Will tariffs cause food shortages?

[Anonymous]

Political famines, that would be on brand

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trump officials seem to think so. They're stockpiling toilet paper, food and cash.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-officials-hoarding-supplies-trade-war-tariffs-1235329235/

Stockpiling toilet paper seems stupid. Most of it is made in the US (though probably at least partly from imported Canadian wood pulp).

I'm stockpiling imported olive oil, pasta, rice, certain spices I use regularly, some canned goods that come from other countries, a few other staples that are imported. I always keep at least six months worth of toilet paper in my attic, and I've added a bit to my stores, but not that much. I don't think TP will go up much, but imported pasta and other bottled goods I like to buy regularly will. And avocados and bananas, but I can't stockpile those, so I'll just eat fewer of them. I noticed avocados were $6.99 for four of them at Wegman's today. Seems higher than normal.

You are a TP hoarder even when there is no supply chain issue, who thinks stockpiling TP is stupid, but you’re also increasing your own stockpile? Pick a lane.

Yeah. This is hilarious. "Stockpiling is stupid, but I have six months of toilet paper."

Thank you for the laugh!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly hope so. It would be nice if at least one of the disasters predicted here came true.

Seriously. I stocked up at the beginning of Covid and it turns out it wasn't really necessary.

??? We were told clearly to not panic buy as the supply chain would not be overly affected by COVID.

Anytime there was a shortage in the store it was due to panic buying. And there was no shortage on produce.

This is not COVID. During COVID, there were no threats of tariffs and friendly nations did not completely hate us.

This is a different situation now and a far worse one.

[Anonymous]

Get ready for random packaging coming to all of our products soon.

https://www.themarysue.com/walmart-rotisserie-chicken-new-packaging/

Even the products made in the US and sourced in the US come in packaging from China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Empty grocery shelves = the poor man's Ozempic

They will MAHA one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Empty grocery shelves = the poor man's Ozempic

They will MAHA one way or the other.

Could be the opposite. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be unaffordable or unobtainable, but cheap carbs will still be readily available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trump officials seem to think so. They're stockpiling toilet paper, food and cash.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-officials-hoarding-supplies-trade-war-tariffs-1235329235/

Why stockpile cash? That makes no sense to me unless they are expecting bank runs and banks to fail. Anyone know?

Think about the average IQ of someone who works for Donald Trump.

+1 They have insider information, but they’re also completely unqualified for the jobs they hold and they have bad judgment, so who knows?

+1
But it really shouldn't be insider info at this point. Why aren't there more leaks? All the defense stuff gets leaked but not the financial stuff? come on.

[Anonymous]

I heard a blueberry farmer in Washington state this morning say after the berries are picked, he sends them across the border to Canada where they are packaged & refrigerated, then sent back to WA.

He said he can't afford to pay tariffs going to CA, then pay tariffs coming back. He also doesn't have a facility to pack the berries in plastic clamshells, nor does he have access to refrigeration.

He said it's such short notice, he hasn't had time to figure out an alternative.

So maybe buy some frozen blueberries if you like them in smoothies.

************************

I also found a youtube channel called "What's Going on With Shipping". He updates a few times a week on how many ships are arriving, leaving, full, not full, smaller, etc.

Maybe the last non-tariffed ship has almost arrived at US ports, but there are ships from China heading daily to the US with exempt items, as well as tariff items businesses are willing to pay for.

He also explained there are storage facilities near ports that temporarily hold products before tariffs are assessed. I think if tariffs are reduced, businesses can then receive these items and pay the lower price.

I was surprised to hear him say historically only about 16% of China's exports head to the US. Sounds like China isn't going to be hurting as much as we could be.

Some of his month-to-month and yearly charts look unusual because businesses started front-loading product Nov-Apr in anticipation of future tariffs, so April's totals look "great".

There is an issue with empty containers starting to stack up near our ports because not as much stuff is going back out. And if tariffs suddenly go away, there's going to be a boomerang effect where the shipping supplies are all out of whack because they aren't where they need to be to suddenly resume normal shipping schedules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get ready for random packaging coming to all of our products soon.

https://www.themarysue.com/walmart-rotisserie-chicken-new-packaging/

Even the products made in the US and sourced in the US come in packaging from China.

It's like they haven't even thought of this.

On the plus side, we all need to move away from plastic anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes I think there will be some shortages and supply chain disruptions, as well as inflated orices for what supplies stores do have. You also can't predict what panic buying from consumers will do once the disruptions begin to show up.

So with that in mind, I've stocked our freezer with fish, meat, fruits and vegetables. I've stocked a deeper than usual pantry with dry goods including flour, rice, sugar, beans, pasta, and crackers. And stocked on up on canned vegetables we use like tomatoes and corn, as well as plenty of cans of tuna, salmon, and sardines. Also stocked up on seasonings and condiments.

Outside of food, I'm making sure we have extra of everything we use around the house. Hand soap, dish soap, detergent, plastic bags, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. And made sure to also stock up on cold meds and PPE supplies.

Basically, I wanted us to be able to go a few weeks without needing to go to the store, and to have enough supplies on hand that we can wait out supply chain disruptions or we can wait to buy things on sale if things get too expensive.

We live in an NYC apartment and it is nearly impossible to stock food - our frig/freezer is just not that big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Empty grocery shelves = the poor man's Ozempic

They will MAHA one way or the other.

Could be the opposite. Fresh fruits and vegetables may be unaffordable or unobtainable, but cheap carbs will still be readily available.

True. And without food inspection, to boot. The only affordable goods will be those who are highly processed to be shelf stable.
I could probably make a list of healthier shelf stable items that one can live on :

Lentils and beans
Rice
Soy, almond, oat milk in aseptic box
Silken tofu in aseptic box
Canned vegs and fruits
Pasta

One can shop Locally for produce in season. The real test comes next winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I think there will be some shortages and supply chain disruptions, as well as inflated orices for what supplies stores do have. You also can't predict what panic buying from consumers will do once the disruptions begin to show up.

So with that in mind, I've stocked our freezer with fish, meat, fruits and vegetables. I've stocked a deeper than usual pantry with dry goods including flour, rice, sugar, beans, pasta, and crackers. And stocked on up on canned vegetables we use like tomatoes and corn, as well as plenty of cans of tuna, salmon, and sardines. Also stocked up on seasonings and condiments.

Outside of food, I'm making sure we have extra of everything we use around the house. Hand soap, dish soap, detergent, plastic bags, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. And made sure to also stock up on cold meds and PPE supplies.

Basically, I wanted us to be able to go a few weeks without needing to go to the store, and to have enough supplies on hand that we can wait out supply chain disruptions or we can wait to buy things on sale if things get too expensive.

We live in an NYC apartment and it is nearly impossible to stock food - our frig/freezer is just not that big.

Can you get an under bed tub and store some dry goods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wegmans has signs up on certain products like bananas, avocados, papayas, and others that are only sourced from outside of the US.

The signs say something like Wegmans is committed to keeping prices low for their customers, but due to tariffs and the inability to source this item from inside the US, the price will unfortunately have to increase soon and/or there may be temporary shortages or empty shelves. I didn't take a photo of the sign so I don't know the exact wording. Similar signs were also on the coffee aisle, international foods section (Asian foods), and I saw the same yellow cards in the wine/beer section as I walked by, but didn't note which products they were for.

I mainly shop at Wegmans, Trader Joe's, and Harris Teeter. Wegmans was the first store I've seen notices at so far.

It’s hard for me to get past “Wegmans is committed to keeping prices low for customers.” Since when? And I like Wegmans (their chocolate chip cookies are to die for) but it’s never been low priced anything there.

PP, I don't think it's fair to complain about prices at Wegman's and then list a luxury bakery item as your only example. My area got a Wegman's in 2021 and, after years of shopping almost exclusively at HT, I now do my primary shopping at Wegman's because it is cheaper. Yes, HT sale prices can be great, but base price on basic items is always cheaper at Wegman's, and their store brands are a great value, plus they taste great (I'm never buying brand name cereal or granola bars again). Yes, their prepared foods, including bakery desserts, are more expensive, and I also find their fish to be expensive, but they are great quality. HT bakery and prepared foods are cheaper, but they are literally disgusting. Fish at HT can also be touchy.

Anyway, I appreciate Wegmans putting up the signs because people need to understand the impact of their vote. It would be great if the other markets would do it but I suspect they won't since MAGA will probably complain. They get their feelings hurt so easily...

[Anonymous]

I can’t wait to hear the new Surgeon General get on tv with RFK Jr to lecture people about eating healthier foods, that the average low income American can no longer afford now, even without tariffs. Wait til they recommend gardens for people with no green space or ability to pay their water bill. So out of touch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly hope so. It would be nice if at least one of the disasters predicted here came true.

Seriously. I stocked up at the beginning of Covid and it turns out it wasn't really necessary.

??? We were told clearly to not panic buy as the supply chain would not be overly affected by COVID.

Anytime there was a shortage in the store it was due to panic buying. And there was no shortage on produce.

This is not COVID. During COVID, there were no threats of tariffs and friendly nations did not completely hate us.

This is a different situation now and a far worse one.

+1