In national news, many
parts of America,
long considered the
breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon:
food rationing. Major retailers in New York,
in areas of New England, and on the West Coast
are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips
supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain
stocks. At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain
View, California
yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they
searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy. “Due to the limited availability of
rice, we are limiting rice purchases based on your prior purchasing history,” a
sign above the dwindling supply said.
An employee at the Costco store in
Queens New York said there were no restrictions on rice buying, but limits were
being imposed on purchases of oil and flour. Internet postings attributed some
of the shortage at the retail level to bakery owners who flocked to warehouse
stores when the price of flour from commercial suppliers doubled. The curbs and
shortages are being tracked with concern by survivalists who view the
phenomenon as a harbinger of more serious trouble to come. Spiking food prices have led to
riots in recent weeks in Haiti,
Indonesia,
and several African nations. India
recently banned export of all but the highest quality rice, and Vietnam blocked
the signing of a new contract for foreign rice sales. At the moment, large
chain retailers seem more prone to shortages and limits than do smaller chains
and mom-and-pop stores, perhaps because store managers at the larger companies
have less discretion to increase prices locally. For now, rice is available at Asian markets in California, though
consumers have fewer choices when buying the largest bags.