Wheat skyrocketed to $12 to $24 per bushel depending on the variety a few years ago. But wheat prices have since come back down to earth on the spot market.

http://www.chartsrus.com/chart2.php?image=http://www.sharelynx.com/chartstemp/free/cots/cots4cncnrw.php

http://www.silverbearcafe.com/private/2.08/wheat.html

As of today, one 60 pound bushel of wheat cost $5.25, so the cost per pound is about 8.75 cents. OK, this is the price per bushel for large contracts on the commodity exchange. But even then, should a 50 pound sack of wheat jump from a pro rata $4.38 for 50 pounds up to $32 to $55 for 50 pounds as many bulk sellers retail the wheat for? That is a HUGE, HUGE markup. Bottom line...wheat jumps from .0875 cents per pound up to .64 cents to $1.10 per pound.

http://www.quotewheat.com/

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/bushels.html

I can buy decent stone ground whole wheat for less than it cost to buy grain and grind it myself. But we have to remember this was how it was with many poor countries that the World Bank has taken under its thumb.

Haiti for example. They used to be totally self sufficient rice producers then the US imports subsidized rice and their farms can't compete so go bust. They lose all rice production abilities and now are dependent on the US for its rice. Almost same scenario with Jamaica and their milk production.

http://www1.american.edu/TED/haitirice.htm

http://www.lifeanddebt.org/

Anyway, what is your take on all this? Is all this markup due to the trendy survivalists craze for wheat? Or are wheat dealers just trying to get in on the Wall Street / Big Bankers greed wagon?

Thanks