Posted on 04/27/2008 2:53:29 PM PDT by EBH
Reports about shortages of rice in the United States probably apply only to several imported varieties, and definitely not to the domestic supply of the popular grain.
“Are we running out of rice? The answer is no,” said Dr. Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist.
This week’s news that two large box retailers in the United States were limiting customer purchases of rice was shocking in a nation where food shortages are rare.
Retailers Sam’s Club and Costco reportedly limited bulk sales of some varieties of rice – all of which are imported from other countries – in some stores across the nation, according to the Associated Press.
But the reason behind the limits and the facts about rice supply aren’t in sync, according to Dr. Mark Welch, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist.
“Rice markets have been roiled by reports of trade restrictions by large rice exporting countries India, Vietnam, and Brazil and reports of rice rationing in the U.S. by major food retailers Sam’s Club and Costco,” Welch said.
Rice supplies are at relatively low levels, but the surge of panic buying and rapidly escalating prices is not supported by supply and demand fundamentals, he noted.
“Rice is an important staple in the diets of over half of the world’s population. Any price increase on persons with limited economic resources is a hardship,” Welch said. “The recent surge in prices has severe consequences for those who struggle daily for adequate nutrition.”
Welch said per capita consumption of rice has not increased in the last several years. Demand for corn and soybeans is increasing largely due to biofuels and feed use, but wheat and rice demand are basically unchanged.
Welch pointed out these facts about the rice supply:
– People in the U.S. eat about 4 pounds of rice a month. That’s a total of about 10 million hundredweights a month in the nation.
– The U.S. has about 104 million hundredweights in supply right now - a 10-month supply.
– And the new U.S. crop will be harvested beginning in September, only about five months from now, and should replenish supplies.
Sorry to hear that ......bye !
And the rice stores very well. Dried beans are also about double what they were 6 months ago. Can't find a pound under $1.00.
Bookmark
Sounds like good customer service to me.
I went to trader joe’s in my neighborhood. NO RICE.
So, like the filipinos here send rice there and create a shortage here?
what the h*ll?
Plenty of rice, just not the rice that is the most popular.
Yes but when you’re poor, you can get a lot more for your money by buying a big store brand bag of regular rice and cooking it yourself. Minute Rice costs a lot more because they’ve already parboiled it for you. A 2lb bag of dry store brand rice costs me less than $1 and I can get a lot out of that 2lbs.
I’m partial to Zatarans myself.
My favorite quick rice dinner is too take spicy smoked sausage, slice it up and pan fry it a wee bit as I microwave Uncle Bens microwave wild rice. Add about half a cup of Pace thick salsa and stir......makes a great 10 minute lunch with a cold glass of sun tea or home brew.....
Even though the news of Jasmine rice shortages at Costco came out last week, it’s been going on for at least two or three months. Our San Leandro store was out of the 50 lb bags in late January or early February, then the following week they had some. When we went to get another one in early April they were out of the 50lb bags and the 25 lb bags. Later that day we checked the San Francisco store, they were out too. That’s when I began to suspect something was going on.
Anyway, we switched to good old fashioned farm-subsidy corporate welfare American rice. It took Mrs. Flash about a week to figure out how much water was needed to cook it properly.
which is the better for long term storage of grain...plastic or metal ??? ol farmhouse is a rodent and bug magnet in regards to grain...
suddenly I feel like a 'red-headed stepchild'...8^p
excellent rant/debate...
Id already been overpissed and had to walk away...or worse...
We use a food saver system to bag usable quantities and then put those bags in a bigger bag inside a clean 20mm surplus ammo can.......... Now once you fill up that can , drop a chunk of dry ice on a small paper plate in top of those bags of rice or grain etc and close but do not snap the lid of the can down. Do this where ya can watch it for a while. Dry ice “cube” will melt and displace oxygen, when the dry ice smoke comes out of the top of the can keep a eye on it and when it slows way down close the lid down. As well we use old inner tubes from truck tires to cut 3 inch wide rubber bands . The rubber bands act as a secondary seal in addition too the rubber gasket on the 20mm ammo can. Stretch it around the exterior of the cans lid to keep clean and dry all the contents. Mark the top and front with a sharpie silver pen or label as to contents , and date stored.
Best bulk dry storage I have found. Field mice, mites , bugs etc can’t mess it up.
LOL !
I’ve had to willfully decide that people aren’t going to make me mad. I can either get mad and suffer the results, or simply decide not to. The only tough part is right during the time where I’m deciding to just “walk away”. It’s tough for a couple of minutes. But the more idiots I learn to ignore, the easier it becomes. :-)
God is slowly teachin me tolerance, many years of attitude are a work in progress, but Im getting better as long as I actually recognise and use that moment of clarity...
thanks again to both...
LFOD...
Store the grain in a cool, dry place.
Shoot. I live in Southern Alabama. We have no such places from May-October!
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