Increasing Food Prices and Emergency Food Storage
The cost associated with establishing an adequate emergency food supply is a legitimate concern for many people, and in fact, the added cost actually defers some families altogether from ever buying extra food that can be stored in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, the cost of food seems to be going in one direction, and one direction only.There’s been a lot of talk over the last year or so about record high gas prices, and there’s been a broad (although fragmented) political focus to make changes and adopt activities designed to help lower consumer prices at the pump while relieving our dependence on foreign oil. While this battle carries on in the public eye there’s a different kind of crisis that has been getting much less attention from mainstream media, and the problem seems to be spreading exponentially in this country, and around the world.A recent report issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warns that if you haven’t noticed the increase in food prices already, whether in the grocery stores of when you go out to eat, you will soon enough. Researchers predict that over the next ten years the cost of buying food will increase on average by 30%.As staple crops such as corn, rice and wheat have almost doubled in price over recent years major American brands and manufacturers have been forced to pass on their increased costs to consumers. Indeed, the first quarter of 2011 saw food prices in the US rise by roughly four percent.The impact of political instability and corruption, changing seasonal weather patterns, natural disasters and increasing energy costs are all to blame for the increased costs of production and distribution. No food commodity will likely be immune to the effects of such a broad scale shift in pricing, and the pressures of increased demand will no doubt complicate things further.Of course these kinds of price increases will touch every sector of food production, including products that are utilized for emergency food storage. Most people wouldn’t think the usefulness of having an emergency food supply would manifest itself because of spiraling costs, but that may very well be the case now. People may be eating their food storage because it may actually save them a little money.I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The price of food will never again be as low as it is today, and it’s a good idea for people to think about how they might be able to take advantage of this new reality.
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