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Weekly harvest came in last week at 560k head which is the lightest we have seen this year. It’s been seven weeks in a row that the harvest has been sub 600k. As packers continue to lose money, they will closely monitor.
Lent kicks off next Wednesday, 3/5, and will last until Friday, 4/17. Please be prepared for the increase in seafood consumption
Most offerings are seeing tighter supply because of increased demand, smaller birds, and winter weather closing plants. Breasts of all sizes are seeing BIG increases in demand. Tenders demand has been mostly steady. Wings are readily available. Thigh meat has been seeing BIG increases. Whole birds stayed mostly balanced.
Ham Markets softened due to domestic demand. Bellies are unsettled as cold storage reports still show a deficit to prior year. 42’s are softer with increased availability while 72’s are still tight. Loins are mostly steady. Butts are steady. Ribs are steady for St. Louis & Backs, Spares are seeing increased demand.
Packers continued to raise most all cuts. Middles continue to be in good position and positioned to move higher through the first two weeks in April. Outside cuts continue to be a challenge for packers this week and into next week. Grinds are slightly higher into this week.
Shell egg markets are down this week and California eggs are down with no recent outbreaks to report. The Block & Barrel are up. Butter is up. Although cream moved higher this week, cream availability remains far from short.
Limited supplies of all sizes, especially extra large and jumbo due to recent heat events in Mexico and slow start up in Peru. Looming tariff complications are not helping as some growers are closing fields early.
East – Green supplies tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is increasing. Red and Yellow supplies good and market steady.
West – As supply diminishes market has shifted upward. Quality is declining as fields age. Sizing is down. New fields coming into play in 7–10 days should keep things steady.
Market active but down a bit. Salinas harvest is underway, and transition North is on track. Quality is good.
Market is lower but active as supplies through transition are up and down. Quality is fair to good.
Market is mostly steady with good supplies and moderate demand. Quality is reported as good.
Market is steady on Cilantro and parsley with moderate to good demand. Quality reported as fair for cilantro and fair to good on the parsleys.
East – Supplies are tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is steady to slightly higher.
West – Lighter supplies with higher markets for all sizes. Projected warmer weather should help volume into the weekend.
Huron production has started and will help supplies a Yuma winds down, market lower. Quality is reported as good.
Market is softer but expected to be active as desert winds down and ramps up in Salinas. Heart market is also lower, and quality is good.
East – Supplies are tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is increasing.
West – Limited supplies as crop recovers from cooler weather. Quality is fair, demand is strong.
Supplies are good in the North-West with good sizing. Texas had heavy rain and flooding last week which has shut harvest down for a couple weeks. Not sure of the damages until it dries out. Prices are higher in Texas and Steady in Idaho/Washington.
Supplies and quality remain good. Sizing is spread across all sizes making for consistent pricing from large to small. Quality is good. Prices are steady on all sizes.
East – Supplies on zucchini and yellow squash are good, quality is good, demand good and the market is steady. West – Zucchini supply is steady, while due to transitional region shifts and stronger demand.
Markets remain escalated on all varieties (rounds, Romas, grapes, & cherries) due to transition both east and west. Quality will vary amongst growers. Markets are expected to improve by early/mid-April.
Mexico – Limited supplies of 32s/36s, while 40s-60s are available 70s are tight. Growers are cutting back harvest drastically this week in anticipation of a potential tariff. California harvests have increased due to the favorable market conditions.
Lemons – Supplies are good, quality is excellent, and demand is good. Small fruit 165s/200s will be tight for the next 5 weeks as sizing has shifted and crop peaking on 115s.
Oranges – Supplies are good, quality is excellent, demand is strong, and the market is increasing. Small fruit is starting to tighten slightly.
Limes – Supplies are steady, quality is good, demand is good, and the market is steady to slightly higher. Crop peaking 200s-250s, while larger sizes 110s-175s are limited.
Good supplies and quality in the East and the West. Expected to remain steady for the next several weeks.
Supplies are tight, quality is fair to good, demand is strong, and the market is steady to slightly lower. 6/7s seem to be the shortest in supply. Expect supplies to remain tight through Easter.
