depression. My x-husband being the pessimist that he is always said we were going into a recession. Well after 28 years I think he may be right.

 The price of rice has almost doubled in the last 5 weeks according to Sheeran, executive of the World Food Program.  The World Bank estimates the cost of food has risen 83 percent in the last three years, according to an Associated Press in Wednesday's Times Record.

 Brett Arends Suggested in the Wall Street Journal that Americans start stockpiling food like rice, flour, and canned goods. According to Arends that could be a better investment than leaving our money sitting in the bank.

 Recent government data shows food inflation running at 4.5 % per year for an average American household. But we don't need the government to tell us. We've seen the cost of cereal, milk and eggs. as well as beef and chicken-the sturdy staples of American eating-rising faster than you can get money from the ATM.

Do you think it is time to stock pile food? Are do you think we are just being a pessimist?

www.swtimes.com click on opinion to view article

marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

 Hi Debbie, I remember hearing stories about this kind of thing from my grandparents, never imagined it would happen in our lifetime.

 Just last week several large chain stores like Club Price were limiting the number of bags of rice people could purchase. Scary but true.

May 09, 2008 05:18 AM
Debbie Severson
Craft Real Estate - Van Buren, AR

Hello Marti,My Mom still stores food like she can't get any tomorrow.  I guess I can learn a lot from her.  It is scary!

May 09, 2008 05:43 AM
Stu Magid
First Centennial Mortgage - Naperville, IL

Store it, can it, and learn how to grow, raise or catch it!  Probably a good idea to put up medicene, basic medical supplies and ammunition too. I'm not a pessimist but rather a realist.  When things go bad it happens quickly.

May 09, 2008 06:20 AM
Mike Coppney
RE/MAX Midlands Realty - Lexington, SC

I do not know if we should stockpile food but I can say I doubled the size of my personal garden.  I am hoping to save a fortune!

May 09, 2008 06:30 AM
Debbie Severson
Craft Real Estate - Van Buren, AR

Thanks, Stu being a realist is a different outlook.  I am thinking about adding to my garden the year. 

May 09, 2008 06:32 AM
Ernesto Garcia
Prime Lending NMLS#482964 - Monrovia, CA

If we're just talking about putting away some extra cans of food or growing a larger garden, I'm all for it.  Just don't get carried away and start heading for the hills quite yet.  Remember people are talking about a mild ecnomic recession, not global devastation.   

May 09, 2008 08:46 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

The only thing I "stockpile" is coffee.  In fact it has gotten so expensive I am not sure how much longer I will even bother to drink it.  We really can change our habits if we need or want to.

May 09, 2008 12:27 PM
Bob Cumiskey
A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL
US Army Retired, Your Sun City Center, Florida ~ Realtor

I'm with Ernesto.  Now is not the time to panic.  Things will go back to normal soon. 

May 09, 2008 12:56 PM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

In my humble opinion, it is always a "good thing" to be prepared. I personally have food storage, and am now realizing just why. With the prices of wheat, rice, etc. going up, it is best to be prepared with staples as well as with water.

Pepper

 

May 09, 2008 03:20 PM
Stu Magid
First Centennial Mortgage - Naperville, IL

I wasn't trying to say the sky is falling or the end is near.  I'm with Lady in Red; it's best to be prepared and self reliant, not only for emergencies but also for economic reasons.  If you don't think catastrophic emergencies can happen here, just take a look at the footage from New Orleans.  Finacially, it makes sense to buy bulk staples.  For example, my wife drinks alot of tea with sugar.  A five pound bag would last about a month.  Sugar dosen't go bad so it's easier and less expensive to buy a 50 pound bag twice a year than running to the supermarket once a month when she runs out. 

May 10, 2008 02:50 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, RealtorĀ® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

One thing I always have is extra bottled water, We have had the same rations with bags of rice at certain stores.

May 10, 2008 03:27 AM
Tina Merritt
Nest Realty - Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Real Estate

After living without electricity for a few weeks after hurrricane Isabel, we built a house up in the mountains to "escape to" if that ever happened again.  Yes, it is stockpiled somewhat and we keep plenty of distilled water on hand in our house here.  My garden tripled in size this year - though I think I am just fattening up the rabbits!  I am a true believer in always having a "plan B" and being prepared.

FYI - there is a site I use www.thegrocerygame.com that tracks the best prices each week for various stores as well as coupons to use.  I'm very frugal when it comes to grocery shopping.

Tina in Virginia

May 10, 2008 03:54 AM
Debbie Severson
Craft Real Estate - Van Buren, AR

Yes we can change our habits.  My husband and I have started car pooling.  I have to get up a hour early. My husband drives a deisel truck.  He can't afford to buy diesel.  It's not easy sometimes but we are working it out.

THanks for your comments,

Debbie  

May 12, 2008 03:57 AM
Gene Allen
Fathom Realty - Cary, NC
Realty Consultant for Cary Real Estate
It maybe a good idea on a small level. On a bigger scale we need to find better way.
May 12, 2008 04:16 AM
Debbie Severson
Craft Real Estate - Van Buren, AR

Gene,

I think that think maybe you are right we need to buy things when it's on sale in volume that we need.

Thanks,

Debbie

May 12, 2008 04:21 AM
Anonymous
weedburner

 you sheeple need to learn to read.stock up,dig in,hunker down

Nov 08, 2008 01:30 PM
#16
Richard Stabile
Re/Max Real Estate Limited - Oradell, NJ
Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor

Maybe, however because of shortages due to systemic reasons.

Richard

Nov 08, 2008 02:32 PM
Sonja Adams
Keller Williams Realty - Purcellville, VA

My pantry is always stocked...but I hadn't thought of doing it on purpose...I've always bought extra of things when they are on sale so I have food in the house....interesting thought though...

Nov 08, 2008 02:37 PM