Food Storage And Its Importance With Supply Chain Shortages

Since the 1970’s, we’ve witnessed a change in how some companies manufacturing and inventory systems work. The Toyota Productions System led the charge by transitioning from a Just-In-Case inventory system to a Just-In-Time one. But what does that really mean?

Just-In-Case (JIC) means enough products, parts, and inventory will be available if the supply chain runs into issues. There will be additional inventory held that is not used immediately.

Just-In-Time (JIT) means limited inventory is stored across the board. A product or specific part only arrives when it is needed and if a single part is delayed, the whole production is halted until that part arrives.

While operating with Just-In-Time can lead to lower costs, with less storage space required, it also has high risks of losing large chunks of money. If the supply systems have a hiccup and production halts for even a few days, it creates a daisy chain effect with every step in the production is delayed until that one part is available. For example, in 1997 Toyota lost 8 million dollars in revenue because a single supplier had a fire and stopped production for a couple of weeks.

We have all experienced what happens when Just-In-Time isn’t fast enough. With COVID-19 we have seen supply chains completely shut down. As a country, we have had to ration medical equipment like surgical masks and ventilators. Then we saw horrendous delays with every-day appliances like washers, dryers, and even your grandmothers new bed frame. Then you factor in the thousands of shipping containers stuck at ports waiting to being offloaded and supply chain problems around the world, we are walking into some people’s worst nightmares.

As we head into 2022, meat prices are skyrocketing, processed goods are in short supply, and people are talking about shortages occurring through all next year and even longer. We know the basics of supply and demand; more supply means less demand and lower costs. Flip that around and less supply leads to a higher demand and that means higher costs.

Why Do You Need Food Storage?

When it comes to food and your basic needs as a human being, we can easily see how Just-In-Case is a good way to ensure you can survive a supply chain issue. But supply shortages are not the only reason why having a food storage is important, here are some other reasons why you should maintain a food storage –

Financial Security – You lose your job, and it takes a month to find a new one.
Economic Crisis & Price Increases – You have the ability to buy in bulk and on sale.
Natural disasters – Flooding, fires and snowstorms can make getting to the store difficult if not impossible for a few days.
Convenient & self-sufficient – Want popcorn for your movie night? It’s in the storage room already.
Food & Supply Shortages – Supply chain issues meaning not enough supply to meet the demand.

Maintaining a food storage keeps you and your loved ones protected.

What Is Food Storage?

Food Storage is your way of being prepared for those Just-In-Case scenarios. It is looking past the first few hours of an emergency and having a plan in place for a longer period. We can compare it to the survival rule of 3. 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 days without water, or 3 weeks without food and you will die. Food, Water and Air are the must haves to survive. Luckily, in most cases we won’t have to worry about air. But if the waterlines are shut down for a week because of a horrible storm, we have a problem. A rule of thumb is a supply of 2 weeks of water and 3 months of food, but try to have at least a weeks’ worth of food at the minimum.

Where To Start When Building A Food Storage

Water storage is an easy place to start. After pizza night instead of recycling those 2-liter pop bottles, wash them out thoroughly and fill them with water. Work on building up a 2 or 3-week supply of water which would be around a gallon of water a day, per person. Then have iodine tablets or a water filter to use in case you need more.

With food and other supplies, the best place to start is by buying a little more of what you already use and building it up little by little. While rice and beans are great in a pinch, we all know that we don’t want to eat beans for 3 months if we can avoid it. A rule of thumb is the standard 2,000 calories a day per person. Roughly, that’s about a pound and a half of food per day. Aim for a 3-month supply of food and necessities.

The basic items like flour, sugar, rice, and beans are a staple to keep on hand. But it’s important not to forget about medications, vitamins, and personal hygiene items. You don’t want to run out of diapers if you have a little one running around. Make sure to keep toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, and other first aid items on hand. Don’t forget about pets and animal either. They will need food and water to survive as well.

How To Store Food

Try to keep food directly off the ground, even if only a few inches. Everyone organizes differently so find a system that works for you and your own space. Make sure to label what the food is and when you need to use it by. Then you just rotate the food into your normal routine and keep the supply fully stocked by replacing what you use. You won’t waste food if you are storing what you already eat, you will just have a safety net in place that you can survive from if needed.

Most canned food can be stored for at least a year and will have a visible expiration date. If you have time, canning your own food can be a great option. While this is more time consuming than running to the store, it is often cheaper and more cost effective. You can grow your own food in a garden or green house and add fresh food to your supply with minimal costs. If you have space for a chest freezer, this would be a great option to store meat especially if you hunt or fish.

Also, it is important to have an emergency 72-hour kit that you can take on the fly. Think about what you would need if a fire happened tonight, and you had to leave your home with a moments notice. Food, Water, and a plan of action.