(U-WIRE) A new phenomenon could soon be sweeping Facebook: panic buying.
A group started in England, “On May 15, 2008 everyone needs to go out and panic buy CARROTS,” has gained a substantial following, having attracted more than 180,000 people since the beginning of January who have pledged to panic buy carrots in various worldwide localities May 15.
The group has gained somewhat of a cult following in England but has members everywhere from Morocco, South Korea, Iran and Australia, to Michigan and Ohio.
“This has to be the greatest group I have ever seen,” said Joseph Johnson from North Carolina State. “I’m gonna buy a good 20 pounds of carrots.”
Other Facebook groups have attempted to replicate the success of the carrot buying phenomenon. Groups encouraging people to panic buy parrots, pineapples and carrot blenders have sprung up but have not gained anything close to panic buying carrot’s popularity.
The group’s creator, Freya Valentine, told Radio Warwick, a student radio station for the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, how she came up with the idea.
“I thought it would be really funny to get people to go to a furniture store and get everyone to buy a sofa,” Valentine told radio hosts Will and Russ on “RaW Primetime.” “But then (I) thought, we can’t really get enough people to go buy a sofa, so we downsized to carrots.”
Concerns have been raised about the implications of a worldwide carrot-buying rampage, ranging from what to do with all the carrots, to the possibilities of a worldwide carrot shortage.
Brian Drury, the produce manager at the Giant Eagle north of campus, assured students, at his store at least, there is nothing to worry about.
“On average we have maybe 150 to 200 (one pound) bags per day,” he said. “We have maybe 50 of the large (two-pound) bags.”
To picture this in easier terms, Drury said if all the crates of carrots for a day were stacked up, the stack would be six feet tall and two feet wide.
“I usually don’t run out,” Drury said. “But if there is a strange food phenomenon – either there’s a run on them or an abnormal buying habit – then it could happen.”
Ohio State students have the power to exhaust Giant Eagle’s carrot supply.
“We’ve only run out once and that was when OSU students came back after Christmas break and had no food,” he said. “So they came in and bought everything they could. They stocked up on carrots… We were out for 12 hours.”
Drury said if he were to run out, he could have carrots restocked the next day.
Questions have also been raised about what to do with vast quantities of panic-bought carrots. Suggestions posted on Facebook range from cooking large pots of carrot soup and carrot cakes to leaving masses of carrots in public places.
“Why not (for those of us who live in cities) put them all on/around/near a famous landmark,” Thomas Sherborne said. “I live in London, so I could put mine at the foot of Nelsons Column, or in the fountain at Trafalgar Square. If there was enough people, then that would look absolutely hilarious.”
“(Why) don’t we all put them on public transport, like trains, buses, black cabs, anywhere and maybe write on them ‘carrot invasion,'” said Josh Parker from London.
Some have decided to be more philanthropic with their carrots.
“I have decided that with the little student cash that I have, that carrots are a worthy cause. There’s a nice homeless guy that can play the guitar really well… maybe I’ll give my carrots to him,” said Emma Shiels from Newcastle. “I don’t think drug dealers accept carrots as an exchange, so I sure hope he eats them. Or maybe I’ll donate it to the Donkey Shelter.”
Valentine talked about future plans for panic buying.
“I think we might possibly do it again next year but with something else,” she said.
Future plans could have a political motive.
“Milk would be another good one,” suggested one of the radio hosts. “Farmers always get a rough deal on the prices they get, so you could actually become quite political with that.”
Valentine urged everyone to join the cause.
“Simply just go out and buy carrots on May the 15th.”