Meat Price Inflation

[The Big Pig]

6 weeks ago I purchased a case of briskets from a wholesaler for $1.59/lb. Today, same briskets, same wholesaler $2.07/lb. That's a 30% increase in just 6 weeks! It is being forecast by those knowledgeable that the same brisket will wholesale for over $4/lb this time next year. That translates in to $6/lb. packers at Sams and Costco here in KC.

That's a pretty significant increase. It's my understanding that pork and chicken prices will similarly inflate over the same time period. I'm wondering what ramifications it will have on our hobby. Will you cook as often? Will you compete as often? I worry that combined with higher energy costs, these higher meat costs will crimp our sport.

Does anyone else share these concerns or am I just stressing over something I cannot control?

[jon]

I share your concerns, and yes, you are stressing over something that you cannot control.

[wheatcountry]

I came into a conversation at my job discussing the quality of food they had been purchasing lately.

Basically the same conversation we've had about where we buy our competition meat. My two co-workers stated recently buying bad meat and becoming very picky where produce and meat are purchased.

One of the co-workers is pregnant so am sure she enjoyed the smell.

More cost - worse quality. Just what I in food.

As a child, we chose the best cow from our pasture and put her in our freezer .... that was good meat.

[BrooklynQ]

I agree with Wheat. I've noticed a lot of non graded meat appearing in the wholesale clubs. Things are definitely taking a turn for the worse.

[The Big Pig]

I've noticed a lot of non graded meat appearing in the wholesale clubs. Things are definitely taking a turn for the worse.

I really noticed the poor quality at a local Sams Club. I had been buying good quality meats there for a couple of years and starting around mid-June their stuff was bad even though it had been graded. The meat in the display case was so bad I often let empty handed and went elsewhere. A lot of the IBP rib cryovacs had broken seals, they stopped carrying packers for a while and the flats they had were pathetic, and their steaks weren't very appealing.

I didn't take the time to ask the butcher if they had anything else in the back and it may just have been a coincidence that every time I shopped there all of the good stuff had been cleaned out. But I saw the same thing on 8 consecutive trips so I'm thinking it was more than bad timing. My trip there last week was good and there selection was vastly improved. They even had a CAB brisket packer (labeled Choice but the Cryo had CAB stamped on it) that I picked up.

Depending on my experience there in the next few months, I may drop the Sam's membership and stick with Costco. We're sourcing our contest meats from other vendors now so I really don't need the packers and butts I started using them for anymore now.

We live near some of the biggest and best pork, beef, and chicken packers in the country. I can only imagine how hard it is to get good meat on the coasts.