Expect Surging Beef Prices to Continue

It is an expensive time to be a carnivore with beef prices surging. Retail beef prices are sizzling despite an overall (and very much welcomed) downturn in the overall prices of food as the holidays …

Sugar Production Isn’t Looking So Sweet

Global sugar prices are up, and sugar production isn’t looking so sweet as we move into a new crop year starting Oct. 1.

Beef Prices Hitting New Highs at Retail and Restaurants

Domestic beef prices continue to reach new highs. Retail beef prices hit another record high in August, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a price of $8.31 per lb., according to Wells Fargo analysis …

What’s Up with Watermelon? Prices, for Starters

While food inflation seems to be cooling in the aggregate, watermelon prices remain red hot. That’s according to Mintec, a market intelligence company, which recently reported prices had surged 49% in mid-July when compared to …

Are We Near the End of Food Inflation?

Food price inflation has been a constant thorn over the past few years, but are we about to turn the corner toward greener pastures?

Salmon Has Become the ‘Ground Beef of the Seafood Department’

How important is salmon to the seafood case? 210 Analytics principal Anne-Marie Roerink answered that question via an interesting analogy in an e-mail to The Food Institute: “salmon has become the ground beef of the …

California Strawberry Crop “at the Mercy of Mother Nature”

The California strawberry crop is “at the mercy of Mother Nature” this year, but production should reach normal levels by the summer. That’s according to Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Brad Rubin, who noted …

Chicken or the Egg? HPAI’s Impact on Pricing

On the surface, the appearance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in 2022 should have pushed prices up for both chicken and eggs at an equal level. But anyone keeping an eye on supermarket shelves …

Analyst: U.S. Egg Industry in ‘Unprecedented Times’

The U.S. egg industry is in “unprecedented times” as the threat of avian influenza continues to impact prices and availability. That’s according to Eggs Unlimited Global Trade Strategist Brian Moscogiuri, who told The Food Institute …

Thanksgiving 2022: Cost to Dine Out Versus Eat In Shrinking

The common wisdom is that it’s cheaper to eat a home-cooked meal than to dine out or order in, but with dining-out prices increasing at a slower rate than grocery prices, that old adage may …

‘Restaurant Venture Capital’ Doesn’t Mean What it Used To

The meaning of “restaurant venture capital” is changing. While the term has historically referred to funding for brick-and-mortar restaurants, the restaurant venture capitalists of today have shifted their focus to investing in foodservice technology. Last …

Wheat Update: Will a Russia-Ukraine Agreement be Reached?

The global wheat outlook may be improving after the United Nations reported that Russia and Ukraine took a “critical step forward.”

Inflation Pushing Up Costs for Independence Day Cookouts

The price for a typical Fourth of July cookout could be 11% to 17% higher than a year ago, depending on what’s in your basket. That’s according to recent reports from Wells Fargo and the …

The Current State of U.S. Agriculture

Dr. Michael Swanson discusses the current state of U.S. agriculture, including inflation, supply chain pain, fertilizers, and avian influenza.

Analyst: Expect Higher Egg Prices Through 2022

(Editor’s Note 6/15/2022: For updated coverage on the shell egg market, please read “Analysts: Expect Continued Demand for Eggs Despite High Prices“) Egg buyers may have found some relief in March as prices moderated, but …

The Current State of the U.S. Farmer

What’s the current state of the U.S. farmer? With historic heat, record droughts, and unprecedented supply chain problems, The Food Institute Podcast invited Wells Fargo agricultural economist Dr. Michael J. Swanson to discuss market conditions, …