Don’t Bother Standing in That Long Line

Repeat after me: There is no rice shortage in the United States.

That’s worth keeping mind as stories about the big warehouse stores rationing rice begin to spread. Yes, some, but not all, Costco and Sam’s Club stores are limiting bulk rice purchases by customers. But they’re not responding to consumers who suddenly went to the pantry and found all the rice gone. Remember, those stores cater to small businesses as well.

USA Rice Federation Spokesman David Coia explained it this way:

"It’s possible that small restaurants and bodega-type neighborhood stores may be purchasing rice in larger quantities than they do typically to avoid higher prices," Coia said about the warehouse chain restrictions.

Besides, as anyone who shops at Costco or Sam’s Club all the time already knows, those stores run out of things all the time.