KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The cost of one of America’s favorite breakfast staples is going up. Some reports say bacon has soared to an all-time high, following a pig virus outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, or “PED”
Still, that won’t keep customers from wanting it served up next to eggs and toast or on top of a burger. Hungry customers of all ages line up for sweets treats and meats at Sosa’s 39th Street Diner in Kansas City, Mo.
It’s open 24-hours-a-day, and serves up as much as 230 pounds of bacon per week. Owner Anthony Sosa has noticed the spike in the price.
“Here in the last 60 days I think we’ve probably seen on an average of almost 10 percent, sometimes even 15 percent,” Sosa said.
Since the virus hit in April pork futures increased from $78 for 100 pounds, to more than $100 for 100 pounds. Shoppers are paying about 14 percent more for a pound of bacon at the grocery store. The spike really adds up for locally owned restaurants already dealing with other commodity price hikes.
“In good business sense we always try to do a good even balance between passing it on and absorbing some of the cost, but again, that’s kind of a tough thing to do when you’re a small business person,” Sosa said.
This weekend, roughly 2,000 people are expected to make their way to KC for the 5th annual Baconfest. FOX 4 just had to ask if the higher pork prices will take the sizzle out of the festivities.
“Absolutely not! We will continue to do Baconfest every single year. Farmland, one of our big sponsors is helping us out with 15 pounds of bacon per vendor this year, so it’s will not affect us at all,” Lexi Humphrey, Baconfest Special Events Coordinator, said.