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The kill this week is expected to be sub 500K which will be the lightest of the year. With another light kill coming next week, packers have been able to move many of the cuts higher with the tighter supply.
Two farms in California were confirmed as HPAI positive there is an expected 1.9M egg layers lost.
We are seeing excess supply on jumbo products despite shortened production from the Holidays but don’t expect this to last. Jumbo breasts are seeing excess and the rest of sizes are steady. Tenders are steady. Wings are seeing consistency in the market. Dark meat is starting to weaken. Whole birds are mostly balanced.
Butts both bone–in and boneless are steady and continue a flat market trajectory. Loins are steady with adequate supply. Ribs see adequate supply – backribs & St. Louis are steady market prices, while spares continue to fall. Bellies are unsettled, continued to decline as supply is unsure. Trim is mixed, 42’s have more supply, 72’s are more tight.
The seasonal shift in demand toward ends cuts and away from Ribs/PSMOS began to take place over the past week. Ribeye and tenders as expected moved lower in price over the next weeks and chucks/rounds will move higher. Overall supply will be tight over next two weeks with the light holiday kill. Prime availability is expected to become better as we move away from the holiday season.
Shell egg markets are up this week and California eggs are flat. The ongoing situation regarding bird flu continues to dominate both conversation as well as the marketplace leaving everyone unsure of exactly how to position themselves. The Block & Barrel are up. Butter is flat.
Soybean oil trading last week was held within a tight range, averaging the week slightly lower. Palm oil trading calmed, helping soy stay relatively flat. Soybean oil stocks are very tight and demand for exports is very strong. Palm oil production fell but exports are down, keeping the value flat. Canola trading also ended flat.
Mexican volume on larger sizing is lower. Market is higher. Peruvian supplies are steady but western demand has market higher. This is expected for the next two to three weeks.
East – Bell Pepper green, red and yellow will remain in short supply. Quality is good.
West – All bell peppers remain in demand exceeds. Red are extremely short. Expecting to improve into next week as volume increases. Quality is good.
Markets continue to decline slowly. Demand has remained very strong for florets and moderate for cartons.
Market is active and has moved higher as supplies are slow to improve as quality is impacting yields. Value added growers have been impacted and struggling to meet demand.
Market higher as supplies are light due to lower yields from the fields. Overall quality is good.
Market is steady on both Cilantro and parsleys with moderate to good demand. Some occasionally yellowing noted for both, but overall quality is good.
East – Corn out of Florida is extremely tight; hitting planting gap, and markets are very high.
West – Desert corn is finishing, with Nogales ramp up increasing into next week.
East – Supplies are better, quality good, demand good and the market is steady
West – Steady market, with increasing supplies.
Supplies are improving and weights continue to slowly increase. The market is starting to settle and mostly steady.
Market continues to soften on both romaine and hearts as supplies continue to meet demand. Quality is reported as good.
Supplies are good on new crop yellows and reds from Washington and Idaho. Whites are lighter in supply this season. Demand is good on all colors. Quality has been good, with good sizing. Prices are steady on Yellows reds and whites.
Supplies are good on the new crop. The sizing is heavy to large with most growers being lighter on small sizes. Quality is good. Prices are steady.
East – Plenty of summer squash in Florida, quality is good and markets lower.
West – Moderate supplies on yellow, green is steady. Market is lower.
Market remains on alert due to significantly reduced availability both east and west from recent weather conditions in Florida combined with reduced availability of CA & MX. Market is not expected to improve until mid–January. Quality varies amongst growers.
Harvest demand will be strong this week as higher inventories are needed at the end of this week to carry through the upcoming holidays. The market is expected to continue being strong overall, with smaller fruit continuing to strengthen.
Lemons – Demand is steady. Fruit quality is excellent, and the peak sizes are 115s, 140s and 165s followed by 95s. Pricing for smaller sizes is strengthening due to the shift in sizing.
Oranges – Demand is steady. Pack outs show a high percentage of fancy grade over choice and the peak sizes are 88s, 113s and 138s followed by 72s. Fruit quality is excellent.
Limes – As we approach the holidays, anticipate some delays in shipments from Mexico due to workers taking time off.
Although markets are gradually increasing, the 110/150 count sizes will be the peak sizes until we fully transition to new crop.
Domestic grapes still available in the West, but quality marginal and supply on fair. Imports on the East Coast are in fair supplier and quality is good. Expecting some delays in arrivals due to lack of shipping containers out of Peru.
Supplies are still light in California due to typical cool winter weather and shorter days. Florida and Mexico volume in increasing but still leaving the overall volume light. Prices are higher.
