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The industry remains in a seasonal lull. The US government shutdown has now entered its 22nd day, and Mexican feeder cattle imports remain suspended due to the New World Screwworm outbreak.
Turkey supply remains very tight across the complex. Whole bird and Ready to Cook Turkey breasts are in high demand and are hard to find if you haven’t booked your holiday needs.
Cooler weather is helping to improve bird weights and it’s causing supply to improve. Tenders have freed up in the open market with extra product available. Wing demand continues to be solid but there excess if needed. Breasts of all sizes are showing good availability. Availability of thigh and leg meat has improved.
Hams are steady as export demand to Mexico has remained consistent. Bellies are softening. Trim demand is staying steady; markets are softening to more normal levels. Not much movement on loins. Butts have softened as more materials are available. The rib markets are holding steady.
Packers are reducing harvests to firm up the beef market. Through mid-week, the cut out is firmer and moving slightly higher on some cuts. Loins are firm and moving higher due to retail demand. Chuck & round cuts are finding bottoms and moving higher across the board. Look for the overall value of the animal to move higher.
Jumbo shell eggs have no change from last week, extra-large shell eggs are up, large shell eggs are up, and medium shell eggs are up. California – jumbo shell eggs are up, extra-large shell eggs are up, large shell eggs are up, and medium shell eggs are up. The Block market is down, and the Butter market is down.
Mexico is still experiencing delays breaking new fields due to recent rain activity. Volume an about steady as is market, quality is fair. Peruvian volume overall steady. Market is lower in the east and steady in the west.
Mexico – steady supply with good quality and steady-to-higher pricing, though 32s remain tight. California is tapering off with minimal volume expected through November. Peru is ending, shifting retailer demand to Mexico’s 48s.
East – Green supplies good, quality excellent, demand fair to good, market is steady ; red and yellow supplies tight, quality fair to good, demand strong, market is higher. West Desert green to start this week with sizing mostly large. Red and yellow out of Oxnard remain short supplies. Quality has been affected by rain, markets higher.
Market remains elevated with high demand and lower yields impacted with fluctuating temperatures and poor quality. Short supply expected for several weeks.
Market remains elevated and looks to hold at higher priced levels. Supplies are expected to be light through transition. Quality continues to be fair with a lot of insect pressure.
Market on parsley is steady, and cilantro is mostly steady with fair supplies. Quality reported as good on both.
Market is mostly steady as supplies are currently meeting the increased demand, but not much extra in the market. Quality is reported as fair to good.
Market very strong, with erratic weather and quality from fair to poor. Supplies expected to be short and market active into December.
Market very active and up significantly. Quality and weather continues to impact yields on romaine with hearts extremely limited. Market to remain active into December.
Supplies all varieties of mushrooms are adequate from most suppliers but have the potential for intermittent gaps in production due to inconsistent yields from new compost.
Yellow, red and white supplies are good. Idaho and Washington harvest continues. Quality is good in both areas. The outlook is for good availability all season. Prices are decreasing.
Supplies are good on all sizes across the board. Sizing is very large. The outlook is for good availability all season. With the harvest completed pricing will stabilize. Quality is good. Prices have stabilized.
East – zucchini supplies tight, quality good, demand strong, market is increasing; yellow supplies steady, quality and demand are good, and the market is steady. West-zucchini supply is limited, market is strong, quality is fair at best. Yellow supply is better, market higher.
Availability remains light on all varieties except cherries due to CA wrapping up harvest and MX previous weather pattens. We will not see availability relief from the east until the transition to FL and South GA is completed.
Recent rains have growers continuing to deal with quality issues, mostly on the green varieties. Reds remain fair in quality, but we will see more quality issues in all grapes for the next few weeks.
Lemons- Supplies steady, quality good to excellent, demand strong, and the market is steady. Production increasing out of D3 and peaking 140/165 size range. D1 has started harvesting to help supplement supplies due to previous weather challenges in D3.
Oranges- Supplies tight, quality fair to good, demand strong and market steady to increasing. Valencia are wrapping over the next 10-days, Navels are just getting started 88’s and smaller will remain tight. Expect a turbulent start with Navels.
Limes- The market firmed up due rain last week in Mexico. Growers have returned to harvesting; residual flooding will pose a challenge for transit to the border. Medium/large-sized fruit is now peaking, as small sizes will be limited in supply.
Markets are high and volatile for lopes and dews as transition to desert growing region comes into play this week. Sizing of lopes mostly jumbo, quality is good with mud prevalent, some flexibility of sizing needed at time of loading. Honeydew production is extremely limited and reliance on Mexican product is needed with sizing heavy to medium.
Southern California is still recovering from last week’s rain. The 10-day forecast is clear. Mexico volume is still ramping up. Quality is improving. Demand remains very strong. Overall volume still below projections until Mexico and Oxnard get up to speed. Pricing is higher.
