California grocery official: Don’t stockpile supplies during coronavirus pandemic
Faced with bare grocery shelves, the head of the state grocers association on Thursday called on consumers to stop panicked over-buying, saying the state’s supermarket supply chain has been stressed and needs a chance to catch up.
Speaking at a coronavirus press conference in Sacramento County where a new stay at home order was announced, Ronald Fong, president of the California Grocers Association, called on consumers to back off and shop as they normally do for food to allow the state’s supermarkets to regroup and resupply.
He noted that some consumers who normally buy food a week at a time are stockpiling months worth of food and supplies. Supermarkets are typically restocked once a day via truck deliveries, he said. Some of those daily shipments have been doubled and tripled as stores try to keep up with demand.
“The distribution channel cannot keep up with this pattern,” Fong said. “Consumers should return to their normal buying patterns, and the distribution system will have a chance to catch up.”
Grocery stores around the state have been reporting a run on many non-perishable items, such as toilet paper and bottles of water, as well as rice and other foods. Many have run out of some supplies. That, in turn, has given the false sense that there is a shortage of products, Fong said.
Fong said the production system is still strong and that there are plenty of supplies available.
“We understand that consumers are concerned and have anxiety as to what will happen next,” he said. “There is really no need to overbuy or stockpile food supplies. You will be able to purchase your necessities. The food production system is safe, intact, and it is plentiful.”
Numerous California counties have issued stay at home orders, but those orders allow people to go to grocery stores at any time.
Fong, though, warned that overbuying by some consumers can put older consumers, who are ordered to stay home and not go into stores, at more risk of not being able to take care of themselves.
“One person’s overbuying can result in another’s inability to purchase the food they need,” he said. “In particular, the most vulnerable, over age 65. Overbuying compromises their ability and our ability to deliver to them the goods that they need.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 12:14 PM.