The price of rice - not so nice!
We really enjoyed our Chinese special fried rice this evening. I used jasmine. but often use basmati, as well. Then I became very depressed when I read the newspaper about the "rationing" at Costco and Sam's Clubs of the rice and the inflated prices we will be paying for it. I know that rice is not the only commodity that is affected and the thing that really gets my dander up is that it appears to be all politically motivated. It is apparently not because of adverse weather conditions, disease or insect infestation, to my understanding.
It's not just that my pocketbook is going to personally take a big hit, but am I the only one who just doesn't get why literally millions of people are going to starve because of the political games that are being played?
And to be honest, are you going to grab a 20 lb. bag of rice tomorrow?
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9 Comments:
Got an Asian market around you, frederika? You might consider going there, the prices are still okay for big bags of rice around here, and they definitely don't ration.
fuuchan at 2:49AM on 04/25/08
I don't understand WTF people think it's ok to increase the price of CURRENT stock.
I walked into the Chinese grocery store where I frequently buy my Kokuho Rose 20 lb bag (lasts 1 month between my husband and I) and saw the prices scratched off each dusty bag. It went up from $28 to $35.
Cassaendra at 8:06AM on 04/25/08
My husband and I also eat the Kokuho Rose rice in the 20 lb bag, but it lasts us forever b/c I eat very little (I love it, but try to limit the empty carbs) so it's pretty much just for my husband - and while we eat it every night, I portion out for him so he doesn't overeat; so that being said, our current sack of rice is from a few months back so I haven't been hit with the price increase yet - but since it takes us so long to go through it, it won't be a huge impact on us. I can understand why it would be much harder for ppl who have to feed their whole family though!
mrsbao at 8:22AM on 04/25/08
It's not all politics, though, and it is largely weather (and arguably climate change). The drought in Australia has nearly wiped out their rice production, which has been a huge factor in the shrinking supply of rice. Here's a good summation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/business/worldbusiness/17warm.html?ref=business
I was going through my pantry and was a bit shocked/embarrassed by how much rice I have (and how many varieties). Even if I was was almost out, I don't think that stockpiling is the wise thing to do, especially since we, fortunately, live in a country that doesn't rely on rice as our subsistence food. Panic tends to beget panic, and with the abundance of other cheap foods still available to us, we are really not the biggest sufferers from this problem.
My understanding is that the rationing is not directed at household shoppers so much as restaurant/commercial food operations, which would be more immediately and financially affected by rising prices (and also shop for ingredients at Sams/Costco).
One of those big (at least 5 lbs) of white long-grain is still around $2 at Wal-Mart, as of yesterday. So the pocketbooks aren't hurting too much (yet).
renzata at 12:43PM on 04/25/08
The grocery store I went to yesterday said 5 bags max, any size. I didn't realize there was a shortage until I saw that sign...
Yeah, hoarding probably won't help. Most homes probably don't keep rice dry and airtight. Just like pasta, you'll start seeing bugs after a few months. We threw out the remaining 5 lbs of a 20 lb bag of rice last year because we had it for too long. There were several tiny bugs crawling around in it. I recall getting rid of several packages/boxes (~5 lb) of dried pasta later in the year.
Cassaendra at 1:04PM on 04/25/08
OMG--I'm so embarrassed to admit this. I just got a call from my mom. She told me to go out and buy rice and flour. She just bought 120 lbs of rice. Presumably she's bought three 40 lbs bags, I don't think it's sold in 120 lbs bags. She only went and did this because the news said prices were going to go through the roof, not because she's scared of a shortage. The prices at her Korean market had not risen, yet.
@Cassaendra--you're right, storage is the issue with grains of any type. Usually if the bag stays factory sealed, it buys some time, not sure how much.
Also, my mom was saying that rice is treated to keep vermin at bay. Hence her instructions on vigorous, seriously vigorous, rice washing and rinsing. I always thought she was washing away the nutrients, but she says she's removing wax and chemicals.
wookie at 2:17PM on 04/25/08
Regarding the role of Australia in the rice issue, it's important to note that their place in the world rice market is relatively small. The drop in production is probably not nearly as significant to the overall shortages and/or price increases as some reports have indicated. Furthermore, my reading suggests Australia's rice production woes are far less about the drought than the decision to create an artificial growing region through massive irrigation. Rice and cotton are being grown in an area (NSW) that is not naturally suited to doing so, and although their growing methods are very efficient, these are very water-intensive crops. The peaking of what has been described as a probably normal 1,000-year drought cycle has only served to underscore that point. Bear in mind that Australia is second only to Antarctica in aridity.
Also, politics and policy issues are certainly key, but socio-economic conditions are also critical. E.g., per capita rice consumption is greatest in countries that are also known for having the highest population densities (overpopulation) and the greatest population growth.
It's not a simple thing. That said, will I hoard rice? Nope. I generally buy staples in bulk anyway, so there's not much to change in my house. Food prices rise. It's a fact of life.
LoCo at 3:05PM on 04/25/08
Oh hell. I don't like sashimi.
RichardCrystal at 4:09PM on 04/25/08
Get used to the "new normal". While increased affluence is rising in India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and even in Sub-Saharan Africa leading to increased consumption, we'll see price spikes in not only rice but also cooking oils, ie canola, peanut, etc. as well as increased energy costs in production and transportation. As farms of yesteryears here in the US made way for suburban development are now mired in the sub-prime mortgage crisis, our government is flat-footed in the race to create the second "green revolution" lest they lead us to a near perfect storm of the future. Watch SOYLENT GREEN and prepare.
hungry_traveler at 9:58PM on 04/25/08