I read an article that talks about how the floods in the midwest have decimated the corn and other crops. I have also seen photographic evidence of it and our Lauren has seen it first hand when she went home for a visit. The article stated that we are going to see prices on wheat, corn and other products at least double, if not triple. This does not just affect food prices, but anything that has these grains, including corn in it. Here is an older article that lists some of the items that we may not associate with having corn in them. https://www.cheatsheet.com/life/18-surprising-everyday-items-made-with-corn.html/
Jeff and I, having seen the writing on the wall so to speak, decided to stock up now on things that we use before the prices go up. To this end, we bought a 50 pound bag of unbleached wheat flour for $12 since we bake a lot of our own bread, pancakes, muffins, biscuits, etc. I will be buying more cornmeal (I store it in the refrigerator and freezer) and more canned and frozen corn since this is something that we use a lot of in the colder months. I have also been told that other veggie prices will be going up so we will stock up on frozen broccoli, canned beans, etc. Lots of hops have been destroyed by fires in central Washington state, so beer prices are expected to go up here also. Some of the orchards also were burned so we expect to see local produce prices go up too.
Luckily for us, our fruit trees and bushes are doing well (despite having lost half of our cherry tree when a huge branch came crashing down here about 1 1/2 weeks ago) and it looks like our squash and cucumber plants are going to do well this year also. I am going to freezer, dehydrate, and can as much of this as my energy will allow. I already have rhubarb cut and in the freezer and will do another batch of that.
I have already seen prices starting to climb, so the "stock up" window is getting smaller and smaller. I am going to do so while I can still afford to and that will save us a bundle in the long run.
Thank you for the information!
ReplyDeleteI had not thought of that!
You are more than welcome!
DeleteI finally got around to buying a 50# sack of wheat berries. And another 10# of dry garbanzo beans. I also found 5# bags of oatmeal at the local grocery store that come fully sealed in a plastic bag, not paper. I too am trying to expand my pantry.
ReplyDeleteDo you store your wheat flour in the freezer/refrig as well or do you just go through a lot quickly?
It's raining as I type which gives me time off the gardens this AM. Great looking rhubarb!! I planted a few plants this year to also ramp up the garden.
Cheers, SJ
Good for you! I store my cornmeal in the refrigerator and the wheat flour in buckets. I do go through it quickly. If the weather is hot though I will store whole wheat flour in the refrigerator so it will not go rancid.
DeleteI hope you get some good rhubarb next year. Mine took about 2 years to get established after I divided the big mother plants and relocated it all.
Gee Debb., I was thinking the same thing. I will stock up on corn products, and a few other things.
ReplyDeleteAlways wise to be prepared!
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