On an unrelated forum (e.g., it's nonCatholic), there's a guy whose formal training is agricultural economics, and he follows reports on the progress of various crops. He reported that we should expect a shortage of potatoes this year, because of troublesome weather in the Pacific Northwest, where most are grown. As I recall, the causes were not only prolonged rain, delaying planting in a region with a short growing season, but also early autumn/winter frost, degrading the number & quality of whatever spuds could be harvested from the fields before they rotted. Chronologically, it may have happened that the frost ended the last growing season, and the rain delayed what should be this season. Perhaps worst, the shortage reduced the harvest of potatoes grown as "seed" for next year's crop.
I'm writing from memory, so I can't cite any sources. I suppose that will please the members around here who express hostility toward my usual footnotes.
Topic: Everyone's a baker now (Read 1769 times)