Page 12 - IAV Digital Magazine #532

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
By Michael Finney
A major poultry producer is warn- ing that some turkeys may be in short supply this Thanksgiving.
It's a pattern that some of you experienced first- hand last Thanksgiving. This year, once again, the pan- demic is being blamed for a shortage of small- er-size turkeys.
COVID changed the way many of us celebrate Thanksgiving. The large family gatherings and parties have given way to more intimate get- togethers.
Angela Wilson owns Avenado's Holly Park Market in San Francisco.
"Last year there was a lot more smaller turkey demand because of COVID," she said.
That lead to a shortage.
Many
families were either forced to forego the turkey or buy a larger one and eat lots of leftovers.
A recent survey by Butterball found that pattern is not likely to change this year.
"We did see that about a third of consumers are planning to have a smaller gather- ing this year due to concerns about COVID-19 and
the
Delta variant," said Rebeca Welch of Butterball.
That means if you're likely to need a smaller turkey this year, she think it's best to put in your order early.
"We do see that if there is a big shift towards people wanting to cele- brate in smaller groups, that smaller turkeys may be harder to come by," she
warned.
However, retailers 7 On Your Side reached out to aren't ready to acknowledge a turkey shortage just yet.
Save Mart, which also owns Lucky Supermarkets, told us it has already "secured the turkeys to ensure customers find everything they need."
Albertsons, which also owns Safeway, did not
get
back to us and Costco bluntly stated "manage- ment has no com- ment at this time."
Local butchers 7 On Your Side talked to think the shortage may hit the larger chains harder, but inde- pendent markets will do just fine.
Guerra Quality Meats in San Francisco will begin taking orders for fresh turkeys on
November 1. It anticipates getting its first shipment in a week before Thanksgiving from a small California suppli- er, Diestel Turkey ranch.
"They're a family- run operation much like we are. We've been deal- ing with them for over 30 years and we have no prob- lems getting our turkeys this year," said owner Robert Guerra.
Avenado's will also begin taking orders November 1, and like Guerra, antici- pates no problem meeting the demand.
"We have size ranges. They go from like 8 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 14, 16 to 18 and once those are sold, that's it," Wilson said.
Other reasons cited for a possi- ble turkey short- age include a lack of truck drivers and a labor short- fall due to COVID.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Smaller-sizedTurkeysMayBeInShort Supply This Thanksgiving, Warns Butterball