Please look at this thread in the Classic Forum for some important and helpful information.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001SCZ

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 23, 1999

Answers

Based on the Senate Special Committee's 100 Day Report, here's my initial guess of some domestically produced goods that might have reduced availability and/or fetch more dollars in the Year 2000:

Chicken, Cheese, Infant Food, Beef, Breakfast Cereals, Fresh Vegetables, Bread, and Milk.

Also from the report:

"One of the most revealing findings in the Gartner Groups current status assessment is that 25% of food supply companies have not addressed supply chain and embedded systems issues. While this number represents an increaseof 10% since the March assessment, it is cause for concern and should be a signal to the industry that increased remediation and contingency planning effort is warranted in this area."

Comment: G. Flower of U.K. Action 2000 indicated that they had found 7%-10% of embedded chips to be a problem. This was much more than they had anticipated. What could this mean for food in general if we don't take embedded chips seriously in America?

"In response to Senator Dodds question regarding product contingency planning, FMIs president said ' for processed products, there are somewhere between three and five weeks of products on hand in retail facilities, and in the pipeline all the way through from the processor to retail, there would be several months of supply on the way already here and available for consumption.'"

Comment: The local Costco does not have anything close to three and five weeks of basic food groups on hand in the light of normal purchasing patterns. Based upon my personal calculations, a well stocked Costco, Sam's Club, or most other discount food warehouses could provide about 25 families with 30 days of preparations (basic food groups) before the shelves would be empty. Of course, there would be plenty of junk food and unusual-gourmet food items for the late comers. It would take then take between three days to a week to restock the shelves. Of course, anywhere from several hundred to many more customers would be vying to be the first 25 families in a panic.

"As with most of the industry assessments, most of the information base upon which analysis is conducted is founded upon self-reported information."

Comment: Prepare for the worst; hope for the best.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

Got 14 days of preps? If not, get started now. Click here.

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 23, 1999.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce

IMPORTED FOODS (millions of dollars)

Foods, feeds, and beverages: July 1999 = 3,680 : June 1999 = 3,759

Cane and beet sugar: July 1999 = 39 : June 1999 = 74

Fruits, frozen juices: July 1999 = 394 : June 1999 = 427

Meat products: July 1999 = 358: June 1999 = 382

Feedstuff and foodgrains: July 1999 = 122 : June 1999 = 143

Green coffee: July 1999 = 219 : June 1999 = 234

Vegetables: July 1999 = 321 : June 1999 = 330

Nonagricultural foods, etc.: July 1999 = 52 : June 1999 = 52

Food oils, oilseeds: July 1999 = 120 : June 1999 = 120

Bakery products: July 1999 = 214 : June 1999 = 214

Other foods: July 1999 = 217 : June 1999 = 216

Alcoholic bevs, exc. wine: July 1999 = 241 : June 1999 = 238

Nuts: July 1999 = 71 : June 1999 = 68

Tea, spices, etc.: July 1999 = 77 : June 1999 = 74

Dairy products and eggs: July 1999 = 83 : June 1999 = 77

Fish and shellfish: July 1999 = 747 : June 1999 = 739

Cocoa beans: July 1999 = 46 : June 1999 = 30

Wine and related products: July 1999 = 359 : June 1999 = 342

http://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/newsrel/trad0799.htm

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 23, 1999.

According to U.S. Commerce...

Selected Imports and Exports (in millions)

Animal feeds: July 1999 : Exports = 242 : Imports = 48

Cereal flour: July 1999 : Exports = 110 : Imports = 122

Coffee: July 1999 : Exports = 1 : Imports = 194

Corn: July 1999 : Exports = 453 : Imports = 2

Fish and preparations: July 1999 : Exports = 309 : Imports = 760

Meat and preparations: July 1999 : Exports = 539 : Imports = 279

Oils/fats, vegetable: July 1999 : Exports = 77 : Imports = 117

Rice: July 1999 : Exports = 66 : Imports = 10

Soybeans: July 1999 : Exports = 200 : Imports = 1

Sugar: July 1999 : Exports = 0 : Imports = 37

Vegetables and fruits: July 1999 : Exports = 561 : Imports = 652

Wheat: July 1999 : Exports = 351 : Imports = 31

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 23, 1999.