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Updated · NPR · Jul 10Texas Taco Prices Rise as U.S. Beef Herds Hit 74-Year Low
3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 10Summary
- Texas taco shops and grocery shoppers are paying more for barbacoa, brisket and carne asada as beef costs keep climbing.
- Rising prices are being driven by drought, reduced cattle herd sizes and concerns about the new world screwworm in the United States.
- Shops and households say the squeeze is already changing consumption habits, with buyers adjusting what and how much beef they purchase.
- The price pressure is hitting a staple Texas food, showing how livestock shortages and pest fears are filtering through to everyday meals.
Insights
With cattle herds at a 75-year low, is the era of the affordable Texas beef taco coming to an end? A parasite absent for 60 years now threatens U.S. cattle. Are current containment efforts enough to prevent a larger crisis?