Thread by @TorontoStar

Groceries are in tighter supply — and certainly more expensive — than they were before the pandemic. So what's causing the shortages?

Here are five myths debunked about empty shelves. Story by @jacoblorinc:
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1) Neither the trucker convoy nor the vaccine mandates are solely responsible for food disruptions; the sidelining of drivers isn't widespread enough to be primarily responsible. Still, some experts say the mandate could exacerbate an existing problem.
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2) A wide range of factors have contributed to food disruptions. Canadian grocery stores were facing supply constraints well before the trucker mandate, largely attributable to a mix of extreme weather, labour issues, COVID outbreaks and logistics.
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3) Disruptions will result in fewer options, rather than rampant shortages. Experts say the vast majority of people — with the exception of those in remote areas that often rely on air shipments of products — will be able to put food on their table.
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4) Supply chain issues, not consumer demand, are driving food costs and disruptions. All the factors mentioned above appear to significantly outweigh purchasing interest from shoppers.
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5) If you didn’t find the spinach you were looking for, try again tomorrow. Sometimes, what appears to be a shortage is really just temporarily low inventory. An empty shelf is not evidence of a widespread problem.
thestar.com/business/2022/…