MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  March 18, 2015 (REPORT 11)                         


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Milk intakes are more than adequate for production levels to meet 
both typical and holiday demand.  Cheddar stocks are accumulating 
with output adding to aging programs, as processors indicate interest 
in building inventories at current price levels.  A few market 
participants have noted the Easter/Passover holidays as being the 
only things holding the cheddar market at its current price, 
otherwise those processors view the market as weak.  Mozzarella 
interest is at seasonal levels and remains good, as some area 
manufacturers run full production schedules to meet the current 
domestic demand.  Some manufacturers are delaying export orders.  A 
slight uptick in demand is noted with the start of the March Madness 
college basketball playoffs.  Cream cheese sales are active as 
processors work through Passover supplies.  The market undertone is 
mixed.  The Northeast wholesale cheese prices for cheddar and 
muenster increased $0.0150, and process 5# sliced moved up $0.0525.  
Prices for Grade A Swiss Cuts 10-14# are unchanged.  Tuesday's CME 
Group daily cash prices saw barrels close at $1.5600, up $0.0150 from 
a week ago; blocks closed at $1.5700, up $0.0050 from a week ago.  
According to the DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, for March 13-19, 
the national weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese 
blocks in the Northeast is $2.34, 4 cents more than the national 
average and 16 cents less than a week ago.  The Southeast 8 oz. block 
cheese price was $2.32, 25 cents more than the previous week.  


WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.9650-2.2500     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.7700-2.2500     
Muenster                                     : 1.9850-2.3350     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.4350-3.7575      

1100CT Daniel.Johnson@ams.usda.gov 608.278.4156
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
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