Grocery store article raised readers’ ire

We knew it was a first-world-problem" kind of story, but we guessed also it would be popular, and we were right. It is, after all, what many people are talking about.

A story headlined The shelves are so empty," by Spectator reporter Fallon Hewitt ran on the front page Thursday, and was one of the most-read stories of the week at thespec.com. Accompanying photos showed shelves where meat and cereal, for example, were scarce.

Some readers rightly questioned the headline, but most headlines, for better or worse, are intended to grab readers' attention.

We were immediately reminded by letter writers that life for average consumers isn't all that bad, despite the woes of the current pandemic.

Indeed, we had discussed that very fact when assigning the story.

Some noted that many can't afford much of the cornucopia available in grocery stores at the best of times.

Others pointed out that much of the world's population, and many in Hamilton, subsist on beans and rice, which are plentiful, inexpensive and delicious if you know how to cook them.

And many of us can recall parents and grandparents who could never conceive of the plenty that is available to well-to-do shoppers in grocery stores (and beyond) today.

In my youth, for example, the only winter vegetables seemed to be cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Exotic fruits were a mystery. Out-of-season vegetables were canned or frozen.

Today, we can get almost any fruit or vegetable at any time of the year. And even now, those scarce shelves are packed with more edible items than ever before, with an array of prepared foods that would befuddle our ancestors.

Meanwhile, Hewitt documented that while stocks are low at some stores, others have no apparent shortages. This is the context and balance we try to include in all articles, but of course it is also a helpful how-to guide for readers who are interested in such matters.

Further context was added by some letter writers, who reminded us that cereal shortages were partly due to labour shutdowns at Kellogg, not just supply chain issues or sick employees.

A newspaper can't ignore community conversations. We are obliged to reflect, join, and even start them.

These things help us prepare for our daily lives, and put them in perspective.

Paul Berton is editor-in-chief at The Hamilton Spectator. pberton@thespec.com