So, food banks are seeing huge surges in desperate people
- Thread starter Climber
- Start date
Caddywumpus
4N631
Most of them are private non profit orgs
rothmans
Lowering my expectations
Can they print food now too?
Americans are about to get a clue by 4 to the head on how the supply chain works.
gixxerjeff
Dogs best friend
And it's early. We are in the early stages of this.
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bpw
Well-known member
No need to print food as there is plenty of it, what is lacking is cash for people to buy it.
Climber
Well-known member
Most stores no longer have large areas of empty shelves.
This is a money issue, yeah it's getting printed, but it's getting handed out to corporations and businesses that really don't need it nearly as much as folks with no savings, no job, no other means to feed themselves.
Namely the people who have fallen through the cracks and not likely to get any notice at the top.
I think this could possibly turn into a food issue. I've read articles about farmers dumping eggs and milk due to big customers (restaurants and schools) no longer making big purchases. I've read an article that lack of demand and lack of farm workers could leave fields unpicked. And articles about large meat processing plants closing, at least one indefinitely, due to large outbreaks if covid-19 in the production lines. We could very well start to see some shortages. And if we do, hording will make it all worse, as we've already seen. Personally, I don't think it will get apocalypse bad or anything.
Guoseph
Well-known member
Yes, the food supply chain simply isn't flexible enough to adapt this quickly to change in demand. With all the demand from restaurants, schools, and businesses gone. Many farmers set up for commercial supply can't easily convert to providing directly to consumer. Even if they want to give it away, there is no one subsidizing the harvest, processing, packaging, and delivery of the food. The farmers themselves are stretched thin enough just to weather this pandemic, they just don't have the money to donate, even if it's the right thing.
However, I'm optimistic that over the long term, the supply chain will adapt, and we are just seeing a short term inefficiency of the supply system.
two wheel tramp
exploring!
SF Food Bank is seeing a lot more need. They conduct a pop up food bank around the corner from my house and the lines have always been pretty long.
They and the food bank back in Oregon have been receiving small donations from me monthly for quite some time along with Glide Memorial church.
They and the food bank back in Oregon have been receiving small donations from me monthly for quite some time along with Glide Memorial church.
Climber
Well-known member
If the government had stepped in and said 'we'll buy your produce', they could have kept their workers in place and the supply chain from there could have been re-routed to food banks and other volunteer organizations that have been doing this for needy people for many decades.
IMHO, the focus at the federal level has been too much on the top and not bottom up, like it should. Take care of the people whose lives depend on it rather than the people whose bank accounts desire it.
Yeah, it's a shame that some farmers are destroying food when the need at food banks is higher than ever.
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Lazerus
Pissant squid
Lose/lose
norcalkid
Well-known member
I think part of the problem is people can't cook. Food is cheap in this country if you can cook it. But most people don't cook, they eat out/order out or heat it(prepared meals) and think their cooking. I understand there are those that truly don't have money. But I think there are a lot that could reduce their food bill a lot by learning to cook. I think a lot of people wouldn't know what to do with it if you gave them 10lbs rice and 10lbs dried beans and a 5lb bag of frozen chicken.
PS, I noticed egg prices went up this week.
PS, I noticed egg prices went up this week.
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Archimedes
Fire Watcher
The Federal government funds local food banks?...
Don't worry, help will be coming soon when the Feds tell us we can go back to work if we want and the States can't stop us.
Archimedes
Fire Watcher
It's perishable food they're destroying. I'm sure they're donating locally where possible and practical/safe.
Archimedes
Fire Watcher
I don't think you understand how a supply chain works and the fact that you can't simply wave a wand and create one in short order, particularly when dealing with food supply items, the transit of which is regulated for safety.