I got one of those yesterday. I read over the grocery ads, which are really lousy this week! I decided to go ahead and run to Kroger, as I just wanted to get a couple things. It was a really nice day (sunny and warm) and was going to be the nicest day of the week - so why not.
I went to get milk, and cabbage for New Year's day (it's tradition). I did get both - but good grief they had cabbage advertised ON SALE for .79/lb.!!!!!! Only 2 stores advertised cabbage - one was .89 and one was .79 - WHAT???? It is normally .49/lb. or .59/lb.!! This is a common NY dish in this area - so they sure are taking advantage of that. Grrrrr.
But that wasn't the real problem.............................
Now mind you, Kroger was closed for Christmas, as they should have been. All I can think, is that they must have been CRAZY busy over the weekend and Monday. The shelves were bare! I don't mean stock was a little low - but there was completely empty sections of the store. Produce was minimal - I would say that department was three quarters empty. There were empty sections in the meat department and totally empty meat coolers.
Minimal milk and dairy was to be found.
(I wish I had my camera with me)
I have never seen a store look so bad, except when they were going out of business.
I asked two different workers what they heck was going on.
SUPER busy for 3 pre-holiday days and the truck that should have been there early Wednesday was a no show. Absolutely NO back stock is kept in their store rooms (no stock in back room is now normal).
They had strip steak, pork loins and corned beef briskets advertised on sale - and there was NOT one (of any of them) in the store. I wasn't going to buy any - but just got curious, so I looked around.
Many people always shop on Wednesday at this store, since it is the first day of sale and you can get your pick of goods. I can't imagine how many disappointed people there were yesterday. I was stunned.
It truly was a grim reminder of why we do what we do. This was a holiday weekend and a late truck. Think what could happen is it was a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, and no trucks coming.
I have always thought about these things, but never really saw the effects of the stores being truly empty (well, maybe if they say the SNOW on the news!). I have always heard that stores would be empty in 3 days if an emergency happened.
It was truly a rude awakening. It was kind of scary.
So dear friends - try your best to keep stocking up and have a nice surplus (at least 6 months) - because you never know what can cause a run on the grocery store - and then BOOM - THE SHELVES ARE EMPTY!
BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING!
What a sobering reminder! It's good to get them from time to time, because you start to forget just how bad things can get...
ReplyDeleteYou are so correct. I think we just always assume things will be great. Yes it was sobering for sure.
DeleteGreat reminder to me!
This is a good time to go through your stock and see that you have the basics to make things. Like soda, baking powder, salt, flour, sugar, spices along with canned veggies, beans and foods that will stick to your ribs.
ReplyDeleteYes. If we have the basics we can do all kinds of things and never be hungry. Those basics could save lives!
DeleteThere is something going on with cabbage right now, apparently. I'm in NC, and here the New Year's Day meal is collard greens and black-eyed peas. So I don't think it is price gouging here, but last week I was in Sav-Mor and green cabbage was $.97/#. I even commented to my daughter the next day how outrageous that was.
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy. I saw it a couple weeks ago and it was .59/lb. I can't imagine what could be going on - haven't heard a problem with cabbage. Everything else seems to be a problem however!
DeleteI sure wish I had a garden year round!!!!!!
I love how different areas have different traditions. We do corned beef & cabbage and black eyed peas here in IN.
Enjoy your greens!
I really hate it when that happens, but it is true lots of things go off the shelf in less then a day, if no one is stocking them.
ReplyDeleteIt just gives us a glimpse as to what would happen if something bad happened.
DeleteI have never seen this happen at this particular store.
May be something we have to get used!
The fires in California might have a great deal of influence on veggie prices for awhile. I still have 4 cabbages from my garden. So, am glad of that.
ReplyDeleteThat is true about the fires - never thought about that.
DeleteGood for you still having a bit of garden!
enjoy
That was scary and I need to go through my inventory. It seems like cabbage has been expensive here most of the time. I was lucky to find it for 25 cents a head on sale this summer and bought some to make freezer cole slaw. Hoping to find another good sale to make more! Happy New Year. Nancy
ReplyDeleteNancy I think we all need to make sure our inventories are good.
DeleteOh I would love to find .25/lb. cabbage! I canned coleslaw this year - it is yummy.
Happy New Year
I always have a surplus of stock but no where near 6 months.
ReplyDeleteAny and all surplus stock will help in a desperate situation. Just keep on stocking!
DeleteGood job
I agree that we need keep those pantries stocked. Over the summer I was looking for a sale item at Kroger. When I asked about it the dairy manager said that he didn't know why the sale items weren't sent to them. He said they put in their orders, but it really doesn't matter since the warehouse tends to send them what they want. Apparently they never know if the items they need to stock will be on truck. Not how I would run the business, but what do I know.
ReplyDeleteSure doesn't sound like a good way to run business. It sounds like you know a lot in my opinion - because I agree totally.
DeleteI know our Kroger also says that they keep NO back stock at all. What you see is what you get.
It truly is scary.
That is a really good reminder. I have seen the same thing happen at our local shopping centres in the past due to cyclones and floods. However it is all too easy to forget that things can go pear shaped very quickly in certain circumstances.
ReplyDeleteA good yet upsetting reminder. Things can change in a moment and then we could all be vulnerable IF we as individuals aren't prepared.
DeleteBest lesson - just keep plugging away at our deep pantries!
We saw that just after a big earthquake in L.A. back in the 90s. There was no electricity so they were escorting small groups in a little at a time. Our friends were there just a couple of hours later and said there wasn't a bottle of water left. In the smaller stores, some owners took advantage and started selling them for ridiculous prices. We were well stocked on everything so we were fine for the days without utilities. We used pool water for flushing so that helped. No pool here but we have about 100 gals. of warm-up water stored. We use it now for flushing and watering. Our gas tanks had also been nearly filled.
ReplyDeleteYou just never know. Stocking up is a very good thing.
There is yet another example of what could happen. There have been so many natural disasters lately, I would think everyone would be on their toes. Yet people think it will never happen to them.
DeleteOh, those people who price gouge should be jailed immediately. That is just plain old greed. So sad.
Yep, we need to keep ourselves protected.
We have a few shelves of emergency food all the time. We are now busy getting Brexit storage organised as leaving the EU sounds as though it will be difficult. Many many people think we are mad!
ReplyDeleteI think no one mad, when they are trying to protect themselves and family from ANY future problem.
DeleteThere are many things that can be a concern and we should be prepared.
Those people may not think you 'mad' if the need arises!
Keep working on it!
We were at Kroger yesterday too, although this was in Georgia. The produce section was bare, but I didn't think to ask about it. Wow, that is just wild about your Kroger. It's a good thing we have a stocked up pantry. Whew!
ReplyDeleteI guess none of them got trucks, huh? This was just a holiday - I hate to think if it were a disaster.
DeleteYes mam, we are definitely going to be the smart ones one day!
I think we are the smart ones now - just prepared.
Great topic. It always amazes me how little food some people keep in their homes. After Super Storm Sandy hit my area, I found out. I was well stocked thank goodness, I was feeding lots of additional people because we had power(live right near a fire station) and everyone else didn't. I did run out of fresh fruits, veggies and dairy. I went to the stores and they were totally empty. I have never seen anything like it. It took 3 weeks for things to get back to normal. We had powdered and shelf stable milk with plenty of frozen and canned veggies and fruit.
ReplyDeleteSome of the people that used to make fun of my stock pile, now have their own. Others people never learned and think that others will always bail them out.
An emergency situation can reassure the reasoning that we have. A back stock is always a good thing to have.
DeleteIt is fantastic that you were able to help others in that situation.
Considering the damage that the storm did, I am amazed it only took 3 weeks to get back to normal in the stores.
It only takes one emergency and folks will realize what they need to do. Sadly many have to go through it to realize.
Stay stocked my friend!
Sandy took a lot of people's stockpiles too with rain, and wind dashing them about and losing electricity. I know I personally helped carry out to the garbage tons of food that had been carefully stored in freezers, or toilet paper (those monstrous packages from Sam's Clubs) which were soaked. People had planned and were prepared, just not for this disaster. I was spared, and prepared, and then prepared to help others when the stores were empty.
DeleteSadly no amount of preparing can help in some situations
DeleteThanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI went to Kroger this morning, and they didn't have some of the specials that were advertised. It really wasn't a very good week for sales anyway, and I couldn't believe the prices on produce...cabbage and lettuce were at least 50% more expensive than usual. Not sure what is up with that.
It was a really bad week for sales in my opinion. Glad I didn't much. They didn't even have any good clearance.
DeleteAlways good to get reminders.
Thank you for this reminder, Cheryl. I don't keep a large food storage but I have a nice big floor to ceiling bookshelf in my mudroom that I use for dry food storage. After your post I realized I hadn't been as diligent about keeping things stocked as I like. I usually use $5 a week to add to my supplies to get it at the level I like. (surprisingly even that low amount allows for stocking up)
ReplyDeleteToday I took my $5 and stopped on the way home from meeting a friend for knitting and bought 2 cans of spaghetti sauce, 2 cans of diced tomatoes and a large can of crushed tomatoes for $4+ to add to my storage.
Thanks for the reminder!
Debra
Debra good job! Yes indeed $5 a week can add a great deal. Always watch for sales and markdowns too. Every little bit helps and may be very important some day!
DeleteGreat job.
Not being prepared is not my style. I always have canned goods and boxed items on hand that go together to make up "pantry meals", even when fresh or frozen isn't an option. After moving in late 2017, it took almost a year to regain the pantry to where I want it (including spices, the medical pantry and the bathroom pantry). I took it one thing at a time - one jar of spice, on box of bandaids, one package of toilet paper). I would say that the extra each week from my budget would get one thing each week until I was able to feel somewhat comfortable.
ReplyDeleteBaby steps! Another good post as to how small steps and changes can give us a since of well-being.
DeleteI know I feel comfortable - no matter what arises.
I just want everyone to feel that!
I have been hearing more and more how we should be stocked up for six months. I have stock but I would love figure out menus so I would know that we could do it and where I have a holes. I suspect there would be many days of low food if I started figuring that out.
ReplyDeleteA good goal for the new year. Thanks for the informative post.
You are welcome. We have a nice stockpile, but I am sure there would be holes in it as well. I figure even if I were down to pickles and jelly and could make simple biscuits we would survive!
DeleteIt may get to a point where the diet is not to varied - but food is food.
Good luck and yes that is a great goal.