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buckle8017yesterday at 5:35 PM4 repliesview on HN

These particular potatoes won't be wasted.

But other potatoes likely will be.

It's not like people are suddenly going to want more potatoes.


Replies

cpercivayesterday at 5:44 PM

There is some elasticity of demand. Some people will eat more potatoes and less bread or rice. Other people will fill up their cupboards; just because the farmer doesn't want to store these for later doesn't mean that individual consumers won't.

lkbmyesterday at 5:47 PM

A lot of people will have a few more potato-heavy meals if they happen to have more potatoes. This means they'll (presumably) buy a little less of other ingredients for a spell, and maybe we'll end up with more of those going to waste, but it's definitely possible for that not to happen. Seems like a ripple of delayed food purchases of dry goods can be absorbed by reduced production far, far down the line.

mrzoolyesterday at 6:12 PM

Joke’s on you, got an air fryer for Christmas and I’m roasting potatoes every day, never bought so many potatoes in my life. They’re absolutely delicious.

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fwipyesterday at 5:42 PM

Lots of people are price-sensitive to groceries, and will eat more potatoes if some of them are free.