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Is the
United States facing a food crisis?
Old-thinker news | Dec. 20, 2007
By Daniel Taylor
Food banks are running
low on
food in America nationwide, with some being forced to close. The Salvation Army reports that donations are
down 20% while demand has gone up. World food prices are
rising dramatically while supplies are falling as the United Nations reports that food
riots could begin to spread worldwide. A top food economist
warns that the world should expect massive inflation on food for
the next 5 years.
The news wires have been filled
with stories nationwide describing the same scenario: food banks
facing increased demand with less supplies. The situation does not
appear to be getting the attention it deserves.
The following is a list of
articles covering the shortages (as well as global food trends),
although there are sure to be some that I have missed.
Nation Responds, but Shortage Still
Critical at Food Banks Around the Country
On Thanksgiving Day, America's Second Harvest - The
Nation's Food Bank Network, issued an urgent call for support,
projecting an immediate food shortage of 15 million pounds - the
equivalent of more than 400 truckloads or 11.7 million meals - by
the end of the year.
Shortages at Food Banks Cause Closures
A
shortage at food banks around the country is forcing some to close
their doors for good
Food Bank Shortage
Food donations all across the nation are down. The East Texas Food
Bank has 900,000 pounds less of nationally donated food than normal.
Food Bank Running Critically Low On Supplies
As the holiday season approaches, the state's largest food supplier
said it doesn't know how it will help the hundreds of agencies that
count on it to feed the hungry.
VIDEO:
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank Faces Shortage
Gleaners Community Food Bank
facing critical shortage
The inventory of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern
Michigan has dropped by 1.5 million pounds of food, while the
agency’s distribution from January through September increased by
2.2 million pounds (12.7 percent), compared to the same period in
2006.
Food banks hit by supply shortage
For many of New Haven’s homeless and poor, chicken dinner at soup
kitchens every night is a sign of bad times
Salvation Army short on donations
The Christmas
season is underway and the Salvation Army bell ringers are working
hard to make Christmas a little merrier this year for some. However
donations are going downhill this holiday season.
More Needy Families, Fewer Donations to
Salvation Army
"Hardly anybody's buying," Richards said. "This is the worst I've
seen it in 15 years."
"Food banks nationwide face shortages"
It is being called one of the most
demanding years in decades.
Top food economist: expect massive
inflation for next 5 years
Rising US food inflation, now
a 25-year high, is reminiscent of the 1970s and will continue for
the next five years due to growing world economies, increased food
demand and a sharp expansion of corn-based ethanol production, a top
food economist said Friday.
Wal-Mart, ConAgra help ease food shortage
The growing need for food among the area's needy and
working poor is not lost on Angelia Smith.
Donations are down
High gasoline prices, seasonal unemployment in the
agriculture and tourism industries as well as the collapse of the
housing market have left thousands in the region struggling to pay
bills and keep even a minimum of food on their own tables.
UN warns on soaring food prices
The soaring cost of food is threatening millions of people in poor
countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
has warned
World food price rises to
hit consumers
Global food prices will
come under further pressure on Monday as benchmark prices for
cereals at much higher levels come into operation, making it almost
inevitable that a second wave of food price inflation will hit the
world's leading economies.
World food stocks dwindling rapidly, UN
warns
In an "unforeseen and unprecedented" shift, the world food supply is
dwindling rapidly and food prices are soaring to historic levels,
the top food and agriculture official of the United Nations warned
Monday.
Wheat Rises in Chicago on Supply Concerns;
Corn, Soybeans Fall
Wheat futures gained in Chicago on expectations demand is increasing
at a time of shrinking global stockpiles. Corn and soybeans declined
as recent advances may have been overdone
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