Steep rises on way for pork products

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This article was published 27/09/2012 (5003 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Canadians don’t need to stockpile bacon despite talk of a looming shortage — but they may need to save up in order to bring it home.

While stores aren’t likely to run out of the so-called other white meat, prices will rise dramatically within four to six months due to limited supply, the Canadian Pork Council said Wednesday.

“The options for the consumer to purchase a relatively lower-priced pork product will be reduced, so they’ll be looking at, for example, 50, 75 cents or $1 a kilo more for a moderate cut of pork,” said Martin Rice, the group’s executive director.

Pork will stay cheaper than beef and chicken but sticker shock could lead some to cut back on the traditional breakfast meat, he said.

The threat of a shortage sparked a frenzy online, with many posting tongue-in-cheek messages of distress.

“Who wants to start hoarding bacon with me?” one read.

Still, the impact on Canadian bacon lovers pales in comparison to the hit felt by the country’s pig farmers, many of whom are struggling to stay afloat, Rice said.

A severe drought in the U.S. has driven up the price of grain, a major staple in hog feed, several industry groups report.

— The Canadian Press