Buy sugar now, price going up

[BamaLady]

Worldwide shortfall in supply.

Long article with lots of numbers telling why:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aaR6UnIxBbqc

Just in time for holiday baking. :frown:

[billig]

I didn't really understand that article...excesses here, cutbacks here, payouts to farmers from millers, Brazil and India having problems...
I wouldn't ever cut back on growing sugar beets during hard times...you can do without movies or going to disney, but hardly anybody doesn't want a sweet treat even when they're poor as dirt.

[BamaLady]

It is a lot to wade through and get any sense from.

Brazil, a big, big, sugar exporter has been growing sugarcane for making ethanol. Instead of exporting the cane, they've been turning it into fuel. (Like we do with corn)

In India, farmers are planting grain food crops instead of sugar cane. It will take time for the gap between the demand and what will be grown to catch up.

Another thing I didn't know: Sugar is more expensive in the U.S. than any other country, because it is subsidized by the government. In other words, they have guaranteed the growers the price will never drop below a certain amount. This is one reason you will find high fructose corn syrup used to sweeten everything here. The U.S. is the only country that uses HFCS to this extent.

Cane sugar used to be used to sweeten soft drinks, until it got a little expensive. The corn lobby persuaded the soft drink manufacturers to use HFCS to sweeten their sodas. They don't taste the same as they did years ago, and to me, don't have the same "mouth feel". They are too sweet, now, IMHO.

[Zyxx]

I'm glad I bought 20 lbs. for $4 a couple weeks ago. Now to find cheap flour....

[clarkestep]

You know, I bet this is why there have been a lot of high fructose corn syrup commercials on tv lately. I think 'they' are trying to prepare us for something like this to happen. Humm.....

[gettinrevvin2007]

Thanks for posting. I didn't read the article, since I didn't have enough time. I have Qs to match a sale here, and was debating whether to use them or not, since we don't use much sugar here, but I think I will go grab some now. Thanks.

[shelleyf]

Originally Posted by gettinrevvin2007 Thanks for posting. I didn't read the article, since I didn't have enough time. I have Qs to match a sale here, and was debating whether to use them or not, since we don't use much sugar here, but I think I will go grab some now. Thanks.

Yeah I agree. Now is the time to stock up on sugar. I was wondering if I should get them from the sale this week at 1.30 a bag (with coupon) for Domino's 5 lb. bags, so now you talked me into it. lol We go through alot of sugar, usually 2 bags a month.

[loaslaen]

Here's a tip for storing sugar. If you buy those canisters of Kool-aid, Tang, Country Time Lemonade, etc., then rinse them out and store sugar in those. They stack pretty good and keep the sugar dry. I take the label off as well. If you use sugar to make things that don't require exact measurements, (like adding to tea, koolaid, etc.) then the lid holds approx. 1 cup. So this also saves some time from getting out measuring cups.

You could also reuse them for other pantry items as well (flour, cornmeal, dry beans, rice, pasta, etc) They hold 1 lb of dry pinto beans perfectly. You could also use those Crystal Light canisters for storing as well, they don't quite hold 1 lb. of beans. The label comes off of those as well. I like that I can write my own label on it without being confused with theirs. Has anyone else ever pulled leftovers out of the fridge while looking for the butter? LOL!

[couponnewbiemich]

Dang it, the best I can do this week is $1.50 for a 5 lb. bag of sugar...I think I may just have to buy a few at that price...

[Cin42382]

Just remember to store it all well so you dont get buggers :)