MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  March 15, 2017 (REPORT 11)                         

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Northeastern cheese manufacturing plants continue to have abundant 
milk volumes accessible for cheese production. Cheddar plants are 
running 7-day work schedules. Interest for mozzarella remains steady. 
Food service orders are stable to lower as schools are on spring 
break. Generally, cheese-buying activity is steady to lower, as some 
market participants hold off on purchases to see if the prices will 
continue to shift downward. The cheese market undertone is stable.
At the CME Group, barrel cheese weekly averages declined $0.0525 and 
block weekly averages declined $0.0750, in a weak market. As a result, 
East wholesale cheese prices for blocks, process slices and Muenster 
shifted downward. Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels 
close at $1.4000, down $0.0300 from a week ago; blocks closed at 
$1.3700, down $0.0900 from a week ago. The DMN National Retail Report-
Dairy, for March 10-16, 2017, noted the Northeast weighted average 
advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks was $2.50, 25 cents above the 
national average, with a regional price range of $1.79-$4.49. The 
Southeast 8 oz. block average price was $2.30, 5 cents above the 
national average, with a regional price range of $1.79-$3.00. The 
Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese shreds was $2.36, 
5 cents above the national average price, with a regional price range 
of $1.66-$3.59. In the Southeast, the average price for 8 oz. shreds 
was $2.40, 9 cents above the national average, with prices ranging 
$1.99-$2.50.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.8925-2.1775     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.5575-2.0375     
Muenster                                     : 1.8775-2.2275     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.3800-3.7025     

1100CT Jessica.Mueller@ams.usda.gov 608.422.8589
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home