Cheese Producers News: Northeastern U.S. Cheese Market Trends

As school districts across the Northeastern U.S. prepare for the first day of the semester, Class III manufacturing is surging due to increased milk volumes. The demand for American-type cheeses such as cheddar is especially high, along with process American and mozzarella. The popularity of these cheeses is largely attributed to the school-meal foodservice sector. Additionally, demand for cheese from the restaurant and retail sectors remain steady.

Pricing Trends of Conventional Cheeses

According to the National Retail Report, the average weighted price for conventional 6-8-ounce packages of sliced cheese is $2.27, up from $2.19 last week. Prices for cheddar and muenster in the Northeast region are up $0.0275 and $0.0450, respectively. The Grade A Swiss prices are down at $0.1375.

CME Group August Price for Cheese Barrels and Blocks

The CME Group August monthly average price for barrels was $1.8190, compared to $1.5404 last month. Similarly, the average price for blocks was $1.9752 as compared to $1.6209 in the previous month.

Cooperative Export Assistance Program Accepts Requests

So far this year, the Cooperative Export Assistance Program has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 33.9 million pounds of American-type cheese in export markets. Last week, the program accepted requests to sell 388,000 pounds of American-type cheese.

The U.S. cheese market is rapidly evolving, with fluctuating prices and shifts in demand. Keeping up with these developments is critical for those involved in the industry. Stay up to date with the latest news and insights from the cheese industry by following our LinkedIn page.