The ongoing dramatic developments at Agriprocessors are creating a great deal of uncertainty for the future supply of glatt kosher meat. While there have been sporadic shortages of kosher beef and poultry since the May 12th raid in Postville, the plant was able to supply some meat, albeit far short of its pre-raid levels. The complete shutdown of the plant, however, is certain to cause a much more significant shortage of kosher beef, particularly in smaller markets, which Agriprocessors had developed over the past decade or so.
Industry sources called the developments at Agriprocessors, which included the arrest of the company’s former CEO, Sholom Rubashkin, a “major blow to the kosher food industry.” Some say that Agri’s supply of meat to the smaller markets was in many ways “directly responsible for the establishment of hundreds of kosher departments at supermarkets.”
At the same time, prices for meat and poultry continued to rise in some markets. Rumors were rife that the Agriprocessors plant would eventually re-open under new ownership or a re-organized company, raising hopes that it would one day meet the growing demand for kosher meat.
KosherToday learned that while the beef kill came to a complete halt last week, the production of poultry had actually increased to over 50,000 per day, but even that development fell victim to actions by creditors.
While there was hope over the last few months that the company could survive the actions by governmental agencies, by month’s end, it became clear that the company was in severe financial distress, the main culprit being the company’s inability to replace the skilled workers it lost in the raid.
(Source: Kosher Today)
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9 Responses
…….”while there was hope”……HUH? we’re maaminim bnei maaminim, there WAS hope, there IS hope, there WILL be hope !!!
Financial distress? no problem. Illegal immigrants? no problem. Minor workers? no problem. Other headaches or stomachachs, again,
absolutely no problem !!!!!!!!!!!
Last I checked China was still around. They have NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER with illegal immigrants, time and half with overrtime, workmens comp for the most blatant swindlers, unemployment insurance for deliberate loafers, and of course minors? ha ha ha, give them a birth certificate to become BIG GUYS!!!!!!!!
Doubt me? wheres GM headed? Chrysler? have you checked your chips in the PC’s where they come from? Hard drives? Vitamins? (yes all and all, none are made in these US.) Foods? Clothing? Boeing? Of course it’s China.
So why not our Franks, Salami, Pastrami, Corned Beef, Flanken, and don’t forget about the LIVER,oh that delicious LIVER will be coming from CHINA, OY GEVALD !!!
It’s only a wonder we have not turned into wide eyes YET!!!
….and what will we do for parnuse? become MESHULACHIM to………guess? sure CHINA !
R”L. That is the bottom line. Whether you agree with the Rubashkins or don’t, whether you trust their kashrus or don’t, or you feel they are being given extra tough treatment (that is my opinion) we are going to be headed into a time where the price of meat and chicken will skyrocket and the availability of it will become precious.
Just think of it this way. What was done to Agriprocessors could be done to Alle Meatpacking, Empire, etc. Let’s pray for them and research how we can help get Hershel out of jail.
If only they had played it straight
Yonasan, just curious – have you “played it straight” – all your life? ALL the time?
there is another eitza: cut down our consumtion untill the market stablizes!
Yonason,
I hope the Aibishter has more rachmanus on you than you have on other Yidden.
Shhhh! Be vewy vewy qwiet but in Lakewood at NPGS you could pick up the “local” sh’chita for a VERY low price. Example: legs/thighs are $1.69 a pound (about a dollar less per pound than anywhere else in the area).
You are right, RebShalom. I heard that Rubashkin sold meat in some far off markets that didn’t make a profit just so Yidden could get kosher meat. These people will suffer.
Meat prices might become very high, but it still costs nothing to give another Jew the benefit of the doubt. Especially when it looks like there’s an “airtight” case against another Yid let’s not be drawn into the opinions of the “hamon am”, who naively accept any charges from “authorities” as the absolute truth.