Buy Agri Food Stocks Then; Start Eating
James Bibbings, August 6th, 2009
During the great recession there have been ups and downs, ins and outs, tons of tears and very little rejoicing. At some point we've all been on the wrong side of a trade, seen the damage of broad company layoffs, had our 401k's destroyed, or have harbored deep ill feelings towards at least one (or more) government announcements. At times such as these the emotions connected with our dire and depressing circumstances can become overwhelming. So rather than being held down by circumstances that we cannot possibly control, what can we do about it? Rather than sit and complain let's find a way to get away from government intervention and unjust market influences. Clearly getting more active in politics, writing our representatives, and voting is one place to start. That however takes too much effort for many people; we need something easy. So let me be the first to lift up an idea, let's explore agricultural food investments. I'll explain.
At least two times a month, Ned Schmidt, publishes his thoughts on agricultural food products as an investment option. In his most recent publication on July 27th he wrote:
"A multitude of irrelevant questions still are before investors, in general. Will housing prices recover? What will GDP growth be? Will GOOG beat the estimates? Will bank stocks continue to recover? Those are all questions of yesterday, rather than being questions of tomorrow...
The outlook for BRICA [Brazil, Russia, India, China, ASEAN] over the next ten years is one of continued growth in consumer incomes. From that income, the spending on Agri-Food will strain the capabilities of the world's Agri-Food production system. Never in the modern era has the world faced a growing structural shortage of Agri-Food. Is your portfolio ready for the next decade, or is it still trying to recover from the errors of the past decade?"
I think that Mr. Schmidt has some very valid points to his argument that Agri-Food may be the next big investment sector. When considering this and the oppressive policies being placed on the American populace perhaps it's time to that we buy food related investments and just start eating. Who can stop us? Granted human beings aren't the only driving force behind agri-food prices, however if we all start to love our food just a bit more we certainly can make an impact.
Just Start Eating
Think about it, eating more than we normally do, seeking out new foods to enjoy, and trying to find new cooking ideas will help us to get away from the economic circumstances we can't control. We've heard our whole lives that some people turn to food as a stress reliever. It becomes a comfort food for them, so why shouldn't we go to it for our financial woes? Eating more and exploring our taste buds will only help our investments if they are made in Agri-Food. Through our efforts we should also be able to move further away from government intervention and influence. As far as I know the SEC and CFTC don't have any rules related to how much we can eat to influence our investments. If we all work together it can be our little insider secret! The more we eat the more we'll make and the less the government will be able to control, simple as that.
Where to Eat...
Ok. Ok. I know this investing idea has a million holes in it, however further exploring food and your taste buds is nothing to scoff at. Eating more may not be able to do wonders for your portfolio, but when done at an appropriate venue it can certainly improve your psyche and get things back on track. That's why I personally would like to invite you to an event taking place in the town where I grew up to chase your economic blues away.
On August 28-30th I will be attending the 6th Annual Epicurean Classic in St. Joseph, Michigan, approximately 90 miles from Chicago on Lake Michigan. The event will take place on the waterfront and is being sponsored by food and appliance guru KitchenAid. As a Michigan company, headquartered just miles from the event, KitchenAid uses the Epicurean Classic to bring awareness to the nation's second most agriculturally diverse state. With over 40 live cooking demonstrations, 10 wine/beer/olive oil tasting seminars, more than 60 wines, and 6 live dinner preparations, guests will be able to experience food first hand like never before. At the Epicurean Classic, food aficionados and celebrated chefs from around the globe will be provided with full working kitchens, and stage settings to showcase their skills for you.
This Year's Presenters: (See Website For Full Biographies):
Eve Aranoff, Caleb Barber & Diedre Heekin, Rose Levy Beranbaum, Carlyn Berghoff, Jennifer Blakeslee, Gale Gand, Giuliano Hazan, Jean Joho, Mary Karlin, David Leite, Jennifer McLagen, Mary Sue Milliken, Eric Patterson, Andy Pfrozheimer, Brian Polcyn, Ted Reader, Andy Schloss, Jonathan Schuler, Karen Solomon, Curtis Stone, Anna Thomas, Scott Uehlein, Tom Valenti, Bruce Weinsteain & Mark Scarbrough, Ari Weinzeig, Takashi Yagihasi, and more.
This Year's Dinners Preparers: (See Website For Details)
Dine with Andy Pforzheimer, author of The Barcelona Cookbook.
Dine with Giuliano Hazan, author of Thirty Minute Pastas.
Dine with Jennifer McLagan, author of Fat (2009 James Beard Cookbook of the Year)
Dine with David Leite, author of The New Portuguese Table
Dine with Jonathan Schuler, author of The Schuler's Cookbook.
Dine with Scott Uehlein, author of Canyon Ranch Nourish
So What Are You Waiting For?
All in all I'd be delighted for you, your friends, and your family to visit my home town and experience this event. Just try to think of a better way to end your summer and chase your economic blues away than with a great food tasting event on the beach! What are you waiting for sign up today, learn some more about food, and start eating in ways you never imagined possible. Besides our Agri-food investments are counting on you!
-James Bibbings
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