It is no secret meat prices are up, especially those for beef. It has been a steady climb over the last few years, but where is that money going?
The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association says that consumers need to know that it is not going into the ranchers’ pockets.
“Those profits have largely gone solely to the major beef packing companies that dominate boxed beef production here in the United States,” Tom Sharp states. “There’s really four multinational companies that produce 83 percent of the total boxed beef for retain consumption here in the United States.”
He adds that this is why so many support legislation to increase the number of small to medium-sized packers. Additionally, while there is much contention over mandatory country of origin labeling, the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association says that consumers deserve some form of label so they understand where their food comes from.
