Food and Drink : Global potato shortage

Global potato shortage

There’s a growing global potato shortage — a real problem for a planet addicted to french fries and chips.

A number of popular items, including marmite and cream cheese, have faced scarcities amid supply chain disruptions wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and extreme weather. Potatoes are the latest to join the list, becoming unevenly available in some countries and fast-food chains because of a confluence of factors.

In Japan, McDonald’s locations stopped offering large and medium-size french fry orders late last month, after pandemic-related supply chain issues and floods in the Port of Vancouver delayed potato shipments.

Days later, South Africa’s leading makers of potato chips warned that potatoes were in disturbingly short supply after a bad frost and excessive rains led to low local yields, on top of global sourcing shortages.

In Kenya this month, Kentucky Fried Chicken locations struck french fries, known locally as chips, from menus, as virus-related shipping delays held up containers full of potatoes for more than a month.

“You love our chips a little too much, and we’ve run out,” KFC Kenya tweeted on Jan. 3. “Sorry!”

In the meantime, the chain offered customers the chance to swap in other menu items — chicken, buns, soda, coleslaw and maize-based ugali — in place of fries in combo meals.

Other Kenyan fast-food restaurants were able to offer the goods.

“We have enough fries for everyone,” Kenya’s Burger King wrote in a Jan. 4 Instagram post.

Beyond the inconvenience, the shortage drew some anger among Kenyans over KFC’s reliance on imported instead of local potatoes, which are in their harvest season.

KFC’s chief executive for East Africa, Jacques Theunissen, told Kenya’s Business Daily that it could not easily switch to Kenyan potatoes because of global quality standards.

“All suppliers need to go through the global QA [quality assurance] approval process, and we cannot bypass that even if we run out to ensure that our food is safe for consumption by our customers,” he said.

Some on social media called for a KFC boycott and asked why the franchise had not sought approval for local suppliers from the start.

National Potato Council of Kenya chief executive Wachira Kaguongo told local media that the country’s farmers produce 62 varieties, and “with the proper arrangement, proper planning” they could supply KFC.

Pandemic or no, potato shortages crop up from time to time because of bad weather, blights or labor disputes.

China, Russia, India and the United States are the world’s top potato producers. But last year, U.S. farmers had to destroy a glut of millions of potatoes after lockdowns and stay-at-home orders led to a steep decline in demand, including from restaurants. The U.S. potato crop declined by 2 percent in 2021, according to a November report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Japan is the United States’ largest oversees market for potatoes, according to the USDA. Japan has more than 3,000 McDonald’s franchises, and relies on potatoes grown in the United States and sent by ship from North America.

McDonald’s in Japan said it was considering flying in potatoes to meet demand until the backup in Vancouver was resolved. But after heavy snow in early January further delayed shipments, the company announced that it would be sticking with its small-order maximum for at least another month.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/08/potato-shortage-french-fries-japan-kenya-south-africa-pandemic-supply-chains/

Re: Global potato shortage

Japan is the United States’ largest oversees market for potatoes

Shouldn't it say "overseas"? Shame on you, Washington Post!

Re: Global potato shortage

Lol! There edittor must suk!

Re: Global potato shortage

Fire Bezos!
Into space!
Without a rocket!

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

He needs to carry a hairless cat around with him.

Re: Global potato shortage

He is off to a good start with being bald.
Now, as you mention, he needs a cat and a mini me!

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Global potato shortage

The edytor shoudl be feired….out of a kannon.

Re: Global potato shortage

Potatoes are smaller or shorter than us.
So when you stand over them you are over seeing them.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

lol, I can picture the editor saying that when the boss says, "How could you have missed this error??"

Re: Global potato shortage

Remember this?

Re: Global potato shortage

1:03 I dunno what she is looking for and why she is pulling them out but some that should be pulled out for whatever reason have got to pass her, right?

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

I didn't know what she was doing either. They probably just told her to look busy for the camera. They were dumping all the potatoes anyway, so why was she even doing whatever she was doing?

Re: Global potato shortage

Lots of Irish people are gonna die.





😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Global potato shortage

You beat me too it! I tip my hat to you, good sir!

Re: Global potato shortage

Thank you!



😺 Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. 🤨 Let's go, Brandon! 🤨 Try that in a small town.

Re: Global potato shortage

Have they checked the boards? There are quite a few 'potatoes' here.

Beware the sound of one hand clapping.

Re: Global potato shortage

With Steve Lake absent, you're the biggest potato here. You even look like a potato. Useless lump.

Relax, faggot.

Re: Global potato shortage

Stay Puft Man.
Potato.
Make up your mind.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

You want in on the action? I'll name you as well, and it will stick.

Relax, faggot.

Re: Global potato shortage

Whatever dude.
All I gotta do is put you on block and therefore no more whatever name you come up with for me.
No one cares and everyone of the board hates you for being tied with Scum Venom of being the boards biggest asshole.

Yeah, I know you never mean any of it.
It is all just part of your asshole trolling joking schtick where we have yet ANOTHER one of these who is just joking around with that shit.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

Nice meltdown, mate.

Relax, faggot.

Re: Global potato shortage

LOL

There you go trolling again when I point out the truth of who you really are.

I got your number asshole.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

How do you even manage to get by in life being as stupid as you are? Seriously, who supervises you and pays for you to live? It's obvious you don't even have a job.

Relax, faggot.

Re: Global potato shortage

You are looking more and more desperate now that I got you figured out and am showing everyone here.

You are just like Miley and AZN.
A phony troll pretending to be angry.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

Why a shortage? That should never happen with the great Filmboards Potato Farm still in operation. Paging Steve Lake… your time to shine has arrived!

Relax, faggot.

Re: Global potato shortage

Fast food chains are one of the biggest reasons for food shortages and why food at the grocery store is more expensive.

Melting down over top boy

Re: Global potato shortage

What does this have to do with the OP?
Nuthin!
Just that u r my funny punny hunny and I wanted 2b sure ya saw this!




"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

😂

Re: Global potato shortage

What kind, mashed or baked?

Re: Global potato shortage

Mashed/baked/roasted/fries/chips/hash browns

Re: Global potato shortage

NOBODY….TELL….GINNY

Poor guy has enough on his plate already

Re: Global potato shortage

I'm sure we'll survive without the second worst "food" there is, after refined sugar.

Check my block list because you're probably on it.

Re: Global potato shortage

🙄 why u so sour

live a lil broski

Re: Global potato shortage

I agree. I even thought of asking him to list some things that make him smile/laugh.

Re: Global potato shortage

Making up more crackpot bullshit.

I have yet to see anyone agree with your claim.
Put up or shut up you fucking moron.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: Global potato shortage

People can do without greasy french fries. Most potato cooking is full of calories and fats. Very few people I know will eat a plain boiled potato or a plain baked potato.

Can you hear the hue and cry if there was a sugar shortage?

Re: Global potato shortage

What are you gonna do when the chips are down?
Top