We're Facing a Butter Shortage Right Before the Holiday Baking Season
Bakers, we can practically hear you hustling around the kitchen as you prepare for your biggest challenge of the year: the holiday season.
Whipping up festive Christmas cookies and desserts for all of your holiday parties, seasonal school events, and last-minute gift exchanges is no easy task. None of this is any match for your creativity, though, because you always bring something new to the table (literally). But this time around, we've got an all-new challenge for you: a nationwide butter shortage. 😱
The New York Post reported that based on a data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), "the amount of butter held within US storage facilities in August fell 10% month-over-month." To add on, it was down a total 22% compared to the same time last year.
What affect does this have, exactly?
Well, folks who plan to make loads of biscuits, mashed potatoes, and, of course, butter boards, might find it harder to get butter at the supermarket. Or worse—pay more for it!
In fact, prices for butter have already soared. The cost of butter has been raised by a whopping 24.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
But why exactly are we not producing enough butter?
It's essentially a domino-effect. Dairy farmers are facing higher costs which leads to less milk being produced and less butter being churned. On top of all that, labor shortages are making it hard to keep up with the demand.
Tanner Ehmke is a lead economist at CoBank, where he specializes in dairy and specialty crops. Back in June, Ehmke reported that "churns are slowing production due to tight US milk supplies and short staffing at plants."
And, it appears to be an issue we’re facing across the US. According to the USDA's report, distributors in the west are running "reduced production schedules," and therefore cannot keep up with the amount of butter that is apparently needed this year. In the Midwest and Northeast, the fate of butter is the same. Supply is "very tight to unavailable.”
So, bakers—you're probably wondering what this might mean for you ahead of the holiday season. After all, butter is, the essential ingredient in a large quantity of baking recipes.
Well, let’s start with some decent news. Dairy processors are obviously aware of the issue and they’re testing various ways to find a solve. "We want to run the assets we have harder when we can get more milk off farm," exclaimed Joe Coote, chief executive of the Washington-based dairy company Darigold Inc, while speaking with The Wall Street Journal.
Also, there are *so* many recipes that use butter alternatives, and they're just as tasty as your original. But if you're keen on using the staple-ingredient, you always have the option of buying now, and freezing it for when you really need it. Or, how about making your own butter? Now, that's a thought! 🙌
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