Alerts & What’s Trending
Fast Food Apps are Becoming De Facto Storefronts
Robots Cooking Chicken Wings is Far from Science Fiction
Dine-In Customers are Roaring Back
Everything You Need to Know About the Increasing Role of AI in Restaurants
Dine-In Customers Rank Food Quality a Top Priority When Choosing a Restaurant

Produce
Weather issues across many regions are causing markets to trend upwards and will likely remain for several weeks. Many of the mixed vegetables out of the Salinas Valley see volatility due to increased INSV pressure combined with warmer temperatures.

Grains
The market moved lower for the majority of previous week due to technical trading, but by Friday the market had recovered. Scores for soybeans moved very little. Farmers are selling canola as it approaches a two-year low. Large oil inventories and weak Chinese demand are pushing palm prices lower.

Dairy
Despite flat demand and weaker exports, cheese prices rose last week on both the block and barrel markets. Butter reached a record-high price while anticipating a pullback. With strong retail and foodservice demand, as well as the effects of resurgent avian influenza, egg markets are higher.

Beef
In particular for CAB or higher product, ribs continue to benefit from close in sales and the front-end demand; Sel and No Roll present prospects. While strips continue to get softer, CAB or higher product is still scarce. Chucks are still holding the line, but clods and inner round cuts are getting stronger. The grinding is constant.

Pork
More demand is causing bellies to trend up. Loins moved up slightly due to short supplier. Ribs continue to remain flat. Support from retail and a short harvest week are moving butts up for next week.

Poultry
Wing demand for the season is here. Prices are dropping and availability is increasing for tenders. The random breast market is dropping. Thigh meat prices were down again this week. Whole birds are higher while boneless leg meat is more available than its dark meat counterpart.

Seafood
The Great Lakes’ warm water makes fishing difficult and delays harvest until late September. As fish grow to the right size for harvest, catfish production increases. Farmers don’t let the fish stay in the water longer than necessary, so the majority of the tilapia collected is small. There are not enough 7-9 ounce fillets available.