On January 24, reporters visited Yingfeng Market and other business venues in Huaihua urban area and found that as the Spring Festival approaches, pork consumption has entered its peak season. The demand for processing traditional cured meat products such as sausages and preserved pork has been on a steady rise. The market has witnessed brisk trading, with pork prices running smoothly and supplies being sufficient.
In the fresh meat section of the Yingfeng Market, a steady stream of customers were seen selecting pork at various stalls. The counters were stocked with a complete range of fresh cuts, including front leg meat, streaky pork and pork ribs. As he swiftly cut and weighed meat for customers, stall owner Mr. Wang said with a smile, “Business has been booming since the start of the twelfth lunar month. I can sell over 100 kilograms of meat every day recently, more than double the usual sales volume. Most customers buy pork to make sausages and preserved meat, while many others are stocking up ingredients for their New Year’s Eve dinner in advance. The meat I put out in the morning is almost sold out by noon, so I have to restock constantly.” Reporters noticed that pork prices in the market were clearly marked. Prices of common cuts like front leg meat and streaky pork remained stable, while pork ribs were priced slightly higher than regular fresh meat. Overall, the prices were basically in line with the recent market average, without any noticeable increase.
Pork sales in supermarkets were even more robust. At the fresh food section of a supermarket on Yingfeng Road, a special zone labeled “Pork for Cured Meat” had been set up. Staff members were busy cutting and mincing meat for customers. Complementary products such as sausage seasoning packets and casings were also available nearby, enabling shoppers to make one-stop purchases.
According to the person in charge of fresh food procurement at the supermarket, to cope with the pre-holiday consumption peak, the supermarket made advance plans, expanded supply channels, and established direct procurement cooperation with local large-scale pig breeding enterprises to ensure a daily supply of fresh pork. “At present, our pork stock has more than tripled compared with the usual level. We restock three times a day to keep the shelves fully supplied. Meanwhile, we strictly control food safety. All our pork products come with complete traceability codes and qualified inspection certificates, ensuring that customers can buy and eat with confidence,” the person in charge stated. The supermarket also launched promotional activities such as discounts on purchases above a certain amount and combination packages to further boost holiday consumption.
The consumption boom in the urban pork market is expected to continue. Ample supplies, stable prices and stringent quality assurance will make it easier and more reassuring for residents to purchase pork for the coming Spring Festival.
(Translated by Yang Hong)