Thursday, July 28, 2022

Sacré poupon

 

There's a mustard shortage.

Oh yes, I know that there are very serious problems in the world right now.  War in Ukraine, saber rattling over Taiwan, global hunger, extreme weather events, Republicans trying to overthrow American democracy, baseball trade deadline ... but still, in France, this is a national emergency

I'm ... not ... kidding.   And it's a climate change symptom (probably), caused by problems where mustard is grown, mostly in Canada.  And the French are questioning whether they should be growing more mustard themselves, as in their own country.

So it's a problem.


France’s mustard shortage fuels drama and panic in grocery stores

"Mustard is a staple of most French diets — adding a kick to fries and sandwiches — and a key ingredient in iconic dishes like steak tartare. It’s also a source of national pride: The production of mustard was regulated in France as early as the Middle Ages, and the world-famous Dijon mustard comes from the Burgundy region. While historians say mustard wasn’t invented in France, many French people claim it as their own.

Droughts and heat waves that occurred last year in Canada — the source of about 80 percent of France’s mustard seed imports — severely disrupted global supply. Containers to transport foodstuffs are hard to come by, and the high cost of fuel has made shipping costs skyrocket. French producers say mustard-seed-eating insects, which thrive in warmer temperatures, are also foiling crops."

Yes, most definitely a problem.

Just don't come for the tomatoes.









Get it while it's spicy.  (Or yellow.  Or Dijon.  Or brown.  If it's on the shelf, get it.)



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