Could we have panic and empty shelves in a month? Patara addresses those questions in a new edition of Appalachia’s Homestead. Young people worrying about the empty shelves need to heed the advice of their grandparents.
Set aside what you can, when you can. But don’t sweat what you can’t.
Are you seeing empty shelves at grocery stores and growing shortages of key ingredients like flour, sugar, meats and vegetables? The shortages apparently are now widespread and growing much more severe.
Two years ago, distribution centers had enough food on supply to keep stores replenished for two months — 60 days — even if the production supply got cut off. currently, the centers only have enough food to last nine days, barring shortages.
What’s causing the problems? Here, the Poplar Report analyzes information shared, largely by anonymous sources. There’s not one problem, but a myriad of complications. Old processing and refrigeration equipment in use since the the 1960s or 1970s is breaking down. Spare parts can’t be obtained, or must be back-ordered months ahead of time. The in-house experts who kept those machines running have been retiring and newer employees lack the knowledge to keep the systems afloat.
Besides issues at the processing centers, there are also distribution problems, as trucking systems also running afoul. Many veteran drivers are leaving. As a result, we’re seeing more spoiled and damaged foods appearing in grocery stores — rotten produce or bacon full of mold. We can expect growing issues in the weeks and months ahead, so start looking for local and/or more reliable sources for food.
We are seeing increasing reports of empty shelves, especially in grocery stores, at the same time that hyperinflation is starting to occur, particularly impacting energy prices. The moneygps weighs in on this situation and what it means for the average consumer.
