Local

Food prices rise during Memorial Day weekend

U.S. — The disruption in the U.S. food supply chain is affecting local families.

Throughout the pandemic, Action News Jax has reported on a food shortage. Major meat processing plants have closed or significantly reduced production because workers were getting sick. Some U.S. farmers are also waiting on the new crops to grow.

When the supply is low but demand remains the same President of Heritage Capital Group Don Wiggins said prices will go up.

“It has been a situation where you have two effects – disruption in supply because of the two supply chains as well as disruption in supply because of the shut-down at least temporarily for those processing plants, which restricts the supply which has caused an increase in price.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumers paid nearly 6% more for hot dogs recently.

Action News Jax went into different grocery stores around Jacksonville to compare prices. Chicken at a Winn Dixie on the Southside was priced at $8.79, and Bone-in ribeye steaks cost $8.99 at Publix.

A spokesperson for Public sent the following statement:

“In some instances, there have been price increases from manufacturers. We work extremely hard to negotiate pricing with our suppliers, so that we can offer the best price to our customers. To mitigate price increases during difficult times such as these, we also try to absorb as much of the increase as we can before having to pass along an increase to our customers.”