Coralville Courier

By Mike Thayer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is predicting a butter shortage, reporting there is 22% less butter in storage than there was at this time last year.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics has also chimed in, stating butter costs 24% more than it did in October 2021.

Just ahead of the holidays, this is when Americans do more cooking and A LOT of baking. The timing couldn't be worse.  A butter shortage?  Seriously?  Labor shortages and supply chain issues are to blame for the decreased supply, and increased costs for dairy farmers were cited for the price hike.  Thanks Joe!

Another example of how Aldi is cheaper than the mainstream grocery store.  And I walked in with butter being the only item on my list and walked out with just the butter!  I denied myself impulse buys.  Unprecedented...

I found myself with a bit of a butter shortage this morning, down to my last two sticks and some batch cooking on the agenda today.  I was also out of coffee creamer and stamps, so off to the mainstream grocery store I went for some one-stop shopping.  You can't buy stamps at Aldi and I like the Kroger brand of coffee creamer better than what Aldi now offers (they no longer sell Friendly Farms creamer) and the price difference is negligible.  I got my stamps, grabbed a jug of coffee creamer, walked over to the fridge with the butter and saw the prices...  The cheapest one pound box (4 sticks) was the Kroger brand at $4.99. Land O'Lakes was priced at $5.49 and Tillamook (love their cheese) was priced at $5.79.  The cheapest butter on the shelf was Kerrygold Grass Fed Pure Irish Butter at $3.50, but that was for just 8 ounces.

Hello Aldi!

Regular readers know that I for the most part don't get hung up over name brands.  While I do hold a few preferences where I go with the name brand, when it comes to food, not so much.   At Aldi, I purchased a one pound box (4 sticks) of Countryside Creamery Unsalted Butter for $3.98 plus tax.  That's $1 cheaper than the Kroger brand and entirely worth the six minute drive to Aldi and the extra stop.  Butter is butter, I don't need the name brand stuff to cook or bake with, I've never paused and thought, "Oh my, this butter is SO much better tasting than brand 'X'!"...  Butter is butter.

So plan ahead for your holiday baking and cooking, beat the shortage and stock up on butter at Aldi.  The price of butter is just another example of how Aldi is cheaper product for product than the mainstream grocery store.  A good plan B is to buy bulk at Costco or Sam's Club, you'll save there over the mainstream grocery store as well.

Other Predicted Shortages:  If you're hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, it's never too early to start planning that menu.  Even if you're not hosting, but you're asked or want to contribute to the feast, it's a good time to plan ahead.  Prices are up and shortages on Thanksgiving staples are predicted, so getting what you need now in beating the last minute Thanksgiving rush crowd would be a very good thing.  Shortages have been predicted for butter, cream cheese (just about any dairy product in fact), chocolate, corn, tomatoes, beer, turkeys, olive oil, frozen pies and even frozen pizza (a traditional no fuss dinner the day before Thanksgiving for many). 

$pend Wisely My Friends...

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Whether you're a lifelong resident of the Corridor area, a University of Iowa student, or just visiting the area, you've come to the right place if you're looking for information about lodging, dining, activities, finding a good mechanic, a lawyer and otherwise in the Metro area! Looking for a refreshing dinner experience? Find a restaurant that intrigues you in Metro Pursuit. Have some relatives coming into town and need some entertaining ideas? Find some in Metro Pursuit. Need to move? Find a house or apartment to your liking in Metro Pursuit. Serving the entire Corridor and the metro areas of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, Riverside, Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Marion and surrounding communities!

Today's weather forecast and a four day outlook.  Check this page for the latest weather reports in the corridor area.  Up-to-date weather conditions for the Iowa City area are observed at the Iowa City, Iowa City Municipal Airport, IA.  For weather conditions specific to other cities outside the corridor area, just type in your zip code below.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival will be holding the Freedom Festival Parade on Saturday, June 25, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

The following streets will be closed for the event from 7:00 a.m. (set up time) until 1:00 p.m. (tear down completion):

• 2^nd Avenue SE from 2^nd Street to 7^th Street
• 3^rd Avenue SE from 2^nd Street to 7^th Street
• 4^th Avenue SE from the railroad tracks to 8^th Street
• 3^rd Street SE from 1^st Avenue to 4^th Avenue
• 5^th Street SE from 1^st Avenue to 5^th Avenue
• 6^th Street SE from 1^st Avenue to 5^th Avenue
• 7^th Street SE from 3^rd Avenue to 5^th Avenue

Additionally, a “No Parking/Tow Away” zone will be enforced on these streets from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. per Municipal Code Sections 61.094 and 61.094A. Guests of the Market are encouraged to use the 4^th Avenue, GTC, 5 Seasons or Convention Complex parking ramps located within a few blocks of the Market. For additional parking information, please visit www.parkcedarrapids.com. Parking ramps are handicapped-accessible and market patrons with special needs are encouraged to use those areas. For additional parking information, please visit www.parkcedarrapids.com.

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