Meat Prices

I've recently been reading that hog futures have raised to historic levels due to shrinking supply, but have started to lower in recent days because of shrinking demand (not my fault). Smithfield, the country's largest pork processor, closed a plant in Iowa which should further reduce the demand considering that 13,000 less hogs will be purchased every day because of the closing. At least our ribs won't get too outrageous.

What is getting outrageous are recent brisket prices. A recent story in the Fort Worth Star Telegram (thanks to Joseph's Riverport BBQ for alerting us) highlights what local BBQ joints have been dealing with, and how they're trying to cope with a 20% increase in wholesale brisket costs. To add insult to injury, the briskets on the market are larger with a higher fat percentage, making the meat even more expensive. Here's hoping for a swift end to this alarming trend. To think the whole reason that briskets even came to prominence in smokers across the state was due to its low demand and low cost. Don't be surprised if you start seeing chicken on special across DFW.

Hidden in that story is a little nugget about Dallas Green. If you remember, this blog reported his arrest almost exactly a year ago today when he carried a gun into his partner's BBQ establishment in Colleyville. Now we learn that he's still doing business in Hudson Oaks, but is just now back on his feet after a motorcycle accident and five weeks in a coma. We're wishing him well.

- BBQ Snob