Costco Begins Rice Rationing

By Efren | Thursday, April 24, 2008 | 14 Comments

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Getting rice for free has always been a given in nearly all the Asian restaurants I’ve been to (except, of course, for the ones that cater more towards white people who had the gall to charge, and meant that I would never go back).

Now, it looks like that’s going to fall by the wayside now that there’s a global shortage of rice and other foods with imported Asian rice prices shooting up by 300%, and Asian countries limiting rice imports in order to feed their own populations. The impact in American cities is already being felt, as noted in a San Jose Mercury News article, as local Costco stores are beginning to ration the number of 50 pound bags of imported Asian rice customers can buy. Domestically grown rice, obviously, isn’t as affected, which explains why it hasn’t affected other groups as hard.

Considering that there are really high rates of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and other food-related chronic diseases in Filipino Americans, this might actually be a blessing in disguise and force people to limit their rice (and calorie) intake. Unless, of course, we start turning to domestically grown rice because it’s cheaper.

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http://life.firelace.com darkmoon

Sam’s Club is limiting to 4 bags of the long grain. Which is kind of amusing actually, since to my knowledge, Chinese and Japanese actually prefer short grain. Makes it sticky, so easier to eat with chopsticks.

At least I’ve grown up with short-grain most of my life. In any case, I blame… hmm… the aliens. Yeah. Damn aliens have been beaming up the rice.
http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com Ernie

Unless, of course, we start turning to domestically grown rice because it’s cheaper.

Which we will, of course. Because us Asians are hella cheap.
http://life.firelace.com darkmoon

Which we will, of course. Because us Asians are hella cheap.

Speak for yourself! I don’t shop at Costco!!! (tries to figure out a way to wipe out the previous comment about Sam’s Club).
Obi

Tried American long grain. I prefer to pay more for Jasmine and Basmati rice rather than buy that crap.
ancient one

Efren, I don’ think that rice is the main cause of the chronic health problems plagueing Filipino Americans. I think it is more of Filipino American’s love of meat, dislike of eating lots of vegetables, and lack of exercise. I live in the same neighborhood as the Goldilocks, Costco, and Ranch 99 mentioned in the article. In the local park which I drive by almost every morning, there are lots of Asians exercising – from running and playing tennis to various forms of Tai Chi and even organized dance groups. When I go running there, I hear lots of Chinese and Vietnamese, but I seldom hear Tagalog or Ilokano, which is sad considering how many Filipinos there are in the neighborhood. I am often the only Filipino there, and I gotten to know the (very few) others who go there regularly. Same goes at the local fitness clubs.
http://flanflanflan.blogspot.com Efren

I think there’s a definite cultural bias for Filipino immigrants working out (I actually live in Daly City too), or at least going out in the sun for fear of “getting too dark”, which in Daly City probably wouldn’t happen given the fog.

There’s also a definite cultural bias for Filipino immigrants eating meat and not eating vegetables, which presumes a certain level of affluence (at least from what I remember from family conversations–meat = rich, vegetables = poor), along with being fat supposing a level of affluence, and just speaking from personal/familial preferences where rice is a significant portion of the meal, it’s a perfect recipe for higher rates of diabetes, hypertension and coronary artery disease. Any public health intervention has to get over these cultural perceptions of fat = rich and address them.

In the gym that I go to, there are about six Filipino fitness instructors, but I am usually the only Filipino in these classes. Interestingly enough, the majority of them were fitness instructors in Metro Manila before moving to San Francisco, and they did talk about the shift in the Filipino nouveau riche who are going to the gym to supposedly exercise (but mostly are just there for the free air conditioning and to show they have enough disposable income to go to the gym). I do see quite a few Filipino Americans at the gym, but it is extremely rare to see any Filipino immigrants.
http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com Ernie

Speaking of Filipinos not exercising, this post by Genghis was one of the first posts on 8Asians.