The owner of a well known Chatham butcher shop says he'll be able to ride out another jump in meat prices.
Researchers at Dalhousie University estimate beef and pork prices will jump from 7% to 9% by the end of 2017 because of low inventories.
John Schinkel of Schinkels' Gourmet Meats on Richmond St. says the store will get through it.
"It definitely is a hard time and scary for a lot of customers, they come in and get sticker shock but we will get through it. We have to offer different items that keeps their food cost down, but we'll get through this," says Schinkel.
Louis Roesch, Essex and Kent director at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, says beef farmers are producing less because the costs are too high and some have stopped raising cattle altogether. He also says large grocery chains are buying less Canadian meat because they can find it cheaper somewhere else.
Schinkel says closing up shop is not an option.
"I have to make sure that the product I'm selling is the best available and as long as I do that, we will have a market out there for selling meat," Schinkel says.
Schinkel admits times are tough, but says quality will remain the top priority.
"I will not compromise quality, quality is my #1 concern. My job would be to make sure that I have something available in lieu of an expensive steak. So, something that's value added, a burger, some shish kebabs, things that will keep your cost down," says Schinkel.
