The global food crisis has finally hit The United States, although not as rough as compared to The Philippines. Big retailers in The U.S., starting with Costco and then Wal-Mart, have now announced that they are going to ration rice in response to the crisis happening around the world.
Although, Wal-Mart’s cap on four bags per visit sounds extreme, it doesn’t if you realize that the bags can reach up to 500 pounds each! When compared to the two kilos in some areas of The Philippines, that sounds like a preparation for a fiesta! And let’s not forget that Americans are not as dependent on rice as we are.
And could this be true, Filipino-Americans are doing their fair share of hoarding in response to the crisis, even going so far as buying up rice in order to send to family members back in The Philippines?
Shops said Filipino residents in the US were also making large purchases to send to relatives in the Philippines, where a shortage of supplies is causing concern.
I’m not even sure how the cost of shipment would even necessitate that, I hope this reporter had more than one source or data for the entire United States.
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Greetings! I think that number may be a little off. My understanding is that Sam’s Club is limiting the sales of the 20-lb bags of rice, but NOT the retail-sized bags (i.e., 1- or 2-lb bags). An ordinary consumer CANNOT buy 500-lb bags of rice ANYWHERE, even without a so-called rice shortage here. If they exist, those are likely only available from wholesalers or the producers themselves, NOT at grocery stores and other retail outlets, and would not be available to the average consumer.
Also, there’s a question of whether or not there is a true shortage or if this simply a case of paranoia. Even Sam’s Club and Costco report that it may be a case of hoarding by restaurants and other retailers in anticipation of future price hikes, NOT because they think we’re running out of it anytime soon. Indeed, the US is a big exporter of rice; we produce way more than we need and consume and must export the surplus overseas.
Cheers,
Marjorie
Marjorie,
Thank you for pointing that out, I know of a few stores personally that have only 10 pound bags available.. usually there are the 25 and 50 pound bags too..
I believe the number was 50 pounds. What I meant to convey was that consumers could purchase as much as four 50 pound bags..
It still a fiesta compared to the rationing going on in The Philippines..
It’s not just Fil-Ams. Several countries have not been keen on exporting rice and some now want to form a rice cartel.
In general, many countries are now trying to hoard not just rice but other commodities.