Call Me Stormy

9 Days Of Food Left

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.