Posted by Steven Benjamin (Billy Steven Crider) on March 23, 2008, 3:16 am, in reply to "The plagues of Egypt....Murrain Pt 3"
You may recall me giving such advice last spring and getting a reply from an industry representative. Bear in mind my response to them then, and I continue to stand by such. The person in question represented a company which supplies produce to much of the entire eastern seaboard, makes quite a good living and has a vested interest in you relying on grocery chains rather than local growers. I warned then, (spring 07) that more trouble would come from California growers due to the watering practices which everyone in office seems to deny the link between reprocessed sewer water being used to water crops and e-coli entering the food chain.
This is a practice which the multi billion dollar industry there cannot afford to abandon, not without great detriment to thier wallets, and sure enough, August 23, 2007, California based company recalls tainted carrots from 6 states, and officials continue to scratch thier heads. ( I still think it more likely they're scratching thier butts!)
I have been instructed to tell you to "stop wasting food." "Start saving leftovers". If you do not wish to eat them the next day, freeze them, vaccumm seal them etc. for later consumption, do not forget to date the items. If this doesn't apply to you, then don't worry about it. You can start cooking in bulk and doing this as well, soups and stews freeze especially well. And purchasing in bulk is so much cheaper.
You can also start supper chains with friends, families and coworkers. This concept works by getting at least five families. Who buy in bulk as a group from bulk wholesale outlets(Sams clubs etc. ). Even produce growers will likely negotiate to supply better rates to such groups who shop with them on a regular basis. Each family will be responsible to cook in bulk for all families at least one night a week from a predetermined menu. Leaving the weekends open ( or however else you run the schedule, even if you get 7 families and all days of the week) You will then only have to cook one night a week (Usually the night before, with portions saved in containers for pick up and distrubution by the other families). You will already know in advance what is for Supper, and best of all, you only have to wash dishes ONCE A WEEK! Let alone the purchasing power you will have as a group.
You can freeze grapes, though you can only thaw them in amounts for immediate consumption, (within a couple hours of being thawed) as the process makes them somewhat different, and after hours are simply unpalatable, tough and rubbery, but immediatley thawed and still cold, quite a treat. E mphasis is again being stressed to me now about poultry, in particular Chicken, I am making a conscious effort at this point to stop eating it all together. Turkey doesn't seem to be an issue at this time. There is a strategy available to continue to buy chicken, by stocking up and freezing the stock, allowing a time frame to pass to monitor the market, but I don't reccommend this as we have been warned for quite some time, I think it more prudent just to do the best you can to continue weaning away from the meat. Still the strategy may be a good one with any meat including beef in light of the recent recalls. Rotate from the existing stock first before consuming newer stock.
Beef prices are getting ready to drop noticably, due to drought and shortages in hay, farmers are being forced to deplete their livestock. Take advantage of this now, as this will go to the opposite extreme later. Buy extra, much extraas much as you can, if need be get a deep freezer, next year when the prices start to rise on beef again, they won't go down, and a more traditional famine is coming. As Murrain spreads throughout livestock, the meat will become more questionable. Do not treat this stock as a luxury, as excess, the temptation will be there to do so, think more so in long terms of things, items that go far, ground beef, stew beef, roasts, cubed steak etc, if you like T bones, fine, but keep the greater picture in mind. Turkey prices will drop in January.
##########################################################################################################
EXCERPT FROM AN GROUP EMAIL SENT September 2,2007
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: billy
Date: Sep 2, 2007 12:00 AM
Subject: Recommended Article By billy: Economic Research Service Releases 2007 Farm Sector Income Forecast
To: cridercreativeworks@gmail.com
Hi crider,
Your friend, billy, has recommended this article entitled 'Economic Research Service Releases 2007 Farm Sector Income Forecast' to you.
Here is his/her remarks:
remember that Famine I have been warning of all year, some of you for several years, read this, decide for yourself where food prices will be, and before I suggest that you by rice, you might want to consider that now, rice crops are being damaged...if you haven't been buying rice, now would a good time to start.
Economic Research Service Releases 2007 Farm Sector Income Forecast
Posted By Keith Good On 31st August 2007 @ 05:09 In Farm Bill, Ethanol, EU, Agricultural Economy
internal mail browser search results for the term "rice" from the email archives of
cridercreativeworks@gmail..com
(for Full email letter check your archive or contact cridercreativeworks@gmail.com )
#######################################################################################################
Rodents ravage 177 villages in Mizoram
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Sep 26, 2007
Aizawl, Sep 26 (IANS) Thousands of rats have destroyed rice fields in Mizoram, fuelling fears of a famine in the region. 'At least 177 villages have been ...
******************************************************************************************************************************
Current letter cont'd
Now here is a novel concept to deal with famine...wish I had thought of it!
(sorry, still working on the cynicism, guess ya' had to been there)
Boost In Rice Production To Avoid Food Shortages In Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia (SPX) Apr 09, 2007 - Efforts by Indonesia to avoid food shortages by increasing its rice production have received an important boost with ...
www.terradaily.com/reports/Boost_In_Rice_Production_To_Avoid_Food _Shortages_In_Indonesia_999.html - 26k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
WEB EXCLUSIVE Is America Headed for a Food Shortage ? - Popular Science
Is America Headed for a Food Shortage? A new study suggests that ethanol production could drive up corn prices, leaving U.S. grains and meat in short supply ...
www.popsci.com/popsci/science/f1a136eb64603110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html - 46k -
  |
