CHRISTMAS ham may be off the menu for struggling families this year as a pork shortage sends prices higher.
Darwin's Quality Meats owner Scott Massie said pork had gone up in price every week for the past 10 weeks and the price spike would be felt at Christmas, the Northern Territory News reports.
"Nobody is going to have cheap hams," he said. "Pork will be available - it just depends how much people want to spend."
With the economic downturn starting to bite, families across Australia may have to go for half a ham instead of the full Christmas leg. Farmers are reaping the effects of high grain prices and a strong Australian dollar last year.
Meanwhile, a flood of subsidised imported pork from Europe and the US drove prices down to breaking point.
"They were just too cheap - they were destroying the industry," Mr Massie told the Northern Territory News.
Australian Pork Limited communications manager Emily Mackintosh said the national pork herd has been cut by tens of thousands as small producers get out of the industry.
The result is about 40,000 less sows nationwide - and the shortage will drive prices up.
Mr Massie said he had secured many hams at good prices but if they ran out he would have to buy more at a higher price - and late orders would pay.
Read more at the Nothern Territory News.
