Jekanowski: Meat Sector Needs To Refocus

As restaurants and other parts of the food service sector begin to operate somewhat normally again. And that goes for all products to some extent, noted USDA Outlook Board Chairman, Mark Jekanowski, not just beef.

Rewind the clock to just before the pandemic, restaurants, schools, and hotels open for normal business and then

"The supply chain's got this big hiccup with COVID when everyone started eating at home and lost that food service businesses for a while," Jekanowski said. "And now with restaurants reopening the supply chains have to refocus again and ramp up to serve that food service sector."

And Jekanowski noted that it wouldn't surprise him that there might be some small hiccups in the process leading to a few temporary problems for the food service sector in suddenly trying to secure the meat supplies they need.

"There have already been some reports of hotels and restaurants having to wait longer, look harder, and pay a little more to get the meat they need."

But Jekanowski says this is likely to be a small, short term situation. 

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