Politics and food prices

What I talk about when I talk about the rise in prices of our pantry staples, an automatic sourdough-starter gadget, and the plant-based milk we never anticipated.

Hello! Welcome to Technically Food, my mostly bi-weekly, sometimes weekly newsletter about how technology (or politics?) is changing the foods we eat. Greetings also to new subscribers. You can read last week's edition about new logos appearing on packaged foods. Icons like these are already used around the world.

News these days is landing at an alarming pace. The hint that there might be tariffs on Mexico is no bueno for produce lovers. Some of the biggest US imports from Mexico include berries, avocados, tomatoes and peppers. What would Superbowl be without guac? Thankfully, there’s a temporary agreement in place but stay on your toes and perhaps consider stocking up.

These don’t look store bought. Time for some backyard chickens? Photo by Gwendolyn Richards/Flickr.

Another ingredient feeling the burn? Eggs. Price and availability are heavily impacted by bird flu, which doesn’t appear to be going away. Per Morning Brew, the outbreak in the US has led to “roughly 104 million egg-laying birds being put down over the past two years, with 29 million culled since October.” That “everyone” eats eggs (ok, not everyone) is mostly a given. Even with a rise in price I don’t see folks limiting their shopping. What do you think?