What will be the Japanese disaster's impact on food prices?

[RandySF]

It's my understanding that the tsunami ruined a lot of farmland? What was being grown there? I ask because I know there has been a lot of upward pressure on the price of rice and other staples (my wife frequently sends bags of rice to her family in the Philippines).

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Rice, veggies.

Also if we get damage here, the food will also go up. Whether it is fear or real.

[Sherman A1]

2. It will affect all prices as it

ripples through the economy.

[Denninmi]

3. A worst case scenario with the nuclear disaster ...

... with widespread leaks of radiation into the north Pacific could probably cause problems with seafood for years to come. If radiation were to spread through the food chain, I imagine it's possible that things like Pacific salmon and king crab fisheries could be affected.

[FBaggins]

5. Don't worry about the fish.

The japanese were even planning to get their uranium FROM sea water. Returning a tiny fraction of it isn't going to be the issue.

[Hannah Bell]

4. oddly enough, the price of rice is currently dropping. though it's a japanese staple

and the japanese produce a large amount of their own supply & a reduced crop in japan would send them to the global market.

stocks are up.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-15/rice-may-extend-decline-limiting-food-costs-un-s-calpe-says.html