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Kosher Outlet Stocked Despite Slaughterhouse Raid

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By KATIE CORONADO | News Channel 8
and STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2008

Updated: 11/24/2008 08:20 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - The owner of one of the few kosher specialty outlets in the Tampa Bay area says he should be all set for Thanksgiving, even though the largest kosher slaughterhouse in the nation was raided in May.

But Joel Goetz isn't so sure what the future holds after that.

Goetz and his wife run Jo-El's Kosher Foods, 2619 23rd Ave. N.

Goetz says he had made arrangements for a steady supply of kosher meat before the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided Agriprocessors Inc. in Iowa, so the raid didn't result in his business not receiving any meats.

First, his kosher meat was coming from Miami; now, New York, he said.

Goetz's supply, however, is good for only the next three months, he said, so he'll have to scramble for more. The highest quality kosher meat, he noted, has already become scarce compared with the lesser cuts.

Goetz said he knows what his customers need, but prices have been affected since federal agents raided the Iowa-based slaughterhouse.

"Our pricing structure certainly has gone up on certain items," Goetz said. "Turkeys have gone up 70 cents a pound in the last year."

Customer Alice Martin said she drives from Clearwater to shop at Goetz's market.

"I think customers have to plan," Martin said. "Make sure they have it. I called before I came in today."

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