Commodity markets remain segmented through August. Beef continues to face structural supply tightness, while broiler chicken and pork retain comparatively favorable supply positions. Turkey remains tighter than broilers, and eggs show improving production but substantial week-to-week price movement.  

Seafood conditions remain species- and specification-dependent. Shrimp, scallops, and several frozen formats are comparatively available, while cod and other premium whitefish remain constrained. Salmon, tuna, lobster, mahi mahi, and crab continue to depend on origin, season, weather, quota, size, and importer inventories.  

Produce volatility increases late in the month as rain, heat, crop pressure, and seasonal transitions affect tomatoes, leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, berries, cucumbers, squash, and limes. Dairy supply fundamentals remain more favorable, and USDA raises its soybean production outlook. Fuel and freight represent the clearest inflationary change as diesel rises sharply during August. 

Mahi Mahi  

Peruvian seasonal production is expected to begin early, with smaller fish more common at the start of the season. Larger-size availability remains the main constraint, which matters for operators that rely on consistent plate presentation or premium center-of-plate portions. Pricing is generally steady to firm and depends on origin, size, and importer position. 

Snow Crab  

Canadian snow crab pricing is reported as steady late in the period. Larger and preferred sections remain specification-sensitive, which can affect banquet, buffet, and premium seafood menu planning. Some suppliers report that Alaska 2025/26 inventories are depleted, with the next quota announcement expected later in the fall. 

White Shrimp  

Imported white and black tiger shrimp are reported as steady to lower across portions of the market, which supports comparatively favorable availability. This creates a useful value opportunity for foodservice operators because shrimp can flex across appetizers, entrées, pasta, Asian-inspired dishes, and banquet applications. Tariffs, trade actions, disease, freight, and origin remain material variables.  

Atlantic Salmon  

Fresh and frozen Atlantic salmon are generally reported as steady late in the period. Supply growth remains limited enough to prevent broad price relief, and conditions continue to vary by origin and format.  

Lobster  

North American lobster tail pricing is reported as steady, but adverse weather slows fishing activity in portions of the fishery. Availability remains seasonal and weather-sensitive. 

Tuna  

Yellowfin frozen steaks and loins are reported as stable. NOAA announces increased bluefin tuna quotas in August, but this development should not be generalized across tuna species or product forms. Tuna remains highly specification-dependent because loins, steaks, saku blocks, poke cubes, and value-added formats carry different yield, labor, and menu-positioning implications. 

Cod and Whitefish  

Atlantic and Pacific cod supplies remain constrained by reduced quotas. Haddock is also reported as constrained, and supplier reporting describes pollock supply as tight.  

Scallops  

Sea and bay scallop pricing is reported as steady late in the period. Availability remains comparatively consistent but varies by size, origin, and specification.  

Historic Tightness Continues  

USDA continues to characterize cattle and beef fundamentals through lower production expectations and elevated cattle prices. The national herd remains in a contractionary phase, which restricts near-term supply growth and limits broad relief across boxed beef.  

Ribeye  

Post-summer demand moderation allows some seasonal softness, but restricted middle-meat production limits downside. Ribeye remains highly exposed to steakhouse, resort, banquet, and premium casual demand, where menu expectations often limit substitution flexibility.  

Striploin 

Values remain below some early-summer peaks but are historically elevated. Limited production continues affecting consistency on center-cut steak programs.  

Chuck Rolls  

Demand for value-oriented cuts continues to support chuck markets as buyers balance high middle-meat costs. Chuck rolls remain useful for braises, pot roast, shredded beef, stew meat, and further-processed applications where flavor and yield can offset longer cook times. 

Ground Beef  

Constrained slaughter and lean-trim availability continue to limit broad downside. Blend, lean point, origin, fresh or frozen state, and finished-product specification remain important.  

Flank and Skirt Steaks  

Markets are comparatively balanced after peak grilling demand, but limited yields and sustained foodservice use support elevated values.

Balanced Broiler Supply  

USDA raises 2026 broiler production based on recent data and lowers projected 2026 broiler prices. This supports a comparatively available national broiler outlook and gives operators more flexibility than beef in managing center-of-plate costs. Even so, individual chicken cuts can move differently depending on retail promotions, QSR demand, export movement, labor, and portion-control specifications. For foodservice planning, chicken remains one of the most practical proteins for menu engineering because it can flex across value entrées, sandwiches, salads, bowls, catering, and further-processed applications.  

Boneless Skinless Thighs  

Dark-meat demand remains solid, while increased broiler production helps maintain balanced availability. Boneless skinless thighs continue to perform well in foodservice because they offer strong yield, forgiving cook performance, and menu versatility across grilled, roasted, fried, sauced, and bowl applications. Thighs can also serve as a value-oriented alternative when breast meat, tenders, or beef items become less attractive on a finished-plate-cost basis. 

Breast Meat  

Breast meat remains generally available, with production growth limiting sustained upward pressure. This supports continued use in grilled chicken sandwiches, diced chicken programs, salads, plated entrées, and health-positioned menu items. However, portion-controlled breasts, random breasts, filets, and further-processed formats may not move in the same way because labor, sizing, trim specification, and yield all influence finished cost.  

Wings  

Wing conditions are more balanced than prior shortage cycles, although seasonal promotions may cause short-term movement. Wings remain highly demand-sensitive because sports seasons, bar traffic, catering, and promotional menus can quickly tighten availability in preferred sizes. Jumbo, medium, whole, split, fresh, frozen, and value-added wing formats should be evaluated separately because quoted market direction may not translate equally across specifications.  

Tenders  

Tender availability remains favorable relative to tighter protein categories, with conditions varying by fresh or frozen format and portion specification. Tenders remain important for kids’ menus, casual dining, catering, prepared foods, and high-volume fried chicken programs, so demand can stay resilient even when broader broiler supply improves.  

Turkey  

USDA raises 2026 turkey production, exports, prices, and ending stocks based on recent data. Even with improved volume, turkey pricing remains firmer than broilers, and holiday demand remains a key seasonal factor.  

Shell Eggs  

July U.S. egg production totaled 9.30 billion eggs, up 4 percent from July 2025. Table egg production totaled 8.00 billion, and layers on August 1 totaled 380 million, also up 4 percent from a year earlier. 

Despite improved production, USDA raises 2026 and 2027 egg price projections in August to reflect recent price trends. Weekly wholesale markets then weaken materially during the second half of August, which illustrates continued short-term volatility. 

Cage-Free, Organic, and Specialty  

Late-August inventories differ by production system. Cage-free stocks increase in one weekly report while organic shell egg inventories decline.  

Egg Products  

Breaking-stock values and certified liquid whole-egg prices decline in late-August reporting, while processing volume increases. Current external evidence is insufficient to determine a single direction for all frozen, dried, blended, scrambled, or hard-cooked egg products.  

Pork continues to offer a comparatively favorable value position versus beef, which supports menu flexibility for operators managing high protein costs. Production remains above 2025 expectations overall, although USDA revisions reflect lower second-half market-hog inventories than previously estimated. This creates a market that is generally more balanced than beef, but still sensitive to demand shifts, labor conditions, export movement, and cut-specific seasonality.  

Butts  

Post-grilling demand eases, and availability improves. Butts remain a practical foodservice option for pulled pork, barbecue applications, roasting, and value-driven entrée development. Pricing should be monitored closely as fall promotions, smoker demand, and retail features can still create short-term movement by region and packer.  

Ribs  

Seasonal pressure eases from early-summer peaks, but ribs remain promotional and weather-sensitive. Availability is generally more comfortable after peak grilling demand, yet back ribs, spare ribs, and St. Louis-style ribs may move differently depending on trim specification, retail ad activity, and barbecue-focused restaurant demand.  

Bellies and Bacon  

The complex remains volatile by weight, specification, and packaging, with retail bacon demand providing support. Bellies continue to require close attention because small changes in cold-storage position, slicer demand, and retail bacon features can create outsized price movement. 

Hams  

Seasonal positioning for fall and holiday requirements supports the market. Hams become more important as processors and buyers prepare for holiday programs, party menus, carving stations, and value-added applications. Boneless, bone-in, smoked, spiral, deli, and further-processed formats may each carry different availability and pricing signals.  

Loins  

Conditions remain mixed across bone-in, boneless, center-cut, and value-added forms. Loins remain useful for portion-control programs, chops, roasts, schnitzel-style applications, and further processing. Because loins compete directly with other center-of-plate proteins, demand can improve when customers trade down from higher-priced beef cuts.  

Trimmings  

Values remain sensitive to sausage, processing, and ground-meat demand, as well as beef-trim economics. Trimmings should be watched closely because they influence fresh sausage, breakfast sausage, meatballs, blended proteins, and processed pork items. If beef trim remains expensive, some processors may lean more heavily on pork trim where formulation and labeling allow. 

Dairy  

USDA continues to project higher milk production for 2026 and 2027, supported by herd expansion and cow retention. Greater milk supply improves the broad outlook, but cheese, butter, powders, cultured products, and finished goods may still move differently.  

Produce  

Late-August industry reporting describes higher tomato markets following heavy rain in eastern growing regions; tightening lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower supplies; mixed berries during seasonal transitions; and smaller lime sizing. California grape quality is favorable, while avocado availability remains comparatively stable. 

Cooking Oils  

USDA forecasts record U.S. soybean production of 4.52 billion bushels for marketing year 2026/27, with higher acreage and crush expectations. This supports raw-material availability, while biofuel demand, exports, competing oils, and energy markets continue to influence soybean-oil pricing.  

Plastics and Packaging  

Packaging remains exposed to resin, energy, tariff, import, and freight costs. August freight reporting also identifies renewed corrugated input pressure. Current external evidence is insufficient to determine one market direction across polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, corrugated, aluminum, paperboard, foam, and molded fiber. 

Nitrile Gloves  

Availability appears generally serviceable, but external evidence within the reporting window is insufficient to establish a broad August price direction. Tariffs, petrochemical inputs, manufacturing conditions, origin, and ocean freight remain relevant cost variables. 

Diesel rises sharply during August. EIA weekly benchmarks increase from $5.348 per gallon for the week ending August 3 to $5.454 for August 17 and $5.652 for August 24. Industry reporting indicates that truckload spot conditions ease from peak-summer levels while fuel surcharges and operating costs increase.