MIAMI – Meat consumption is soaring to record levels — even though 12 percent of Americans ages 18 to 49 are partly vegan or vegetarian, according to a 2016 Pew Research Poll. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting each American to consume a record amount of red meat and poultry — an average of 222 pounds per person. That’s 20 pounds more meat per person, per year, than in 2014.
Another change: where Americans are buying their meat. While many still drop into the nearest Cub or Walmart to snag their burgers and hot dogs, an increasing number of conscious eaters are going old school by shopping at specialty butcher shops.
Nationally, 10 percent of all butcher shops have closed since 2010. Still, many specialty meat markets have carved out a niche by offering personalized customer service and products that aren’t widely available. New shops are opening as well, spurred by a younger, more health-conscious generation seeking meats sans antibiotics and hormones — and craft beer to wash it all down.
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