Posted: Friday, December 18th, 2015. 9:33 p.m. CST
By Aaron Humes: This afternoon, we spoke with general manager of Quality Poultry Products Limited, Raymond Barkman, concerning the high prices of Christmas turkeys in this holiday season.
The company was forced to import some 200,000 pounds of turkey from the United States after local turkey producers declined to go into high production, citing the lingering effects of the avian influenza outbreak in the West.
However, Barkman told us that there have been further snags, including an ongoing outbreak of avian flu in the U.S. which lowered the supply of turkey eggs and smaller turkeys which Quality Poultry buys, and spoilage of a prior shipment, while their next shipment had to be turned back due to the recent strike at the Port.
However, there is now enough turkey in country to satisfy Belizean palettes, but you will have to pay a little more – five dollars and ten cents per pound. If it is any consolation, the turkeys will be bigger, which means more for everyone!
Barkman expects that local producers will be able to take up the slack for the next Christmas season, which starting with American Thanksgiving in late November is peak time for turkeys in Belize.