A pandemic, a power struggle with China, the divisiveness in this country? All that pales in comparison to a startling problem for Americans.
Yes, we’re talking about a potential bacon shortage.
As the number of vaccinated citizens grows, the hunger for social activities increases – and the perfect compromise is the traditional outdoor barbecue party, with hogs as the stars – or at least co-stars — of the show.
But hogs have been in short supply and, according to a Business Insider story, analysts see higher prices and higher demand for foods such as hot dogs and bacon.
With summer coming quickly, and with the hopeful convergence of reopenings of all kinds nationwide, restaurants and personal barbecues are back on the schedule.
What’s driving the optimism?
Most Americans are targeted to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by the Fourth of July, but they will be much more happy to entertain in the great outdoors.
“Many consumers still feel more comfortable with outside dining and gatherings, so I suspect grilling out is going to be a very popular activity this summer,” said Anne-Marie Roerink, principal and founder of 210analytics via the Insider story.
But where’s the, uh, pork?
Unless you’re willing to pay a premium to throw a few slabs of bacon on your barbecue, it may be best to wait awhile.
It seems at this point, because of lower production last year and higher disease losses this past winter, the bacon is no bargain.
“The whole supply chain has really been squeezed, and unfortunately it does not look like this is going to be something that improves between here and early summer,” Isaac Olvera, food and agriculture economist at ArrowStream, told Insider.
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