Expana to Observe New Year Holiday on January 1, 2026

Expana will be observing the New Year holiday on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

As previously announced, Market Insights and Market Updates were suspended beginning December 22 through January 2 with normal publishing to resume Monday January 5, 2026.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period here. 

Additionally, the Editorial Department will not be publishing news on Thursday, January 1 and will resume normal publishing on Friday, January 2, 2026. 

Happy New Year to all from everyone at Expana.

ANALYSIS: Frozen Whole Toms Rise From Five-Year Low to Near-Record Highs in 2025

The 16 lbs. frozen whole tom market started 2025 with the lowest value of the past 5-years. Starting in February though, it rose over the course of the year until it now sits at the second highest value ever recorded. This year’s December quotations fall only behind 2022 when the current outbreak of HPAI started. The value of frozen whole turkeys increased through much of 2022 before stabilizing in November. Prices then plateaued through April of 2023 before rapidly falling through the rest of the year. Quotations maintained a sideways trend through...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Inventories Hold Steady Amid Category Divergence

The USDA’s most recent cold storage release presents a mixed backdrop for the chicken complex as November came to a close, with key categories moving in notably different directions. Even so, inventory levels remained tightly clustered around both last November’s close and October’s ending stocks. At 814.9 million pounds, November’s total frozen chicken inventories ranked as the ninth-highest seasonal level in at least the past three decades. This figure reflects a 0.7% year-over-year (YOY) increase and a modest 0.4% rise from October. For context, month-over-month (MOM)...

Secretary Rollins Announces New Priorities for Research and Development in 2026

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, signed a Secretary’s Memorandum (PDF, 909 KB) that puts forth a focused effort to establish new priorities for future research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen national security, protect U.S. agriculture, and support American farmers and consumers.

The American farm economy suffered under failed Biden-Harris Administration policies that drove up inflation, created a weak trade agenda that resulted in no new trade deals for American commodities, and propagated crippling overregulation. Further, misguided policies focused on DEI and environmental justice in agricultural research, extension, and education programs diverted...

China Imposes Additional 55% Tariffs on Imported Beef

China today (December 31) imposed additional 55% tariffs on beef imports from countries ⁠including Brazil, Australia and the US when shipments exceed certain quotas, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

The tariffs will apply to imported beef, effective January 1, 2026, according to the ministry.

The measures take effect ahead of the investigation’s revised January 26 deadline, marking a sharp shift in the pace of the case, with many of the most affected suppliers caught during the year-end Christmas and New Year closures.

A Chinese importer told Expana today

ANALYSIS: Bone-In Ham Market Transitions Post-Holiday 

According to Circana retail data, retail bone-in half ham activity has softened following the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday demand period, with prices and sales pulling back in line with typical seasonal patterns. Discounted retail prices moved lower into mid-December, settling in the $1.30–1.55/lb range, roughly 50% below late-November and early-December holiday highs near $2.80–3.00/lb, while non-discounted prices eased to the $1.85–1.95/lb range, about 38% below peak holiday levels...

Burger King® and Popeyes® Announce New Head Chefs

Burger King® and Popeyes® have each announced a new Head Chef – promoting existing top talent within Restaurant Brands International (RBI).

Amy Alarcon has been appointed Head Chef for Burger King, U.S. & Canada, following 18 years as a culinary leader and Head Chef at Popeyes. Amy previously led Popeyes’ success in shaping the brand’s culinary identity and driving category-defining menu innovation, including the iconic Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.

In her new role, Chef Amy will lead the Burger King culinary strategy...

Long John Silver’s Brings Back $6 Fish & Chicken Basket

Long John Silver’s is bringing back its popular fish baskets, harmonizing flavors from both sea and land while delivering the value customers seek. This revival features the $6 Fish & Chicken Basket for a limited time. 

"Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret," said Christopher Caudill, Long John Silver's senior vice president of marketing and innovation. "Our hand-battered chicken strips—known as Chicken Planks—are every bit as crave-worthy as our legendary fish. It's time we let that secret...

Crayola Launches Global McDonald's Happy Meal® Experience That's Out-of-This-World

Crayola has teamed up with McDonald's for the first time on a global scale with a new Happy Meal experience to propel kids' imagination into orbit and transform the universe into a canvas for creativity.

The Happy Meal features an exclusive lineup of co-branded, space-themed activity kits and toys designed to encourage hands-on creative moments that the whole family can share. The limited-edition Planet McDonald's Happy Meal is rolling out at participating McDonald's...

USTR Takes Measured Approach On Nicaragua

The US Trade Representative recently announced that the US will impose tariffs on all imported Nicaraguan goods that are not originating under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, due to a Section 301 investigation of Nicaragua's labor practices. The tariff will initially be set at zero, but is set to increase to 10% in 2027 and to 15% in 2028. It's a measured approach that won't interrupt trade with a growing market for US pork, according to US Meat Export Federation Central America Representative Lucia Ruano...

Op-Ed by Ambassador Jamieson Greer: The Year of the Tariff

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer published an op-ed in The Financial Times explaining how President Trump’s trade program is accelerating America’s re-industrialization, incentivizing domestic production with improved market access for US exports.

The full text of the op-ed is below:

The year 2025 will be remembered as the year of the tariff, regardless of one’s economic ideology. International trade is neither good nor bad — it just is. The real question is whether trade patterns serve the national interest...

China to Impose Beef Safeguards: Details Due December 30

On December 30, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is expected to announce the final outcome of its global safeguards investigation into beef imports, with a likely implementation date of January 1, 2026, the Meat Industry Association (MIA) said in a circular. MIA, the industry association from New Zealand, has been monitoring the situation and sent out a press release to update market participants.

The measure would create country-specific tariff-rate quotas for major exporters to China allocated on a three-year reference period...

ANALYSIS: 2025 US Steer & Heifer Select Grading Percentage is at Historic Lows

US Select grading percentages have dropped to record lows in 2025, highlighting a notable shift in cattle quality across the fed supply base. Throughout the year, Select grading has remained well below historical norms, hitting lows around 10.5% late in the year. 

This represents a sharp departure from prior years, when Select grades often held in the mid-teens or higher during seasonal peaks. The sustained decline reflects fewer cattle falling short of Choice specifications. Several structural factors are driving this trend: extended...

ANALYSIS: Early December US Beef Imports from Mexico Higher

US beef imports from Mexico remained active into year end, even as Mexican export prices continued to move higher amid limited production availability, increased production costs, and ongoing protocols related to New World Screwworm controls. Despite the incremental price environment for Mexican material, import volumes remained firm as US buyers focused on maintaining product availability for year-end needs.

Six Individuals Appointed to NPB Board of Directors

The National Pork Board (NPB) welcomes five appointees to serve a three-year term ending in June 2028, and one appointee to serve a two-year term ending in June 2027.

Congratulations to the following producer leaders:

• Chad Groves, Kansas
• Jessica Stevens, Ohio
• Paul Ayers, Illinois
• Dwight Mogler, Iowa
• John Rauser, Montana
• Jeremy Burkett, Wyoming (Two-Year Term)

The National Pork Board is comprised of 15 pork producers or importers, nominated by Pork Act Delegates at the National Pork Forum and appointed by the U.S...

Sugar Foods Expands National Footprint with New Production and Distribution Facility in Indiana

Sugar Foods, a privately held, customer-centric food manufacturer serving foodservice, retail and private label customers across North America, announced it has secured a 617,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production and distribution facility in Whiteland, Indiana. The new facility expands Sugar Foods’ national footprint and positions the company for continued growth with customers throughout the United States and beyond.

“This investment in Whiteland is an important milestone in Sugar Foods’ growth story,” said Andrea Brule, President and Chief Executive Officer...

PuraVida Foods Expands KidsLife™ Line with New Disney and Pixar-Themed Frozen Meals

PuraVida Foods, the company redefining frozen food through flavor and technology, announced today an exciting new chapter for its KidsLife™ brand: a line of nutritious, chef-crafted frozen meals featuring select Disney and Pixar characters. Launching this month, the collection will debut exclusively with Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide beginning December 22 highlighting favorites from Disney’s Frozen, Disney’s Moana, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s Mickey Mouse & Friends, and Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, bringing a fresh mix of innovation and fun to family...

Expana Publication Schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period

Expana will be observing several holidays which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. Daily assessments falling on these dates will not be published, while weekly assessments falling on these dates will be assessed on the last working day before these dates.

Expana's Market Insights and Market Updates will be suspended from Monday, December 22, 2024, to Friday, January 2, 2025, inclusive. Normal publishing schedules will resume on Monday, January 5, 2025.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period...

ANALYSIS: UK Turkey Prices Surge Amid Tight Supply and Avian Influenza Pressures

The Expana price for turkey in the UK rose to £9.40/kg on 10 December 2025, representing a year-over-year (YOY) increase of 30.56%, driven by a combination of strong seasonal demand and constrained supply. Supply tightness has been exacerbated by turkey farm and processing plant closures in 2024 and early 2025, as rising costs and sustained unprofitability forced some operators to exit the market...

ANALYSIS: December Pork Cutout Reaches Record Level on Tight Supply, Holiday Demand

The Expana Pork Carcass Cutout value is tracking at a record high for December based on data dating to 2003. The current weekly value, which has followed a bullish trend throughout December, is 4.2% above the same time last year and 22.1% higher than the all-time average back to 2003.

The total cutout had been on a gradual decline since early September, falling 17.8% through the third week of November, before values began to rebound into December as supply...

ANALYSIS: US Cage-Free Market Weakens Further Heading into Christmas 

The cage-free market continues to soften as the industry moves closer to the Christmas holiday. Values have declined consistently in December, with cumulative losses now totaling $1.06/dozen, bringing the Rest-of-Market Cage-Free EBP down to $1.60/dozen. While it is not uncommon to see some seasonal easing as the peak holiday period concludes, this year’s pattern has been notably different. Ongoing repopulation efforts and persistent sub-par demand prevented any meaningful pre-holiday lift from materializing in the first...

Natural Grocers Launches Grass-Fed Beef Sticks and Bites

Natural Grocers has expanded its private label lineup by adding new products: Natural Grocers Brand Beef Sticks and Bites. This addition increases the range of branded products to over 900 items.

The new beef sticks and bites are made with 100% grass-fed beef. They are hand-cut, hand-packed, and available in two flavors: Original and Jalapeño. The beef sticks are packaged in 1-ounce packets, while the bites come in 4-ounce pouches.

"Our house brand is more than just a label; it's a reflection of our...

Meat & Poultry Processors Contribute $57.3 Billion to US Economy & Provide 584,000 Jobs

The Meat Institute today released an economic study that found the meat and poultry processing industry contributes $57.3 billion to the US economy and provides 584,000 jobs. The entire meat and poultry industry, including livestock production, animal feed, equipment manufacturing, transportation and more contributes $347.7 billion in value to the nation, supporting 3.2 million jobs.

“The meat and poultry industry is a critical and growing part of the US economy, and one that has outsized importance to rural economies,” said Meat...

NCBA Congratulates USTR, USDA Officials on Confirmation

Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association congratulated two Trump administration officials on receiving Senate confirmation, Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Dr. Mindy Brashears to serve as Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“NCBA congratulates Dr. Julie Callahan on her confirmation as Chief Agricultural Negotiator,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “President Trump has made it a priority to sign new trade deals and open new markets to high-quality American beef. We...

FSIS Announce a Recall of 62,550 Pounds of Chicken Products 

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall from Suzanna's Kitchen of approximately 62,550 pounds of fully coolked, bone-in chicken products.

The recalled items included in this announcement come in 18-lb. cases which contain four units of “FULLY COOKED BREADED CHICKEN PORTIONS,”. It has case code “P-1380 126237 B30851 23:11 K04” printed on the side of the packaging along with the USDA mark of inspection and establishment number P-1380.

This item was produced on...

Expana Publication Schedule For the Veteran’s Day Holiday

Expana will be observing the Veteran’s Day holiday on Tuesday, November 11, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on the day; daily reports (red meat, poultry, eggs) will not be published, and the following weekly and biweekly reports will be impacted:

Veal, US, will be published on Monday, November 10

Grains and Oilseeds, US, will be published on Monday, November 10

Seafood, US and EU Markets, will be published on Wednesday, November 12...

The New "Coke of America”? 

Call it bipartisan, call it good taste... US President Donald Trump’s latest truth may be exciting nostalgic beverage enthusiasts from left, to center, and right. The President is calling for cane sugar in US Coke cans and bottles going forward. 

“I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,” wrote Trump. “I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!”