Re: Global Hunger is Increasing, UN Report Says

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Jim Webster" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>"Dean Hoffman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> On 11/26/03 1:01 AM, in article [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Jim
>> Webster" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>
>> > there are a handful of big oil companies who can determine the market, a
>> > group of member states who get together and plan these things. I forget
>how
>> > many million grain producers there are.
>> >
>> > In the EU with CAP reform the land could well go out of agriculture into
>> > timber or such things as pony paddocks etc

>>      The number of places farmers can sell their production is decreasing.
>> Something like 4 or 5 companies account for something like 80% of the U.S.
>> grain exported.
>>   The number of meat packers also declining.  I don't know how many of
>those
>> are left.
>>   If there is such a thing as a food cartel it might be somewhere in the
>> processing area.

>In the UK something like 80% of food is sold through four supermarkets.

Here in NZ we have effectively 2 chains with various brands. 
Have also heard how at least one food processor operates ... they set 
the price they will buy at x ... and if you don't like it ? ... tough. 
Sell elsewhere ... if you can.

Bruce


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It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to 
think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone´s fault. 
If it was Us, what did that make Me ? After all, I´m one of Us. I must be. 
I´ve certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No-one ever thinks 
of themselves as one of Them. We´re always one of Us. It´s Them that do 
the bad things.         <=> Terry Pratchett. Jingo.