Chinese families are more easily able to afford food compared to their American counterparts, according to a Gallop poll released Wednesday. more ›

China's eight winter-wheat-producing provinces are facing their worst drought in 60 years. Over 7.7 million hectares have been affected, 42% of the planned harvest, which has prompted the UN to issue a warning about the potential effects on international food prices. The Chinese government has announced a plan to spend 6.7 million RMB combating the problem, which likely began with cloud seeding that resulted in a long-awaited snow yesterday. more ›

Given our ongoing preparation for the zombie apocalypse, Shanghai's announcement this week of a planned food storage facility comes as a huge relief. In the event of, well, whatever it is they are anticipating, the new storage base will supposedly guarantee the supply of one week's worth of meat and vegetables for Shanghai's 19+ million citizens. more ›

Sure, we're all aware of the large number of farmers being kicked off their land, but we probably forgot it'd have an affect on our produce prices! Authorities in Hangzhou are scrambling to protect farmland from developers for fear that the disappearing land will only increase already high vegetable prices. Half of the vegetables here in Shanghai are imported, while almost ninety percent of Beijing's have to be shipped in to the capital, so we can all expect prices to rise any where from 1.20RMB to 1.60RMB a kilogram. So next time you're on a country road and you seen an inexplicable villa development, be sure to thank them for your higher food bills. more ›

What's the best investment you could possibly have made with your money this year? We'll give you some hints: you probably like your broccoli sauteed in it, vampires can't stand it, and you should avoid eating it before a first date. Of course, we're talking about...garlic! Yep, the plant of the year in China has seen its value increase exponentially: one kilo of garlic is now worth over 6 yuan wholesale, up 286 percent since March. more ›

We know that this sounds like an April fool, but China could be facing a rice shortage. No, seriously. We told you a few days ago about KFC upping their prices; now the cost of the other staple in Shanghaiist's diet, rice, could be facing a hike due to fears over supply. For the moment, the government has frozen the price of rice — as well as that of other goods such as cooking oil — in an effort to curb food costs following their 23% leap in February, but has not ruled out price rises in the near future. They have also announced that farmers will receive increased prices for both rice and wheat as China attempts to avoid the rice production problems currently engulfing some other Asian states. more ›