• 3 Steps to Minimize Menu Fatigue
• Back Office Technology: A Foodservice Must-Have
• 2023 Was the Year Tech Changed the Restaurant Industry
• Restaurants Can Expect Labor Pains, Liquor, Wage and Hour Exposures in 2024
• 2024 Emergency Planning for Restaurants

Poultry

During the height of the chicken industry’s growth season, larger birds with greater yields are the outcome. The breasts are beginning to contract. There is availability on tenders. Demand for wings of all sizes has somewhat decreased. The market for dark meat is still strong. The demand for whole birds is rising.

Beef

Buyers’ attention is still focused on tenderloins and ribs due to the holiday. The price of middle-aged meat has been supported by demand. Shortloins and strips are nevertheless valuable, and increased trades have been supported by interest. Chucks and rounds keep getting softer as boxes begin to form and purchasers’ attention wanes. At best, grinds are constant and choppy since packers have different supplies.

Pork

Butts are seeing a little decline in the market after an unexpected increase last week. Given the relative flatness of boneless loins, sideways trading is to be anticipated in the upcoming weeks. Ribs are also exchanging sideways. Their bellies are shrinking quickly because they are still searching for the floor. Trimmings are likewise trading sideways, and demand is stable.

The Sea

Seafood

The Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife has closed the Texas Gulf oyster beds, which will impact availability. Alaska Red King crab is available, albeit at a premium price. According to reports, Peru reopened its second anchovy season three days ago, although there is still a shortage. The market for shrimp imports is still struggling.

Produce

The southeastern U.S. and Mexico’s growing regions have been experiencing adverse weather conditions, leading to lower yields. Additionally, the heightened national demand during the holiday season is further contributing to the upward pressure on prices, which is expected to persist for the next 3-4 weeks. In Yuma, rain is in the forecast with an estimated rainfall amount of 1-3 inches last week. The amount of rain is not enough to damage the crops seriously but is enough to slow down harvesting, as excessive mud will make it hard for trucks and tractors to get through fields.

Kitchen Sink

Dairy

This week, shell egg markets are closed. Barrels are expanding slightly, while block markets are contracting. Time for butter. There will be some fluctuations in the cost of Cream and Culture in December.

Grain

Biofuels and less demand caused last week’s movement in the energy markets downward. This contributed to the decline in the price of soybean oil. A portion of the drop in demand for biofuels was caused by increased use of Canola oil. With ample supply and decreased Chinese demand, palm oil prices remained stable.