Country's bacon inventory hits 50 year low
Cameron Knight , cknight@enquirer.com Published 5:49 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2017 | Updated 8 hours ago
The Palace: The Palace serves a brunch menu every day for breakfast. This isn't a brunch you roll out of bed and slouch into. You'll want to be at least a little groomed before you take a seat at the beautifully set tables and tuck into the best hollandaise sauce in town. Other chefs should come here to be schooled in how it's done: rich, a perfectly smooth emulsion, tangy and bright with lemon juice, rich with butter. The Eggs Blackstone also includes a liberal helping of thick bacon. 601 Vine St., Downtown, 513-381-3000,
(Photo: The Enquirer/Polly Campbell)
The country's bacon reserves are at the lowest levels in half a century. In other words, pig farmers can't keep up with the world's sizzling appetite.
The Ohio Pork Council, a Columbus-based non-profit, reported Tuesday that demand for frozen pork belly, frequently made into bacon, is outpacing supply.
“Today’s pig farmers are setting historic records by producing more pigs than ever,” said Rich Deaton, president of the organization. “Yet our reserves are still depleting.”
There are literally not enough little piggies going to market.
In December 2016, frozen pork belly inventory totaled 17.8 million pounds, the lowest level since 1957, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As a result, prices are on the rise. The council reports pork belly prices have increased 20 percent in January. Officials said increased foreign demand might account for the decline in inventory. Hog farmers export approximately 26 percent of total productions, the council said.
“While bacon may become more expensive for consumers, rest assured the pork industry will not run out of supply,” said Deaton.
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/marketpl.../97306494/
/
Oh, My God!
![[Image: 1393572548019-AB-20121128-ENT09-311300011-20.jpg]](http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/8874df7d789e8a33876a6d473ebb714a22c4ac05/c=66-49-639-480&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/Cincinnati/Cincinnati/2014/02/28//1393572548019-AB-20121128-ENT09-311300011-20.jpg)
![[Image: friarbacon.jpg]](http://listermannbrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/friarbacon.jpg)
![[Image: rogue-voodoo-doughnut-xl.jpg]](http://uncrate.com/p/2011/11/rogue-voodoo-doughnut-xl.jpg)
![[Image: maple-bacon-coffee-porter-xl.jpg]](http://uncrate.com/p/2014/01/maple-bacon-coffee-porter-xl.jpg)
