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The holiday season is also baking season and there are several reports that say stocking up on butter now might be the thing to do here in Minnesota.

While many aspects of our lives are getting back to normal, the pandemic is still making some things a little weird. Like those strange shortages of random products we sometimes still see (or, actually, don't see) on store shelves here in Rochester and across the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

And now, several different news outlets are saying that stocking up on butter right now might be a good idea, especially if you plan on doing a lot of baking during the holidays this year. That's because, according to this Fox Business story, the U.S. could indeed be facing a butter shortage later this fall.

The story says that there are several factors that could lead butter to be scarce on store shelves later this fall: First, the USDA says butter supplies are down nearly 22 percent compared to this time last year. This Wall Street Journal story says that's likely due to lower milk production on U.S. dairy farms, as well as labor shortages at processing plants and dairies.

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Here in Minnesota, it's likely we'll still see butter on the shelf at grocery stores even as the holidays inch close. But it might be more expensive, a reflection of the rising costs dairy farmers are seeing for feed, energy, heifers and even labor. And those increases are being felt by consumers here in the Bold North. In fact, butter prices are already over 24 percent higher this year than in 2021.

If you're planning on doing a lot of holiday baking, Taste of Home has a few suggestions on what you can do right now:

With holiday baking coming up, it’s best to freeze butter if you have some extra on hand. Stock up on butter substitutes to make sure there are no disruptions when it comes to Thanksgiving pies or Christmas desserts!

Or maybe, instead of baking, you just want to head OUT to eat during the holidays this year. It's too bad you won't be able to go to these popular restaurants-- because they're all closed. Keep scrolling to check out 17 Rochester restaurants we miss the most!

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