At the edge of the decade

摘要

For decades, somewhat regular cycles of supply and demand ruled the meat and poultry marketplace. But instead of sloping peaks and valleys, the current era more closely resembles a jagged cliff with unexpected drop-offs and tenuous footholds.rnNavigating the terrain of the past year or two has not been easy for anyone in the food chain, as producers, processors, retailers, foodservice operators and consumers alike have had to remap routesrnand choose new tools to contend with a global economic crisis on a scale not seen since the 1930s. The landscape has definitely changed, and with it so have cyclical-protein markets. Industry observers and insiders agree processors are contending with new challenges since the last American Meat Institute and Worldwide Food Expo was held in 2007.