Food prices rise sharply - and there's more to come

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Thursday, December 16, 2010 | Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writer

[Mad Dawgg]

For the first time since 2008, inflation is hitting consumers in the stomach.

Grocery prices grew by more than 1 1/2 times the overall rate of inflation this year, outpaced only by costs of transportation and medical care, according to numbers released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Economists predict that this is only the beginning. Fueled by the higher costs of wheat, sugar, corn, soybeans and energy, shoppers could see as much as a 4 percent increase at the supermarket checkout next year.

[cherry]

I love Fred Meyers and their normal prices are high but they do have sales and coupons that are very good....veggies at 3/$1...good milk prices...2# cheese at $3.50...etc....

[cherry]

"On the up side though, a Whopper Junior with fries is now more in line with reasonable caloric intake for one of three meals in the day"

yes...that is a plus...the new "value" hamburgers and fries are what they started out with 45 yrs ago....you could get a small simple hamburger, a small fry, and a drink for one dollar....

[Global2010]

Thanks for asking.
He is doing amazingly great.

Same back to you and your daughter.

[CrazyIvan]

I’ve got my own place with lots of deer and a 3 acre lake so
living off the land wouldn’t be too hard. Nice thing about
my location is that the deer are corn and clover fed and the
meat is excellent, even for those who don’t have much use
for game. I’d like to try one of the .17 rifles some time.
A friend of mine had one 40 years ago, and it flopped then.
Is the new version the same round?

[cherry]

hear ya...know some relatives who live high off the govt....but I don't care....there is nothing better than a great chili or spaghetti or potato soup made in your own little kitchen....

my mother fed we 6 kids and my dad made little money....she made TOMATO gravy and we had it served over toast...it was outrageously good....

she used to make her own pizza dough and all with a little tomato paste and oregano and maybe a little cheese if she had it....

we didn't have steak or lobster or crab but we had hamburger and chicken on Sunday....still the best food I remember in my life....filling,delicious, wanted and appreciated...

[cherry]

I got my Bakers last week...I nearly screamed it was so pretty...big glossy pics it was like looking at an oversized coffee table book....I highly recommend ordering one if you just need to smile......

[Darnright]

>I bought some flash frozen local farm birds and they were horrible to eat.<

I wonder if they were spent layers, which tend to be tougher than the cornish cross broilers. The broilers are processed when they’re about 8 weeks so they’re tender.

[Global2010]

Not sure but others at the time concurred ya had to boil them to make them eat able.

[RWB Patriot]

Should be interesting to hear the excuses for it.

[markman46]

all the Perdue ones were 8lbs, so they turn out dry in the inside (I’m not the greatest cook in the world either, mind you).

did you baste the chicken???? ;)

[esoxmagnum]

well... sorta... when I remember..

I’m sure that is part of the problem, I’m a lazy cook, lol

[markman46]

LOL

I learned a long time ago (50 lb) by a very good cook to baste any bird you have..

[GOPsterinMA]

Hmmm...might be cheaper to buy a ready made one.

[maine-iac7]

Johny's Seeds here in Maine is a good source for seeds and advice.
They grow their own seed - organic, non-hybird.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/

advice:
http://growingideas.johnnyseeds.com/

I concentrate on just a few varieties - tomatoes and salad vegetables and herbs, mostly. This fall, I poked some onions and garlic in the ground - they are getting far to
expensive!
If I had the space, I would plant what I call a secret survival food: Jerusalem artichokes. Not really of the artichoke family, but a sun choke. They are invasive so need to be planted away from everything else - they grow 6’ or more with yellow double-daisy like flowers. Their potato like tubers are the food...very nutritious, and can be left in the ground for ‘storage’ - People don't realize it's a food crop - just looks like some weed run amock.
So if someone should take your food - you'd still have this.
I make my own lard - a very healthy fat if made from naturally raised, organic pigs. It's monounsaturated.

Can’t beat it for frying, pie crust, and biscuits. Has a high burn point.

and I make ghee from organic butter. (I make it in the oven rather than stove top. Not needing constant eye and not so likely to burn on bottom.) It lasts a long time - LONG time without refrigeration.