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When the financial crisis hit, and oil prices were high, I knew food inflation would follow quickly. I went out and stocked up on all our regular canned food and staples. Kept it in line with the expiration dates - though many will be good beyond that.

For example, The Salmon at Walmart had a date 3 years forward, so I bought 3 years worth. Peanut Butter had a 1.5 year date, so I bought enough for that. Got as much as possible on sale. Ran across a 50% discount on 34 oz. size of coffee, so I bought 3 years worth - limit permitted.

Also started a sq. ft garden, and began learning to grow my own most used veggies. All this has allowed me to keep my food budget at the 2008 level - till now. Getting harder to do, and probably will have to increase the budget next year.

Some of the canned foods, we slowed down on, because Dr. placed me on low carb diet. So others are eating that, and without me eating it, it is taking longer to deplete the supplies. Still, I haven’t had to dump anything due to expiry date.

I now have 2 years supply of green beans canned from our gardens, and about 6 months supply of meats that I bought on sale and canned during the winter, with the canned fish, ham, etc. We have about a years worth of meat, a years worth of dried beans, rice, wheat, flour, and oats. Some of the latter are the # 10 cans that will be good for 20 years or more.

If you have a window that faces south or west, it’s pretty easy to grow stuff, even in the winter to eat. If not there’s always a grow light - the newer ones don’t use much electricity, and can be used instead of regular lights just to illuminate a room. Put a chair by it, and use it to read, and fight SAD.

A dollar packet of seeds could provide you with eats for a whole year-depending on the type of produce. Everyone, should begin to figure out self sufficiency for food etc. JMHO.

(article):"..people have stopped buying due to cost are broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, oranges, and apples, with apples alone having jumped 23.4 per cent in price in the last year, "

I am surprised by the inflation rate of fresh foods .
"broccoli,and cauliflower" - both known for calcium, vitamins, and especially ' known anti-cancer vegetables', and
"oranges, and apples"- known to be high in vitamin C, which helps the immune system fight infections .
Nutritional knowledge is an important commodity especially in regards to any fresh foods, fruit, or long term food storage program.
I just saw an emergency essentials report on the nutritional values between 'dehydrated foods' vs. 'freeze dried' foods. Very informative.