8 impending grocery shortages that could affect the rest of the year
Like taxes over the past several years, grocery shortages have become an unpleasant certainty. They’ve even gotten to the point where gaps on store shelves are no longer a lingering surprise but are met with subtle sighs of dismay.
The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and even environmental issues, are largely to blame for this recent incident and have affected consumers in all corners of the US.
While some deficiencies began to show signs of easing from the first half of the year, others are still starting to materialize, potentially spelling problems by the end of 2022. Here are some foods that have recently been added to the endangered items list and can be hard to find as you prepare for cold weather and the holiday season.
Hummus lovers may want to stock up on the protein-packed dip as soon as possible. as it nt As reported earlier this summer, chickpeas – the main humus component – are currently facing shortages and could see supplies drop by up to 20%, according to Reuters,
The ongoing Ukraine war has prevented crops from being planted and exported from Russia and Ukraine – both important chickpea producers. Australia and Mexico have also faced weather problems this year, including flooding, which is hampering their crop yields. All the while, the demand for the item keeps skyrocketing.
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According to bloomberg, the current TikTok-famous vegetable may also be in danger. After examining several Midwest corn fields as part of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, scouts found an overwhelming amount of crops in less-than-ideal conditions after a season of insect infestation, high heat, and low rainfall. States including South Dakota, Ohio, Nebraska, and Indiana are currently showing yields below last year’s average, and in Illinois and Iowa, scouts found similarly higher.
Unfortunately, a corn shortage also means a potential shortage of many of its beloved byproducts like cereal, corn syrup, and everyone’s favorite movie snack—popcorn. We can’t imagine anything more terrifying than this!
The weather has also not been good in the western part of the country, and especially in California, tomato plants have taken a devastating toll. Drought and unprecedented temperatures have put additional pressure on farmers already dealing with inflation and rising fertilizer costs due to the war in Ukraine.
More than 40% of California is experiencing “extreme drought”, and one farmer shared Fox Business In the last few years, about 15% of their crop for tomato processing suffers from these adverse conditions. This means that many tomato-based products, including ketchup, pasta sauce and salsa, may become less available in the coming months.
Experts are forecasting an upcoming shortage of turkeys, mainly due to a massive bird flu outbreak this year. “Looking ahead to the Thanksgiving holiday, we believe that the impact from the latest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the US, along with skyrocketing production costs, declining domestic turkey herds, reduced meat supplies and more Prices,” said Walter Kunisch, senior commodity strategist at Hilltop Securities Commodities Fox Business,
Unfortunately, Americans face a similar turkey shortage in 2021 and may be forced to pay higher prices or find an alternative to the holiday again.
As the beer shortage looms, there could be a lack of upcoming football watch parties and tailgates in the drinks department. Breweries and beer makers have recently struggled to get their hands on carbon dioxide, which is critical to both the beer-making and packaging processes. CO2 supplies have been volatile for years, reportedly due to supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic. And, more recently, contamination of a CO2 reservoir caused by an extinct volcano (yes, you read that right) has exacerbated the issue.
If that’s not enough, beer companies are additionally navigating the ongoing aluminum can shortage. However, this reduction has shown signs of improvement, and CO2 levels are also expected to return to normal by mid-October.
Believe it or not, carbon dioxide is also a main ingredient in the production of many frozen foods, including store-bought frozen pizza. CO2 is commonly used as a refrigerant to preserve the taste and texture of frozen products during storage and transportation. Carbon dioxide helps keep frozen foods from spoiling. So, the frozen pizza aisle—similar to the beer aisle—might end up looking a little bare in the next month or so.
Hershey announced earlier this summer that it was making up for a potential shortage of chocolates and candy for Halloween. The candy maker explained that the war in Ukraine has made raw materials like edible oil and cocoa harder to come by, and at the same time, it has faced surprising demand over the past year. More seasonal products were neglected to fill the shelves to meet the normal day-to-day demand.
The company has since backtracked on it, and a Hershey’s spokesperson even said in a statement today He, “[Hershey] There will be even more seasonal products available to the consumer this year than last year.” Even with this updated information, it may still be a good idea to grab your Hershey favorites like Reese’s, Twizzlers, and Heath Bars earlier this year. Is.
Cooking essentials could soon become a hot commodity as major olive oil producers Spain and Italy recover from one of the most brutal summers on record. Across Western Europe, June and July temperatures broke 100 degrees Fahrenheit and widespread droughts dried up miles and miles of soil. Analysts estimate that olive oil production from Spain could drop by 25-30% compared to last year, and supplies from Italy could see a similar 20-30% reduction. Guardian,
In addition to weather problems, war and supply chain issues in Ukraine have also contributed to the rise in olive oil prices. If you’ve recently picked up a bottle from the store, you’ve probably already noticed, and you may want to use up the rest of your supply sparingly.
