Download Our PDF for this report
CAB recently added 1 square inch to the ribeye area specification to become 10-17 square inch. This was done due to the heavier carcass weights the industry has seen over the past year and that are expected to be the norm.
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 increased. Wings are readily available. Thigh meat demand is picking up. Whole birds stayed mostly balanced.
Ham Markets are flat – tariff discussion is causing uncertainty. Bellies popped back up as spot interest peaked. 72’s have softened & 42’s have leveled off climb and are flat. Loins are flat with modest buying interest. Butts are down as supply is fully adequate. Ribs are essentially flat now- market is inflationary but has stopped the climb.
The choice cutout value moved higher last week for the first time in 6 weeks. Prices appeared to have found on a bottom on end cuts and thin meats. Historically we see the rib complex move higher into the spring and recent stronger demand have begun to push prices higher. Strip loins and Top sirloin remain very limited into early April and prices are expected to stay strong.
Shell egg markets are down this week and California eggs are down with no recent outbreaks to report. The Block & Barrel are down. New tariffs for importing into US will reduce our imported pounds. Butter is down with plentiful cream in the market.
Cooler weather has sizing shifting to smaller, indications are jumbo and extra–large markets will increase. Overall good quality continues out of Mexico.
West – Decreasing supplies on a tiered market predicated on quality. Warm weather will boost demand. Markets are higher on all varieties of bells.
East – Plentiful supplies of green and good supplies of red and yellow. Demand is strong. Market is increasing.
Market a bit stronger but supplies continue to meet the moderate to good demand. Quality is good.
Market a bit stronger but supplies continue to meet the current demand. Quality is fair to good.
Market mostly steady with good supplies and 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.
Market a bit stronger but supplies continue to meet the good demand. Expect market to be active as growing regions begin to
transition North. Quality is reported as good.
Market a bit stronger but supplies continue to meet the good demand. Expect market to be active as it starts to transition North. Hearts mainly steady and quality is good.
Supplies are good in the N West. Some shippers are pushing to end early which has reduced pricing. Demand remains steady. Quality is good, with good sizing. Prices are slightly lower in some areas.
Supplies are good and look to be so thru the season. Sizing is heavy to large with most growers being lighter on small sizes.
Quality is good. Markets are holding steady.
West – good quality with steady supplies of zucchini, demand is strong and market is higher. Yellow squash is showing lighter
supplies, and market is up.
East – limited yellow squash, with fair quality, good supplies of zucchini with both markets strong.
Round, Roma, grape, and cherry markets are increasing east and west due to reduced availability with steady demand. Quality remains good on all varieties.
Supplies are light due to less picking. Harvests have resumed but it will take a good part of the week to catch up. Prices are increasing and are expected to remain. strong into spring.
Supplies are still on the lighter side, but suppliers are keeping up with the demand.
Lemons – Supplies are in good supply on all sizes, quality is excellent, demand is fair to good, and the market is steady.
Oranges – Supplies are good, quality is excellent, demand is good, and the market is steady. Size structure is shifting heavier
to larger sizes.
Limes – Market is active as volume is expected to be tighter for a couple of weeks. New crop fruit is heavier to smaller sizes, but good colour and quality.
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.
Volume has been improving in California but will be set back from rain this week. Mexico volume declining due to grower’s season ending however a few will pack thru April. Quality is good. Florida will continue for a few more weeks. Quality varies. Markets are steady.
