Rising food prices: What can you do?

By MoneyhighStreet Staff. Published on May 2, 2008 This post currently has no comments.

As food shortages tighten their grip on the developing world and push up prices, we look at how you can do the yourself, the world and your pocket a big favour…

These are lean times indeed. On top of financial and economic woes, the threat of recession, and rocketing oil prices, the world is now facing a considerable food shortage.

High food prices

Here in privileged Western society it is hard to imagine anybody going hungry. And while the issue is a life-threatening one for millions in many parts of the world, for us it means higher food prices and a little extra financial pressure. Of course, there is often a group of people who inadvertently benefit from such circumstances. This time it is farmers and food producers.

The UN has already met to discuss possible courses of action action to tackle the crisis. However, this is an issue for which there is no quick fix. Because of this, there is an onus on everybody to buy sensibly, which of course can help save money too.

As with many problems of this kind, the food crisis will hit the unemployed and lower-paid the hardest. However, it is possible to maintain a very good, healthy diet and keep your shopping bills at their current level. In fact, the current situation might just be the spur you need to eat fresh, healthy produce.

The fact is that most of us squander a lot of money on processed and/or imported foods. Buying fresh and buying local is better for you, better for sustainability and better for your pocket. It is impractical to suggest that everything you buy should be grown or produced in Britain, but local produce will be fresher and should be cheaper. Markets are a good idea for fresh food, and you can hit the supermarkets for preserved foods.

If you are prudent you can cut your supermarket bills significantly without taking any drop in quality. Check out our article on How to save money at the supermarket for some more tricks and tips.

Much of the unsustainable, and increasingly expensive, nature of our food intake is due to the distances that certain foods travel. Certainly, there is no need to live on potatoes and lentils for the rest of our lives, but do we really need to eat strawberries in December? Strawberries that are flown in from places like Israel and north Africa, and are often poor in quality and taste.

In modern society, and especially urban society, outdoor space is precious. But if you have it you should use it. A generation or two ago a vegetable patch was a standard in most back gardens, even in the cities. There is no reason why it should not be this way again. A small vegetable patch could save you a few hundred pounds a year, when you consider the cost of good, fresh organic produce.

And a vegetable patch needn’t be limited to just carrots and potatoes. Try to experiment. With the help of a greenhouse or a plastic tunnel an average British summer will ripen grapes and tomatoes. Then of course there are strawberries - the kind you get in July and August, as opposed to the December variety.

Finally, if you come across food that keeps and is at a good price, there is no harm in buying in bulk if you have the storage space. Buy what you need when it’s in season and you will get a much better price.

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