Is 2023 going to present seniors with more difficulty, specifically at the grocery store? In recent years, shopping for everyday essentials has become a bit more difficult and a lot of that is due to COVID-19. We’ve endured toilet paper shortages and struggled to find shelf-stable foods and even baby formula. We’ve also witnessed prices skyrocket due to inflation over the products that we could find. Sadly, it seems that 2023 might bring more difficulty for Florida seniors with product shortages and will require us to do a lot of guesswork when it comes to our grocery hauls.
This will certainly create even more uncertainty for consumers and frustration for seniors that may not have access to what they need. Let’s take a closer look at the factors contributing to these potential shortages and the specific items that might start noticing you won’t be able to find for a while.
Taking a Look at What to Expect
One of the primary culprits behind the looming product shortages is unfavorable weather conditions. Poor weather, including storms and diseases impacting plant health, has affected crops like oranges. If we’re talking specifics… it’s called Citrus greening which is a bacterial disease that unfortunately affects orange trees and has the ability to ravage orange groves and even nurseries. While this is bad news, a Florida farmer has made a discovery that could change this. WFSU Public Media stated, “A citrus farmer saw that the Donaldson tree was still producing fruit and acting differently than other trees in the grove.”
Also, CNN reported that orange shortages were anticipated due to these weather-related challenges during the latest growing season. Similarly, we aren’t catching much of a break with the scarcity of beef which can be attributed to a drought experienced in Texas. This is reducing the available land for grazing land and is decreasing beef production, which was highlighted in the Washington Times.
To add sting to the bite, it’s not only food items that may be affected by these impending shortages. The manufacturing industry is also experiencing setbacks that could impact other supply chains which raises even more cause for concern. For instance, the shortage of aluminum used in pet food cans might lead to a scarcity of certain pet food products and if you have something coming up that you’re preparing to celebrate, you might want to brace yourself even more because the production of champagne has been intentionally reduced as well. This was mainly due to a noticed decline in consumption during the pandemic which could cause a description of how much you see when you make a trip to a wine and spirits or the market.
Adding a bit more to the injury, beer could also face shortages due to the scarcity of necessary carbonation products. Not to mention, this contributes to the same aluminum-related challenges faced by pet food manufacturers as well. These factors might cause beer lovers to encounter difficulties in finding their favorite brews.
There’s a Bit More Bad News
You can also expect a few other things to temporarily go missing or to be out of stock consistently. Produce like broccoli and cauliflower will be in ‘less supply’ along with tomatoes and avocados. To make matters worse…corn and lettuce may also fall into this bucket of shortages.
Here’s the thing, the U.S. heavily relies on corn for various purposes, including consumption, corn syrup production, and corn oil extraction. Unfortunately, the US Department of Agriculture reported a significant drop in corn crops between 2021 and 2022. This reduction in supply could lead to shortages of corn-based products, affecting various food items across the board.
Milk production has also seen a decline and you guessed it…the availability of both butter and ice cream will be affected among other things. This reduction in supply has, of course, resulted in increased prices for butter, making it an opportune time for consumers to consider alternatives like margarine. This could actually be a good thing considering that it could quite literally push you to make healthier lifestyle choices when it comes to things like this.
Indulging in ice cream may become challenging and we might also notice the effects that impending grain shortages will have. Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to filling the shelves at stores and it’s not because production simply isn’t fast enough. There are a wide range of factors that play a part in this and the point is for seniors in Florida to be ready.
Expect goods that you buy in aluminum cans to not be there one day (they will show up again hopefully soon) and prepare to find alternatives to fresh products like milk and butter and consider replacements like margarine and plant or nut-based kinds of milk.
These potential shortages are not limited to food items and they aren’t only going to affect one place. Florida seniors have the chance to act fast and navigate these uncertainties with a bit more options than in other areas because of the access to market alternatives.
While it’s essential for Florida seniors to stay informed about these potential shortages, it’s equally important to remain adaptable. Exploring local alternatives, supporting regional farmers’ markets, and engaging in sustainable practices can help alleviate the strain on the global supply chain. By embracing change and supporting local initiatives, we can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future. Who knows…this might be what we needed to force ourselves to learn to plan ahead and make better choices for our health.
Florida Seniors, Ensure You’re Planning Ahead
As we navigate the uncertainties of 2023, let’s remember that we are not powerless. By making informed choices and fostering a sense of community, we can weather these challenges together and ensure that the products we need and love remain accessible. To combat what ‘could’ happen, Florida seniors need to stay proactive and find other means of getting fresh meat and produce other than the grocery store.
This could ultimately mean, as we’ve mentioned…supporting local farmers more and even learning to grow your own if you want to find another hobby while you’re at it. While expected shortages could pose a problem, if you plan early…you may not even notice there’s a shortage at all.
