Comparative Pricing

Even before I was homesteading, I made it a rule to not purchase meat in discount chains.  I worked in a family meat market years ago, and I knew the prices, quality, and seasonal fluctuation of the meat industry.  That's not to say, I'm an expert, by any means, but I do know enough to realize prepackaged discount meat just never seemed to be a bargain, but more of a potential mystery.

Local grocery stores and meat markets on the other hand, and I realize they are a sparce presence in most communities, but these individual retailers do have rhyme and reason for their prices and their bargains.  Some of the few of these that are left still get their beef in by the side, and break it down in the cutting room, so it's fresh, it's got a USDA quality stamp on it somewhere, and it goes on sale, when it needs to get moved out of the case.  The best example I can give is preparing for a holiday.  Usually quality steaks are in order for Father's Day, so the ground beef will be on sale, because customers wanted steaks that week-end, or steaks will be on sale after Memorial or Labor day, because burgers were the big purchase item that week-end.  For those meat markets and stores that actually cut meat, the entire side needs to go in roughly the same amount of time.  Then, there is also the seasonal cycle of availability in which the wholesale price fluctuates.  Ranchers maintain breeding seasons, feed plans, and market cycles.

Now, back to the places that advertise "always low prices" in their meat department.  Included is a link in which the blame is cast, the buck is past, and chances are six months after the date in question, most of it has already been consumed.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/feb/09/aldi-100-percent-horsemeat-beef-products

Even though I do raise my own meat, I watch for the sales in the meat case, I know is supplied locally, after a big event or holiday week-end.  I had the opportunity to chat with a young woman with small children, who made mention of the big box chain having better prices.  We chatted for a moment about the very possibility that boxed meat and prepackaged products can be mislabeled.  Even unintentionally, the damage is done, long before the error is caught.

Of course, in America, with all the redefining, perhaps some day in the future, horsemeat will be the new "beef."  Gay used to mean happy!