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NEAR-TERM MARKET PRICING TREND |
SUPPLY vs. DEMAND |
MARKET INSIGHTS COMMENTARY |
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Available - Mixed |
Beef markets are recalibrating harvest levels following the permanent closure of Tyson Fresh Meats in Lexington, NE. Reduced national harvest capacity will further tighten beef supplies and limit any meaningful price correction. We should anticipate higher prices and continued product availability challenges in the weeks ahead. Buyers remain largely on the sidelines, and while demand is steady, it lacks meaningful momentum. The next seasonal price advance is expected with the onset of warmer spring weather nationwide, approximately 4–6 weeks out. |
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Available - Steady |
The pork market this time of year traditionally is unremarkable across all items. Back and Spare ribs are stable, butts are on the decline, and the belly is on the rise (think input cost for bacon). Loins are price risk upward, but not sharply. |
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Available - Steady |
The belly price is on the rise now through the end of February, so bacon prices will follow. Now would be a good time to buy in extra bacon as the belly should be 30% higher by the end of February than it is now…so bacon pricing should follow the same trend. |
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Available - Steady |
The front half of the bird has remained steady in price. Demand has started to increase on Jumbo and medium wings, typical for this time of year as we head into Super Bowl and March Madness. Expect availability on wings to be short of demand. The back half of the bird remains steady and supply is broadly available. |
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Short – Strong |
Pricing on breast meat has remained steady, but availability is short of demand by far. This is expected to continue near term. Avian Influenza has begun to strike in various areas, likely to continue near term which further affects supply. |
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Available - Steady |
Seafood markets remain fragmented by species. Supply-driven strength continues in lobster, cod, and pollock amid tight availability and elevated replacement costs. Farmed salmon remains under pressure on fully adequate supply and muted demand. Shrimp and pasteurized crab are mixed as buyers remain selective. With Lent approaching, early positioning interest is emerging in traditional Lent items, but demand has not yet materially shifted overall market direction. |
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Available - Steady |
Butter production is running at or near capacity across all regions, supported by steady cream availability and generally strong export interest, while 80 percent butterfat loads are easy to source and 82 percent loads remain tight. In the East, churns are operating at or near full schedules, bulk butter demand is steady, and retail demand is strong, helping underpin downstream foodservice channels even though foodservice is not singled out. In the Central region, strong cream output and plentiful spot volumes allow butter makers to run busy schedules; domestic bulk butter demand is strong, while food service and retail end-user interest is described as unchanged from last week, implying steady foodservice pipeline needs. In the West, most plants are near capacity but some equipment issues modestly constrain inventory building; domestic butter demand ranges from lighter to steady, while manufacturers and traders report strong interest from international buyers and mixed export demand, with tight 82 percent loads likely favoring higher-value retail and foodservice uses. |
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Available - Steady |
Cheese markets are generally steady, supported by strong U.S. retail demand and stable bulk/wholesale activity, with overall foodservice demand described as mixed but not weak. In the East, Class III milk supplies are sufficient, plants are running regular schedules, inventories are seasonally normal, and rising cold storage stocks suggest adequate cover for both retail and foodservice needs. In the Central region, milk output is steady, plants have resumed normal operations after weather-related downtime, cheesemakers are running busy schedules, spot cheese is available, and domestic demand (including foodservice) is steady while export demand is strong. In the West, contractual milk supplies are flowing, production ranges from steady to stronger, and domestic demand from retail and food service customers is mixed, while demand from food manufacturers is steady and from international buyers ranges from steady to stronger. Foreign markets for “foreign type” cheese remain strong at retail and steady for food service, with European manufacturers running strong schedules but reporting less-than-robust inventories and spot availability varying from tight to steady, which can help support U.S. export opportunities and limit import pressure. |
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Class I - Decreasing
Class II - Decreasing |
Class I - Available - Steady
Class II - Available - Steady |
Class I: Another significant decrease in Milk costs for February.
Class II: Creams & Cultured slight decrease for February. |
| Oils/Shortening/Margarine |
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Available - Steady |
Stock Market Trading Prices on Domestic Soybean Oil have continued to hit the highest levels that we have seen since summer of 2025. This is based on the fact that some of the details regarding the domestic Biofuel policies have now been revealed. This is also due to positive tones on ongoing trade negotiations which would provide for stronger Soybean Exports. Though both of these situations will reduce US Supply of Soybeans/Soy Oil, we will still have steady supply to cover domestic Foodservice needs as we move through the year. Based on these headlines we may see some price increases in the short-term. This situation will also impact Canola Oil Products.
Margarine and Cube Shortening Products (made from imported Palm Oil) will likely maintain relatively steady pricing in the short term. Tariffs are still impacting these prices but not to the degree that we saw during 2025.
Suppliers are still reporting extremely tight tallow supply lines and demand is still outpacing available capacity. This situation will continue long term. Prices will likely remain at record highs with shortages in some areas. Suppliers are reluctant to take on new business as they are struggling to cover current business. |
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Decreasing - Lemons
Steady - Avocados, Large Oranges, Onions, Idaho Russets
Increasing - small Apples, Strawberries, Bell Peppers, Romaine, Iceberg, Value Added Iceberg & Broccoli, Tomatoes, Broccoli, small Oranges |
Increasing/Steady - Lemons
Available/Steady - Avocados, Romaine, large Oranges, Onions, Idaho Russets
Decreasing/Strong - Small Apples, Small Oranges, Broccoli, Iceberg, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers |
Apples, WA small foodservice 125/138ct very limited & higher.
Avocados, MX market remains steady and low. Peaking on 40/48ct.
Bell Peppers, Green market firm, due to freeze damage in FL.
Broccoli, supply gaps have Market higher.
Iceberg, Yuma ltd. harvest next few weeks. 30-40lbs & fair quality.
Value-Added Escalators in place on Iceberg & Broccoli products.
Romaine, Yuma increased demand pushing market. Good quality.
Tomatoes, freeze damage in FL & MX, so light supplies & inc. prices.
Strawberries, FL iced out. Low supply & Val. demand pushing market.
Oranges, Navels peak 56/72ct. 113/138 very ltd. until June.
Lemons, new area harvest starting, costs easing. 140/115 peak sizes.
Onions, WA/ID/OR sound quality. Yellow & Red steady. White higher.
ID Potato Russets 100/120sz tight. Market on the floor. Nice quality. |
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Available - Steady |
Sugar Supply remains adequate to cover domestic needs for both cane and beet. Both Harvests have concluded and yields are mostly as expected so far. Beets are showing weaker sucrose content than originally expected. Thus, that supply may not be as ample as originally thought. Though we will have plenty of supply to get us through Spring/Summer, prices will not decline as originally expected. Imports from Mexico remain weak as our policy is to support US farmers first. As supply remains solid, we do not expect to see any increase in Mexican sugar any time soon. |
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Available - Steady |
Egg demand has softened as post–Super Bowl retail interest shifts away from shell eggs, with overall movement described as light to moderate and trading slow to moderate across channels. Retailers are reducing conventional shell egg promotions to make room for other features, while cage-free and specialty eggs (including free-range and organic) continue to receive notable ad support, particularly for white-shelled and non-organic free-range offerings. Food service–oriented egg products show moderate to good demand in several categories, with certified liquid whole eggs, frozen whole eggs, and dried egg products (especially dried albumen and yolk) all experiencing steady undertones and moderate to active trading, indicating stable use by restaurants and institutional buyers. Winter weather has temporarily disrupted processing schedules, lowering the volume of eggs processed and slightly reducing the share of table egg production moving into breaking, but supplies for further processing remain generally moderate. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has led to the depopulation of about 3.6 million table egg layers so far in 2026, split between conventional and cage-free systems in Colorado and Pennsylvania, representing roughly 1.0 percent of the conventional and 1.5 percent of the non-organic cage-free flocks as of January 1, 2026 |
| Wheat (Flour Based Products) |
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Available - Steady |
Pricing on flour remains steady (albeit high) in most markets. We may see some slight (localized) increases in a few High Gluten Products and potential slight decreases in lower gluten products in the coming days. These changes would be very small in general and based on local production capacity. Demand remains sluggish as we move into February and supply is adequate to convert any foodservice demand. |
| All UniPro Foodservice Sales Market Insights information is based on domestic US market data only, unless indicated otherwise. The UniPro Foodservice Market Sales Insights update is not a recommendation to buy or sell a commodity. While this update is based on sources we believe to be reliable and accurate, UniPro Foodservice does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented. |
