Prior notice of rising or decreasing costs and how market trends affect food quality is provided to aid professionals and their staff in making profitable food purchases, pricing, and menu decisions. The markets are likely to be volatile over the next few weeks with seasonal charts indicating possible decreases approaching in January. Dairy - TThe butter market is coursing lower. Holiday sales are slowing with some retail feature activity being extinguished. Buyers are securing product for interim needs only in anticipation of the previous engaging price levels from October to reemerge in the near future.
Early indications are for sharply lower market levels next week.
The cheese markets are fairly steady. Appealing oil prices are expected to persevere into 2001. Pork - A cyclical tightening in overall pork supplies is likely over the next few months causing several markets to begin a normal upward trend. The ham market is coursing lower since holiday orders have been fulfilled. The boneless skinless chicken breast market continues to trade at economical market levels due to heavy supplies.