Food Prices

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Food Prices

arbilad · Head Chef

I've noticed egg prices shooting up, so I'm glad that my hens will start laying soon.

Organist · Senior Member

I buy the good 12 grain wheat bread for $1.49 at Aldi's. Mmm...delicious. Eggs used to bounce around from $0.59-$0.89, but are now regularly $1.39. Milk jumped up, but has come back down over the past month. Orange juice jumped up last year when FL or CA lost a lot of its orange crops. Those prices never came back down. Spaghetti is more and more enticing with these prices.

palmon · Senior Member

I've started to make all our bread. Not only do I save money on the loaves (using food storage wheat as well as the flour), but I save money because I am not forever going to the store to buy bread. Rarely do I go into a store and buy just what I needed- plus less gas because of fewer trips.

For spaghetti, I buy the #10 cans of diced tomatoes at Costco for just a couple of dollars, make my own sauce (using alton brown's recipe- inexespensive and very tasty). Use leftover sauce for pizza, lasagna, sandwiches and am wondering if I can freeze it.

We are eating less beef. A lot less beef. I use my pressure cooker for beans. Many of the things I used ground beef in, I just use beans. I love black beans.

We are drinking less milk. Actually, it is me that is drinking less milk. I used to drink milk all the time, but I was sick last week and now I cannot stand the smell of milk - or the taste.

-- Edited by palmon at 18:12, 2008-03-17

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Maybe the obesity rate in the U.S. will go down if people are cutting back on meat, milk, and bread. Hah. What a vain hope.

U.S. consumers have been spoiled with low food prices for generations. We have consumed more than our share of the world's resources for over 100 years. Of course it's uncomfortable to share. But maybe it's for the best.

rayb · Hot Air Balloon

fwiw, I hate the attitude that Americans just need to shut up about prices and pay more, they deserve it, that they're too spoiled or too pampered... (not that that's what Bok's saying, but it is somewhat reminiscient of it)...

So has America been cheating the world because food prices were low?

The reason we had lower food prices was because supply was high, and americans enjoyed a very efficient distribution mechanism... I hope that we can find new ways to increase supply not just for ourselves, but everyone around the world. I think it'd be great if the whole world could enjoy lower prices on food. I mean, who says food needs to be expensive? Why can't it be inexpensive for everyone? When you consider how much food we waste because it isn't selling in stores, it's kind of a shame.

--Ray

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

rayb wrote:

fwiw, I hate the attitude that Americans just need to shut up about prices and pay more, they deserve it, that they're too spoiled or too pampered... (not that that's what Bok's saying, but it is somewhat reminiscient of it)...

So has America been cheating the world because food prices were low?

The reason we had lower food prices was because supply was high, and americans enjoyed a very efficient distribution mechanism... I hope that we can find new ways to increase supply not just for ourselves, but everyone around the world. I think it'd be great if the whole world could enjoy lower prices on food. I mean, who says food needs to be expensive? Why can't it be inexpensive for everyone? When you consider how much food we waste because it isn't selling in stores, it's kind of a shame.

--Ray

America was eating more than it's share because food prices were low. Look at the obesity rate in this nation - we're the fattest country on earth. We eat more and exercise less than any other nation. Maybe higher food and energy prices will start to reverse that.

Supply of food was high, in part, because there was less wealth in other countries to drive up demand. Now that more Chinese and Indians are getting in on a little bit of that wealth, they are demanding more of that supply. Costs for Americans go up in part because people in other parts of the world can now afford to eat better. Is that something to complain about? I guess so, if you think sustaining the lavish, lazy American lifestyle is more important than improving the lives of non-americans.

I know it's not simple. Crop failures and the ethanol lobby have contributed significantly to the decrease in supply. I expect that more wheat will be planted this spring in response to the high prices. Assuming that wheat is harvested with a decent yield, perhaps prices will stabilize come September.

And yeah, it bothered me when I went to the store Saturday night and a loaf of bread cost $.30 more than it did the week before. Six months ago I was paying 99 cents for our favorite bread. Now it's $1.69. Dilbert asked me how high the price would have to go for it to be worth it to make bread myself. I'm thinking about that.

I'm not happy prices are going up. But complaining doesn't make them come down. Reducing demand does. Ironically, the news about shortages and increasing prices has done the opposite - people are now stocking up, presumably out of fear.

Saturday night, there was an eerie feeling at the store, unlike anything I've ever felt before. In this Mormon town, the store is closed on Sunday, so Saturday is a big grocery day. I had gone to pick up some plastic storage buckets that were on sale before the sale price expired for the week. While standing there deciding how many to buy, several people came to the display that also included buckets that were pre-filled and sealed, looking for wheat. All that was left were a few buckets of oats, black beans, and fake milk powder. Without exception, each person stood there for a moment in disbelief that there was no wheat in stock. One walked away, muttering to another, "I can't make bread with beans, now can I?"

I imagine prices will stabilize at some point. But I don't think we'll ever go back to the days of 99 cent bread.

palmon · Senior Member

I am stunned with your statement
---------------
Supply of food was high, in part, because there was less wealth in other countries to drive up demand. Now that more Chinese and Indians are getting in on a little bit of that wealth, they are demanding more of that supply. Costs for Americans go up in part because people in other parts of the world can now afford to eat better. Is that something to complain about? I guess so, if you think sustaining the lavish, lazy American lifestyle is more important than improving the lives of non-americans.
------------------

Do you really believe that other countries were not eating because Americans ate more than their share? The lazy Americans that you demean have given excess food and monies to 3rd world countries for many years.
Are food costs going up? But not because others can now afford to eat. Now, if your argument had been that we are competing for oil, cement, coal, etc. , I might have agreed with you.
oh, by the way, obesity is now a world wide problem.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Of course people in other countries were eating, but never as "well" as we were. For example, the masses in 3rd world countries were not eating meat because they couldn't afford it, not because we ate it all. But some of them are now able to afford more meat. And more refined foods. That is changing demand, and hence, prices. I'm not saying it's the only pressure on prices. But it is a factor. Getting irritated with my statements doesn't change that.

Palmon, please don't take my frustration with our indolent society personally. I am fully confident that you are hardworking and prudent and totally undeserving of my scorn. That's wonderful, and I applaud you for it.

But the irresponsible consumerism that has prevailed in our society for my entire life really annoys me. The relentless media message that more stuff will make you happier has been bought by sooooo many Americans, and it's been bought on credit. I think we're only seeing the beginning of the real price for our gluttony (not just with food).

As for obesity - yes, it's a worldwide problem. Yes, obesity rates in developing countries are rapidly increasing. And why are people all over the world getting fat?: They're adopting the American lifestyle.

As incomes rise and populations become more urban, diets high in complex carbohydrates give way to more varied diets with a higher proportion of fats, saturated fats and sugars. At the same time, large shifts towards less physically demanding work have been observed worldwide. Moves towards less physical activity are also found in the increasing use of automated transport, technology in the home, and more passive leisure pursuits.
The world is getting fatter, to be sure, but we're still solidly in the lead.

Maybe I should scratch my statement about improving the lives of people in other countries. If sharing our wonderful modern lifestyle makes developing nations fat, maybe it's not such a great thing for them afterall.

-- Edited by bokbadok at 02:15, 2008-03-18

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

I've also read that as soon as an area is exposed to our way of eating, they take on all our health issues, as well. The China Study was a very interesting book.
http://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1932100660/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205854217&sr=8-1

I share bok's feeling about the hyperconsumerism. Cocokid#1 is in Wash.D.C. this week with the 8th grade trip. The people in charge suggested $500 for spending money. Most of the parents in the room gave an audible guffaw, as did I. $500? For a t-shirt and maybe a couple other souvenirs? What the heck. So yes, buy lots and buy now. And our kids are being fed this doctrine even more than we were.

That's funny about what will the price of bread have to be before you'll start baking it? Hmm... 10 bucks a loaf? Joking!! At least I think I'm joking...

Valhalla · Profuse Pontificator

Actually, we are going to be eating more beef and more pork. I will have half a beef in the freezer in three weeks and a whole hog in July. I went in with my dad, and put a steer on some pasture with a brother in our branch and they had one. Just took them to slaughter on Friday. My dad is picking up four piglets today. Our next steer should be here in 5-6 weeks.

Doing our own meat is keeping the costs way down, and I also hunt and butcher my own deer.

During the spring and summer, we do a garden as does my dad and we use his, his is about 2200 square feet. There is also a farmer's roadside stand about a mile from my house where they sell produce dirt cheap, like $.25 zuchinnis, $.50 eggplant, $5 for about a 50 pound crimson sweet watermelon YUM!

This also with buying bulk from the storehouse and case lots from a discount store.

I also keep an eye out for special sales. For example, I bought four gallons of Welch's 100% white grape juice for a $1.50 a gallon!

A lot gets put into food storage.

Valhalla · Profuse Pontificator

Sleepwalking Into a Food Nightmare
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=4920.3205.0.0
March 14, 2008 | From theTrumpet.com
Warning signs show that the era of cheap groceries and easily affordable food is rapidly coming to a close. By Philip Nice

New agricultural trends will soon seriously affect you. In fact, they already have. After years of relatively low inflation for basic agricultural commodities, prices for wheat, corn, eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, beef and chicken are rising, and experts have said a new era of expensive food is here to staybut thats not the worst that could happen.

Falling Supplies, Rising Demand

Households in the United States, Britain and elsewhere are facing sizzling price increases for basic foodstuffs. U.S. Labor Department figures show eggs cost 40 percent more than last year; milk is up 26 percent, and bread and flour also have risen by double-digit percentages. Prices for apples, ground beef and chicken are up as well. At the same time, wholesale prices, a good sign of future retail prices, are rising at the fastest rate in five years, with wholesale eggs, pasta and vegetables springing up 60, 30 and 20 percent. This comes on top of significant price increases in 2007 over 2006.

In Britain, food inflation hit its highest recorded monthly level ever in March: 8.4 percent. In February, meat jumped 5.5 percent over Januarys prices, and imported cereals have risen 47 percent in the past year.

As global wheat supplies fall toward a 30-year low and U.S. stockpiles fall to a 60-year low, prices of the most popular varieties of the staple have climbed steeply, jumping 50 percent since August. At the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, where most of the high-demand spring wheat variety is traded, futures for May delivery have topped $18 a bushel. Wheat for March delivery increased by a quarter of its value to $24, the first time any U.S. wheat contract has exceeded the $20 mark, Bloomberg reports. Corn, soybeans and palm oil all hit new record highs in February, and barley, canola and sunflower seeds are also increasing sharply.

As demand for corn surges, inventories are expected to hit a 24-year low, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In spite of three record harvests in a row, ethanol production and strong global demand have driven corn to a record $5.62 a bushel this month. A year ago, it was close to $2.

As production of biodiesel has rocketed 1,200 percent in recent years, soybeans, the primary ingredient, have risen to almost $15 per bushel, tripling over the past two years. Prices reveal that demand is surprisingly high, given that soybean stockpiles, unlike wheat and corn, are near all-time highs.

The Global Picture

At the same time stateside biodiesel producers are howling for soybeans, world demand is putting increased strain on the crop and other foods. In China, adverse weather has knocked out huge swaths of the seasons rapeseed crop, which will increase Chinese imports of soybeans.

Mid-March has seen Japan, South Korea, Iraq and Egypt looking to import nearly half a million tons of wheat, more than half of that from the worlds largest grain exporter, the United States. Other voracious wheat buyers include Taiwan, Mexico, Nigeria and Venezuela. As the U.S. economy, the value of the dollar in particular, has faltered, these nations and others have enjoyed economic growth to the point where millions are developing a taste for more bread, pasta, tortillas and other products made from wheat. In some countries, riots have broken out in the face of doubling wheat prices.

The Seattle Times reports that the world economy as a whole has been growing at an unusually quick 7 percent per year, and the newly affluent, including millions in China and India, are developing tastes for familiar Western ingredients, particularly beef, pork, noodles and bread.

Everyone wants to eat like an American on this globe, AgResources Daniel Basse said. But if they do, were going to need another two or three globes to grow it all.

We havent hit a price that has slowed the international interest, Joe Victor, a commodity researcher, said. That is something that definitely has the market excited.

That same reality is reflected in the attitude of consumers, from Nebraska to New York to Nigeria. Mukala Sule, a tailor in Lagos, put it plainly.

I must eat bread and tea in the morning. Otherwise, I cant be happy, he said. Although he, like many consumers, has made cutbacksin this case forgoing butterwhen it comes to food, some things are non-negotiable. Even if the price goes up, if I have the money, Ill still buy it.

On the individual and national levels, even while prices continue to climb, consumers are still buying it.

The Perfect Storm

As the national and global food situation becomes economically precarious, there is real danger that the balance could be tipped, resulting in actual food shortages around the world. The U.S. dollar, which quantifies not only oil sales but also agricultural commodities, continues to fall against just about every other denomination of value. In the U.S., the result is increasing energy costs for farmers as they produce food, truckers to ship it, processors to process it, and retailers to sell it. In short, sharply higher prices at your grocery store. And food constitutes more than three times the 4 percent of household spending used for gasoline.

For many around the world, the situation is already resulting in greater consequences than simply reapportioning their discretionary spending. The United Nations has said food prices are expected to remain high until 2010 at the earliest, which could fuel a new hunger around the world. Contrasted against the newly wealthy, the newly hungry are being plunged into poverty and hunger by sharply climbing prices for basic foods. In some cases, violence has resulted in places like Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Senegal.

Higher food prices will increase social unrest in a number of countries which are sensitive to inflationary pressures and are import-dependent, UN World Food Program (wfp) executive director Josette Sheeran said. Sheeran also said that the global economy had created a perfect storm for the worlds hungry, caused by high oil and food prices and low food stocks. The wfp is compiling a list of nations where it says multi-million-dollar injections are needed to keep the people fed. In the Philippines, UN officials say things are getting worse for people who already spend 70 percent of their income on food.

Price rises mean people who previously were able to meet their own food needs through the market with their own income have been sort of pushed over that precipice and are no longer able to feed their families, Philippines wfp Country Director Valerie Guarnieri said.

But one of the most cataclysmic catalysts in a potential perfect storm of food shortages could be storms themselvesor a lack thereof. One of the biggest reasons for dwindling supplies and soaring prices has been adverse weather conditions, notably Australias record droughts. Based on biblical prophecy, the Trumpet expects catastrophic weather patterns to intensify, battering farms and forcing the food on your plate to come at a much dearer cost than it has in the past.

Walking in Our Sleep

In spite of these worsening conditions affecting the one commodity nobody can live without, the true import of the trend goes largely undetected. As Tim Lang, professor of food policy at the University of Leeds, said, We are sleepwalking into a crisis.

Herbert W. Armstrong alertly forecasted such conditions decades ago. Fifty years ago, he wrote,

Yes, time is running out on us, fast, and were too sound asleep in deception to realize it!

Our peoples will continue only a few more years in comparative economic prosperity. This very prosperity is our fatal curse! Because our people are setting their hearts on it, seeking ease and leisure, becoming soft and decadent and weak!

Then, suddenly, before we realize it, well find ourselves in the throes of famine, and uncontrollable epidemics of disease. Already were in the beginning of a terrible famine and we dont know ita famine of needed minerals and vitamins in our foods. Our peoples have ignored Gods agricultural laws. Not all the land has been permitted to rest every seventh year. The land has been overworked. Today, the soil is worn out. And food factories, in the interest of larger profits, are removing much of what minerals and vitamins remainwhile a new profit-making vitamin industry deludes the people into believing they can obtain these precious elements from pills and capsules purchased in drug stores and health food stores!

And all this state of affairs because man is in defiance of his Maker!

The truth is, to avoid the coming crises, which are bigger than individuals, nations, or mankind as a whole can handle, the answer lies in something more fundamental and more spiritual than canceling cable television or selling your atv to make room in the budget. For more on the origin of the era of cheap food and the other blessings Americans and Britons have enjoyed and when and why they are being taken away, read The United States and Britain in Prophecy.

dianoia · Senior Member

Honestly, our prices started getting worse about two years ago, but it was a slow and steady increase. It took me a while to figure out that I wasn't doing something wrong at the grocery till, but that food prices had changed. I can't remember the last time I paid less than 50 cents a pound for bananas, but the real annoyance for me is that apples never came down in price the last two autumns, and we're just a few hours from the Okanagan.

OTOH, there's been no huge jump in the last little while (but the stong Canadian dollar might have softened that particular blow).

And just to give you all a different perspective.... Eggs for 60 cents? That's amazing. I've been paying $2.00 for years now.

arbilad · Head Chef

Dianoia, I think it may be eggs are 60 cents more expensive, not that they were 60 cents. At least, I haven't seen that sort of price for eggs in a long, long time
Get your own chickens. The eggs they lay are better for you anyway.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Our three hens pretty much give us all the eggs we need.

And we just throw them the kitchen scraps and a little scratch feed.

dianoia · Senior Member

Oh, I wish I could get my own chickens. I'd like that.

But I have a teeny tiny backyard, and there's no way it would be legal, or possible, to keep chickens when you live in the middle of town. I grew up on a large acreage/small farm with cows and sheep and chickens and 80 acres up the road in hay (did I mention my dad was a lawyer?

), and I'd love me some land.

But I just checked the MLS, and a 4 acre parcel in this area - with no house - starts at $300,000. But this is where my husband's job is, and for some reason the Lord has made it very clear He wants us here. So this is one of those areas where I just trust Him.

(Arbi, check out organist's post. He said eggs used to be in the range of $.59 to $.89, but now are regularly $1.39. Unless I misunderstood what he was saying.)

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Every year I say this is the year to get chickens, and every year Dilbert frowns upon it until I desist.

We live on 1/4 acre in town, and ordinance requires 1/2 acre to have animals of any kind. But I'm thinking I'll talk to my neighbors, reassure them there will be no rooster or odor, and go ahead and get half a dozen pullets.

I can house them in a 4'x8' moveable shelter, so as to avoid the ugly chicken yard effect, since our yard does not have an unused corner that isn't visible from the back door. Or I could convert a couple of my big compost bins to a coop... hm. Ideas are flowing now. :)

Dilbert will be soooo happy to hear this.

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

I'm considering rabbits. Taste like chicken!

I don't want the hassle of raising them at this point, but if things start going downhill and I have enough time to get to them I will.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

I liked rabbits until one pee'd on me.

You really don't need much room for chickens and in my town if you have 6 or less, they're considered "pets" so the animal laws don't apply. I've seen them housed in a regular old dog run with a doghouse for shelter. If they grew up together, 3 of them could probably share one doghouse.

bok- You need 1/2 an acre to have a dog? What the heck.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

Bok, you really should have chickens.

Dilbert, your wife named herself after chickens, I think that's a pretty deep seated desire for more chicken contact in her life.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

No kidding! Chickens rock!

My 5yo is out in the back yard carrying one around under her arm like a football right now. It's the one that's the most tame. Also the one that flies over the fence into the yard periodically.

Euphrasie · Senior Bucketkeeper

You know what I want? A tutorial on buying beef. Like going down to the County Fair or 4H something and picking out a cow..hooking up with a butcher somehow...and magically having a deep freezer full of meat.

My grocery budget has been creeping up over time too. My biggest sticker shock is on milk and cheese. Bread's about 50 cents more. Eggs, $2 a dozen. Produce started into its sale season this past month, so that hasn't been too bad lately.

So here's another question. If wheat prices go up...and demand goes down eventually...am I going to get a killer deal on my nicey nice electric wheat grinder soon? I may start making my bread when I get that. My problem is that I save up in my food storage budget, but then I see a good deal on something and spend the money on actual food storage instead of the grinder. I keep telling myself that "just in case," I'd rather have the food than the grinder anyway...

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

I think your "food before grinder" strategy is the wiser one, Euph. It's not too hard to find a ward member who will let you grind some wheat in their grinder, but having your own grinder and trying to borrow food from a neighbor wouldn't work well, I'd imagine. Unless you bartered grinding for grain.

I bought a calf and had it butchered last December. It wasn't cheaper than buying beef at the store - the average cost came to ~$3 / lb for all the meat (most of which is ground beef). But, it's all mine, and I know it's hormone free and grass fed. And I am insulated somewhat in case beef prices do what wheat has done in the last six months. I'll have to think whether I want to go that route this fall or not. While the meat tastes very good, the steaks so far have been a little on the tough side. But that's probably due to the fact that the calf was less than a year old, rather than a well marbled yearling.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Cocobeem wrote:

bok- You need 1/2 an acre to have a dog? What the heck.

No, I wasn't clear. Need a 1/2 acre to have livestock (poultry, horses, cattle, goats, etc). There's a limit on numbers as well, I'm sure.

But I could have two noisy dogs if I wanted. Noisier and stinkier than 6 hens would ever be. But I'm not bitter.

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

bokbadok wrote:

I'll have to think whether I want to go that route this fall or not. While the meat tastes very good, the steaks so far have been a little on the tough side.

I would be interested in doing that. Do you have a good contact? A little older for the tender would be nice. Not sure if I want a whole cow though.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Mirk - this calf was small - I only netted 280 lbs wrapped meat. A yearling could be twice that - which would be definitely too much for our family. If I can find a source, we could possibly split a yearling between us... I'll ask around.

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

Ok let me know. I'm definitely interested...don't know if I can afford it...got a ballpark figure for something like that?

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Okay... now I'm not committing totally here... but it's a possibility that we could go thirdsies and I could keep a beef with my horses over a winter or something... I'd be putting all the feed into it, though...

Maybe just buying it would be just as inexpensive in the long run...? Plus, we don't eat a huge amount of beef...? What would a yearling give us- 400-500 pounds total? I think you can count on around 60% or more of the total weight being actual meat.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Coco - it would definitely be expensive to feed a calf through the winter. That's why I bought a calf that was 9-10 months old - it was cheaper that way. Still, it wasn't appreciably cheaper, at current market prices. It's the security of having a whole year's worth of meat in the freezer, and knowing what actually went into that meat, that is attractive to me.

If you decide to do that, let me know.

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

What kind of cost are we looking at?

dianoia · Senior Member

Wait, don't you guys do this kind of stuff in your ward? Seriously, when ward members get together to buy stuff in bulk you get some pretty great deals.

In my previous ward, we did bulk orders for sides of beef, honey, wheat grinders, bread, Hutterite chickens, fruit, you name it. We were investigating winter sleeping bags when I moved. We also had an Enrichment group who did huge batches of quantity cooking. I've started mentioning some of the things we did to members of my new ward, and they're really interested.

Having a side of beef in the freezer is great for peace of mind.

hiccups · Future Queen in Zion

All this talk of chickens inspired me. I bought 8 yesterday. Then I put them in the freezer.

And I bought 6 dozen eggs at a buck a dozen. (Easter sale price) The plan being to freeze about 4 dozen. (Crack em, beat them into submission and then freeze the liquid in baggies.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Yes, while my horse hay can go for $8 a bale, that probably would not be an option. Cows can eat lesser quality stuff... then again, if you're wanting to fatten up a baby that's putting on several pounds a day you'll want to possibly supplement. Like you said, the grass-fed beef is a lot different than the feedlot beef.

If we wanted to go healthy, we'd definitely want a Piedmontese...
http://pauscattle.org/nutrition.htm (scroll down to nutrition charts)

Where did you buy from, bok? What breed of calf was it? What was its total weight, do you know?

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=2895829&cat=107&lpid=

Here's some beef for sale for 2.25 a pound.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Here's another ad for 1.90 a pound.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=2885383&cat=107&lpid=2

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

One more for $2 a pound.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=2879496&cat=107&lpid=3

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

This might be the best deal yet.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=218&ad=2856531&cat=107&lpid=7

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Those are great prices. Mirk, I'd go with the last one - a side of beef (~350 lbs) for $750. That's a lower price than I paid.

beefche · Profuse Pontificator

Wha? Ya'll are talking about beef? And killing? I'm outta here!

Duke of Mirth · Profuse Pontificator

Some good news. The commodities markets went down for many ag items yesterday. The speculators seem to be backing off. This could help food prices long term if the trend continues.

arbilad · Head Chef

I hope that food prices at least stabilize.

Jen · Senior Bucketkeeper

Judging from when I went grocery shopping a few days ago, they seem to be already.

Duke of Mirth · Profuse Pontificator

The banks aren't financing the warehouses because they think the prices are higher than they should be. They don't want to get caught with their customers having overpriced grains or worse caught in a margin call. This should put off more of the speculators and let things settle down some. I would still expect firmer prices than in the past but think things should be more reasonable.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Cocobeem wrote:

The bread I really like was 3.89 a loaf today.

Today it was 4.19. rolleyes

mirkwood · Senior Bucketkeeper

Hey beefche come back, we need to....talk to you...yea, that's it...

Jen · Senior Bucketkeeper

Are you guys eating bread made with gold flour? I get Franz whole grain white bread, 2 huge loaves at Costco for under 3 bucks.

Mahonri · Senior Bucketkeeper

Two weeks ago a 50lb bag of flour at Costco was $13. Saturday it was $18.

All wheat supplies in the US have been sold. Everything in the ground right now has been sold.

I'm enjoying my wife's bread and cookies.

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Mahonri wrote:

All wheat supplies in the US have been sold. Everything in the ground right now has been sold.

Where did you get this information, Mahonri? Do a poor chicken a favor, would you, and document your info.

Cocobeem · Keeper of the Holy Grail

Everything in the ground has been sold? Wheat on the lds.org website isn't sold yet. It's right on the front page. For sale! Buy me! Buy me now before it's everlastingly too late! In big red letters. (Joking about the letters.)

bokbadok · Senior Bucketkeeper

Coco is correct.

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