May 9, 2016

with HPC Foodservice Bi-Weekly Newsletter

In the Loop

PRODUCE UPDATE

PRODUCE UPDATE

www.hpcfs.com 800.883.9800

625 Nutmeg Rd., North

South Windsor, CT 06074

Iceberg Lettuce: Volumes for this week continue to be below budget due to fields coming in early. Most

growers have been ahead of schedule since Salinas lettuce harvest started the first week of April. Early harvests combined with the stresses from intense weather issues like high heat, heavy rains and strong gusting winds, have had an overall slightly negative impact on quality. The quality should improve as harvests move into newer fields. Markets have been very active due to the increase in demand from Mother’s Day. Forecasted markets will continue to be active due to lighter than normal supplies.

Romaine Lettuce: Romaine quality has been slightly better than lettuce last week and

improving quality should be seen this week out of California. Demand is currently exceeding supplies. There are some occasional quality issues which include fringe burn and light mildew showing in the packs.

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

PRODUCE UPDATE, cont.

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Rounds- Florida has been experiencing nearly perfect tomato growing weather since Valentine’s Day. That has created a bumper central Florida crop in terms of both quality and quantity. Demand is still relatively light but is showing signs of improving. Supply will easily be able to keep pace with demand. FOB prices have fallen to near floor levels and all sizes are the same FOB price which typically does not happen. In the next week or two, we may see the large sized tomatoes be more plentiful than the smaller sized fruit which would lead to an inverted market where the smaller fruit becomes more expensive than the larger fruit. Quality is excellent.

Cucumbers- Florida growers continue in full production and supplies are strong. FOB prices for supers continue to see downward pressure. Selects are generally steady with only slight downward pressure. Quality is good. In the western market, product continues to cross at Nogales with good levels. FOB prices remain at near floor levels. Baja has begun to harvest somewhat and FOB prices are expected to remain at low levels.

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

BEEF -Grinds- Grinds have seen the best demand coming into this week and activities for Memorial Day

are expected to help improve demand. Loins- Demand has been dull coming into this week and the mar-

ket has pushed lower as the week has progressed. PSMO’s and Strips have seen the bigger impacts this

week as the market pushed lower. Rounds- The market for Rounds has pushed lower again this week as

production is outpacing demand. Chucks- Demand has been seasonally lighter but packers have been uti-

lizing the extra inventories for grinding and helping to keep inventories more in line than some other cuts.

Ribs- Retail demand ahead of Memorial Day has yet to materialize at expected levels and has helped to

put downward pressure on the market. The lack of Retail ads combined with strong production are having

an impact on the current market.

PORK- Bellies- Demand for fresh bellies has been seasonally lighter and helping to put downward pres-

sure on the market. Hams- Market is steady to firmer. Export demand has been improved and helping to

move additional inventories. Loins- The loin market has seen upward pressure coming into this week and

improved retail advertising is expected to put additional pressure on the market. Butts- Demand is very

good both domestically and for export. Ribs- Reports this week varied on current demand for fresh prod-

uct. Demand has been seasonally strong the past several weeks and push the market higher.

POULTRY- CHICKEN- Whole birds and WOGs move at current market levels. Cutting stock WOGs are

mixed with some suppliers asking and getting up-money. Boneless breasts have been active for the last

week or so, with markets firm. As this week comes to an end and Mother’s Day here, the market appears

to have steadied for now, even though suppliers appear to be holding firm to current market levels. The

same can be said for tenders and whole breasts. Wings are rated about steady to steady and are mixed

depending on size. Could possibly see some discounting depending on source on medium sized prod-

uct. Leg quarters and drumsticks are rated steady to full steady, with both summer grilling season here

and export contracts active. All other dark meats are seasonal with markets steady. TURKEY- Demand

this week has been fair. Whole birds and consumer sized breasts trade at current market. Tom breast

meat and tenders are about steady for both fresh and frozen product, with some product trading at dis-

count. Thigh meat is steady to full steady. Tom whole wings are rated about steady with hen whole wings

rated steady at best

SEAFOOD- Gulf Shrimp- Prices and availability varies between suppliers ahead of new season fishery

openings. Black Tiger Shrimp-The market has seen both ups and downs over the past few days as re-

placement inventories vary between sellers. The past few days have seen costs overseas push higher

and put upward pressure on the market. White Shrimp- The market for product from both Asia and Latin

America has moved higher coming into this week. This is due to improved demand and higher raw mate-

rial costs. King Crab- The market has pushed higher over the past few weeks due to light inventories and

an active demand. Snow Crab- New season product from Canada is becoming more available and help-

ing to keep the market in a more unsettled tone. Overall inventories are light for a good to active demand.

COMMODITIES

Warm Water Lobster Tails- Inventories on larger sized tails remain more available due to production this

season being geared more toward the larger sizes. This has helped to put downward pressure on those

sizes over the past several weeks. Smaller sized tails are in more limited supply and inventories vary be-

tween suppliers. North American Lobster Tails- Market is unsettled. Inventories on smaller sized are in

better supply and putting downward pressure on the market. Larger sized tails are holding mostly

steady. The market for lobster meat remains firm due to very limited inventories and a strong demand.

Salmon- Demand has improved coming into this week and is putting upward pressure on the market. A

strike in Chile is impacting shipments from that region and putting pressure on availability. Cod- Higher

raw material costs and smaller catch sizes have helped to keep upward pressure on the market over the

past several weeks. The market has held mostly steady coming into this week. Flounder-Inventories are

light for current demand. Haddock- Demand has been lighter than expected coming into this week but the

market remains unsettled due in part to the strength in the Cod market over the past several weeks. Pol-

lock- Inventories on larger sizes have been in tighter supply due to catches being smaller is size. De-

mand has been below expectations and helping to keep the market in a more unsettled tone. Domestic

Catfish- Market is mostly steady. Tilapia- Market is steady. Swai- Market is unsettled. Lower production

numbers and smaller import estimates are helping to keep the market in a more unsettled tone.

DAIRY- CHEESE- The CME Block and Barrel markets have both moved lower as this week has pro-

gressed. Milk production is strong and helping to keep cheese production strong. Cheese inventories

are building with the strong production and exports are lower due to the strong competition from the inter-

national markets. This is making more cheese available for domestic customers and putting pressure on

the market. BUTTER- The CME Butter market has moved both higher and lower over the past

week. Butter production is very active and inventories are building. Butter demand has been good and

helping to keep the inventories from building at an even faster pace. Additional cream continues to make

its way to ice cream production and will put pressure on availability of cream as we move thru the next

several weeks. EGGS- Market soft and retail demand fair. Distributors are generally unaggressive outside

of their contractual agreements. Foodservice sales are strong in areas where seasonal business is pick-

ing up. Very little change in egg inventories as market is very quiet.

SOY- Soy market finally saw some lows after recent April highs as the US is positioned to be more com-

petitive due to weather related crop losses in Argentina and political strife in Brazil. Late week news is

pushing market up again due mostly to palm oil and crude movement.

FLOUR/WHEAT- Spring wheat futures are higher than a week ago even with early indicators the US will

have another huge wheat crop in 2016. Weather has been favorable contributing to larger yields. All short

position funds could potentially result in higher markets for wheat. All waiting on the winter wheat field

work to complete to see bushel counts.

In the Loop with HPC Foodservice

HPC Foodservice

625 Nutmeg Rd., North

South Windsor, CT 06074

800.883.9800

www.hpcfs.com

May- National Barbecue Month

May- National Egg Month

May - National Hamburger Month

May 8th to May 14th- National Nursing Home Week

May 9th- National Shrimp Day

May 13th- National Apple Pie Day

May 16th- National Barbecue Day

May 29th- National Brisket Day

May 31st- Memorial Day Observed

June- National Dairy Month

June- National Fruits and Vegetables Month

June 4th- National Eggs Benedict Day

June 14th- National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June 14th- Flag day

June 15th- National Lobster Day

June 20th- First Day of Summer

June 22nd- National Onion Ring Day

Upcoming HOLIDAYS & NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

Featured Member from our Premier Supplier Network

For a complete list of

Lyons items stocked at HPC

Foodservice, contact your Sales

Representative.

Featured Items this week!

Azar nuts add eye appeal, taste appeal, and sales appeal to your bottom

line. They are cost-effective, user-friendly, and convenient, transforming

many existing menu items into customer-pleasing, value-added recipes. Plus,

convenient packaging options make them easy to use, easy to serve, and easy

to store.

#41391 5 lb Pecan Candied Pieces- Large

#41319 24/15 oz Seedless Raisins

#41143 5 lb Dried Cranberries

#41361 6/2.37 lb Dry Roasted Peanuts