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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 been steady. 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 and 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 continues to move higher this week. Pricing bottomed out on outside cuts last week and has continued higher into this week. The rib complex has started its seasonal move higher into the spring months. Striploins and Top sirloin remain very limited into early April. Demand seems to be picking up slightly.
Shell egg markets are down this week and California eggs are down with no recent outbreaks to report. The Block is up and Barrel is down. Butter is up. Which is confusing because milk is growing and cheese production isn’t strong, then butter should be.
Controlled volume have created a well-balanced supply and demand scenario for asparagus. Market is slightly higher due to increased demand. Inclement weather is forecasted to continue with higher markets.
East – Green and red pepper supplies are good, quality is good, demand is good, and the market is steady. Yellow pepper supplies tight, and the market is increasing.
West – Strong demand for all varieties, two tiered market due to plenty of off-grade quality. Market is lower for greens and steady for color bells.
Market holding steady but as Yuma winds down market could get active. Salinas harvest should begin in a light way next week. Quality is good.
Market higher as desert production slows down. Salinas product should start mid next week. Quality is fair to 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 higher as desert production slows down and yields are lower. Huron product should start late next week with some growers. Market expected to be active until we settle up North. Quality is fair to good.
Market a bit stronger but supplies continue to meet the good demand. Expect market to be active as it starts to transition North. Heart market is also higher, 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. Texas new crop will start in one to two
weeks.
Supplies are good and look to be so through the season. Sizing is heavy to large with most growers being lighter on small sizes. Quality is good. Prices are lower.
East – Yellow supplies tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is increasing; zucchini supplies, quality, and demand good; market is steady.
West – Moderate demand, with regional shift in play market is holding steady. Yellow availability is lighter for #1 grade.
Round, Roma, grape, and cherry markets are increasing east and west due to reduced availability with steady demand.
Mexico supplies are tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is increasing. California supplies are tight, quality is good, demand is strong, and the market is increasing. Colombian supplies are tight, quality is fair to good, and the market is increasing.
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 – New crop supplies are good on small sizes, and limited volume on large sizes, this trend is expected to run through March and possibly into April. Quality has improved overall specifically in the small sizes.
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.
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.
