Food and other

In countries that produce their own food, and export (e.g. the United States), there will be NO shortages other than local ones caused by supply chain disruptions (which appear to be caused by dumb government policies and labor shortages), though prices will probably rise since demand elsewhere raises prices everywhere (e.g you may be offering $10 for a quantity of wheat, but someone around the world will be offering $25 for the quantity, and if transportation only costs $5, guess who the American farmer will sell to). For American farmers, this will probably be a happy time.

In countries that do not produce there own food and rely on imports, there will be serious inflation and possible shortages. In Ukraine, there will probably be severe inflation and shortages.

The economy is hardly in ruins. In many countries there will be steadily rising wages (in part due to falling labor supply, largely caused by low fertility for the last few generations), and a increased demand for many goods and services (e.g. tanks, fighter planes, ammunition, coffins, etc.).

Of course, if the powers that be decide to nuke the world, that will have a serious impact on the economy and food supply (though it will probably mitigate the problem of global warming since soot in the air blocks sunlight – the world wars created bad winters, but a nuclear war could cause multiple years of “no summer”). This is probably an unlikely scenario (as we can all rely on the integrity of good judgment of Mr. Putin and and Mr. Biden, right???).

Me a break?? Why me? I’m not the one freaking out at every turn that the world is coming to an end. Have you read any of your posts lately? On second thought, don’t! They might worry you…

At least half of Ukraine is not sowing right now and Russians should have some problems getting things done. Worldwide shmitah.

So, there will be less wheat – and sunflower seeds and oil, if you are into that. But this is next year harvest, of course. So, keep some of the matzos for the next year …

I presume things like fertilizer would be easier to substitute. Also, there will be less mystery buyers if you plan to sell a NYC apartment or a yacht.

“Good thing orange man bad isn’t president anymore….”

RightWriter: Glad we can agree on something.

Rightwriter: I used to think I was wrong about your postings but my initial assumption was incorrect. I will acknowledge your consistent support of certain Trump economic policies while recognizing his personal sleaze factor.
Most aspects of the economy are working well using most of the standard metrics. The big near-term risk is whether the Fed will be able to manage the interest rate rise/withdrawal of liquidity with the rate of inflation. Too much of the current prosperity is concentrated in upper tier of the economy as it has during the 4 years of the prior administration. Inflation is obviously a regressive tax on the middle and lower income segments of society. Jerome Powell is not a “socialist” or “spread the wealth guy” ala Bernie Sanders but he brings more focus on income disparities than any Fed Chair in history and I’m hopeful he will keep the income disparity as his focus (versus measuring “success” by the Dow Stock point average).

Continuation response……………….
Those of us living in suburbia, small towns, or with a summer home in the country can also grow some of our own food. It yields better and fresher food than you buy at the supermarket and teaches the kids a good work ethic.

Here at the compound, we have always had a 100’x 100′ fruit and vegetable garden, this year we will actually plant 1/2 acre of food items. Seedlings have already been started indoors to be transplanted in late April. Our apple, pear and peach trees, were trimmed in the fall after harvest and will be in bud come May. Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, radishes, beans carrots, melons, cabbage are all easy to grow. Like our non-Jewish country neighbors, we can and freeze and fill the cold storage with root vegetables each summer, but this year will plan on a larger harvest for some of the extended family.
I have a 1/2 interest in several steers being raised by a local farmer. This summer, the Shochet will come from NYC and slaughter and process the animals, the farmer keeps the hides, my non-Jewish neighbor (owner of the other 1/2 interest) gets the hindquarters and my family will kasher and break down the forequarters and freeze in appropriate cuts.

RW,

“Also do you really mean it that the economy is better or even getting better with rising prices by the day?”

While we may be affected by increased prices for essential items, I am not sure that this is how the economy is measured.

It’s not a matter of growing your own food. I know folks who go to U picks to get fresh beans and tomatoes, and veggies to can. They take their kids to U picks for peaches and apples to can or dehydrate, same with berries. Farmers markets are pretty ubiquitous now a days and CSAs make fresh veggies in season very affordable. I no long have a need for a fore quarter of beef but I do have a friend who raises lamb for the table and I have the same arrangement for my lamb as CTL has for his beef. I also bought into a flock of chickens through someone the traveling Shochet introduced me to some years back. Poultry prices should be going sky high, millions of chickens in DE, IW, PA and AR are being killed due to avian flu.

Americans are relatively spoiled, they want to eat what they want to eat when they want it. The average American buys expensive fresh fruit and veg (out of season) that are transported sometimes thousands of miles.

Certainly a lot has to do with lifestyle and I’m grateful that I’m financially comfortable and not paying for heating oil or wondering if I can afford that next box of diapers like some women do.

rightwriter, it only takes a google to find a farmers market or green market near you. Most farmers markets take food stamps and provide food stamp bonuses. You picks are just that. They are farms where you pick your produce. These are boons to folks who can (not rocket science) or preserve food but don’t have room to grow their own. Prices are usually lower at you picks. Around here you can do you picks for beans (fresh green, favas, fresh chickpeas fresh English pea, fresh edamame, tomatoes,peppers, kirbys, stone and seeded fruits, different melons, greens and assorted berries. Where I live our farmers market is open year round two days a week and three from April to Nov. In the winter we have hard squash (great for dehydrating), winter greens, a variety of tubers (yacon etc), beets, winter greens etc.