MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  June 12, 2013 (REPORT 24)                          

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Cheese prices on the CME Group were mixed Tuesday with barrels increasing 
$0.0125 to close at $1.7725, while blocks declined $0.0025 to close at 
$1.7500.  Trading activity over the last 5 sessions remained focused on 
blocks with 43 loads sold, while barrels have only seen 5 sales.  The 
weekly average cheese prices on the CME Group were mixed last week, and 
as a result, wholesale prices for cheddar blocks and Muenster declined 
$0.0125, while Process 5# sliced cheese increased $0.0125.  Wholesale 
prices for Swiss cuts increased $0.0750 following the release of the 
Class III prices last week.  Cheese production remains very active as 
milk volumes going to cheese plants remain heavy.  Most plants are on 6-7 
day production schedules.  Heavier cheese production schedules and 
expanding inventories have prompted an increase in cheese features with 
fairly significant price discounts in an effort to boost sagging cheese 
sales.  Export interest has diminished considerably in recent weeks.  
According to the National Dairy Retail Report, retail cheese ads for 8 
oz. block cheese in the Northeast totaled 3,090, 39% of the total 
national ad count of 7,866 and was the highest ad count for any region.  
Retail cheese ads for 8 oz. shredded cheese in the Northeast totaled 
2,569, 26% of the total national ad count of 9,828, and was the second 
highest ad count for any region.  The weighted average price for 8 oz. 
cheese blocks in the Northeast was $2.21, 10 cents lower than the 
national weighted average price and 9 cents less than the previous 
reporting period.  The weighted average price for 8 oz. shredded cheese 
in the Northeast was $2.26, 6 cents less than the national weighted 
average price and 14 cents lower than the previous reporting period.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1300-2.4150     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.9450-2.4250     
Muenster                                     : 2.1500-2.5100     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.4675-3.7900     

1100C rick.whipp@ams.usda.gov