Coronavirus impacts meat industry

Coronavirus impacts meat industry

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Since we've been in this coronavirus pandemic, many grocery stores have set limits on the amount of meat customers can buy.

But as processing plants across the us reopen, folks are hopeful this won't last long.

That's tonight's top local story.

At food city, there are purchase limits on meats, 2 packages of chicken, 2 packages of ground beef, 2 packages of fresh cut beef and 2 packages of pork.

Food city director of meat and seafood operations steve holloway: "they're able to get 8 packages of multiple proteins on any given trip and we're really doing it to, to make sure that everyone has ample amount and all customers have to choose and pick what they want to buy and we don't have folks hoarding."

Food city director of meat and seafood operations steve holloway says the meat shortages they've been seeing have been sporadic.

Food city director of meat and seafood operations steve holloway: "we took a lot of product that was headed to food service in some of the cruise line industry and stuff and we were able to take that product in where other people couldn't and process it at the store so it's kept us in pretty good shape overall."

The shortages you may see at your grocery store are from the impact covid-19 has had on the meat processing industry with some plants having dealt with virus outbreaks, shutting down, and reopening under measures to better protect employees, but at the same time slowing production.

Tennessee cattlemen's association executive vice president charles hord: "a lot of these processors are trying to figure out the ways to both protect their workers and make sure, you know, our meat supply remains constant."

As plants navigate the difficult task, product is high.

Tennessee cattlemen's association executive vice president charles hord says in the cattle realm, the us has been producing a record number of animals.

Tennessee cattlemen's association executive vice president charles hord: "and now that we've got this kind of issue with our supply chain, we're seeing animals backed up.

There's not as much demand