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CANTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's not just fuel, poultry prices in some grocery locations in the Commonwealth are doubling in the wake of a bird flu spread and the war happening in Ukraine.
Staff at the Main Course Market in Canton say that the same case of chicken sold for $63 in March, now costs more than $150 for the store to buy.
"We got our clock cleaned within the first quarter. Once it went over a hundred dollars, it just kept going," said store employee Bob. Customers notice the price raise too, attributing it to inflation, something Bob says is difficult to get into the weeds about.
The steeper price of chicken has had a ripple effect, as Bob says he had to raise the cost to customers for products like beef and fish just to make up and pay the bills.
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was detected in wild birds in Massachusetts in early March and state officials are asking bird owners to protect their flocks against the fast-spreading disease. Among the state's recommendations, officials said owners should keep domestic birds away from any migratory birds, that can be natural carriers.
In terms of birds at the grocery stores, Bob says he'd like to bring his prices back down soon.
"I'm at the risk of losing the whole business, and 21 jobs that would go with it. Bird flu is making it impossible," Bob said.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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