The country’s bacon reserve is as low as it’s been since Dwight Eisenhower occupied the White House, according to a report.
Though that’s pushing prices up, pork lovers needs not worry about the U.S. running out of bacon, according to Cincinnati.com.
Pork belly prices climbed about 20 percent in January thanks to steady demand and the fact pig farmers exports more than a quarter of their haul, the report said.
The price of 200 pounds of boxed and cut pork bellies has jumped from $81.17 in August to $171.37 at the end of January.
That price hike took place even though there were 71.5 million hogs and pigs on U.S. farms as of Dec. 1, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a news release. That’s up 4 percent from December 2015.
But pork belly inventory as of December totaled 17.8 million pounds, the lowest since 1957.
Jeff Goldman Egobet may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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