Surging Pork Prices Highlight Pandemic Debates Sweeping America

The meat crisis is reverberating across America. Not just because of the obvious concerns over supplies, but also because it hits right at the center of a number of debates stirred up by the pandemic.

It’s pitting the quick restart for economies against human toll, as deaths among meat-plant workers continue to rise. But it also shows the cost of prolonged lockdowns, with consumers suffering though higher prices and farmers facing an unprecedented backlog of animals and low prices.