I don't see the difference. Consumers drive industries, so I think it would be beneficial for you to be in constant communication with them. Try it your way, and they might get a bigger return.
The problem is that the stores will pay the same price and ask you to produce a product that way, but then turn around and give you the same price you had before. That's always the concern we have with the grocery stores.
My next question is to you guys, and it's interesting. I was with my son and we went to buy a snack pack. He said, “Dad, look at the size of these pieces of chicken. Was it always like that?” I said no. I can remember when they were twice that size, and we used to get a Pepsi with it. Now you guys are selling them a big Pepsi, with these little pieces of chicken in there.
Is that the farmers fault? I think it comes down to you guys fooling the public by saying you get a bucket of chicken, 20 pieces, but in reality there's about as much chicken as there used to be in 10 pieces.
You can't blame the farmer. But it's a shame to take that chicken before it's mature. The chicken is just starting to put on weight. I think it's a shame that they are doing that to these chickens before they are ready to put on good weight. Everybody thinks he's getting 20 pieces of chicken, but in reality he's getting the equivalent of 10 pieces of the chicken we used to get. I think it's a bit of a stretch saying that the farmers won't produce the chickens. Kill them earlier and get them over to us so we can sell smaller pieces and pay you less. You're paying the farmer less, because you're paying by the kilo. I don't think the consumer is demanding more pieces. They are demanding more chicken.
I know KFC is not going to change this in their head office, and nothing is going to change this, but that's what it's all about. Get the pieces smaller, pay the farmer less, and then turn around and tell the people about all the pieces of chicken they have. But really, all you are getting is bones and gristle instead of true meat. That's my rant on that part.
I'll go back to the milk and the eggs. If you travel to the United States, you'll see that, sure, in Seattle it's cheaper because they are trying to get Canadians across the border. Sure, it's cheaper in Detroit—they are trying to get Canadians across the border to get them in their stores. It's a different thing. But you go to Florida or Arizona, and the milk and eggs are no cheaper down there. So it's not fair to say it's cheaper down there, because it's not, really.
I have one more thing on the restaurants. Most people—it's no different from going to a grocery store—want locally produced products in their restaurant. They want locally produced eggs and milk. They believe in that.
Frank Sobey said something to me years ago. He said if I treat my farmers right, they are going to be in my community and they are going to be shopping in my stores. I think if you bring in cheap cheese or cheap products, sometimes you're cutting down your own consumer.
Are there any comments about the prices across the border? Do you look at every state? Do you look at Colorado? Do you look at the states where the retail price is not along the border?