More meat processing plants closing

The North American Meat Industry says the industry is strong but more closures could bring shortages in stores.

THE MIDWEST ARE CLOSING, ANDTHAT COULD IMPACT OUR FOODSUPPLY ABC'S KIMBERLY BROOKSREPORTS ON THE GROWINGCHALLENGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THIS MORNING GROWING CONCERNABOUT THE NATION'S FOOD-SUPPLYCHAIN.JUST DAYS AFTER ONE OF THEBIGGEST PORK- PROCESSING PLANTSIN THE COUNTRY WAS FORCED TOSHUT DOWN IN SOUTH DAKOTABECAUSE OF A COVID-19 OUTBREAK- SMITHFIELD FOODS SAYS IT'SCLOSING TWO MORE PLANTS, WHICHPROCESS HAM AND BACON: SOT -GLENN MULLER / EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR, SOUTH DAKOTA PORKPRODUCERS: "THIS IS UNIQUE INTHE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD APLANT OF THIS NATURE SHUT DOWNBEFORE." AND NOW IN IOWA, ATLEAST TWO DEATHS FROM COVID-19INDUSTRY SAYS THE MEAT SUPPLYIS STRONG, BUT MORE PLANTSCLOSURES COULD BRING SHORTAGESIN THE STORES.SOT - JULIE ANNA POTTS // CEO,NORTH AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE:"IF WE CONTINUE TO SEE SHUTDOWNS OF PLANTS GOING FORWARDTHAT CAN'T OPERATE IN THECRISIS THAT WE'RE IN, THEN WECOULD SEE SOME FURTHERDISRUPTIONS IN IN RETAIL.." THIS COMES AS GROCERY STORESSTRUGGLE TO MEET HISTORICDEMAND.WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER NOWEATING AT HOME.EXPERTS SAY IT'S THAT CHANGEIN DEMAND - NOT THE SUPPLY -THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGEWHEN IT COMES TO THEFOOD-SUPPLY CHAIN RIGHT NOW.SOT - SONNY PERDUE / U.S.AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: "THEWAY FOOD IS PREPARED ANDGROCERY STORE.OUR SUPPLY CHAIN ISSOPHISTICATED, EFFICIENT,INTEGRATED, AND SYCHRONIZED ANDIT'S TAKEN US A FEW DAYS TOMANAGE THE MISALIGNMENT BETWEENINSITUTIONAL SETTINGS ANDGROCERY SETTINGS."GUIDELINES-VTHAT WAS KIMBERLY BROOKSREPORTING.NEW SOCIAL DISTANCINGGUIDELINES FOR CERTAINBUSINESSESARE EXPECTED TO BE ANNO