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The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported a human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, in a person who had direct exposure to dairy cattle presumed to be infected w/the A(H5N1) virus.
As of today, we received a report of a HPAI positive farm in Texas and Michigan. The Texas and Michigan flocks are reporting an initial expected loss of approximately 1.9M birds, including pullets.
Breasts demand has started to slow and pricing may have plateaued. Wings remain hard to find in the market. Tenders demand is strong and tenders remain the hardest offering to find. Dark meat demand remains very good. Whole birds are mostly balanced.
B/I butts are moving up. Boneless butts are trending down as there was is some softness in the boneless market. Ribs are trending up, and the predication is that this market will continue to run up as supplies are expected to tighten during the warmer months. Loins are also moving up as retail demand for loins is increasing. Bellies continue to decline.
As April opens, the market demand has slowed, and packers continue to try and pull back harvest. Ribs continue steady overall while strips and top butts edge higher. End cuts appear to have hit a ceiling. The limited harvest continues to bolster thin meats; although, grinds are starting to show cracks in the recent pricing support.
Shell egg markets are all flat and demand has softened. California and Northwest markets are flat. Newly reported HPAI- positive farm in Texas and Michigan with an initial expected loss of 1.9M birds including pullets. The Block & Barrel are decreasing based on export demand. Butter is up with steady demand. Unsalted butter is sought after.
The USDA released the planting intensions report which announced a reduction in corn acres and additional bean acres. The market for both corn and beans rallied. Soybean oil saw volatile trade but overall, the week was flat as was Canola. Palm continues to trend higher.
Pacific Halibut season is underway and initial prices on whole fish are higher, but expected it to soften in the coming weeks. North Atlantic lobster inventory continues to tighten and price is firming. Warm water lobster prices are steady and have not taken the expected increases due to increased availability.
Demand is lower as the holiday pull curtails. Peru and domestic production is ramping. Markets should level as more growing regions come into play. For now, market rise is steady.
East – green supplies good, market lower, and quality is good. Red bells are easier to get, demand strong at lower prices and yellow bells are still limited.
West – Two–tiered market coming into play as more choice product is being produced.
Greens are still fairly limited.
Lower supplies and stronger demand, driving market pricing up. Volume is expected to be light the next couple of weeks.
Supplies and quality good on both red and green. Market mostly softer on both.
Market softer as volume improves and seeing lighter demand.
Market mainly steady with good supplies and moderate demand.
Cilantro is snug this week and into next. Parsley supplies and overall quality look good. Market mainly steady for on Parsley and cilantro.
East – Supplies good, demand good, and market weak.
West – Moderate demand, price has been steady. Expecting drop in supply next week as region winds down. Quality is just fair.
Market down but still at elevated levels, open heads are impacting heart material and value added is tighter and just meeting demand.
East – Zucchini and yellow squash supplies are good, demand good and market lower; quality is better.
West – Promotable item as supplies are heavy and demand and markets are extremely low.
The Idaho region is done. PNW will go to the end of April. Quality is fair at best.
Inventory loading in Texas is filling the void from Idaho. Red is still very limited, keeping this market active.
Limited harvesting crews and strong Easter demand had this market jumping up. Harvesting should get back to normal and expect this market will start to come off next week.
Supplies are very light on 40–50 ct from most suppliers. 90–120 ct are plentiful. This now looks to be the case through the summer months. Demand is following supply accordingly. Prices are steady for now. Quality is good.
Tomato market remains on alert status for rounds and roma tomatoes both east and west due to continued rainfall out of Florida, combined with an earlier than expected season wrap up in Mexico. Grape & cherry varieties have improved with increased supply on normal demand.
Prices remain high, but inventory has started to improve after several days of limited harvest. Demand is softening due to higher prices, so expect the market to stabilize.
Lemons – Alert – Increased demand and rising market on 140’s and smaller are tight in supply. Larges sizes are more prevalent; a significant shift towards larger fruit (115’s and larger).
Oranges – Alert – Fruit is peaking on 40/36/56ct size Navels. Tight supplies and higher prices, especially for smaller size navels oranges. For most suppliers California Valencia oranges are anticipated to start earlier this season by mid–late–April.
Limes – Production is new crop, and approximately 50–60% of volume is in small sizes, with improved demand less volume in 110’s/150’s is expected. High temperatures with little to no rain conditions have caused fruit to not gain optimal size.
Timing of vessels is essential to supply. If all forecasted cases arrive as expected, we should miss a full gap before Mexico begins full production. Green continues to be the mostly affected.
Pineapple supplies post Easter is tight. Especially on big sizes 5/6, they are very tight. Costa Rica has been short on rain fall and it is hampering growth efforts. Supplies are tight and will remain tight for the next couple of weeks.
Watermelon continues to struggle with availability and quality. Market remains high.
