World food crisis: Can the U.S. meet surging wheat demand?

U.S. wheat crop

It is impossible not to notice that in the past year food prices have increased. Prices have gone up due to rising global demand and that includes sugar, cocoa, coffee, corn product and, yes, also cereals. Wheat, one of the major commodities, is experiencing shortage. Wheat supplies are tight due a number of set backs.

Big wheat producer and exporters, Australia and Canada, have suffered crop damage due to wet weather and excessive rain. Wheat production in Russia, the world’s third- biggest grower last year, suffered severely after the worst drought in at least half a century in Russia, In fact, now, the dry weather in Russia may keep the country out of the export market for another year, and it may rely on Kazakhstan and Ukraine to meet a domestic grain shortfall, Additionally, there are signs of rather alarming dryness in a number of Middle Eastern countries, especially major producers such as Iran, Iraq and Syria, in addition to Russia,

wheat products

Because of these conditions, the U.S. produced wheat is the only savior of the world food crisis. The U.S. is world’s biggest exporter and accounts for 27 percent of global wheat trade. However, the experts think, the U.S. may not have the logistical capacity to meet rising global wheat demand. It is expected that the increased demand from the U.S. may lead to supply bottlenecks, delaying deliveries and intensifying competition among importers.

Wouldn’t it have been better, rather than spending on war or bailing out crooked banksters, to spend some stimulus money, during recession, to enhance our crop production and transport abilities. The whole world will be thanking us.

That is something to think about!

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U.S. military is providing healthier meals

US military is trying for healthier meals

For generations, Army food has been considered average at best, and the diet fed to troops seldom took into account obesity or other long-range health risks. But those practices are evolving.

The U.S. military has started a more emphatic effort to change soldiers' eating habits, including color-coded labels that designate healthy items, and drill sergeants standing watch over the chow line, calling out soldiers who don't put enough fruit on their plates, according to the Associated Press

Army training sites across the nation, the mess hall is beginning to look different. Milk and juice dispensers are replacing soda fountains, and whole grains are being substituted for white bread and pasta.

The military increasingly believes that producing quality recruits starts at the dinner table during basic training, so it has started a more emphatic effort to change their eating habits. Color-coded labels point the way to healthy items, and drill sergeants stand watch over the chow line, calling out soldiers who don’t put enough fruit on their plates.

Many new soldiers have never given much thought to their diets - a problem that reflects the poor food choices of a nation with more and more obese people.

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