Local farm doing well despite national struggles at meat processing plants
FAIRVIEW, N.C. (WLOS) — North Carolina's agriculture leaders are reacting to President Donald Trump's new executive order for meat processing plants to remain open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We obviously appreciate what the president did yesterday," Shawn Harding, president of the North Carolina Farm Bureau, said during a conference call Wednesday.
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said no meat processing plants have shut down as a result of COVID-19 and they intend to keep it that way.
"It is important for consumers to know there is not a food shortage," Troxler said.
However, he said as long as places like restaurants and universities are shut down it affects the supply chain.
Troxler said there could be impacts to the types of meat consumers can buy at grocery stores.
"There will be protein. It may not be today, the day you want. It may not be in the cuts you’re looking for," Troxler said.
But that may not be the case if you look more local.
"Smaller operations can handle these situations a little bit better and sustainably," Hickory Nut Gap Farm's Jamie Ager said.
Ager said despite losing out on business with restaurants, he still expects to make a profit.
"Fortunately, we also have partnerships with Whole Foods, Ingles, Food Lion and some other retailers that we saw a surge in demand for. So, it kind of counter-balanced it," Ager said.
He said people are now coming to Hickory Nut Gap Farm for their meat.
"It’s kind of forced us to rethink our business modeling a lot here at the farm as we sort of pivot from a destination farm to just a place to get local pasteurized meats," Ager said.
Troxler said more personal protective gear has been made available to meat processing plant employees.
He said he hopes farms will get more federal funding to help them get through this time.