Meat shortage expected in Texas as supply slows down during coronavirus pandemic�

Consumers to see meat shortage during coronavirus outbreak, says Texas Department of Agriculture

HEB is limiting the amount of meat consumers can buy as the Texas Department of Agriculture says a shortage of meat is on the way.

AUSTIN, Texas - H-E-B has added meat to its product purchasing limit list during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Customers living in large Texas cities except for Houston are limited to two packages of meat per purchase. Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said there isn’t a supply shortage but a slow down in meat processing.

“We are going to have a meat shortage probably for the next 30 to 60 days, we won’t be out. You may be able to get meat but it may not be the cut you particularly want that day,” Commissioner Miller said. “We are turning this thing around and we are keeping those processing plants open. We are trying to ramp back up the number of cattle we process each day.”

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday, to keep meat processing plants open, as many have had to reduce operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after a Tyson food processing plant in Kentucky closed temporarily after a reported Covid-19 outbreak in the plant. Processing plants are required to be staffed at 60 percent capacity.

Local farmers and ranchers are now selling directly to the consumer. Joshua Eilers, owner of Ranger Cattle sold beef to 60 restaurants throughout Austin and since the health crisis closed businesses' doors, he shifted his business model.

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“All of a sudden we are left with a bunch of beef and no way to get it to the consumers,” said Eilers. “The supply chain is fine there is nothing wrong there the problem is with these big processing plants they can no longer take a cow and turn it into beef at the same amount as they could just a month ago.”

Eiler’s beef supply can now be purchased on his ranch from 4 to 7 p.m. Miller stressed there will be meat available on store shelves, supply is flowing. Both Eilers and Miller urge people not to panic-buy, instead of supporting local farmers and ranchers.

“Everything is going to be okay the food chains will provide. Everyone needs to just sit tight and take a deep breath” Eilers added. “We are going to get through this together.”

Sustainable Food Center: Supporting the local farm and ranch community

SFC's many farm and ranch partners have seen a big financial hit due to many businesses they've depended on not being open and therefore not buying product. Joy Casnovsky has more on the impact COVID-19 has had on local farmers and ranchers and what you can do to help.

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