Posted on 07/11/2022 2:17:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The war in Ukraine has exacerbated the issue, but American stockpiles were already down.
Between COVID, war, bird flu, climate change, and maybe plain bad luck, everyone's become accustomed to shortages: In 2022 alone, we've covered supply issues with coffee cups, fertilizer, sunflower oil, Subway meats, popcorn, and, yes, even Huy Fong Sriracha. So what's next on the chopping block? Apparently, chickpea stockpiles are down significantly enough that America may need to be concerned with an increase in the price of hummus.
Last week, Reuters reported that global chickpea supplies may drop as much as 20 percent this year, according to the Dubai-based Global Pulse Confederation. (That's "pulse" as in the legumes like chickpeas, not the thing you feel on your wrist.) The war in Ukraine is reportedly a major factor, in large part because Russia typically accounts for a quarter of the global trade.
"Russia is exporting around 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes, minimum, per year," Navneet Singh Chhabra, director of the chickpea trading firm Shree Sheela International, told Reuters. "When the war started in February, the supply was destroyed, totally." He added that Ukraine was also unable to plant its typical 50,000-ton chickpea crop.
But the U.S. shares some of the blame, too. According to The Guardian, America is actually the world's fourth largest chickpea exporter but poor weather and a switch to more lucrative crops has hampered production over the past two years, resulting in five percent fewer acres being planted in 2022 and overall U.S. stockpiles dropping 10 percent.
Meanwhile, these problems have been further exacerbated by the pandemic-related shipping issues that have plagued industries of all kinds (including a billion pounds of almonds stuck in California). And as a result, the U.S. has seen increased chickpea prices: NielsenIQ data has reportedly found that grocery store prices for chickpeas are up 12 percent from 2021 and 17 percent higher than they were pre-pandemic, and hummus prices are also up nearly seven percent since 2019.
But the hummus brand Sabra is doing what they can "to safeguard against the unexpected," CEO Joey Bergstein told Reuters, adding that they were keeping plenty of chickpeas around to hopefully keep American hummus supplies flowing.
We need some riots NOW!
Tasty; not that good for you.
We need some riots NOW!
____________________________
Oh, the humanity!
Chickpeas? What’s next, arugula? Kale?
The young foodie crowd will survive rising chick pea prices.
It’s an Avocado shortage that will drive them to riots.
The price hummus is going go rise!?
OMG! This development is sure to replace Ukraine/Russia and gas prices as my biggest concern.
Yawn.
Off topic a bit here but I live in central Illinois and the corn and bean crops have never looked better. Full fields of some of the best looking plants surround my little berg and barring a catastrophe I believe that yields will be very good this year.
But Biden has signed his edict; much more of the corn will be burned as fuel.
Shirley this will rocket the cost of kale and pabst blue ribbon to over 25 bucks at hipster bars everywhere
Oh noooooes!
Not a chickpea shortage!!((
Well chick peas are sexist anyway. Where are the dude peas? Why can’t they do their fair share?
If I never see another hummus dip with veggies, I’d be perfectly content.
I love to dip vegies in sour cream
Oh, The Humanity!
whiskey tango foxtrot, no GUACAMOLE!!
As I said in another thread on this subject….. I don’t care for baba ganouche or tabouli….. but don’t mess with my hummus!
Knee-high by the 4th of July!! We were well past that last week.
This is the LAST STRAW!
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