My favorite drink growing up was an ice-cold glass of lemonade, covered with condensation even in an air-conditioned kitchen. This was before I discovered seltzer water, my new muse. I don’t ever think lemonade will be that far out of grasp from my palate. Local food chains, grocers, retailers, and even gas stations will have at least one sugary lemon-based beverage for sale. Beyond that, you can purchase beautiful lemons at your local grocery store. Fresh produce is something our country, our farmers, and our company prides themselves on being able to deliver to every family. Any time I want, I can quickly make a pitcher of lemonade to enjoy when the need calls. But, what if that wasn’t true? What if lemons were no longer able to be easily grown due to pests, pestilence, or persistent weather? I suppose we could always use limes, but it wouldn’t be quite the same. That’s a problem.
In our current times, we have a drought issue in America. I live in Texas, one of the states involved, and I can attest to the extreme heat. Heat can be devastating to flora and fauna. It can also affect the aforementioned farmers and what you bring to your next dinner table. A bad drought can mean a low yield or ruined crop. NIDIS, our government’s drought information website reports that we have over 234 million acres of drought-affected crops in the USA. If you flattened those acres into a line, it would take your average trucker just under 7,000 hours of uninterrupted driving to cross. In just the years 2020-2021, California suffered 1.1 billion dollars in costs associated with droughts and heat, which included the loss of nearly 8,750 full and part-time jobs.
The costs really do stack up. Food costs rise, and occasionally we have to reach out to imports to satisfy demand. But what would happen if say, lemons went extinct due to poor climate? Many companies are working hard today to create solutions to food shortages. Voyage Foods, a novel Californian company is working hard to “future-proof” food by creating sustainable ways to produce them. For those of you with a peanut allergy, rejoice. Voyage Foods have created a nut-free, and highly adored peanut butter. They are also moving to pursue bean-free coffee and cacao-free chocolate. Many other companies have gone mainstream by substituting plant-based protein for traditional animal-based protein. Typically, it would be assumed that these businesses are propelled by a mission for health, maybe even the preservation of animals and resources. All of these efforts do have a benefit in the long run. It simplifies the national supply chain.
If you couldn’t naturally grow lemons where you live, soon you will have a local company able to “make” an identical version of lemonade for you. The technology and experience to make perfect substitutes may not be here yet, but strong efforts and results are being made. However, companies are making massive leaps in taste, nutrition, and cost. I see a future where season freight may not be as volatile, and where consumer demands can more easily be met. I also look forward to never having to worry about my dinner table lacking my favorite food and beverages.
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Iyer Amruthur is a business development specialist in the ALC San Antonio office and has two years of logistics experience. Iyer attended The University of Georgia where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, with a minor in Communications.
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Iyer Amruthur
Business Development Specialist
ALC San Antonio
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