It only affects pigs and does not pose a health threat to people, according to the Iowa Pork Industry Center at Iowa State University. The virus first appeared in the U.S. last spring.
Since June, North Carolina has experienced 1,799 confirmed cases – more than any other state. During the week of Dec. 29, 2013, there were 137 cases of the virus in the Tar Heel State. Threat of the virus could explain why pork prices have gone up at one well-known local barbecue joint.
R.O.’s Bar-B-Cue in Gastonia is paying 25 percent more for pork than a year ago. One of the owners, Mark Hoffman, said it can’t all be blamed on the PED threat. Part of the increase is because of the economy, he said. Prices for most all of the restaurant’s wholesale foods have increased over the past year.
“That’s hurt small businesses, mom and pop restaurants like us,” he said.
A 25 percent wholesale pork increase is hard to swallow, especially since R.O.’s hasn’t increased menu prices to compensate. Hoffman said the restaurant buys pork from Tyson’s Foods Inc. He recently paid the most for pork in November and said the price per pound has actually decreased 10 cents since then.
“It’s higher than normal. Let’s just say it that way,” he said.
Paying the same: Bo Manly with Smithfield Foods Inc., the largest pork producer in the U.S., said in December that the PED virus could affect 500,000 to 1 million sows in the industry. The virus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting, and is only fatal to young pigs.
Kyle Fletcher’s BBQ and Catering in Lowell orders 400 Boston butts a week to cook and serve. The meat is purchased from Tyson Foods Inc., and Farmland, a brand of Smithfield Foods Inc., based in Smithfield, Va. Employee Matt Manfredi said the restaurant is paying the same price for pork as last June.
But if prices do spike, he’s counting on ordering in quantity to make it affordable. The restaurant raised menu prices a year ago. “As much as we order and as much as we go through in a week, we’ll make our money back,” he said.
You can reach Wade Allen at 704-869-1828 or twitter.com/GazetteWade.