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Food Issues and Shortages

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Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: (General discussion regarding the coronavirus pandemic)
URL: http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=42432
Printed Date: March 28 2024 at 3:51am


Topic: Food Issues and Shortages
Posted By: FluMom
Subject: Food Issues and Shortages
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 10:33am

Here is the thread people asked for please post food problems here.




Replies:
Posted By: cindylouflu
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 11:44am

Meat, dairy, eggs and frozen foods hit or miss.  Limits imposed for some items.



Posted By: KiwiMum
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 1:28pm

I'm currently following reports of a global wheat shortage. We're certainly running low on flour here in NZ as the majority of the flour we eat comes from Australia. I think this is something to watch.



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Those who got it wrong, for whatever reason, may feel defensive and retrench into a position that doesn’t accord with the facts.


Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 1:38pm

I am def. looking at and preparing to purchase an upright freezer. I have an outside shed with electric to place it in (no garage in this condo). Used to have a chest freezer out there, sold it to a friend for $50 (it was old) after my son moved out, figured I didn't need it or the electric bill for it anymore...sigh...this time around I am going for the frost free upright and am going to fill that thing up. 



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: ME163
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 8:38pm

the key ro food shortages is going to be southern Africa and corn . if they have  a good crop, wheat and corn surpluses can be used in feed crops.  If there is a famine in southern africa, all bets are off.   



Posted By: Thorne!
Date Posted: April 06 2020 at 9:55pm

My sister reports milk, butter and egg shortages in Maine. Either none, or two per customer.

On the other hand, our five goat does have all recently birthed, and our chickens are laying 20-22 eggs per day.



Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 5:29am

While everyone is seeing limitations on things like milk at the stores, there technically is no shortage.  The problem is that people are not eating in restaurants anymore.  A lot of our food is prepared for commercial use, not to be sold in grocery stores. 

 Think about how many people routinely eat in restaurants, who are now eating at home.  Dairy farmers across the US are actually having to dump milk because of distribution problems.  Children at schools are no longer getting the little cartons of milk for breakfast and lunch.  Trendy coffee houses no longer use the cream from their farm to table business models.  The little butter bubble packs used in restaurants are not packaged for sale at the grocery store.  

Since distributors were unprepared for the shift, they have not yet worked out how to get these products into stores.  Thus, a lot of food is going to waste.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 7:11am

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

Here is the thread people asked for please post food problems here.

Thanks FluMom - hopefully this thread is another opportunity to help the readers of the forum get ready for 'potential pandemic'...of starvation!



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 7:19am

Originally posted by ME163 ME163 wrote:

the key ro food shortages is going to be southern Africa and corn . if they have  a good crop, wheat and corn surpluses can be used in feed crops.  If there is a famine in southern africa, all bets are off.   

Top 3 corn producers in the world are USA, China, and Brazil.    Right now 2019 was 'the year of no harvest' in large tracts of the USA (you can watch farmers finishing harvesting last years crop this spring on youTube), Brazil had a terrible year.  My feed prices went up 30-40% (depending on product) last fall as so many crops failed in so many states, provinces and other countries we import from.  We know that 'all bets are off' as to what's happening in China and if they are warning their citizens to have 3-6 months of rice, flour etc in their homes … 

I wouldn't count on much of anything coming out of Africa (East) due to the locusts... horrifying to my 'farming' eyes...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4KEUoeZ0fU - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4KEUoeZ0fU





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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: EdwinSm,
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 7:58am

The latest FAO report has world food prices falling, and on their page of "cereal supply and demand" they say

Originally posted by "FAO" "FAO" wrote:

Near-record wheat production expected in 2020; ample supplies to help shield food markets from turmoil of coronavirus storm 

http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/csdb/en/ - Link to FAO


Just hoping that supply lines hold up, and the harvest can get to where it is needed.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 8:05am

Flubergasted - Personally, I'm concerned about both the short term food shortages being caused by SARS2, but even more so about the long term shortages; 

a) how major disruptions to supply chain like warehouses full of eggs being garbaged because they can't get cartons to pack them into to ship/sell in UK - this is a shorter (hopefully) term problem but is a good example of just how delicate our system is... https://consciousnessofsheep.co.uk/2020/03/26/liebigs-law-writ-large/ - https://consciousnessofsheep.co.uk/2020/03/26/liebigs-law-writ-large/

b) as countries try to protect their own people and nationalism kicks in hard - more and more countries will limit or stop exports. One example (there are dozens!) China grows 40% of worlds rice, they are now withholding for own use, not to mention the tons/tonnes they import from other countries (including US!).

c) Meat is under 'attack' between animal activists, African Swine Flu (took out 2/3 of pigs in China last year - over 1/3 of ENTIRE worlds pigs died in 2019!), all major US meat plants are being bought out by China and products will go to them first, shipping issues for animal feed are causing problems in many places, lack of availability/rising feed costs, droughts/flooding/fires... the list is never ending and I face it in various ways day to day here on farm so realize how real it is.

d) labour issues - right now Canada & the USA are both suffering huge labour issues for farming... https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/canada-to-allow-seasonal-foreign-workers-but-they-must-self-isolate-minister-says/ar-BB12caLZ?ocid=spartanntp&fbclid=IwAR2hK6LbriR6JRFVLaXYr_pkQeRf7PejllYgZaHKdVmAg8f24ZK3PKziPEY - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/canada-to-allow-seasonal-foreign-workers-but-they-must-self-isolate-minister-says/ar-BB12caLZ?ocid=spartanntp&fbclid=IwAR2hK6LbriR6JRFVLaXYr_pkQeRf7PejllYgZaHKdVmAg8f24ZK3PKziPEY  

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-farmworkers-idUSKBN21O179?fbclid=IwAR2QxeM4qKfrvCvh3a6UzfuWfslp2CFm_4ns7zYVtTD_z7UVjFyR1mVPfkY - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-farmworkers-idUSKBN21O179?fbclid=IwAR2QxeM4qKfrvCvh3a6UzfuWfslp2CFm_4ns7zYVtTD_z7UVjFyR1mVPfkY

These are just a few of the issues we are facing - they are all covered much better by the 

Ice Age Farmer channel 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2nUB_TFL0U&t=501s - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2nUB_TFL0U&t=501s

and Yanasa Ama Ventures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkL8WQozfOE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkL8WQozfOE

Everyone - please just watch with an open mind - we are potentially facing a much larger issue then Covid-19





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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: WitchMisspelled
Date Posted: April 07 2020 at 11:54am

I think a) is a short term problem.  At least for American export of eggs.

I don't think b) is a problem at all in that the U.S. exports more rice to China than it imports from China. Granted, if all imports of Chinese rice were cut, America would be see a rise of what we consider gourmet rice like Basmati, Jasmine, or Oryza sativa (sticky) rice.

c) isn't a problem at all in that this impacts China, not the U.S. The trade war is the reason pork has remained relatively cheap in the U.S. And we don't have the swine flu problem. Further even with the Smithfield acquisition, China only "owns" 1 in 4 pigs in the U.S. But that doesn't mean they can import all that Smithfield produces nor can they order an American based company to export all produced here to there. Feed was an issue for other meat products last year, but only because we had to import more. Fingers crossed feed crops do as well as projected this year.

d) is an issue for the U.S. Cheap immigrant labor or the lack of it is to blame for American grown hand picked produce being so expensive. If it continues, hand picked American produce will skyrocket further. With trade settled between the U.S. and Central and South America, I don't think much will change there. Except that produce will likely rise a bit because of competition with China. But maybe not considering Russia has stepped up their exports with China.

I've said this before and I don't think people understand what I mean, but the U.S. is the major food exporter of the world. We will never be out of food. We just won't have all the kinds of food our palates have become accustomed to and are easily obtainable in U.S. grocery stores.

Unless of course we have an ice age.  But I'm not convinced that will happen in our lifetimes.  And even then, our growing zones will change.  But I just don't see a time where the U.S. would be unable to produce our own food.  



Posted By: mwbab
Date Posted: April 08 2020 at 7:32am

hello flumom

I have a question you had posted you had dried eggs that were 12 years old and they were not good. I have a can about the same age I think 13 years.  How do I know if they are good Same with the can dry  milk? Can I look at them and know or is this based on the age of the cans?

For any long term storage foods how do we know if they are still safe to eat?

Thanks so much for any info



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 08 2020 at 9:34am

Well first being the person I am I cooked some and they were not yellow they were a light brown.  Tasted them and they had no flavor but they looked off.  So I contacted Honeyville and they told me they were too old.  Usually for eggs 7 years at the most.  So I am throwing them out.  I have milk also that is 12 yrs old and I am getting rid of it too.  5 years for milk so if it is older than that I would not think it is good.  I am going through all of my eggs and milk.  I think rice and beans and other items will be fine.  Eggs and milk are more likely to go "bad"  than other items.  If you have questions I would go to the place you purchased them from and ask like I did.



Posted By: pheasant
Date Posted: April 09 2020 at 1:51am

New York  (CNN Business)Across the country, major meat processors are starting to shut down plants as employees are getting infected by https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-04-08-20/index.html -  coronavirus .  

Tyson ( https://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=TSN&source=story_quote_link - TSN ), one of the world's largest meat processors, suspended operations at its Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant this week after more than two dozen workers contracted Covid-19 there. Tyson said it would divert livestock that was headed to Columbus Junction to other pork plants in the region to minimize the impact on its production.

JBS USA, another major meat processor, has stopped operations at its beef plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania with plans to reopen April 16, after two weeks. The company decided to close the facility after several members of the plant's management team stopped going to work because they were experiencing flu-like symptoms, a company representative explained, adding that all other JBS USA's plants are still open. Cargill has also paused operations at its protein plant in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, where 900 people typically work

"This will allow us to minimize the impact of COVID-19β€― and continue [to] follow health department guidelines," said Jon Nash, North America lead for Cargill Protein, in a statement to CNN Business. 


Consumers are unlikely to see any shortages because of production disturbances. But the closures are devastating for some meat producers, which have remained open during the pandemic. Food suppliers are essential businesses.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/business/meat-plant-closures-coronavirus/index.html - https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/business/meat-plant-closures-coronavirus/index.html



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The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself......FDR


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 09 2020 at 7:51am

As this thread is about continued food supply, chain of supply etc I thought I'll post this here.

I once saw a 'manual' from the early 1900's re: how to maximize production from your chickens - max eggs and chicks (reared successfully!) but it was 'out of print' and I never did find it.  Was years ago and can't remember the name now, but if any of you who follow the free books, manuals, etc sites see something like this - can you please post it or private message a link?  

It was written well before the days of power/incubators and I'm truly hoping that by now, someone has made a pdf of it and has it online.  Between chores, being sick (waiting for test results now) and spring thaw/yard flooding - I'm maxed!  Shouldn't be on here as long as I am, but get pooped out so bad - need to sit... if anyone feels like searching and has spare time - have at 'er!  Don't know if/when I ever will.

I've got various heritage breeds of poultry and they tend to be good layers/brooders (a survival trait of the old breeds) but often babies don't make it in a community setting so would like to see how they used to set them up so they were safe.  I don't want to take over the pandemic forum with food stuffs but I simply feel it's time that the 'old' knowledge makes a comeback to try to ensure food security for future for all - so maybe as people see articles on info like this (whether it be poultry or pigs or garden) a link could be posted on this thread? 

JMO - There is a very real risk that the next pandemic is starvation, so prepping for that is critical too.  Thanks all!



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: April 09 2020 at 11:06pm

I am doing my first grocery pick up tomorrow. Where you order and pay online and pick up at the store. They bring it out to your vehicle you don't have to get out. We are taking the truck so we will just have them put in the back. I really wanted to test it out and there was a few things I was wanting since this looks like it's going to last awhile. Anyway they still had no toilet paper.  I keep checking with Amazon and they have no toilet paper. Not that I need it yet,  I'm just kind of checking things out for when I do need it.



Posted By: kaye kaye
Date Posted: April 10 2020 at 12:00am

Originally posted by Penham Penham wrote:

I am doing my first grocery pick up tomorrow. Where you order and pay online and pick up at the store. They bring it out to your vehicle you don't have to get out. We are taking the truck so we will just have them put in the back. I really wanted to test it out and there was a few things I was wanting since this looks like it's going to last awhile. Anyway they still had no toilet paper.  I keep checking with Amazon and they have no toilet paper. Not that I need it yet,  I'm just kind of checking things out for when I do need it.

We have toilet paper at Krogers, Meijers, and dollar store around these parts.  I think toilet paper is short some places because more people are staying home using instead of using it at work.  The different demand should adjust soon for everyone I would think.



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keep the joy


Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: April 10 2020 at 10:19am

Hopefully, only essential workers are working here, almost everything is closed. Yes, most people are at home. 



Posted By: cindylouflu
Date Posted: April 10 2020 at 7:13pm

Try //TotalRestroom.com - TotalRestroom.com for TP.  Seems they are sold out of regular brand rolls, looks like industrial size rolls available.



Posted By: CST
Date Posted: April 10 2020 at 7:19pm

I am essential so working.  Hope all are well.




Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 10 2020 at 9:38pm

This!

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-coronavirus-pandemic-could-threaten-global-food-supply-un-warns/ar-BB12syH6?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/the-coronavirus-pandemic-could-threaten-global-food-supply-un-warns/ar-BB12syH6?ocid=spartandhp



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 11 2020 at 9:52pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/dining/victory-gardens-coronavirus.html?fbclid=IwAR3g01MtxjqsW463-MamxFbVi6IURIAMvGThUTBjWydmDL0VfUsWi-wmTBE - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/dining/victory-gardens-coronavirus.html?fbclid=IwAR3g01MtxjqsW463-MamxFbVi6IURIAMvGThUTBjWydmDL0VfUsWi-wmTBE




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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 11 2020 at 10:41pm

I hope to have a good garden this year!!  Have to get through the cold weather in the next week.  I am growing as much as I can.  



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 12 2020 at 7:29am

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

I hope to have a good garden this year!!  Have to get through the cold weather in the next week.  I am growing as much as I can.  

We are having a colder then usual spring here - still tons of snow around, snow (was I haven't looked in last week+) forecast for end of month!  Usually Mothers Day weekend here is the 'all out' greenhouse frenzy and get everything into ground - worst danger of hard frosts is past and ground warm enough.  Since moving back closer to family, it's become tradition to take mom around to different greenhouses on Moms day... not looking good to be able to do that this May - she's 84 and we won't take the chance.  One of the few days I really look forward to in a year - a day away from chores with time with mom, all the lovely new plants and flowers - she had a greenhouse for years when I was a kid so is a wealth of knowledge, I love learning about the plants...  missing that day will probably be 'the worst' day of the 'no travel stuff' for me.

Anyway - thinking mid May plant out here?  So needless to say - short season veggies (and hopefully get the flowers in for pollinators I'd planned on) mostly concentrating on 'food' this year, not many pretties lol.  Trying to figure out a hoop house right now so I can get a better head start...



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: pheasant
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 2:30am

This represents 4-5% of US pork output, and this is in addition to Cargill and JB beef plant closures.


Top pork producer shutting SD plant indefinitely amid pandemic

A top pork producer in the country is shutting down its South Dakota plant indefinitely because of the pandemic, the company announced Sunday.

Smithfield Foods is shutting down its Sioux Falls, S.D. facility, one of the largest pork processing facilities in the country, “until further notice.” The plant processes four to five percent of pork in the U.S., amounting to about 130 million servings per week. 

“Smithfield will resume operations in Sioux Falls once further direction is received from local, state and federal officials,” the company said in a press release. 


Smithfield Food announced it would compensate its 3,700 employees from the plant for two weeks, and “hopes to keep them from joining the ranks of the tens of millions of unemployed Americans across the country.” 

Smithfield President and CEO Kenneth M. Sullivan said in a statement that the closure of this and other protein plants is “pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply.”

It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” he said. “These facility closures will also have severe, perhaps disastrous, repercussions for many in the supply chain, first and foremost our nation’s livestock farmers."

More than 550 family farmers give animals to the closing plant, according to the press release. 

Sullivan added that “numerous” agriculture and food plants have had employees who tested positive with COVID-19.

“We have continued to run our facilities for one reason: to sustain our nation’s food supply during this pandemic,” he said. “We believe it is our obligation to help feed the country, now more than ever. We have a stark choice as a nation: we are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19.”


It’s unclear whether the closure has to do with an employee infection. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has maintained that there is no evidence that the virus can spread through food or food packaging. 

The company had initially planned to shut down for just three days, but Gov. Kristi Noem (R) requested it be extended to at least 14 days, she said in a tweet.

https://thehill.com/policy/finance/agriculture/492427-top-pork-producer-shutting-sd-plant-indefinitely-amid-pandemic - https://thehill.com/policy/finance/agriculture/492427-top-pork-producer-shutting-sd-plant-indefinitely-amid-pandemic



Several workers in essential industries, including the meat-packing industry, have staged protests about the dangers of working in close proximity to other employees during the pandemic.



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The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself......FDR


Posted By: pheasant
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 2:37am

It's important to understand that when meat processors shut down, the farms that supply them get severely bottle necked, both in feed, bills, and inventory replacement (bringing in new piglets) for the next batch.

aside from the financial issues, one must understand the feed supply to keep the animals that cant go to market gets stretched as well, those animals cannot sit in pens indefinably.



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The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself......FDR


Posted By: EdwinSm,
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 3:08am

I think we are seeing with the pork issue one of the problems of such a large scale concentration in any industry.  It is fine while it works and it is cheaper (which customers want), but if something goes wrong (as it has with the coronavirus) then there are big problems.


In the years ahead, as consumers, we need to ask if we want the same sort of cheapness of goods we buy, or are we willing to pay some more to have a more diverse but secure food supply chain.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 9:12am

Originally posted by EdwinSm, EdwinSm, wrote:

I think we are seeing with the pork issue one of the problems of such a large scale concentration in any industry.  It is fine while it works and it is cheaper (which customers want), but if something goes wrong (as it has with the coronavirus) then there are big problems.

In the years ahead, as consumers, we need to ask if we want the same sort of cheapness of goods we buy, or are we willing to pay some more to have a more diverse but secure food supply chain.

I saw a post on FB asking "if there was one thing you wanted to come out of this pandemic - what would it be?", some said closer families, revivals, learning how to balance work/life etc.  I know what my first one would be but this ^^^^ would be #2!!! 

IF people could only understand how bad intensive farming is...for the planet, for the animals, for us - maybe a cheaper piece of meat wouldn't be so important!   I've seen what happens when 'something' goes wrong and it is horrific for the animals...a broiler barn with the fans stopped for a few hours - thousands upon thousands dead... this is NOT cool with me.  

I am a farmer!

I believe (have since being a little kid) that the farmers are the 'keepers of the land' and of Gods beautiful creations of birds & animals.  

I do not feel corporations are farmers - they are financial managers/asset managers - everything is about the bottom line.  

My farm will never make huge dollars - but I will die knowing that I left the soil on my property better then I found it and that my stock had good lives, dust bathing/sleeping in the sun, mud to puddle and wallow in, injuries or illnesses followed by appropriate treatment and well loved... I can die knowing 'I did good' - poor financially, but rich in so many other ways.

JMO - This planets humans have some VERY hard times coming their way, not sure that 'bigger brains and opposable thumbs' will save as many as we like to think...and I personally have no interest in surviving on cockroach milk!



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: hoosiermom22
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 9:20am

Newbie πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ» Living in Indiana I see both versions of farming. Also noted unprocessed milk being dumped on the ground when professors couldn’t accept more last week. Sad for so many in food lines on the news.



“pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply.”

“It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” 

We have to hope that grain and other farming doesn’t follow. Living in a more urban area, not sure how self sustainable I could get in a hurry. Just when I am fatigued from prepping, I see this and want to add more for the future.



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 3:34pm

We will have some food shortages...just going to happen!



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 6:10pm

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/newfoundland-faces-possible-food-shortage-as-pandemic-hammers-key-shipping-company/ar-BB12zqvZ?ocid=spartanntp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/newfoundland-faces-possible-food-shortage-as-pandemic-hammers-key-shipping-company/ar-BB12zqvZ?ocid=spartanntp



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 6:56pm

Island states and nations could get bad fast.  They have to get most of their food shipped in.  When in Hawaii I though no way would I live on an island depending on ships to bring in supplies and food!!!



Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: April 13 2020 at 8:15pm

I was reading an article today that was saying there was 10 beef and chicken plants closed in the US and Canada that were closed because of workers being sick and not being able to come to work. This does not include the Smithfield pork plant. I definitely see food shortages in the near future.




Posted By: pheasant
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 5:01am

Just an update:

Central Florida here and I have not been able to get frozen or fresh beef or chicken for 2 weeks now...always sold out.....and that's with a 2 lb limit.

Local slaughter house where i bring my pig/ steers to has a retail store and is selling ground beef 80/20 for $8.90 a pound....(says its organic)...with no "regular" beef available.

The only meat (besides the little canned meat that's available) is processed breaded stuff.....like chicken patties, tenders etc:



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The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself......FDR


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 8:20am

And please realize that it's not 'just meat/milk/eggs' that are being impacted - although the war on meat proteins is ramping up in a huge way...

Thousands of tons on onions & squash have been wasted in last 2 weeks. I just heard from a gf that has friends/family in Manitoba that work in potato industry that all their seed potatoes are rotting waiting to go in the ground (too cold/wet still I'm guessing if like here) so that will be a late/small harvest in a few months.  

You must secure as much of your own food supply as you can!  If living in city - get a couple fluorescent grow bulbs and plant potatoes, carrots etc in 5gallon pails or large pots, get lettuce growing in flats for microgreens/greens etc. - I realize space is very limited (been there done that!) but every little bit will help you down the road.  And buy mung beans, alfalfa, radish etc - sprouting seeds - I'm not a huge fan of sprouts but they are fast, take very little room (a few jars on counter for continual crop) and are highly nutritious.   I really think this is going to be a long term problem - not just a few months of impairment to supply chain etc from C19. If farmers are forced to get rid of breeding stock/downsize and/or lose their shirts financially trying to hang onto stock through this - it will take time to rebuild flock/herd numbers!  Time... months to years depending on species! 



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Rollingsalmon
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 10:36am

The longer this goes on, the worse the food situation is going to get. There are 1000s of things which haven't been thought of in the supply chains we have counted on forever. This forum isn't being used at anywhere close to its potential. When REAL shortages or outages in grocery stores hit, so will fierce social unrest. 

I'd like to encourage those of us here to double down on information. If you come across reliable information RE: food, PLEASE post here. The more we know, the better we can get ahead of it.  



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 11:47am

Anyone, anywhere can do this...If I can, you can. It was easy, peasy and yes I grew three kinds of lettuce in mine through the winter.



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 14 2020 at 1:39pm

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52267943" rel="nofollow" style='color: rgb(109, 63, 3); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; box-shadow: rgb(204, 204, 204) 5px 5px 7px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px; background: url("styles/default/xenforo/gradients/category-23px-light.png") center top repeat-x rgb(255, 251, 247); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;'>Five ways coronavirus is disrupting the food industry
1. Milk down the drain
This issue is not only being seen in the US, with  https://www.farminguk.com/news/coronavirus-govt-urged-to-back-support-scheme-for-dairy-farmers_55389.html" rel="nofollow" style='color: rgb(34, 37, 230); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(252, 252, 255);'>dairy farmers in the UK asking for government help because of their own surplus problems . Peter Alvis, chair of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, says about five million litres per week are at risk.

2. Crops go to waste
The New York Times, which interviewed some US producers, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/business/coronavirus-destroying-food.html" rel="nofollow" style='color: rgb(34, 37, 230); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px;'>cited an example of one chicken processor having to smash 750,000 unhatched eggs every single week. They also spoke to an onion farmer who was having to let most of his harvest decompose, unable to re-distribute his onions in high enough quanities and without the facilities to store them.

3. Not enough workers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-52019810" rel="nofollow" style='color: rgb(34, 37, 230); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px;'>There has also been a 'Feed the Nation' campaign launched in the UK to encourage domestic workers to plug any labor gaps to avoid food waste.

4. Changing our shopping habits
The pandemic has led to some changes in what we are trying to buy. For example, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52212760" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(34, 37, 230); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px; - the UK has seen demand for flour soar in recent weeks as people stuck at home increasingly turn to home-baking.

According to https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/pourquoi-les-francais-achetent-encore-plus-de-produits-bio-avec-le-confinement-1891456.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(34, 37, 230); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px; - new data, cited by BFMTV , French shoppers have increasingly been buying more organic food since coronavirus fears took hold of the country.

5. Stock is sitting unused
Take UK pub closures for example. Much of the industry's current supply of lager and ale could now go to waste under government rules which mean they could be closed for the foreseeable future.

Some beers have a best-before date of just weeks - which means thousands of unused barrels in pub basements could be undrinkable by the time the lockdown is lifted.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52199185" rel="nofollow" style="color: rgb(34, 37, 230); text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px; - 'Up to 50m pints' going to waste in empty pubs


..But it's not bad news for everyone
Some parts of the food industry are benefiting from our changing consumption habits.

US sales of orange juice, which had been on a gradual decline, are said to be up 38% on last year's figures.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-52030133" rel="nofollow" style='color: rgb(34, 37, 230); font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px; padding: 0px 3px; margin: 0px -3px;'>The so-called "futures" price of orange juice has soared in recent weeks . "The Covid-19 outbreaks are hitting both the supply and demand for orange juice," Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at broker AxiCorp said last month.

"The immune-boosting properties are the demand-side attraction while there are simply not enough tanker spaces, with airlines not flying, to bring the product to markets."

The demand is good news for orange growers, especially in Florida and Brazil - who supply big brands like Tropicana,



-------------
'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 12:54pm

https://www.today.com/food/meat-factories-are-shutting-down-across-country-will-there-be-t178527 - https://www.today.com/food/meat-factories-are-shutting-down-across-country-will-there-be-t178527


So should consumers be worried about an impending shortage of pork and other meats?


"Prior to March, a large percentage of pork products were produced and sold to restaurants," Julie Niederhoff, associate professor of Supply Chain Management at Syracuse University, told TODAY. "This left a fairly stocked pork supply chain where the the temporary closure of one plant isn't likely to impact consumers nearly as much as it impacts farmers."


Niederhoff is currently predicting a minor short term impact on the price and availability of pork. But that's only if the plant is closed for a few weeks. A longer closure could be detrimental if there's a domino effect throughout the company, she said.


"Nearly 60% of pork is processed in 15 plants all in close geographic proximity to this Smithfield plant," Niederhoff said. If COVID-19 forces more plants in the area to close, "consumers would definitely feel it."


Many farmers and industry workers are already feeling it. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, meat manufacturing beats out dairy, grains, beverages and produce to account for the largest sector of food and beverage manufacturing in the U.S. The industry is comprised of nearly 500,000 workers.

******MORE AT LINK*******



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 1:09pm

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/bibeau-says-canada-has-enough-food-but-covid-19-will-still-cause-challenges/ar-BB12FIxC?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/bibeau-says-canada-has-enough-food-but-covid-19-will-still-cause-challenges/ar-BB12FIxC?ocid=spartandhp


Canadians can expect less variety and higher prices (I think this is a huge understatement myself!)...




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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 3:01pm

Well I broke down and ordered groceries on line and had delivered.  They had all the vegies...the zucchini were a little sad but everything else was fine.  Got some milk and will freeze one just in case things get scarce.  They did not get my sunflower kernels I got sunflower seeds in shells...Oh well.

I wiped down everything that could be wiped and washed all the veggies under running water.  Hope that will be good enough!

  



Posted By: Technophobe
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 3:30pm

Don't laugh FluMom, but soapy water is best.  You can rince them afterwards, if you can still smell/taste the soap then rince in vinegar.

The chemistry is a bit complex, but here goes:

Soap is a funny molecule.  It has a hydrophillic end and a hydrophobic end.  That means one end of a soap molecule sticks to fat and the other stricks to water - letting it disolve and taking the fat with it.

                               fat]=soap=[water                        all sticking together.

This virus is a single strand of DNA inside a 'lipid' envelope , basically a bubble of fat with the working bit inside.  The soap molecule literally rips it appart!  Without the fat layer (which holds the protein binding spikes the virus uses to invade cells) the virus is powerless.

Common or garden soap is its kryptonite.

                     



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How do you tell if a politician is lying?
His lips or pen are moving.


Posted By: KiwiMum
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 4:46pm

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

Well I broke down and ordered groceries on line and had delivered.  They had all the vegies...the zucchini were a little sad but everything else was fine.  Got some milk and will freeze one just in case things get scarce.  They did not get my sunflower kernels I got sunflower seeds in shells...Oh well.

I wiped down everything that could be wiped and washed all the veggies under running water.  Hope that will be good enough!

  

Wash the fruit and veg in soapy water. I've been running a sink full of soapy water, just tepid, and then washing each piece direct from the shops with a dishcloth, then putting them in the other sink and then rinsing them with cold water.  



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Those who got it wrong, for whatever reason, may feel defensive and retrench into a position that doesn’t accord with the facts.


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 5:11pm

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/pandemic-could-affect-food-supplies-power-grids-telecommunications-says-government-document/ar-BB12FVrt?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/pandemic-could-affect-food-supplies-power-grids-telecommunications-says-government-document/ar-BB12FVrt?ocid=spartandhp

Ok, MSM seems to be waking up to what a 'worst case scenario' might look like, earlier today was the article on potential food shortages - this one warns about that, but also power grid, banking, & telecommunications failures... My tin-hat side wonders - is this pre-programing or warning for what's being planned?

At this point in time 2 million have tested positive (of 7.8 billion) so if my calculator figured it out right 0.000256 of the worlds population... (it doesn't like that many zeros!!!!) 

Here in Canada we broke the '1000 dead' marker today.  Yesterday I'd played with numbers as PM's public address said over 430,000 tests done - 26, 897 confirmed or assumptive - so 0.06255% of those tested.   Total deaths yest was 898 so, it's 0.03338 of positive cases and from gross population of Canada (36million) it's 0.0000249%  Annual flu is 0.01???  Will have to hold tight and see what numbers show in a month or so when deaths start to catch up - ie. lag is gone.  But as the numbers stand now... there is no way this type of response is warranted, like I said - will see how much more appropriate they seem a month from now.     

Either way - us humans are in for a rough ride for a long time.



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 15 2020 at 6:12pm

Well I rinsed them and will use soapy water when I use them.  Kiwi, do you purchase lettuce?  How do you wash lettuce?  I buy baby romaine ready to use?  Would you soap that?



Posted By: WitchMisspelled
Date Posted: April 16 2020 at 8:29am

I know exactly where your head is at Newbie.  A friend was talking about buying a small chest freezer and filling it with meats.  I thought to myself, I think it's too late for that.  I haven't seen any items limited, but I think it is only a matter of time here in the U.S.

I've bought a meat grinder attachment for my Kitchen Aid so that I can make my own sausages and grind meats.   I have a feeling it's going to come down to getting larger joints or cuts of meat being in the market and very little processing.  We'll wind up doing things like getting whole chickens butchering them ourselves and deboning it for cutlets ourselves.  

I may be a city girl, but I'm glad I spent much of my childhood in farm country so I know how to do these things.  



Posted By: WitchMisspelled
Date Posted: April 16 2020 at 8:31am

Flumom, if it helps, I cut that up as I regularly do for salad and soak it in a healthy dose of vinegar in cold water.  Vinegar may not kill the virus, but in a 10% concentration it destroys virus phalanges so the cell can't infect.  



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 16 2020 at 9:56am

Originally posted by WitchMisspelled WitchMisspelled wrote:

I know exactly where your head is at Newbie.  A friend was talking about buying a small chest freezer and filling it with meats.  I thought to myself, I think it's too late for that.  I haven't seen any items limited, but I think it is only a matter of time here in the U.S 

If you're not seeing limits there yet - I'd tell friend to grab freezer and fill asap! This has potential to get truly ugly and faster then most people are aware of...jmho




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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 16 2020 at 1:27pm

Thanks Witch, I was worried about the lettuce but I will do the vinegar soak and rinse...good idea.  I purchased a lot of meat before this all happened because I package meat for him to take to college.  I bought a bunch extra first part of March thinking this could get bad so I have three small freezers full of meat and frozen veggies.  I also in 2010 bought a lot of freeze dried chicken, beef, and pork in #10 cans, bought a lot of #10 Mountain House complete meals too.  I have to go look what I have in veggies and fruit too.  I bought the freeze dry because it lasts so long.  I figure if the food gets real short I will have my son coming to get a bunch of cans...lol!



Posted By: Rollingsalmon
Date Posted: April 16 2020 at 6:35pm

I hear wheat may be a problem too.  If Blue Bell folds, we're done.


https://www.wsj.com/articles/supermarkets-adjust-meat-sections-as-coronavirus-cuts-supply-11587051995 - https://www.wsj.com/articles/supermarkets-adjust-meat-sections-as-coronavirus-cuts-supply-11587051995



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 17 2020 at 9:05am

This link should answer a lot of questions about troubles in food supply chain:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/food-makers-get-shot-of-reality-now-that-panic-buying-has-waned/ar-BB12J4SI?ocid=spartanntp - https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/food-makers-get-shot-of-reality-now-that-panic-buying-has-waned/ar-BB12J4SI?ocid=spartanntp


Food Makers Get Shot of Reality Now that Panic Buying Has Waned


After weeks of consumer hoarding, panic buying is abating and the lack of demand from shuttered restaurants, schools and coffee shops is starting to set in. Sanderson Farms Inc., the U.S.’s third-largest chicken producer, is slowing production at plants that supply restaurants, and protein giant Cargill Inc. has idled an egg facility due to the lack of demand from the food services industry.


Americans spend more than half of their food budget eating out, and an increase in retail among grocery stores can’t fully compensate for the lack of demand from restaurants. Every 10% decline in out-of-home food spending translates into a gain of just 3% in the retail channel, according to Rabobank, one of the largest lenders to the food and agriculture industry.


Nowhere is the effect of restaurant shutdowns more obvious than in the dairy industry, with almost 50% of American cheese production going to food services. Farmers in top-producing Wisconsin are being asked to dump milk to boost low prices with overall demand for dairy products expected to drop 10% to 15% in the second quarter, according to Mary Ledman, a global diary strategist at Rabobank.


Prices for chicken wings have taken a hit from the lack of sporting events and the pork industry is also under pressure, with some 25% of production being sold through food service outlets, according to David Herring, a hog farmer and board member for the National Pork Producers Council.


“Demand was great for about 10 days, then it just stopped,” he said, adding that the biggest hit was to bacon, with 70% being consumed out of home. “We’re basically producing 425,000 hogs a week that there is no market for because of Covid-19.”


Even your daily cup of coffee could be hit as job losses mount and restaurants close, said Christian Wolthers, president of importers Wolthers Doque in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some coffee shop chains have already asked to delay their shipments to later this year. For instance, the coffee they were going to get in July or August, they now want it in the last two months of the year, he said.


“We are only going to feel this incredible low in sales sometime in the middle of summer,” Wolthers said. “The stores that closed and the volumes at hotel and restaurants and K-cups were not sold, and this will show in inventories building more than usual.”


Some companies are having to slow down or shut plants because they can’t easily turn them into facilities that produce for retail. For instance, a can of tomatoes that goes to restaurants is a different size from the ones that hit supermarket shelves. Others are reluctant to invest in changes that will only yield returns during the pandemic lockdowns, before things get back to normal.



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 17 2020 at 9:22am

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/under-quarantine-to-help-contain-covid-19-migrant-farm-workers-have-fears-of-their-own/ar-BB12LstB?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/under-quarantine-to-help-contain-covid-19-migrant-farm-workers-have-fears-of-their-own/ar-BB12LstB?ocid=spartandhp

Migrant farm workers - quarantine concerns, planting 3 weeks behind schedule etc.



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 17 2020 at 9:25am

Tyson Foods  now a big deal in Iowa- I see a closure in the foreseeable future...

https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/1-dead-of-covid-19-in-black-hawk-co-tyson-now-classified-as-having-outbreak/article_eee55055-2ebb-51d8-8678-b8696880fcc4.html - https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/1-dead-of-covid-19-in-black-hawk-co-tyson-now-classified-as-having-outbreak/article_eee55055-2ebb-51d8-8678-b8696880fcc4.html

Black Hawk County reported 65 new cases Thursday for a total of 150, and eight are hospitalized.


“Our increase in numbers is due to an outbreak in Tyson Foods Waterloo,” Egbuonye said


She declined to say how many cases were confirmed at the plant.





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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 18 2020 at 1:14pm

https://www.kcci.com/article/tyson-confirms-covid-19-cases-at-perry-plan-doesnt-disclose-how-many/32193514# - https://www.kcci.com/article/tyson-confirms-covid-19-cases-at-perry-plan-doesnt-disclose-how-many/32193514#

And now this- this is the THIRD Tyson plant in Iowa with issues.

On Wednesday, Tyson confirmed that two of its employees who worked at the Columbus Junction plant died from COVID-19.



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 18 2020 at 8:17pm

Here is some information that might help us not be too afraid of no meat!


https://www.provisioneronline.com/articles/106238-top-100-meat-and-poultry-processors-the-race-is-on - TOP 100 PROCESSORS REPORT

Rank

Company

Net Sales

No. of
 Plants

No. of
 Employees

Operations

1

2017: 2

JBS USA Holdings Inc.
Greeley, Colo.
 Andre Nogueira, President/CEO

38,642.1
 (EFR)

44

73,000

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Pork Slaughter,
Fresh Pork, Poultry Slaughter,
Poultry Further Processing, Lamb,
Prepared Foods, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

2

2017: 1

Tyson Foods Inc.
Springdale, Ark.
 Tom Hayes, President/CEO

38,260
 (EFR)

111

122,000

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Pork Slaughter,
Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage,
Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon, Poultry Slaughter,
Poultry Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

3

2017: 3

Cargill Meat Solutions Corp.
Wichita, Kan.
 Brian Sikes, Corporate Vice President

20,000

36

28,000

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Fresh Pork,
Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage,
Ham, Deli Meat, Poultry Slaughter,
Poultry Further Processing,
Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

4

2017: 8

SYSCO Corp.
 (est. sales of custom meat operations)

Houston, Texas
 William J. DeLaney, President/CEO

16,479
 (EFR)

17

1,200

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage,
Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
Poultry Further Processing, Veal, Lamb,
 Seafood, Portion Control, Natural/Organic

5

2017: 4

Smithfield Foods Inc.
Smithfield, Va.
 Kenneth M. Sullivan, President/CEO

15,300

60

50,000+

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage,
Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further Processing,
Seafood, Prepared Foods, Portion Control,
Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

6

2017: 5

Hormel Foods Corp.
Austin, Minn.
 Jim Snee, President/CEO

9,200

33

19,900

Beef Further Processing, Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork,
Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat,
Bacon, Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further Processing,
Prepared Foods, Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

7

2017: 6

National Beef Packing Co. LLC
Kansas City, Mo.
 Tim Klein, President/CEO

7,400

6

8,100

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef
Further Processing, Ground Beef, Case-Ready,
 Export, Natural/Organic

8

2017: 9

Perdue Farms Inc.
Salisbury, Md.
 James A. Perdue, Chairman

6,500
 (EFR)

14

21,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Prepared Foods, Portion
 Control, Export, Natural/Organic

9

2017: 10

OSI Group LLC
Aurora, Ill.
 Sheldon Lavin, Chairman/CEO

6,100

55

20,000

Beef Slaughter, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Cured Sausage, Ham,
Deli Meat, Bacon, Poultry Slaughter,
Poultry Further Processing, Seafood,
Prepared Foods, Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

10

2017: 6

ConAgra Foods Inc.
Omaha, Neb.
 Sean Connolly, President/CEO

5861.5
 (EFR)

32

36,000

Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage, Prepared Foods

11

2017: 13

Sanderson Farms Inc.
Laurel, Miss.
 Joe F. Sanderson Jr., Chairman/CEO

3,342

12

15,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

12

2017: 11

American Foods Group LLC
Green Bay, Wis.
 Steve Van Lannen, President/COO

3,100
 (EFR)

10

4,000

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef
Further Processing, Ground Beef, Prepared
 Foods, Portion Control, Case-Ready, Export

12

2017: 11

Koch Foods LLC
Pack Ridge, Ill.
 Joseph C. Grendys, CEO

3,100
 (EFR)

18

14,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Prepared Foods,
 Portion Control, Export

14

2017: 14

Keystone Foods LLC
West Chester, Pa.
 Frank Ravndal, President/CEO

2,700

13

11,000

Beef Further Processing, Poultry Further
 Processing
  

15

2017: 15

Oscar Mayer
 (Part of Kraft Heinz Co.)

Chicago, Ill.
Howard Friedman,
 President of U.S. Refrigerated

2,648.7
 (EST)

NA

7,000

Cured Sausage, Deli Meat, Bacon,
 Prepared Foods, Natural/Organic

16

2017: 16

Foster Farms
Livingston, Calif.
 Laura Flanagan, President/CEO

2,300
 (EFR)

11

12,000

Deli Meat, Poultry Slaughter, Poultry
Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private
 Labeling, Natural/Organic

17

2017: 18

Mountaire Farms Inc.
Millsboro, Del.
 Paul Downes, President/CEO

2,214

3

8,259

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing, Private Labeling, Export

18

2017: 17

Wayne Farms LLC
Oakwood, Ga.
 J. Clinton Rivers, CEO

2,200
 (EFR)

12

9,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Export

19

2017: 19

Greater Omaha Packing
Omaha, Neb.
 Henry Davis, President

1,900

1

1,100

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Portion Control,
 Case-Ready

20

2017: 22

Seaboard Foods LLC
Shawnee Mission, Kan.
 Duke Sand, President/CEO

1,609

2

5,000+

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Prepared Foods,
 Portion Control, Natural/Organic

21

2017: 18

Butterball LLC
Garner, N.C.
 Kerry Doughty, President/CEO

1,500
 (EFR)

6

6,000

Fresh Pork, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon, Poultry
Slaughter, Poultry Further Processing,
Prepared Foods, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

22

2017: 24

Fresh Mark Inc.
Massillon, Ohio
 Neil Genshaft, Chairman/CEO

1,400

4

2,500

Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat,
Bacon, Poultry Further Processing,
 Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export

23

2017: 23

Boar's Head Provisions Co. Inc.
Sarasota, Fla.
 Robert S. Martin, Chairman/CEO

1,300
 (EST)

4

3,000

Fresh Pork, Cured Sausage, Deli Meat,
 Bacon, Natural/Organic

24

2017: 26

House of Raeford Farms Inc.
Rose Hill, N.C.
 Robert C. Johnson, President/CEO

1,140

8

5,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Prepared Foods, Portion
Control, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export

25

2017: 30

George's Inc.
Springdale, Ark.
Carl George & Charles George,
 Co-CEO/Presidents

1,125

6

5,500

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
Cured Sausage, Deli Meat, Poultry Slaughter,
Poultry Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

26

2017: 27

CTI Foods LLC
Wilder, Idaho
 Robert Horowitz, President/CEO

1,100
 (DR)

5

1,100

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
Ham, Deli Meat, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Natural/Organic

27

2017: 28

Peco Foods Inc.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
 Mark Hickman, President/CEO

1,000
 (EST)

7

4,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing

27

2017: 28

Wolverine Packing Co.
Detroit, Mich.
 Jim Bonahoom, President

1,000
 (EST)

3

375

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Veal, Lamb,
 Seafood, Portion Control

29

2017: 30

Fieldale Farms Corp.
Baldwin, Ga.
 Tom Hensley, President

980

3

4,500

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further Processing,
Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

30

2017: 25

Indiana Packers Corp.
Delphi, Ind.
 Russ Yearwood, President/COO

975

3

2,100

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage,
 Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon, Private Labeling, Export

30

2017: 32

Johnsonville Sausage LLC
Sheboygan, Wis.
 Nick Meriggioli, CEO

975

5

1,800

Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage, Prepared Foods

32

2017: 35

Kenosha Beef International Ltd.
Kenosha, Wis.
 Dennis Vignieri, President/CEO

939.6

3

900

Ground Beef

33

2017: 39

OK Foods, a Bachoco Co.
Fort Smith, Ark.
 Trent Goins, CEO

917.2
 (EFR)

3

2,100

Beef Further Processing, Ham, Deli Meat,
Poultry Further Processing, Prepared
 Foods

34

2017: 37

Simmons Prepared Foods
Siloam, Ark.
 Todd Simmons, CEO

902.7
 (EFR)

6

4,000

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Prepared Foods, Portion
Control, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export

35

2017: 33

Agri Beef Co.
Boise, Idaho
 Robert Rebholtz Jr., President/CEO

900
 (EST)

1

12,000

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Fresh Pork,
Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon, Portion Control,
 Export

36

2017: 34

West Liberty Foods LLC
West Liberty, Iowa
 Ed Garrett, CEO

846
 (EFR)

6

2,700

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
Deli Meat, Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
Processing, Portion Control, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

37

2017: 38

Case Foods Inc.
Troutman, N.C.
 Thomas R. Shelton, Chairman/CEO

831.4

5

3,200

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Export

38

2017: 41

Golden West Food Group
Vernon, Calif.
 Erik Litmanovich, CEO

765

2

1,008

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage,
Poultry Further Processing, Lamb, Prepared
Foods, Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private
 Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

39

2017: 36

Bar-S Foods Co., a Sigma Co.
Phoenix, Ariz.
 Warren J. Panico, President/CEO

724.5
 (EFR)

5

4,500

Beef Further Processing, Ham,
Deli Meat, Poultry Further Processing,
 Prepared Foods

40

2017: 40

Clemens Food Group
Hatfield, Pa.
 Doug Clemens, CEO

717
 (EST)

2

2,200

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Fresh
Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
 Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export

41

2017: 42

Caviness Beef Packers Ltd.
Amarillo, Texas
 Terry Caviness, President

690

2

800

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Portion Control,
 Case-Ready, Natural/Organic

42

2017: 42

SugarCreek
Cincinnati, Ohio
 John Richardson, Owner/CEO

650
 (DR)

6

2,000

Beef Further Processing, Fresh Pork,
Bacon, Poultry Further Processing,
Lamb, Seafood, Prepared Foods,
 Private Labeling, Export

43

2017: 45

Creekstone Farms
 Premium Beef LLC

Arkansas City, Kan.
 Dennis Buhlke, President/CEO

626
 (DR)

1

674

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Ground Beef,
 Case-Ready, Export, Natural/Organic

44

2017: 47

Ruiz Food Products Inc.
Dinuba, Calif.
 Rachel P. Cullen, President/CEO

600
 (EST)

3

2,300

Prepared Foods, Private Labeling

45

2017: 74

Carl Buddig & Co.
Homewood, Ill.
 Robert Buddig, CEO

580

6

1,900

Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
 Poultry Further Processing

46

2017: 44

Cooper Farms
Oakwood, Ohio
 James R. Cooper, CEO

570

2

2,200

Ham, Deli Meat, Poultry Slaughter, Poultry
Further Processing, Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

47

2017: 46

Harris Ranch Beef Co.
Selma, Calif.
 John Harris, Chairman/Owner

567

1

975

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Deli Meat,
 Portion Control

48

2017: 48

Lopez Foods
Oklahoma City, Okla.
 Ed Sanchez, Chairman/CEO

540
 (EST)

3

1,200

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
 Fresh Sausage, Export

49

2017: 49

Stampede Meat Inc.
Bridgeview, Ill.
 Brock Furlong, President/CEO

510

3

1,600

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Poultry Further Processing,
Lamb, Seafood, Prepared Foods, Portion Control,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

50

2017: 50

Rastelli Foods Group
Swedesboro, N.J.
 Raymond Rastelli Jr., CEO

500

2

350

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage,
Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
Veal, Lamb, Game, Seafood, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

50

2017: NA

Brakebush Brothers Inc.
Westfield, Wis.
 Scott Sanders, President

500
 (EST)

3

1,900

Poultry Further Processing, Natural/Organic

52

2017: 50

Beef Products Inc./
 BPI Technology Inc.

Dakota Dunes, S.D.
 Eldon Roth, President/CEO

450
 (EFR)

4

700

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing

52

2017: 50

Omaha Steaks
 International Inc.

Omaha, Neb.
 Bruce A. Simon, President/CEO

450
 (DR)

3

2,000

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Ham, Veal
Lamb, Seafood, Prepared Foods,
 Portion Control

52

2017: 50

FPL Food LLC
Augusta, Ga.
 Francois Leger, President/CEO

450
 (DR)

2

500

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Portion Control,
Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

55

2017: 58

Monogram Food Solutions LLC
Memphis, Tenn.
 Karl Schledwitz, Chairman/CEO

442
 (DR)

7

2,500

Boxed Beef, Cured Sausage, Bacon,
Poultry Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
 Portion Control, Private Labeling, Export

56

2017: 55

John Soules Foods LLC
Tyler, Texas
 John Soules II, Co-CEO

425

3

1,100

Beef Further Processing, Poultry
Further Processing, Prepared Foods, Portion
 Control, Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

57

2017: 56

Dietz & Watson
Philadelphia, Pa.
 Louis Eni, CEO

400
 (EST)

3

1,000

Beef Further Processing, Fresh Sausage,
Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat, Poultry
 Further Processing, Case-Ready

57

2017: 56

The Chef's Warehouse
Ridgefield, Conn.
 Chris Pappas, CEO

400
 (EST)

5

NA

Beef Further Processing, Portion Control

59

2017: 61

Colorado Premium
Greeley, Colo.
 Kevin LaFleur, President

385

4

475

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Fresh Pork, Deli
Meat, Poultry Further Processing,
Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private
 Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

60

2017: 58

Sam Kane Beef Processors LLC
Corpus Christi, Texas
 Alfred Bausch, CEO

383
 (DR)

1

650

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Ground Beef,
 Case-Ready, Export

61

2017: 59

BEF Foods, a Post Holdings Co.
Columbus, Ohio
 Mike Townsley, President

380.5
 (EFR)

6

52,000

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Sausage, Ham,
 Bacon, Prepared Foods, Case-Ready

62

2017: 62

Branding Iron Holdings Inc.
Sauget, Ill.
 Scott Hudspeth, CEO/Owner

365
 (DR)

3

630

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
 Portion Control, Private Labeling

62

2017: 63

Land O'Frost Inc.
Munster, Ind.
 David Van Eekeren, President

365
 (DR)

3

1,000

Cured Sausage, Ham, Deli Meat

62

2017: 63

Surlean Foods
San Aontonio, Texas
 Neal Leonard, CEO

365
 (EST)

4

525

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
Poultry Further Processing, Prepared
 Foods, Private Labeling, Natural/Organic

65

2017: 66

Allen Harim Foods LLC
Seaford, Del.
 Steven Evans, CEO

336
 (DR)

2

1,755

Poultry Slaughter

66

2017: 0

Bell & Evans
Fredericksburg, Penn.
 Scott Sechler, Owner

334.2

2

1,700

Poultry Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

67

2017: 60

Fair Oaks Farm LLC
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
 Michael L. Thompson, President/CEO

307

2

228

Beef Further Processing, Cured Sausage,
 Bacon, Poultry Further Processing

68

2017: 66

Abbyland Foods Inc.
Abbotsford, Wis.
 Harland Schraufnagel, President

306.2

4

900

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork,
Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Private Labeling

69

2017: NA

Rantoul Foods LLC
Rantoul, Ill.
James Jendruczek, President/
 Managing Partner

300

1

550

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Ham,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

70

2017: 67

Golden State Foods
Irvine, Calif.
 Mark Wetterau, CEO

300
 (EFR)

1

N/A

Ground Beef, Fresh Pork

71

2017: 69

Mar-Jac Poultry Inc.
Gainesville, Ga.
 Pete Martin, VP Poultry Operations

260
 (EST)

1

1,200

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing

72

2017: 70

Dakota Provisions LLC
Huron, S.D.
 Kenneth D. Rutledge, President/CEO

250

2

1,088

Deli Meat, Bacon, Poultry Slaughter, Poultry
Further Processing, Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Private Labeling, Export

73

2017: 71

Tip Top Poultry Inc.
Marietta, Ga.
 Brad Respress, CEO

237
 (EST)

3

1,600

Beef Further Processing, Poultry
Slaughter, Poultry Further Processing,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

74

2017: 72

Superior Farms
Davis, Calif.
 Rick Stott, President/CEO

232
 (EST)

4

410

Veal, Lamb, Portion Control, Case-
Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

75

2017: 73

Capitol Wholesale Meats Inc.
 (dba Fontanini)

McCook, Ill.
 Gene Fontanini, CEO

227.2
 (DR)

1

523

Beef Further Processing, Fresh Pork,
 Fresh Sausage, Export

76

2017: 79

Eddy Packing Co. Inc.
Yoakum, Texas
 Hans-Peter Ryholt, President/CEO

220

1

500

Beef Further Processing, Fresh Pork,
Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage, Deli Meat,
Poultry Further Processing, Game, Prepared
Foods, Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private
 Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

76

2017: 74

Mountain States Rosen
Greeley, Colo.

220
 (EST)

2

300

Beef Further Processing, Ground Beef,
Fresh Pork, Veal, Lamb, Portion Control,
 Case-Ready, Export, Natural/Organic

78

2017: 76

BrucePac
Woodburn, Ore.
 Robert Bruce, Owner

215
 (DR)

3

940

Beef Further Processing, Cured Sausage,
Ham, Deli Meat, Poultry Further
Processing, Seafood, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

79

2017: 77

Specialty Foods Group Inc.
Owensboro, Ken.
 Steven P. Wright, President

207
 (DR)

1

530

Fresh Pork, Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon,
 Private Labeling

80

2017: 78

Marcus Food Co.
Wichita, Kan.
 Howard Marcus, CEO

205
 (DR)

NA

24

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing,
Ground Beef, Deli Meat, Bacon, Seafood,
 Private Labeling, Export

81

2017: 79

Strauss Brands Inc.
Franklin, Wis.
 Randy Strauss, CEO

200

1

288

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Ground Beef, Veal, Lamb,
Portion Control, Case-Ready, Private
 Labeling, Natural/Organic

82

2017: 83

Lincoln Provision Inc.
Chicago, Ill.
 James Stevens, President

198
 (EST)

2

95

Beef Slaughter, Boxed Beef, Beef Further
Processing, Portion Control, Private
 Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

83

2017: 84

Overhill Farms
Vernon, Calif.
 James Rudis, President/CEO

194
 (EST)

2

700

Beef Further Processing, Poultry
Further Processing, Seafood, Prepared
 Foods, Case-Ready

84

2017: 85

Rose Packing Co.
Barrington, Ill.
 Dwight Stiehl, President

181
 (EST)

1

500

Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage, Ham, Deli
 Meat, Export

85

2017: 88

JTM Provision Inc.
Harrison, Ohio
 Tomy Maas, President

171

2

480

Beef Further Processing, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Private Labeling

86

2017: 86

J.H. Routh Packing Co.
Sandusky, Ohio
 Thomas M. Routh, President/CEO

166
 (EST)

1

300

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Pork, Fresh
Sausage, Ham, Bacon, Prepared Foods,
 Private Labeling

87

2017: 87

Maple Leaf Farms
Milford, Ind.
 Terry Tucker, CEO

161
 (EST)

4

850

Poultry Slaughter, Poultry Further
 Processing, Prepared Foods, Export

88

2017: 91

Jensen Meat Co.
San Diego, Calif.
 Abel Olivera, CEO

160

1

350

Ground Beef

89

2017: 89

Swaggerty Sausage Co./
 Swaggerty’s Farm

Kodak, Tenn.
 Doug Swaggerty, President 

150

1

350

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Sausage,
 Natural/Organic

90

2017: 89

Marcho Farms Inc.
Souderton, Pa.
 Brain D. Friesen, President

150
 (EST)

1

250

Veal, Lamb, Portion Control, Case-Ready,
 Export

91

2017: 91

Peer Foods Group Inc.
Chicago, Ill.
 Larry O'Connell, President

145
 (DR)

2

450

Beef Further Processing, Fresh Sausage,
Cured Sausage, Ham, Bacon, Poultry
Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
Portion Control, Private Labeling,
 Natural/Organic

92

2017: 93

Kayem Foods Inc.
Chelsea, Mass.
 Matt Monkiewicz, President/CEO

140
 (EST)

2

600

Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage, Ham,
 Poultry Further Processing

93

2017: 94

Williams Sausage Co. Inc.
Union City, Tenn.
 Roger Williams, President

130.3

1

589

Pork Slaughter, Fresh Sausage,
 Prepared Foods

94

2017: 95

Vincent Giordano Corp.
Philadelphia, Pa.
 Guy Giordano, President/CEO

120
 (DR)

2

120

Beef Further Processing, Deli Meat,
Prepared Foods, Private Labeling,
 Natural/Organic

95

2017: 96

ALL Holding Co. LLC
Harleysville, Pa.
 Jim Van Stone, President/CEO

116
 (EST)

2

281

Beef Further Processing, Pork Slaughter,
Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage, Ham, Deli
Meat, Bacon, Poultry Further Processing,
 Private Labeling, Natural/Organic

96

2017: 97

Godshall's Quality Meats
Telford, Pa.
 Mark Godshall, President

115
 (DR)

2

380

Fresh Sausage, Cured Sausage,
Ham, Deli Meat, Bacon, Poultry
Further Processing, Prepared Foods,
 Private Labeling, Export, Natural/Organic

97

2017: 98

Catelli Brothers Inc.
Collingswood, N.J.
 Anthony Catelli, President/CEO

110
 (DR)

2

220

Veal, Lamb

98

2017: 99

Sierra Meat & Seafood
Reno, Nev.
 Chris J. Floccini, CEO

107
 (DR)

2

120

Boxed Beef, Beef Further Processing, Ground
Beef, Fresh Pork, Fresh Sausage, Cured
Sausage, Deli Meat, Bacon, Veal, Lamb,
Game, Seafood, Prepared Foods, Portion
Control, Case-Ready, Private Labeling,
 Export, Natural/Organic

99

2017: NA

Trim-Rite Food Corp.
Carpentersville, Ill.
James Jendruczek, President/
 Managing Partner

100

1

200

Fresh Pork, Ham, Portion Control,
 Private Labeling, Export

100

2017: NA

Farmington Foods Inc.
Forest Park, Ill.
 Anthony DiJohn, President/Co-Owner

85

2

190

Fresh Pork, Prepared Foods, Portion Control,
Case-Ready, Private Labeling, Export,
 Natural/Organic

EFR: Estimated from company reports or other published data.
DR: Company did not respond to this year's survey but has provided information within the last two years.
EST: Sales data estimated using most recent available information.

 



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 20 2020 at 8:37pm

And here is another meat plant closed down...temporarily at this point in time

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/cargill-meat-packing-plant-linked-to-covid-19-outbreak-temporarily-pauses-operations/ar-BB12W4To?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/cargill-meat-packing-plant-linked-to-covid-19-outbreak-temporarily-pauses-operations/ar-BB12W4To?ocid=spartandhp




-------------
If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 6:39am

Note from me: Employees have to provide their own PPE!! In a food industry setting? This is unconscionable.  

We are having a problem with the U.S. meat supply


By Bill Marler on April 21, 2020

OPINION

You cannot slaughter animals without workers to do the work, and you cannot sell meat without inspectors.


We need to protect both workers and inspectors or we will see more plants shutter and our grocery stores empty.


Forcing workers and inspectors to work unprotected is not the answer.


According to the New York Times, there are about 800 federally inspected slaughterhouses in the United States, processing billions of pounds of meat for food stores each year. But a relatively small number of them account for the vast majority of production. In the cattle industry, a little more than 50 plants are responsible for as much as 98 percent of slaughtering and processing in the United States


More than a dozen beef, pork and chicken processing plants have closed or are running at greatly reduced speeds because of the pandemic.

This past week, the number of cattle slaughtered dropped nearly 22 percent from the same period a year ago, while hog slaughter was down 6 percent, according to the Department of Agriculture. The decline is partly driven by the shutdown of restaurants and hotels, but plant closings have also caused a major disruption, leaving many ranchers with nowhere to send their animals.


According to “Government Executive,” as more federal food inspectors go home sick, the Agriculture Department is scrambling to reassign employees from shuttered facilities to those with new outbreaks and is instructing those with known exposure to the novel coronavirus to continue reporting to work.


The Food Safety Inspection Service, the USDA component that handles meat inspections, is still not providing employees with masks or other protective equipment, citing a national shortage. Instead, the agency told employees they could voluntarily bring their own “cloth face coverings” to slaughterhouses, processing plants and other facilities, and will reimburse them up to $50. Until earlier this month, employees were prohibited from wearing masks, multiple inspectors said, because it created fear in the workplace.



-------------
'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 4:34pm

And more (not) good news on the food front - this article may make people understand a bit what it takes to farm... wether it be fruits, vegtables, or  livestock - every species you take on has it's own learning curve.  You get good at sheep and take on goats - a whole new ballgame, add chickens - there's that darn learning curve kicking in again.    I can't imagine training a whole new 'team' all at once - what a nightmare!

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/why-its-naive-to-send-unemployed-canadians-to-work-on-labour-strapped-farms/ar-BB12YjoJ?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/why-its-naive-to-send-unemployed-canadians-to-work-on-labour-strapped-farms/ar-BB12YjoJ?ocid=spartandhp




-------------
If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 4:42pm

Wow... and although this article focuses on the ten countries going to get hit the worst... I believe this is going to affect all of us - way more then most realize or even want to consider as potential!

 World risks ‘biblical’ famines due to pandemic – UN

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/world-risks-biblical-famines-due-to-pandemic-–-un/ar-BB12Zl7J?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/world-risks-biblical-famines-due-to-pandemic-–-un/ar-BB12Zl7J?ocid=spartandhp



-------------
If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 4:50pm

Aaannnnddd for those of you in the US - it's not just meat and food crops... apparently your water, beer and soda are all at risk as well!!!

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/20/carbon-dioxide-shortage-us-food-water-coronavirus - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/20/carbon-dioxide-shortage-us-food-water-coronavirus

You know you're in for 'interesting' times when 3 of the main stories that pop up on your MSN screen are all related to food shortages!  Plant gardens people, potatoes in 5 gal pots or bags, sprout seeds, grow micro greens in trays - anything and everything you can to help offset upcoming issues!



-------------
If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 7:03pm

Not the soda!  I can work around the rest of it, but not the soda!  *screams*   



Posted By: ViQueen24
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 8:06pm

[QUOTE=Tabitha111]

Note from me: Employees have to provide their own PPE!! In a food industry setting? This is unconscionable.  

I work (before I got furloughed) in a food industry, on the PA turnpike.  Despite the concern of many of us, no masks, but we did get gloves.  Of course, we always got gloves for the purpose of handling the food.  Getting us extra gloves for long-term wear, would never have happened.  They didn't even have gowns or masks for the porters and matrons who cleaned the restrooms and dealt with garbage.  I will never forget the blank expressions on the faces of the Store Manager and Distrct Manager when I asked them what our pandemic plans were re: the coronavirus.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 21 2020 at 10:14pm

Another meat plant in Canada - this time BC just shut down... this is a smaller private plant - but goes to show it's not just the big guys being forced to close doors due to this.   It does mention there's two in Alberta closed...

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/vancouver-chicken-plant-closed-after-28-workers-test-positive-for-covid-19/ar-BB130tTb?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/vancouver-chicken-plant-closed-after-28-workers-test-positive-for-covid-19/ar-BB130tTb?ocid=spartandhp



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 22 2020 at 9:07pm

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN21P2DK - https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN21P2DK

It appears the CO2 shortage is not just a threat to beer and soda manufacturers and municipal water supplies.  Meat producers also need it for various reasons.  They use it for arefrigerant, preservative and to stun animals prior to slaughter.  Cargill says that production may slow.  There's another major meat producer with a new problem.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 23 2020 at 9:25am

Even MSM is waking up to this now...

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/instead-of-coronavirus-the-hunger-will-kill-us-a-global-food-crisis-looms/ar-BB135Gbv?ocid=spartandhp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/instead-of-coronavirus-the-hunger-will-kill-us-a-global-food-crisis-looms/ar-BB135Gbv?ocid=spartandhp



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 23 2020 at 9:41am

Yes we will have a food problem and it will kill more than the virus.  If a plant making food has a lot of workers ill and can't run it has to shut down but if it can run on a short crew it should keep running.  Just as fruits and veggies need to be picked they should get picked.    80% of people do not get a bad case of this remember.  So let the 80% work!



Posted By: Thorne!
Date Posted: April 23 2020 at 2:13pm

"

Update (April 23):  Food shortages across the country are coming a lot quicker than anyone has anticipated. A total of eight meatpacking plants have already gone offline in weeks. On Thursday morning, we https://www.zerohedge.com/health/pork-shortages-strike-america-two-weeks" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline; color: rgb(30, 67, 154); text-decoration: none; - noted how pork shortages could hit households by the first week of May.

Now we're starting to learn the dominos are falling, with meatpacking plants shuttering operations across the country because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Tyson Foods Inc. has announced the third plant closure in about a week and the second closure within 24 hours. The latest announcement crossed the wires on Thursday afternoon, specifies how a major beef facility in Pasco, Washington, is shutting down operations because of the virus outbreak, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/tyson-halts-pasco-plant-production-to-test-workers-for-covid-19?srnd=premium" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline; color: rgb(30, 67, 154); text-decoration: none; - reported Bloomberg ."


https://www.zerohedge.com/health/tyson-close-its-largest-pork-plant-over-coronavirus-fears - https://www.zerohedge.com/health/tyson-close-its-largest-pork-plant-over-coronavirus-fears



Posted By: AI
Date Posted: April 23 2020 at 2:25pm

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

Yes we will have a food problem and it will kill more than the virus.  If a plant making food has a lot of workers ill and can't run it has to shut down but if it can run on a short crew it should keep running.  Just as fruits and veggies need to be picked they should get picked.    80% of people do not get a bad case of this remember.  So let the 80% work!

Given what the various antibody serosurveys being conducted are showing, way more than 80% do not get a severe case when infected with COVID.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 23 2020 at 9:49pm

And on the weather front...interesting science 

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/weather/topstories/parts-of-north-america-are-currently-heading-for-a-megadrought-study-finds/ar-BB12V7E5?ocid=spartanntp - https://www.msn.com/en-ca/weather/topstories/parts-of-north-america-are-currently-heading-for-a-megadrought-study-finds/ar-BB12V7E5?ocid=spartanntp




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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 25 2020 at 9:28am

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-23/tyson-halts-pasco-plant-production-to-test-workers-for-covid-19 - https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-23/tyson-halts-pasco-plant-production-to-test-workers-for-covid-19

Eight major meat processors have shuttered in just a few weeks time.  You can figure they will be closed for at least two weeks.

Bottom line is the meat shortages are coming.  Looks like in about two weeks.  One report referenced in the article puts the level of frozen beef, pork, and chicken supply combined in the U.S. at two weeks worth.  After two weeks only big box stores may get their meat orders fulfilled.



Posted By: EdwinSm,
Date Posted: April 25 2020 at 11:03am

Well they have been saying that to combat climate change, one thing we need to do is eat less meat.  Looks like it will be forced on many!



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 25 2020 at 12:11pm

I'm not sure how much meat has to do with suns natural cycle...

https://abruptearthchanges.com/2019/06/14/the-next-grand-solar-minimum-has-very-likely-begun-nasa-predicts-lowest-solar-cycle-in-200-years/ - https://abruptearthchanges.com/2019/06/14/the-next-grand-solar-minimum-has-very-likely-begun-nasa-predicts-lowest-solar-cycle-in-200-years/

NASA has all the charts etc too, but that article shows it all together nicely...




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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 25 2020 at 2:35pm

Maximum 3 disasters at a time, please.



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 25 2020 at 6:11pm

Well, I can tell you Farmers Almanac said it was going to be a cold winter for Denver, NOAA said it was going to be a warm winter.  Well Farmers Almanac WAS CORRECT!  They have been correct for many years.  But the this Minimum coming/here I will be buying more wood this fall.  I had church boys help me last year but with my being off I will get a lot of wood early and load it into my back yard by myself slowly.    Covid19 has changed life!!  But a maunder minimum type event for 11 years will be interesting and I do not want to be caught low on wood.



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 26 2020 at 11:00am

Originally posted by Flubergasted Flubergasted wrote:

Maximum 3 disasters at a time, please.

      

      I'll try to 'say no evil' if you promise not to shoot the messenger! 



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 26 2020 at 12:50pm

Originally posted by Newbie1A Newbie1A wrote:

Originally posted by Flubergasted Flubergasted wrote:

Maximum 3 disasters at a time, please.

      

      I'll try to 'say no evil' if you promise not to shoot the messenger! 

I make no promises.  It has been a bad couple of years and my trigger finger gets itchy.  πŸ˜‹



Posted By: ME163
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 8:31am

speaking of food shortages, our local food market is slowing down.   Shelves are getting kind of bare.  Harder to find meat and some fresh foods.  Local garderns are going to have to pick up the slack.  We have flour and salt nearby.  Going to be a harsh winter and fall season.   



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 1:21pm

Food supply 

 

Meat processing plants across the US are suspending operations as a result of the pandemic, and poultry giant Tyson is warning the closures could cause major gaps in the country’s food supply chain. 

The chairman of Tyson foods said millions of pounds of meat could disappear from grocery stores and restaurants, and millions of chickens, pigs and cows could be “depopulated” (read: killed) because farmers have no place to sell their livestock and there’s no one in plants to process them.

Such a scenario is already happening in Delaware and Maryland, where 2 million chickens are set to be euthanized due to a lack of employees in the region’s chicken processing plants.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/26/business/tyson-foods-nyt-ad/index.html?utm_term=1587982837231e102cc300065&utm_source=Five+Things+for+Monday%2C+April+27%2C+2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201176_1587982837236&bt_ee=c%2ByDZHA8G3BsbbmoELKC5ozC84lAxMpQcPqWfSQXFrbkEIPl65ojJsmb6VrlzNos&bt_ts=1587982837236 - https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/26/business/tyson-foods-nyt-ad/index.html?utm_term=1587982837231e102cc300065&utm_source=Five+Things+for+Monday%2C+April+27%2C+2020&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201176_1587982837236&bt_ee=c%2ByDZHA8G3BsbbmoELKC5ozC84lAxMpQcPqWfSQXFrbkEIPl65ojJsmb6VrlzNos&bt_ts=1587982837236




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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 1:28pm

Meat Supply....a family member was at a few stores today and noticed the meat sections (pork in particular at a store this morning), was in shorter supply than usual. (this is Virginia) So if You have a freezer, you might want to purchase a LITTLE extra, if you can find it, just in case. FYI....NOT suggesting hoarding in any way. And for those considering purchasing a freezer, they've been in short supply as well.  I finally got one off of Amazon that is being delivered
Thursday. It's a small apartment size one which will work since its just me here, but I had to keep checking and rechecking for them to come back in stock. 
If you don't have extra freezer room don't forget available canned meat products.

You have been alerted by all of us on here!



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: hoosiermom22
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 2:15pm

I’ve officially delved into some of my dry goods/staples last week. We’ve only had a fresh produce/dairy delivery mainly since March or whenever we hunkered down in March. I’m now once again getting a bit concerned as meats become difficult and what consumer behaviors that may lead to- next will be dairy and then protein alternatives. I’m now thinking it’s time to replace what I’ve used with a Costco run. Which does give me great anxiety at the moment! I had prepared for 2 months comfortably. So, any suggestions, I was thinking mid-week, mid day trip. Goal being for more non perishables than meat necessarily. Very thankful For AFT, the time, energy and stress of preparing a bit in secret from my family, not wanting to face the ridicule. I would be SO stressed had I not even mentally prepared since 2009 and began agin in January. 

Local home improvement store was seriously low on pool chorine when my spouse went for the pool supplies, but lots of algicides and other non chlorine products.



Posted By: Flubergasted
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 4:00pm

I would recommend pleasant hill grain.  They don't seem to be as backed up as some of the businesses catering to longterm food storage.  In particular, I would suggest getting some of the ova easy eggs.  It's a good protein, and very difficult to tell from fresh eggs once prepared.  They have other things, too, but eggs and beans are the way I would go to build up some additional alternative protein in your stores that won't take up freezer space.



Posted By: AI
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 5:08pm

Originally posted by EdwinSm, EdwinSm, wrote:

Well they have been saying that to combat climate change, one thing we need to do is eat less meat.  Looks like it will be forced on many!

Only if you don't have the skill sets required to go out and hunt it, kill it and process it. An elk and a deer in the freezer and plenty more where they came from. A country boy can survive. Venison it's what's for dinner.



Posted By: hoosiermom22
Date Posted: April 27 2020 at 6:23pm

Thanks FG. I’ve never heard of that one before. I’ve ordered powdered eggs from honeyville but they expired from 2009. I’ll check it out! 



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 28 2020 at 10:00am

Folks - happening already... our Aldi's are limiting meat purchases to two....two pkgs of meat only allowed (frozen is no limit)
and our Kroger in town was wiped clean of chicken...none....empty.



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 28 2020 at 10:09am

I have freeze dry meats not sure how they taste!



Posted By: AI
Date Posted: April 28 2020 at 11:35am

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

I have freeze dry meats not sure how they taste!

Well if it ever gets time to find out, I'm sure they will taste good.



Posted By: Tabitha111
Date Posted: April 28 2020 at 12:09pm

Well boo hoo...my freezer order on Amazon (for an actual freezer) got cancelled....they did refund me though.

Looking at websites all over...looks like most are "back ordered" until July. I guess I will order one and wait.



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'A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door.'
--Confucius



Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 28 2020 at 9:56pm

Originally posted by AI AI wrote:

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

I have freeze dry meats not sure how they taste!

Well if it ever gets time to find out, I'm sure they will taste good.

LOL, that is what I figured you are hungry you will eat anything!!  

I just did an delivered order from the grocery store, they were out of pork ribs the shopper got me assorted pork chops got 8 lbs of hamburger 12 chicken breasts and 12 chicken thighs.  So I am packing today and tomorrow and freezing.  I have a college kid and I know in a month he will be back home looking for free meat from mom.  LOL!  Kids do not think ahead!!



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: April 29 2020 at 7:11am

And this is why this will continue to be an issue - the current 'generation' that should be being hatched, or born right now - isn't.  Tens of thousands of hatching eggs for layers (and for broilers), breeding stock being culled, piglets being aborted etc - so even if/when the mega butchers come back online - there will be a period of shortage due to this.  It can take approx 18-24 mos to rebuild a herd of cows, 14 min for sheep, 12 min for pigs (just looking at breeding at approx. youngest age and successful calf/lamb/piglets - add another 4-6 mos for grow out to butcher size...  

Not good...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-livestock-insight/piglets-aborted-chickens-gassed-as-pandemic-slams-meat-sector-idUSKCN2292YS - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-livestock-insight/piglets-aborted-chickens-gassed-as-pandemic-slams-meat-sector-idUSKCN2292YS



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: FluMom
Date Posted: April 29 2020 at 9:33am

You would know Newbie being a farmer.  I saw Temple Grandin live last night and she says we are in for shortages.   If you don't know who Temple Grandin is look her up.  She is Autistic but brilliant she has developed a lot of livestock methods and processing plant methods.  

We are in for a real ride in the next 6 months.  I will order meat again in a few weeks if I have room in my freezers.   I am not hoarding just looking to the future and I have a couple of extra mouths to take care of too.



Posted By: Sheep Lady
Date Posted: May 01 2020 at 9:00am

Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

You would know Newbie being a farmer.  I saw Temple Grandin live last night and she says we are in for shortages.   If you don't know who Temple Grandin is look her up.  She is Autistic but brilliant she has developed a lot of livestock methods and processing plant methods.  

We are in for a real ride in the next 6 months.  I will order meat again in a few weeks if I have room in my freezers.   I am not hoarding just looking to the future and I have a couple of extra mouths to take care of too.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsAa9hu9W8k&feature=youtu.be - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsAa9hu9W8k&feature=youtu.be something is very wrong here



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Sheep Lady


Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: May 02 2020 at 7:14pm

It's already started. I went to the grocery store this morning first thing this morning to get some extra hamburger, bacon and sausage. I had not been in a grocery store in a long time until this week, we have been ordering online. There was hardly anyone in there. They had a limit of 2 packs of ground beef per person. I also got some steaks and the price per LB of the steak was cheaper than the ground beef. I talked to the meat guy and he said they were only going to be sending him 1/3 of the amount of the meat he has been trying to order and it was only going to get worse. He told me when he gets trucks in and what time to be there, when he unloads, to get what I needed.



Posted By: Sheep Lady
Date Posted: May 03 2020 at 7:52pm

Originally posted by Penham Penham wrote:

It's already started. I went to the grocery store this morning first thing this morning to get some extra hamburger, bacon and sausage. I had not been in a grocery store in a long time until this week, we have been ordering online. There was hardly anyone in there. They had a limit of 2 packs of ground beef per person. I also got some steaks and the price per LB of the steak was cheaper than the ground beef. I talked to the meat guy and he said they were only going to be sending him 1/3 of the amount of the meat he has been trying to order and it was only going to get worse. He told me when he gets trucks in and what time to be there, when he unloads, to get what I needed.


There are still good people out there who look out for others.  It is reassuring to hear stories like this with so much craziness out there.  We are seeing meat fly off the shelves here too.  Seems like a lot of people are staying home.  

Except for Lowes which is packed.  I want to say are you sure you want to start that home improvement project now?  Or maybe they are all buying freezers, lol.






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Sheep Lady


Posted By: WitchMisspelled
Date Posted: May 04 2020 at 7:30am

Penham, I purchased the meatgrinder/sausage maker attachment for my Mixmaster because I have the very same worries.  My suspicion is if things get really bad, we'll be doing a certain amount of our own butchering.  

I stocked in 8lbs of bacon and a few pounds of sausage into the freezer a couple of weeks ago when we started seeing meat processing plants shut down.  I'm glad I did.  



Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: May 05 2020 at 1:52am

I have an old hand meat grinder that we use when we make our own beef jerky. I remember my mom had one when I was growing up and I saw one at a yard sale a couple years ago for $2 and picked it up and we have used it so much. My other half hunts, turkey, deer and whatever else he would have to. Our dog caught a squirrel in the backyard last year and he skinned it and cooked it for her. He convinced me to try a bite lol. They taste like chicken. The dog loved it. 



Posted By: Newbie1A
Date Posted: May 05 2020 at 4:54am

Originally posted by Sheep Lady Sheep Lady wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsAa9hu9W8k&feature=youtu.be - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsAa9hu9W8k&feature=youtu.be something is very wrong here

Yes, THIS!!!  I love my animals & birds - too much sometimes (a failing of mine) this stuff just breaks my heart!  This isn't a case of 'the farmer next door' (Who is whom ppl should be trying to support) but rather the big agri farms/companies that are so 'dime driven' that pigs go to market THE day they hit the right weight, and have zero room for flexibility in the chain.  They make a profit (I don't) so they are 'doing it right' by the numbers, I tend to do it right by the animals so I can sleep at night!  I've heard of tens of thousands of fertile hatching eggs for layers and broilers being garbaged - that means that the entire next generation will be missing from supply chain.  I hadn't filled my incubators here as was worried about cost to feed all the chicks/ducklings etc (feed grain $'s going higher all the time at retailers) but a lot of people are starting to realize what is happening and the demand for chicks etc is fairly high - delivery though is still an issue with all the restrictions... So filled/filling now - will see what happens in next month or so as they hatch (chickens 21 days, ducks 28) then a few months of feed/care for grow out...



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If it's to be - it's up to me!


Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: May 06 2020 at 11:42pm

I went to get some more hamburger meat today. The 5lb. Package I paid $15.99 for Saturday was $23.99 today. The smaller packages of 80/20 were $5.49 a pound. 



Posted By: WitchMisspelled
Date Posted: May 07 2020 at 3:12am

$4.70 a pound doesn't sound too bad.  But compared to the $3 and change you previously paid, it might be cheaper to get a chuck or other beef roast and grind it yourself, Penham. 



Posted By: mwbab
Date Posted: May 07 2020 at 8:47am

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/meat-plants-become-covid-19-hotspots-58-test-positive-at-one-plant/ - https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/05/meat-plants-become-covid-19-hotspots-58-test-positive-at-one-plant/


COVID-19 wallops meat plant workers; shortages hit shelves, fast food

      

Consumers are starting to see meat shortages after thousands of workers fall ill.

Meat- and poultry-processing facilities have become hotspots for COVID-19 outbreaks, with cases spreading in over 100 plants across the country.

 

Federal and state public health researchers reported Friday, May 1, that https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6918e3.htm?s_cid=mm6918e3_w" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - at least 115 meat and poultry plants in 19 states have had been affected by the pandemic. In all, the researchers counted at least 4,913 sickened workers and at least 20 deaths. The findings are likely an undercount given different testing strategies at facilities and the fact that some facilities did not submit any data.

 

For instance, the only data researchers had from Iowa indicated that only 377 workers in two plants in the state had been sickened. But on Tuesday, May 5, Iowa health officials announced that there were at least 1,653 cases from four plants that had outbreaks—meaning 10 percent or more of the workforce had been sickened.

 

A Tyson plant in Perry, Iowa, had 730 cases alone, which amounts to 58 percent of tested workers at the facility. Iowa Premium Beef in Tama saw 258 cases, which is 39 percent of workers tested. A Tyson plant in Columbus Junction had 221 cases, 26 percent of those tested. Tyson’s Waterloo facility had 444 cases, 17 percent of tested employees.

 

The three Tyson plants closed for cleaning at various points in April. On Tuesday, the company said the Waterloo facility, which is still closed, will resume limited operation on May 7.

 

Safety problems

 

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, their loved ones and our communities,” Tom Hart, plant manager of Tyson’s Waterloo facility, said https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2020/5/tyson-fresh-meats-resume-waterloo-iowa-operations" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - in a statement . He noted that the facility had worked with local officials and health experts to better protect workers from the disease.

 

Keeping workers safe in meat processing facilities is a particular challenge, according to the researchers behind the study last week, which was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

 

According to data from risk assessments:

 

Facility challenges included structural and operational practices that made it difficult to maintain a 6-foot (2-meter) distance while working, especially on production lines, and in nonproduction settings during breaks and while entering and exiting facilities. The pace and physical demands of processing work made adherence to face covering recommendations difficult, with some workers observed covering only their mouths and frequently readjusting their face coverings while working. Some sites were also observed to have difficulty adhering to the heightened cleaning and disinfection guidance recommended for all worksites to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

 

The researchers also noted cultural and economic challenges to controlling disease spread in meat-processing facilities. For instance, one facility had workers who spoke 40 different primary languages. And “many workers live in crowded, multigenerational settings and sometimes share transportation to and from work, contributing to increased risk for transmission of COVID-19 outside the facility itself.”

 

For these reasons, they concluded that these facilities are at high risk of outbreak, which “requires prompt action to decrease risks to workers, preserve facility function, and maintain the food supply.”

 

Breaking the chain

 

Once COVID-19 begins spreading in a meat facility, it could easily become a source of infection for the greater community—or vice versa. Of the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest new confirmed cases per capita, five have meat processing plants with outbreaks, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/briefing/coronavirus-white-house-task-force-us-senate.html" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - The New York times reported wednesday 

Meanwhile, the United States has already begun experiencing shortages in certain meat products, including fresh beef, due to COVID-19-related closures and disruptions. Hundreds of Wendy’s fast-food restaurants have run out of hamburgers, and several grocery chains are limiting purchases of certain meat items, the https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/business/coronavirus-meat-shortages.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20200506&instance_id=18254&nl=the-morning®i_id=86496398&segment_id=26699&te=1&user_id=e424c0083f00499b8932975ca693a658" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - Times reported Tuesday .

 

The chairman of Tyson Foods took out full-page advertisements in the Times and The Washington Post last week warning that “the supply chain is breaking.”

 

To better protect meat-plant workers, the researchers behind the MMRW report made several recommendations, such as slowing down the pace of production, installing physical barriers between work stations, screening employees for symptoms, requiring masks, offering paid sick leave, and stepping up sanitation and hygiene stations.

 

However, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/25/meat-workers-safety-jbs-smithfield-tyson/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - workers have reported that meat companies have ignored health recommendations since the pandemic began, including failing to offer masks and other protective gear and encouraging people to work while sick.

 

According to an independent tally of COVID-19 cases in meat-plant workers by Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting, there have been https://investigatemidwest.org/2020/04/16/tracking-covid-19s-impact-on-meatpacking-workers-and-industry/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(255, 78, 0); text-decoration: none; transition-delay: 0s; transition-duration: 0.17s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease; - at least 10,800 cases from 170 plants in 29 states, including 45 deaths as of May 6.




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