Updated May 12, 2012

STRAWBERRIES| Now that Mother's Day pull is about over, we expect acreage in the Oxnard district to be diverted to the freezer which will lower the fresh supplies from Oxnard. Santa Maria will be getting in to the pic production which should last in to the first week of June (About 3 more weeks). Salinas and Watsonville are gradually picking up volume and should begin their pick around the 11th day of June, which will last 4 to 6 weeks. Quality and conditions exceptional and the forecast for the next 10 days is perfect, with cool nights and sunny days. Very good quality, with some green tips and whit shoulders. Stay on contract. MELONS|Thanks to the good weather in Guatemala and Honduras later fields had been harvested helping for a final push of decent volume. Quality good on Cantaloupes as well as Honeydews. * May 21st Volumes should be in full swing for Cantaloupes and Honeydews as Mixed melons should begin. Imperial Valley had started with some Cantaloupe production but this fruit will be remaining on the west cooast. Honeydews at Nogales are working very slowly. We are expecting Arizona production to start right around Memorial Day. Suggest communicating almost daily and ensure you get your orders in advance to your assigned grower/shipper partner! LETTUCE & LEAF | The transition is complete to Salinas and at full production. The market stabilizing. Weights on lettuce should be optimal between 21-24lb per case for the next week. Still some quality issues but improveing significantly for the next week. Leaf items supplies will be light for the next few weeks. We expect the market to remain steady. WATERMELON | Market is stable from the previous week, volume out of Guatemala and Honduras have been light due to rain. Offshore prices have been ranging $0.22 to $0.24 per pound. Mexico volumes has increased during the past week and should continue for the next couple of weeks. Prices crossing in McAllen range $0.24 on seeded and up to $0.28 on seedless. Overall quality is very good. ASPARAGUS | Market down, prices starting to stabilize. Production in Peru continues to be steady coming in. Freights are on the lower end. California volumes are picking up but still lighter than expected. Open Market today range between 19.00 t 21.00. The National Diesel Average has been recorded at $4.057 this week. This week's market summary is brought to you by NPC Inc.

Dairy

Updated May 11, 2012

Cheese production levels remain high as milk looks to find a home away from Class IV production. Discounts are being offered to prompt cheese plants to take on extra milk. Cheese plants are cautious without the discounts to build inventories. Domestic sales are moderate as some buyers are waiting to see if prices will go lower before committing to added purchases. During the week, the CME cash butter price dipped to the lowest level ($1.3000) since October 2009, but firmed to $1.3200 by weeks' end. Butter producers and handlers are indicating that churning schedules are seasonally strong. Cream offerings to the churn remain plentiful. Many butter producers are stating that cream offerings are surpassing their capacity. Current churning is generating butter stocks that are outpacing demand, thus clearances to inventory are occurring. In many instances, butter producers are generating bulk versus print, especially if they know the end location at this time is inventory. Milk production in the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic regions has leveled off and indications are the two regions are at or near the seasonal peak. Manufacturing milk supplies remain heavy. Class I demand is steady. Florida’s milk production continues decline as heat and drought conditions are taking their toll. Active yogurt production is adding to the cream supply and contracted cream deliveries are at increased volumes.

Beef, Veal & Lamb 

Updated May 12, 2012

Boxed beef cutout values were steady to weak on moderate demand and offerings. With the exception of Select rib and loin cuts which saw some price depreciation, the majority of cuts were able to maintain relatively steady price levels this session. Ground beef similarly remained steady for all lean percentages. Beef trimmings, however, had a weakening effect on the cutout, steadily dropping throughout the week after ample chatter regarding low demand for the product. This year’s unusually heavy carcass weights after the record warm winter may be contributing to a disproportional availability of higher fat product despite the overall decrease in beef production. Forward sales were fairly light with the only major consignment being outside rounds priced below current spot market levels.

Poultry

Updated May 11, 2012

Whole broiler/fryer prices are trending steady to firm in the Midwest, steady to fully steady in the West and firm to higher in the East. Final majority prices are higher in the East and Midwest, unchanged in the West when compared to early week prices. Offerings are in good balance and moving well for current trade needs. Retail and food service demand is light to good, mostly moderate to good entering the Mother’s Day weekend. Floor stocks cover the full range but are noted as mostly moderate. Market activity is active. In the parts structure, movement is moderate to good for late week business. Prices are trending firm to higher for tenders and breast items with boneless skinless breast in the best position. Dark meat items are steady to firm, and the balance of parts are steady. Offerings of parts range light to moderate with breast items in the tightest position. Market activity for parts is moderate to mostly active. In production areas, live supplies are moderate at mixed, but mostly desirable weights.

Pork

Updated May 12, 2012

Trading levels for bone-in loins crept higher late week as offerings dried up and there was improvement in buyer interest. This was an effort to support the cutout. On the other hand, boneless loins traded at steady dollars, due to ample supplies and buyers bought hand to mouth. Sluggish retail movement and adequate packer inventories caused prices for butts and spareribs to remain flat with wide trading ranges. When compared to last year, this week saw harvest rates come in about five percent higher which added to the surplus inventories. On the flip side price levels for processing cuts advanced throughout the session which lent support to the cutout while demand was light to moderate. The trim complex also saw price levels improve in the wake of the sizeable slaughter. However, demand was mostly light as sausage makers are slow to increase production even though the Memorial Day holiday is only a couple of weeks away. Most cite the lack of orders for their finished items is the main reason for lower expectation when procuring raw product.

Seafood

As reported on foodservice.com