What date do people see there being a problem with food shopping?

[Gobacktothe90s]

What date do people think food shopping will become a problem with Brexit?
I don't think it will be the 1st Jan as shops do have some stock in warehouses (obviously not a lot of fresh stuff but still some stock) but would people say it will be that first week as soon as the news shows lorry hold ups and then causing panic buyers?

Hopefully the supermarkets will have buying limits from the start this time, before essentials run out. I'm glad that Tesco is stockpiling non-perishables.

Hoping that the weather stays ok and there's no weather issues like ice,snow and floods affecting deliveries.

Just to say that, if you can afford it, then now is the time to give to food banks (either food or cash donations). Let them stock up on what they can while it's still in the shops.

I really worry about what No Deal would mean for the poorest in our society.

I thought that not checking things was against WTO rules?
Taking control by not checking what's coming in and is a recipe for disaster. The people smugglers will be pleased if that happens.

Costco is still doing their amazing 16kg bags of strong Canadian bread flour, as well as 16kg bags of sugar now. Was busy, but not terribly so, yesterday and people were definitely topping up on longlife essentials.

I have several weeks (at least!) of toiletries, cleaning products and dried and tinned goods in stock. Freezer is currently stocked with Xmas food. I have weekly Ocado delivery slots booked up to the 7th January atm. So really it will just be fresh food we need if it goes tits up on the high street.

Only thing I’m really concerned about is petrol/diesel for our cars.

Not everyone is / can prep, a lot of people only have a few day's food in.

This is why I feel that rather than it being considered by some numpties an act of selfishness to prepare, it is incumbent on everyone who has the resources to do just that. This will leave things clear for the many people who can’t afford to buy stuff in advance.

Apples and potatoes if stored correctly keep for weeks. I have space in my fridge as there’s only one of me but they can be kept outside at this time of year, as long as they’re protected from mice etc. I separate mine with kitchen roll.

We are pretty much prepped, did it early to get ahead of the Christmas rush. Think the most important remaining for us is frozen veg.

Need some medications though, repeat prescriptions on the to-do list for this week.

Guess we’re going to find out in the next few months what’s made in the U.K. and what we think is, but isnt...

I’m also going to keep an eye on profiteering and boycott accordingly

@Vivarium

Just to say that, if you can afford it, then now is the time to give to food banks (either food or cash donations). Let them stock up on what they can while it's still in the shops.

I really worry about what No Deal would mean for the poorest in our society.

Donate money to food banks - many are still not accepting actual items.

I've made sure I have one or two extras of all non-food items I can think of, because they think priority will be to keep up supplies of food, and that military would be used to bring in medicines (especially those which have life-changing effect if supply interrupted)

Things like: dishwasher tabs, washing up liquid, scourers and sponges, bin bags, tin foil, toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, shampoo and conditioner, sanpro, kitchen towel, washing powder, stationery, printer cartridges and paper,

I have just looked at our local foodbank and they are asking for tinned carrots, peas, meat and potatoes, chocolate, long life milk, cereal and deodorant. They also need soap, women and men toiletries, sanitary products, laundry powder and anti bac. At the moment they do not need any pasta, rice, beans tea or soup.

Long life fresh veg and fruit.
Upthread potatoes and apples were mentioned. I have been trialling keeping successfully for several weeks
Squashes. Especially onion and Crown Prince
Celeriac
Shallots
Onions
Turnips/ swede. I have both but not sure which is which.
Cabbages

I appreciate that all of these are uk winter veg and so designed (?) for storage, and so should still be available, but if I can avoid the shops in January, that must help others.

I plan on also buying oranges, apples and potatoes close to the end of the month.

Any other suggestions?

Forgot the sprouts. Am hoping they will last if still on the stalk with the end of the stalk in water - like artichokes

What are the nest tips for storing apples and potatoes, I keep apples in fridge but my potatoes grow sprouts In a week, doesn’t help that my kitchen is really small and warm.

Actually best tips for storing any fresh fruit?
Luckily my dc love tinned pineapple and green beans which both store well

Forgot to add that the price of Stamps will be rising by up to 14p in some cases so may be worth buying a book now (2nd class isn’t rising by quite so much if you’re sending something non urgent)

@Fattoushka I get a huge bag with all the mud on them. They last for weeks and weeks. Maybe check out a farmers market or something similar? I don’t buy those from the supermarket anymore

@Paranoidmarvin great tip thank you

Butternut squash, not sure if this has had a mention? It has a really long shelf life. You can use for soup or add it to curries, or mash instead of potato. Good as a baby food too. Sweet potatoes are similar, although not quite as long lasting.

The supermarkets have been stock piling items. The problem will be with fresh food - in winter most of the fruit and vegetables come via the EU ports.

The government won’t just wave lorries through. The countries those lorries come from won’t let their drivers break international law. Unfortunately the U.K. hasn’t prepared and doesn’t have the processes in place to handle new systems, either the technology or staffing. This is why Kent is being turned into a lorry park.

indignatio - that is a good veg list, garlic stores ok-ish too, we must get through a bulb a week, I know it is not filling but still pretty essential for us, I have a string of it hanging in the garage, sorry I don't know what happened to the bold bits there

As well as fresh stuff I am also worried about the 'for the want of a nail' scenarios. Like in the March lockdown there was enough flour in the UK but not enough domestic sized bags to package it in so there was a shortage at the shops, wasn't it the same with eggs boxes as well? There will be something else entirely frustrating like that come Jan or before.

What are the nest tips for storing apples

I grew up in a house with an orchard. We used to wrap in newspaper and keep in the garage.

Apple meringue is THE nostalgic pudding of my childhood

Indignatio Sweet potatoes keep for ages too, and tomatoes and salad last about three weeks in the fridge I've found.

Fattousha the pots will last for ages if you put them in dark area (under stairs, cupboard, garage or shed)

Oh Apple Meringue sounds fabulous Ethelswith do you have a recipe at all please.

Basically, it's like an apple crumble, only instead of the crumble you spread meringue over the top and bake (the meringue should stay fairly squishy)

I've never used a recipe, but had a quick Google and this recipe is pretty much it

pennysrecipes.com/4810/apple-meringue

The next door neighbours used to make apple snow, like this one

www.rivercottage.net/recipes/apple-snow

Thank you Ethelswith they sound amazing, will have to try them.