NEWS/INFORMATIONALS

We’re running out of chocolate, candy-maker warns

Source:  NBCNews.com

There’s no need to start hoarding Hershey’s yet but the world could be running out of chocolate.

Cue screams. Cue tackles at the office candy bowl. Let the streets run brown from “The Chocolate Wars.”

After all, there could be a “a potential cocoa shortage by 2020,” said international candy-making giant Barry Callebaut in its 2014 annual report. That’s if current farming methods don’t get an upgrade, industry giants say.

 

 

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This echoes warnings by confectioner Mars, which has previously predicted a global shortage of 1 million tonnes of cocoa by the year 2020.

Several trends are to blame for the sweet shortfall, said Matthew Bradbard, a commodities analyst at Chicago-based RCM Asset Management.

For starters, “China has a growing appetite for chocolate,” said Bradbard. Meanwhile, a fungal infection called “frosty pod” is estimated to have wiped out 30-40 percent of the world’s cocoa production.

On top of that, the big ups and downs in the cocoa market, like the recent Ebola scare that sent prices spiking 15 percent, continue to scare off smaller farmers from the market.

chocolate shortage

 

To ensure steadier supplies, big chocolate producers like Mars have pledged to buy 100 percent “sustainably grown” cocoa by 2020.

That’s a ways away. What about this season? Are our stockings and Hanukkah gilt in peril?

“I don’t think so,” said Bardbard with a laugh.

And likely for seasons to come. You just might have to pay a prettier penny at times to get them.

 

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NEWS/INFORMATIONALS

Very easy, inexpensive Cat Scratching post

 

cat scratching post

This was so easy to make and the cost was under $5.00.  My daughter and I made this together…  We priced the average cat scratching post in the local pet stores and couldn’t believe how expensive they were, starting price was around $30 and went up to like $500.  So I said we can make our own and wow, it was so easy to do and the end result was amazing 

Items needed:

Bailing Twine

Smooth Log – remove all bark – we used a wire brush to smooth the surface of the log

Glue gun to firmly secure the twine on to the log – only gluing the start – where the knots are and the final twine to be sure it doesn’t unravel.

We sprayed the twine with catnip spray to entice our Kitty Chloe’s interest in the log, but I doubt this is really necessary as their nature is to scratch these types of surfaces.

We chose to personalize the log with paint, but you can decorate or leave plain.  Your choice.

This project took approximately 2 hours to complete and the smiles on my daughters face was just priceless!!  Turned out to be a great fun thing for us to do on a boring Sunday afternoon.

 3,649 total views