“BEIJING (AP) — Hong Kong retiree Lee Wai-man loves pork fresh from the market but eats a lot less now that the price has jumped as China struggles with a deadly swine disease that has sent shockwaves through global meat markets.

China produces and consumes two-thirds of the world’s pork, but output is plunging as Beijing destroys herds and blocks shipments to stop African swine fever.

Importers are filling the gap by buying pork as far away as Europe, boosting prices by up to 40% and causing shortages in other markets.

“I’m a fresh-pork lover, but it’s too expensive,” Lee, 87, said as she shopped at a Hong Kong market.

African swine fever doesn’t harm humans but is fatal and spreads quickly among pigs. It was first reported in August in China’s northeast. Since then, 1 million pigs have died and the disease has spread to 31 of China’s 34 provinces, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

The outbreak’s scale is unprecedented, said Dirk Pfeiffer, a veterinary epidemiologist at the City University of Hong Kong.

“This is probably the most complex animal disease we have ever had to deal with,” Pfeiffer said…”

https://apnews.com/a91a1792b8a54bbc8b8489ec13436015

Bet there are some folks here that wish it would take hold on the wild hog population.

Forget pork chops, I'm panicking about my bacon. It already sells at $7-8 a pound.

It's almost BLT season for the love of God, think of the children.

I have a years worth of pork loin and Costco thick cut bacon in the freezer. No worries

I thought the Chinese were not buying any of our products right now?

Can you really stockpile fresh pork?

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Can you really stockpile fresh pork?

Sure, I have 13 stockpiles of pork running around in the woods right now. Need fresh pork? Grab one to harvest. As fresh as it gets.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I thought the Chinese were not buying any of our products right now?

Well, they bought Smithfield in 2013 so they can ship a lot of their own products to China...

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I have a years worth of pork loin and Costco thick cut bacon in the freezer. No worries

I've got a 300 pounder at the butcher right now. I'm good for awhile.