Grab Your Bananas: Dockworker Strike And What To Expect For Food And Goods Shortages

For the first time in decades, dockworkers at 36 ports from Maine to Texas are on strike. Furthermore, if it lasts longer than a few weeks, it will choke supply networks, resulting in shortages and increased prices.

While they've been working for awhile on getting things moved and stored in preparation for the strike, stores like Costco and Walmart are already seeing a massive increase in customers stocking up on supplies. Couple that with horrific storm Helene and millions still stranded without basic supplies, and we've got trouble brewing my friends. There are hundreds of stores that are already running out of food and water that are miles away from the storm disaster from Florida to New York.

Closed for businessPhoto byRichelleg

Although some progress had been reported in the most recent contract discussions, workers started walking picket lines early this morning in a walkout over salaries. The interesting thing is, a tight presidential election is just 34 days away, and the strike will also play a role if shortages have an impact on voters.

Should the strike continue, companies would have to compensate shippers for their delays, and certain goods will not arrive in time for the busiest holiday shopping season. My advice? Don't wait to get your essentials.

What you'll see first: bananas.

If it continues, look for avocados, mangoes, meats, soybeans, cranberries, beer, wine, liquor, coffee, pet food, seed oils, olive oil, salt, batteries, cars and their parts, generators, some medications, and medical supplies. This is just the beginning, and hopefully a contract can be reached before whatever we have left or can produce here will skyrocket due to demand.

Empty shelvesPhoto byRichelleg

I've been saying it for years, you guys need to take yourself out of the broken food and supply system. You can do this by growing your own food and harvesting your own water. While we're coming out of growing season for veggie gardens, you can still purchase fruits and veggies at the store (hopefully) and process and preserve them in canning jars, the freezer, or dehydrators. Stock up on seeds. Go to your local farmers markets and stock up on fresh meats and eggs. They'll appreciate the business, and you'll have food security you can count on. Finally, learn herbal medicine and foraging.

Learn to make your own, on your own.

Citations:

Hsu, A. (2024, September 30). East and Gulf Coast dockworkers could strike tonight. Here’s what’s at stake. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/27/nx-s1-5124956/dockworkers-strike-shipping-east-gulf-coast-ports

Lee, D. (2024, October 1). Striking dock workers shut down ports on east coast of the U.S. - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-10-01/dock-workers-launch