Now, it's meat processors that are shutting down due to COVID 19

After looking up some medical stuff on "tha internetz" and passing some items on to my parents, I then had to work very hard to get dad to stop bragging to the doctors how brilliant I was because of the medical information I found on "tha internetz". I didn't want his braggadocio to interfere with mom's treatment.

 

A curious phenomena, Alabama counties with meat packing plants have high per capita rates of COVID-19 cases. Using the Johns Hopkins map, we can 'connect the dots' along routes connecting packing plants. At one time I was tracking per capita COVID-19 cases between Alabama and the neighboring States of Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. Then I realized some states (Alabama) have especially weak testing sites. If you don't know you've got or gotten COVID-19, your numbers look much better.

Bob Wilson

 

it's a problem that won't be solved soon. tyson in iowa reopened with new protocols, but the sheriff said they'll shut it down quick if numbers start to spike again.

 

Meat shortage must be a local phenomenon. At least in our region, we have not seen drastic changes in the meat supply. Yesterday, I was able to order an additional case of pork belly from my local meat store at a regular price no problem. I just finished smoking ~20 lbs of bacon. I will be sending finished bacon to family and friends.

 

how bout plain old hamburg and chicken, etc?

 

We still have half of the beef in our freezer, so we don't need to buy ground beef. I didn't check it yesterday when I picked up the pork belly, but there was no empty spot in the meat cooler. Chicken, beef, pork all there. I have a feeling that they may be sourcing its own meat and they are not affected as badly as supermarket distributions are. They definitely do not carry Tyson or Smithfield products.

In the meantime, my homemade apple chip smoked and maple syrup flavored bacon is all sliced, ready to be vacuum-packed and flash frozen. Fried a few strips for tasting. Just perfect!

 

We could not bogey any hamburger today and had to settle for chicken nuggets.

 

same here, it's hit or miss. luckily, there has always been something, so far

 

A recent report suggests there are just four, meat packing companies. As they've been shutdown and suffered reduced production:

• Cattle and pig farmers have suffered a price collapse as their buyers have reduced demand.
• Consumers are facing higher prices and shortages.

Bob Wilson

 

yip