By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist

Consumers could have more than one thing to celebrate this Independence Day as retailers feature good prices for beef, pork and chicken, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service experts.

Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist, said there should be an assortment of steak prices over the Fourth of July holiday. But record production of pork and chicken, combined with lower beef prices, will attract shoppers.

“We’re heading into the holiday with large meat production across beef, pork and chicken,” he said in an interview with AgriLife Today. “Grocery stores frequently feature meat items in their sale papers and in-store and grocery store club card specials.”

Anderson expects steak and other beef items to be competitively priced.

Ribeye and tenderloin prices are below last year’s numbers, Anderson said, while strip loins are higher. Choice briskets have also seen a dip in prices, he said.

Anderson expects deals on pork too, as pork loins dropped roughly 15 cents per pound since 2017.

Bill Thompson, AgriLife Extension economist, said consumers will benefit from competition among the proteins, but it may add pressure to cow-calf producers. He said low beef prices were likely the cause of record per capita beef consumption, up to 59.1 pounds from 53.1 pounds in 2016.

“It’s tough on the beef industry because people don’t want to pay a premium,” he said. “As much protein as there is available, it’s tough to see a big rally for beef.”

Annual pork and beef per capita consumption could surpass chicken consumption—111.1 pounds to 100 pounds, respectively—for the first time in years.

“This tells us that the economy is doing well enough that consumers are willing to spend a little bit more of their purchasing dollar on beef and red-meat cuts compared to poultry,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Affairs, said. “They are letting their taste buds, rather than their pocketbooks, dictate their meals a little more than usual.”

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