Grocery store updates, shortages, recent stories!

So why is the virus hitting the meat packing plants so hard?

I’m a meat cutter in Louisiana. I’ll try the explain the best I can. Stores are still running some low price sales as availability dictates. We typically run out of half the sale items midweek with no re-stock. Grocery chains are fighting for the reserves. That’s what we are functioning on, reserves.
Most of the “fresh” chicken and pork we’ve been getting in over the past month is frozen rock solid, like concrete. We have to thaw the pork for two days just to be able to break apart to cut. Beef is not as bad,still some items frozen or looks like older stock. Prices will continue Togo up across the board but stores will still run “ hook” specials. Don’t expect that to last , even for a full week that the ad gets run. Most of the higher ups run the ads without a full knowledge of even if they can cover it and let the in-store employees deal with the complaints.
My advice, get and stock up on what you can NOW as far as meat. If a sale starts on a Wednesday or Thursday, get it then, if they have it. Don’t wait till the end of the sale week. Even if you get a raincheck, there’s no telling when an excess of that product will come in. Some will still be a available in the coming months but prices will go through the roof. It’s already happening across the board. Just because your market has great sales this week, it doesn’t mean it’ll be like that forever.
Take care.

My food deliveries have been pretty good, s few items missing but reasonable substitutions. This weekend, no meat. Every bit of fresh meat I ordered was unavailable.