It’s not only in the Philippines were people are affected by the rice crisis brought about by the weekly price increase of rice. In a prime time TV news reports two days ago, Filipinos living in the US particularly in Union City California, are panic buying because of the recent continuing price increase of rice in the world market.
The price increase of rice in the US have doubled since food crisis hit the rest of the world which is the reason why Asians especially Pinoys, resorted to buying frenzy so as to prepare the impact of yet to come another food price increase.
Thailand and Vietnam are the primary exporters of rice to the US. Their good quality rice, labeled as premium rice is having brisk sales among a great number of rice eating American customers. But others prefer the more affordable US produced rice. However, the circumstances behind the food crisis, it was noted that there was really no rice shortage.
The supply and demand did not changed only that there was a drastic moves on the part of the rice exporting countries to raise the price of rice, and the end results are rice hoarding, panic buying, rice rationing and food riots and worst civil, political and economic unrest in poor countries.
With these events, the poor countries are not alone; the US of A is also affected by the overblown rice crisis. Americans are going to market places to buy sacks of jasmine rice because the usual $20 has permanently gone and went-up to $40.