Americans are rethinking cheap beef and buying from small-scale farms - Business Insider

Beef prices are rising as thousands of meat industry workers have tested positive for the coronavirus, threatening America's meat supply chain.

Since the pandemic began, COVID-19 made more than 10,000 meat industry workers sick, killed more than 60, and led to shutdowns of major factories and shortages at grocery stores, exposing the fragile nature of America's meat supply chain.antitrust investigation into the four biggest meat companies "Small and very small slaughter facilities are being out-competed by the large companies. And a large section of the industry has the very deep pockets — they can out lobby the small side," Michael Fisher, a retired inspector with the US Department of Agriculture, told Business Insider Weekly.At one collective of farmers, the Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative, meat sales have more than doubled since the start of the pandemic.

"We've really lost most of the mid-scale players," said Rebecca Thistlethwaite, director of Oregon State University's Also like today, there were concerns about price-fixing, leading President Woodrow Wilson to order an antitrust investigation. Thebroke up the five companies' grip on the supply chain and made room for independent ranchers and rural slaughterhouses to flourish for nearly 50 years.

Big packers started making big money, buying up the smaller outfits and building even bigger plants staffed with unskilled workers standing closely together on assembly lines. Skilled butchers were no longer needed.

I will always try to support my local farmer when available. It’s hard sometimes and can be expensive but very fulfilling to help someone in your community and know the animals you are eating led a happier life.

Small scale farming is the future...it’s adaptable, plenty of competitors & alternatives...great quality of product

I buy 90% of my meat from ButcherBox for a reason. If I do have to buy more I try to buy it as naturally and sustainably as possible.

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