The coronavirus pandemic has folks stocking up on meat products, leaving some groceries store shelves bare.
At Bichelmeyer Meats in Kansas City, Kansas, where business has increased 40 percent, owner Joe Bichelmeyer believes shoppers shouldn't panic.
SOME PEOPLE FEAR THEYCOULD BE WITHOUT ANIMPORTANT DINNER ITEM --THEIR MEAT.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER ANDRESGUTEIRREZ SHOWS USWHETHER A MEATSHORTAGE COULD BE INOUR FUTURE -- DUE TOTHE CORONAVIRUSOUTBREAK.ABOUT EVERY TIME THISYEAR SHAWN NEWSOMESPENDS MORE THANGRAND ON MEAT TO FEEDHIS FAMILY.Shawn Newsome/CustomerThey cut it up right in front ofyou and it's really good dealHOWEVER, THIS CRISISHAS OTHER FOLKSSTOCKING UP AND LEAVINGSOME GROCERY STORESSHELVES BARE.AT BICHELMEYERMEATS-WHERE BUSINESSIS UP 40 PERCENT, OWNERJOE BICHELMEYERBELIEVES SHOPPERSSHOULDN'T PANIC.Joe Bichelmeyer/Owner,Bichelmeyer MeatsWe have an ample supply ofbeef and pork to feed ournationAndres Gutierrez/ReportingMr. Bichelmeyer says they'reusually busy around this timeof the year with folks gettingtheir tax refunds.
But with thecurrent crisis, there is evenmore demand for these cutsof beef.Joe Bichelmeyer/Owner,Bichelmeyer MeatsIts heightened the demand forbig ticket items sides of beef,quarters of beef, half hogs,things that people normallystore in their freezer toprovidefood for their family over anextended period of time.FEARS OF A MEATSHORTAGE IS DRIVEN BY AGROWING NUMBER OFMAJOR MEAT PROCESSINGPLANTS CLOSING BECAUSEOF COVID-19.SMITHFIELD FOODS SHUTDOWN THIS PLANT INSOUTH DAKOTA AFTERMORE THAN 430EMPLOYEES TESTEDPOSITIVE.Gov.
Mike Parson/State ofMissouriWe don't need the Meatmarkets to go south on usIN AN INTERVIEW WITH 41ACTION NEWSWEDNESDAY MORNINGMISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKEPARSON SAID HE'SWORKING CLOSELY WITHHIS HEAD OF AGRICULTURETO MAKE SURE LOCALPROCESSING PLANTSAREN'T IMPACTED.A POINT HE REITERATEDHOURS LATER.Gov.
Mike Parson/State ofMissouri"the people that are runningthose plants are doing a goodjob trying to make sure thosepeople have social distancing,making sure they're safe."Joe Bichelmeyer/Owner,Bichelmeyer MeatsOnce we get through this glutof uncertainty, Everythingshould moderate and be backto normal.ANDRES GUTIERREZ 41ACTION N