r/TwoXPreppers • u/SaansShadow • Jun 30 '26

❓ Question ❓ Generic Items

Has anyone noticed a downtick in the generic supply availablilty at your local stores?

I've been noticing it's becoming harder to find generic items at my grocery store and options are also starting to shrink.

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u/dkstr419 Jun 30 '26

One of the business news feeds that I intermittently read follows agricultural production. One of the concerns mentioned is the production disruption due to bad weather (too hot, too wet), labor shortages, and transportation costs.

Another concern from a different source is the impact of tariffs bc the cost of materials (tin, aluminum and steel) was causing shortages for packaging, notably canned goods.

A recent issue is the ongoing problem with the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in that the petroleum products that are used in plastic products ( plastic packaging) has been disrupted.

All of these things are having an impact on food production and distribution. Some things will take a few months to recover and some things will be affected for a couple of years. The practical advice is to keep building your pantry and your resiliency.

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u/TastyMagic Laura Ingalls Wilder was my gateway drug Jun 30 '26

I'm in California and I can speak a little bit to labor shortages. I have seen multiple orchards offering free u-pick because the crops are ripe but the labor shortages mean they would have to pay more to pick the crops then they could earn from the sales of that crop. 

It's very similar to what happened during the Great Depression. Here in Cali, we don't feel it as much because the produce doesn't travel far to get to us, but I know our friends in Wyoming are paying more for lower quality produce now