The food industry hasn't exactly been brimming over with an abundance of good news lately. Not only are grocery bills increasing and the cost of wheat skyrocketing, now other food staples are not only going up in cost, they're in short supply as well.

The drought in Australia has been responsible for deteriorating rice production, which in turn has caused significant restrictions of exporting from other countries. Now people IN Asia are hoarding rice and the price of it is soaring. In response to the supply issues, bulk-shopping chain Costco has asked shoppers in the Bay area to limit their rice purchases and keep them at their regular level, as opposed to participating in the hoarding that has plagued Asia's rice supply.

One Vietnamese restaurant owner in Oakland has experienced the cost of rice doubling within a few short weeks and as a result, watched his supply diminish. With the cost of produce also increasing dramatically, the business has slowed right down.

That's just one example of what is undoubtedly going to become a common occurrence. We've already been warned that the wheat supply is in trouble due to the biofuel industry and the drought in Australia; now that problem is evident as we watch the cost of wheat go through the roof. It's not overly comforting to watch a common household item like rice - once an affordable way to feed a family on a budget - become inaccessible thanks to the cost and supply. Does anyone else think this is just a sign of what is to come over the next few years?

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