re: Meat prices spiking. Here is supposedly why.

quote:

---

Local farmers and slaughter houses need to do a better job at selling themselves. Most people think meat can only be purchased at Wal-Mart or other big chain stores.

---

I've said the same thing about the shrimp industry and the oyster industry, and I've talked to shrimpers and oystermen, and here is what they have said.

1) They would love to sell direct to consumer.

2) Selling at a market, storefront, etc, requires either hiring someone to do it, or they have to take time off the water to do it themselves.

3) Selling direct to consumer requires additional regulation

4) They feel that if they start selling too much direct to consumer, the wholesalers will stop buying from them.

Simply put, for your average shrimper, the additional revenue that could be earned selling direct to customer isn't worth the additional headache and additional costs.

I would imagine a lot of farmers are the same way. Maybe if you have a big enough farm and enough family members, it helps. You also have to have your own slaughter operation, which means, more costs and regulation.