KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
Rising pork prices and a reported pork shortage next year have been in the news recently.
The heat and lack of rain that gripped the Heartland this summer will have long-range consequences for the American breakfast and dinner table.
The extreme drought withered corn crops and has driven feed prices up. Farmers are hurting and many say unfortunately they will have to pass the costs along to the consumer in the coming months.
But the owner of a Kansas City meat shop said he won't be passing along the price increase to his customers anytime soon.
"They're biting the bullet on the half way and I'm biting half the other bullet," said Alex Pope, part business owner of The Local Pig. "What we do is find small local farmers and buy directly from them. We buy what we call 'happy animals.'"
Pope said prices have gone up more than 30 percent on everything from beef to chicken and from pigs to rabbits. He said the increases have been across the board.
"We can't price anybody out. We want people down here buying this stuff. Buying into the idea you should eat locally-sourced, humanely-raised meats," Pope said.
Pope said he is proud of the product they serve.
"We can tell you where each animal came from, what breed it was, how old it was, when it got slaughtered and when we picked it up," he said.
If prices don't go down as he hopes, Pope said the business will adjust in time.
"We have a premium product and part of that is that is we are not going to make any price increases. If things continue and keep going up, we'll have to do something. Everyone I've talked to, all my producers say give me three months and corn will get back on the market," he said.
Pope said his meat shop has already priced themselves ahead of the grocery stores and don't want to raise prices unless they absolutely have to.
For more information on the Pig Shop, click here.
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