Local businesses are bracing for potential shortages after bird flu hit the largest egg producer in the Southwestern U.S.
Hickman’s Family Farms reported losing 95% of its chickens in Arizona to bird flu. Birds at an unnamed third poultry facility in Maricopa County has also tested positive for the illness.
Steve Chucri with the Arizona Restaurant Association says, so far, the latest wave of bird flu hasn’t affected what’s on menus, but that could change.
“Be patient with restaurants if it does in fact start to impact menus, I’m not talking about pricing, I’m talking about menu items, just understand that we’re doing the best we can with the resources that we have. We’re a supply chain industry," Chucri said.
Chucri also says the restaurant industry faced a similar bird flu outbreak a few years ago, though the outcome this time around has been far more devastating.
Glen Hickman says he expects it will take two years for his business to recover.
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