MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  March 29, 2017 (REPORT 13)                         

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Cheese production is steady as manufacturing plants continue to clear 
available milk to vats. Cheese facilities are running at full speed 7 
days a week. Food service channels are stable, but with schools still 
out for break, institution channels are lower. Cheese trading activity 
continues to be light, with some traders holding steady on purchases 
and waiting to see if the prices shift downward even more. The cheese 
market tone varies. Interest is stable, but cheese stocks are 
increasing. This week, a cooperative export assistance program 
accepted requests for export assistance to sell 2.381 million pounds 
(1,088 metric tons) of cheese. At the CME Group, barrel cheese weekly 
averages increased $0.0150 and block weekly averages increased 
$0.0600. As a result, East wholesale cheese prices for blocks, process 
slices and Muenster shifted upward this week. Tuesday's CME Group 
daily cash prices saw barrels close at $1.3700, down $0.0200 from a 
week ago; blocks closed at $1.4450, up $0.015 from a week ago. The DMN 
National Retail Report-Dairy, for March 24-30, 2017, noted the 
Northeast weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks 
was $2.45, 33 cents above the national average, with a regional price 
range of $1.99-$2.99. The Southeast 8 oz. block average price was 
$2.13, 1 cent above the national average, with a regional price range 
of $1.67-$2.50. The Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. 
cheese shreds was $2.36, 25 cents above the national average price, 
with a regional price range of $1.99-$3.00. In the Southeast, the 
average price for 8 oz. shreds was $2.13, 2 cents above the national 
average, with prices ranging $1.67-$3.00. COLD STORAGE:  According to 
NASS, U.S. stocks of total natural cheese as of February 2017 totaled 1.3 
billion pounds, 3 percent more than the previous month, and up 6 percent 
from a year ago. Swiss cheese totaled 27.1 million pounds, 10 percent more 
than a year ago, and up 13 percent from last month. In New England, stocks 
of American cheese totaled 65.7 million pounds 8% more than February 2016 
and 1% more than the previous month.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.8925-2.1775     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.5275-2.0075     
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