MEDICINE HAT– We have all seen the empty store shelves throughout the city.
During this crisis, people have been stocking up on food and other supplies.
Local retailers admit they are struggling to keep up with the demand, despite this, the provincial government says our food supply remains strong.
The demand for beef is at an all-time high, making ground beef harder to stay stocked at Reg’s Homestyle Meats and Deli.
“Ground beef have increased by quite a lot, by over a dollar a pound at this point.”
“Well, because of a shortage of some supplies, some things like ground beef have increased by quite a lot. By over a dollar a pound at this point, so hopefully, when the supply gets back on, it’ll come back down again. Pork and chicken haven’t been affected too much, there seems to be a good supply of that right now,” said Reg Stein, owner of Reg’s Homestyle Meats and Deli.
The provincial government notes Albertans buying patterns have changed, officials are stressing their is no need to stockpile food as it puts unnecessary pressure on the supply chain.
But that hasn’t stopped people from panic buying and stocking up on what they deem necessary.
“People have been buying in mass quantities, and we can’t keep up. And, the regular stuff that we do for value-added has been put on the back-burner, and we are just trying to fill as many meat orders as we can,” said Jennifer Bashnick, an employee at Reg’s.
With the increased demand for beef products, the cattle market is trying to keep up with supply.
“I think there is a lot of demand for that right now.”
“I’m seeing the markets jump on the cows and bulls because I believe, and it’s only my belief, but I’m guessing that the cows and bulls are a quick turnover. We can turn them into hamburger, and get them quickly on supermarket counters. It is a lower cost beef, lower cost of protein. I think there is a lot of demand for that right now,” said Darren Lutz, auctioneer for the Medicine Hat Feeding Company.
The provincial government says it is monitoring our food supply closely especially in rural, remote, and indigenous communities to ensure there is access to the food that’s needed.
Despite this, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding how the cattle market could be affected in the future.
“My guess is the cattle market will stay strong for the near future, we are living in the present right now. I think everybody is pretty unaware of what will happen in the future. A lot will depend on unemployment, how many good-paying jobs are out there. I think this will affect every aspect of our society, the future is very unknown.”
Minister of agriculture and forestry, Devin Dreeshen, reiterated the message today that Albertans do not need to hoard food and daily essentials, and that people should be mindful when it comes to irrational panic buying, and the effect it can have on the people around you.
