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NEAR-TERM MARKET PRICING TREND |
SUPPLY vs. DEMAND |
MARKET INSIGHTS COMMENTARY |
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Available - Mixed |
Demand for beef has stalled over the past two weeks, with packers struggling to clear near-term inventories. Foodservice buyers have largely moved to the sidelines, anticipating price discounting that will help stimulate spot market movement and improve clearance. In contrast, retail is actively focused on building forward inventory positions ahead of Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Harvest levels are expected to remain restricted, as packers continue to manage supply to stabilize the market. It will likely take another two, possibly three weeks before foodservice demand strengthens and a higher level of market engagement returns. |
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Available - Steady |
The pork market this time of year traditionally is unremarkable across all items. Back and Spare ribs are gradually increasing, along with butts and the belly is on the decline a bit (think input cost for bacon). Loins are price increasing little by little week over week. |
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Available - Steady |
The belly price is on the decline a bit, so bacon prices will follow. Now would be a good time to get rid of some bacon as the belly should decrease a bit until Mother days where it will pick back up so bacon pricing should follow the same trend. |
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Available - Steady |
The chicken market remains mixed, with steady whole birds but uneven demand across parts. Jumbo boneless breast meat and wings face pressure amid soft demand and added supplies, while tenders and select boneless breast meat remain well supported. Dark meat continues to outperform, with legs, thighs, and thigh meat trading firm on strong domestic deboning and export demand. |
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Mixed |
The turkey market remains clouded by uncertainty as disrupted seasonality and cautious positioning continue to define trade. Whole birds and consumer‑sized breasts remain steady, supported by deliberate buying and confident sellers. Parts and raw materials are mixed to softer, with pressure evident on drums, necks, tails, frozen breast meat, and thigh meat, while demand overall remains selective and price‑sensitive. |
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Available - Steady |
Seafood markets continue to vary amongst all species. Lobster, cod, and pollock supply remains strong with elevated replacement costs. Salmon market trends to continue to be under pressure on fully adequate supply and muted demand. As buyers remain selective on the street, the shrimp and pasteurized crab markets are mixed for the upcoming week. |
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Available - Steady |
Butter markets remain well-supported by steady retail demand and strong bulk interest from domestic and international buyers, with some manufacturers reporting year-over-year gains, as active churn schedules are sustained by spring milk flows despite tight cream availability due to competing Class II and III (foodservice-linked) demand channels. In the East, ample spring milk and cream supplies are partially diverted by steady-to-strong Class II and III demand, limiting cream for butter production but keeping churns active, while retail sales are steady with expectations of post-holiday cooling. In the Central region, abundant milk and strong cream demand from Class II manufacturers—particularly ice cream and other foodservice-oriented segments—tighten spot cream availability as butter output ramps up and bulk demand remains robust. In the West, strong seasonal milk output supports active production, with domestic demand ranging from steady to strong and export interest solid, though moderate cream demand and some logistical challenges temper broader buying activity. Source: USDA AMS 5/1/2026 |
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Available - Steady |
Cheese markets remain balanced-to-steady nationally, supported by strong spring milk output driving active production across regions, while demand dynamics vary, with foodservice channels continuing to underperform retail and export segments. In the East, steady retail demand and improving production schedules offset lighter bulk interest, as foodservice demand remains a stabilizing but not leading channel. In the Central region, plentiful milk supplies are sustaining steady output, though foodservice and overall demand are described as softer with expectations for gradual improvement, while export activity remains a secondary outlet. In the West, production is steady to higher with mixed availability, and notably, foodservice demand continues to lag behind other domestic channels, even as exports hold steady to strong. Foreign market conditions indicate generally steady to mixed demand across both retail and foodservice sectors, with logistical constraints and moderate availability influencing trade flows and indirectly shaping U.S. export opportunities. Source: USDA AMS 5/1/2026 |
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Class I - Increasing
Class II - Increasing |
Class I - Available - Steady
Class II - Available - Steady |
Class I: Another large cost increase on Milks for May. Class II: Another modest cost increase on Creams & Cultured for May. |
| Oils/Shortening/Margarine |
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Available - Strong |
Commodity Oil markets have risen 56% since the beginning of the year, reaching their highest levels in some time. This increase will affect Soy Oil pricing and other commodity oils as well. Expect Oil products to remain at elevated prices throughout the month. This is due to the Iran Conflict/Oil Prices, the Biofuel Policy and weather concerns that could impact crop yields later in the year. As long as these three factors prevail, prices will remain elevated. Demand is strong which also puts pressure on oils. We do have adequate supply to cover Foodservice needs.
Tallow Prices appear to be following Commodity Oil prices and appear to be increasing in many markets based on continual demand increases. Supply may remain tight in some markets.
High Oleic Soybean Oil: Supply is very limited, and many products may no longer ship for this pack year. All other oil products remain in adequate supply to meet needs through fall harvest season. |
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Decreasing - Bell Peppers
Steady - Apples, Avocados, Tomatoes, Idaho Russets, Oranges
Increasing - Strawberries, Romaine, Broccoli, Lemons, Iceberg, Onions |
Increasing/Steady - Bell Peppers, Tomatoes
Available/Steady - Avocados, Oranges, Idaho Russets
Decreasing/Strong - small Apples, Oranges, Strawberries, Lemons, Tomatoes, Iceberg, Romaine, Broccoli, Onions |
Apples, WA small sizes very limited until fall. Steady market.
Avocados, MX market steady & low. Peak size 48ct. Excellent eating.
Bell Peppers, FL volume strong with light demand. Solid quality.
Broccoli, extremely limited, following heat & rains, market higher.
Iceberg, early heat & rains resulted in disease problems. Demand far exceeds supplies. Light wts., & High costs for next few weeks.
High Lettuce markets have escalated Value-Added Lettuce costs. Romaine, see Iceberg.
Tomatoes, Romas & Grapes lower. Rounds still high. Relief in 2 weeks
Strawberries, rain, cold, & Mom's Day has demand exceeding supplies.
Oranges, Navels finishing, Valencia's started, small sizes tight.
Lemons, peak 95/140. Market up, lower harvest & increased demand.
Onions, New crop TX rained out. CA now primary source. ID Potato Russets deals on 40/50ct & #2s. Market below "floor". |
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Available - Steady |
Both world and domestic sugar markets have seen some localized price increases recently due to rising trading levels across agricultural products. Additionally, the total availability is lesser than originally expected. While no shortages are expected, this reduced supply may put upward pressure on domestic pricing. We anticipate slight price firming on bulk sugar from various suppliers in the coming weeks. |
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Available - Steady |
Shell egg markets continue to soften in the post-holiday period, with retail movement slowing and feature activity declining, resulting in weaker demand conditions, while foodservice-oriented channels—such as breakers and egg product markets—also report light to very light demand with full processing schedules but slow trading activity. Supplies are building as inventories increase across both shell and breaker stocks, reflecting slower retail pull-through and reduced promotional activity, while cage-free offerings remain more than sufficient and continue to dominate merchandising. Demand indicators confirm this softer tone, with the shell egg demand index declining further into negative territory, signaling below-average movement relative to supply. On the disease front, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) losses remain a structural constraint on supply with significant year-to-date flock depopulation, though no new outbreaks were reported in the latest USDA data, suggesting near-term stability in that risk factor despite ongoing elevated cumulative losses. Source: USDA AMS 5/6/2026 |
| Wheat (Flour Based Products) |
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Available - Strong |
Wheat trading levels have risen recently due to concerns about reduced global supply, which is beginning to impact bulk flour prices in some markets. We expect minimal to moderate price increases at the local level in the coming weeks. This stronger pricing will likely persist through the spring planting season. Supply remains solid overall, but localized shipping delays are possible as strong demand pushes production facilities near capacity. |
| 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. |
