Predicted food shortages

Without getting political, What, if anything, are forum members doing about food shortages caused by drought, fertilizer shortage, transportation/supply chain disruption predicted for this summer?

Currently we have a comfy supply situation. We had an official reminder to keep emergency supplies. The demand peek caused by it is over and the supply chain has not adjusted yet.
I might use the current supply situation to slightly increase my stock of non-perishable food. Tap water is not anticipated to suffer a shortage. I have a sufficient supply for temporary shortage (e. g. from burst main pipes).
A substantial portion of my grocery is produced locally. Fertilizer shortage may cause a decrease in production. The level may drop from more than enough to enough.

In North America, we produce way more basic food than we can eat. Events overseas will not change that.

The problem is in the middle. Getting products into supermarkets in cities has glitches right now, with spiralling input and labour costs, and spiralling processing and transportation costs.

Personally, I grow a lot of food myself, and can expand that fivefold if needed. I also know half a dozen farmers. All around me they are growing wheat, potatoes, lentils, chickpeas, hogs, chickens, and cattle. I have the skills to process these foodstuffs myself if I need to. So, I'm not worried at all.

Recently I looked up the shelf life of things like wheat flour and rolled oats. I was surprised to read that the recommended shelf life is only six months or so. I know we use flour and oatmeal that are multiple years old, and I'm not dead ... yet.

Yes, the "optimum quality before" date is radically different from the "safe for human consumption" date.

For grains/flours, it depends on whether natural oils/fats have been left in place or processed out. Oils and fats go rancid over time. So, whole wheat/grain flour will go sideways long before white flour. Temperature and oxygen exposure are big factors in this. Trust your nose -- if it smells off, it's compost material unless you keep a pig.

For canned goods, food banks have a carefully established metric that applies regarding the "safe for human consumption" date, which is legally defensible and eminently practical. Waste is the enemy IMO.

I'm guessing that those of us who live in First World countries won't lack food. Food may cost more, so this coming "food shortage" will feel like a rise in living expenses.

Having grown up on a farm I turned my property into a micro farm and could be pretty much self sufficient in a disaster. I do have a lot of preps including a lot of water. But to me that's last ditch, we would live off what we could produce and aquire for as long as possible. A well stocked pantry can go a long way. My mom taught my wife how to can food which is a big help.

Depends on if it is ground flour or not. Ground wheat flour lasts longer in the freezer than unfrozen. White flour lasts about a year before I can taste the difference. But unground wheat kernels lasts forever. I have plenty over 40 years old that tastes fresh when freshly ground.

I agree, the USA is a net food exporter so significant food shortages seem most improbable, though it is well to be prepared just in case.
Short term or localised shortages due to supply chain issues are possible at any time. As are shortages of speciality imported foods.

Fertiliser is very expensive and may be in short supply. Crops can be grown with less fertiliser but yields will suffer and prices will increase.

Labour costs are rising which will increase food prices.

Modern farming uses a lot of diesel fuel, and sometimes other fuels. Rising fuel prices again increase retail prices.

I urge keeping a good supply of long life foods, in case of any unforeseen emergency, but doubt that it will be needed unless some emergency occurs IN ADDITION to that presently foreseen.

I bought a whole case of canned cheese.

Jeanette Isabelle

There is currently a shortage of caviar. It's quite serious. Parties can't be as fancy as they used to be.

SOLUTION: focus on the whiskey.