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Local butcher shops overwhelmed amid pork processor shutdowns
Local butcher shops are being overwhelmed as packing plant shutdowns force pork producers to figure out alternatives for market-ready hogs.
Pam Voelkel with the Minnesota Pork Board calls it an unprecedented situation.
“People are purchasing pigs (and) bringing them into the local meat market or butcher shop, and they can only handle so many. Between cooler space, personnel, and being able to cut, wrap, get it all prepared, and freezer space afterwards, they’re limited.”
She tells Brownfield the average butcher shop can process five to ten pigs per week.
“And they’re finding out people are definitely trying to get many more pigs in than that.”
The hog supply chain in Minnesota has been backed up by the closures of the Smithfield packing plant in Sioux Falls and the JBS facility in Worthington.
When I found out that most of our meat plants are owned by China and our meats are processed in China, I plan to buy direct from farmers or local butcher shops. I think more US citizens will start doing the same!