Halal Market Report — Nov 2–8, 2026

Halal Market Report

Week of

Nov 2–8, 2026

What moved this week

• Lettuce turned at the farm. NYC hasn't caught up yet. Iceberg broke hardest: Salinas fell 20% to $56.45–58.90 a case (about $1.15/lb, down $0.29), and Santa Maria fell 31%. Salinas romaine dropped 12.6% to $60.75–63.75 (about $1.56/lb, down $0.22) as Huron, Oxnard and the first Yuma romaine added volume. Green leaf is the exception: Salinas is up to $71–73.75 (about $3.62/lb), and at Hunts Point Quebec green leaf doubled to $42–45 while California leaf rose to $65–66. Last week's cheap Quebec leaf is gone. Hunts Point romaine is still high (fine California $72–74, up $13), but farm prices usually reach the terminal in about a week, so expect NYC romaine and iceberg to soften next week while leaf stays firm. Lean on iceberg and romaine blends, not leaf. Carton weights are running light, so your real cost per pound is higher than these numbers. No active romaine recall as of Friday.
• Tomatoes are still the tightest item on the board. Otay Mesa couldn't establish a vine-ripe market at all this week. Texas crossings came back at $62.95–65.95 for 4x5s (about $3.22/lb). Romas jumped too: Otay large $37–38.95 (about $1.52/lb, up $0.24) and Texas large $32.95–34.95 (about $1.36/lb, up $0.22). Mature greens held near $59 (about $2.37/lb). Florida is starting slowly with low early yields, so don't expect relief before late November. Romas are still the cheapest fresh tomato per pound: use them for salads and garnish, canned for anything cooked, and keep the tomato-heavy menu prices you raised last week.
• Chicken got cheaper almost across the board. Boneless skinless breast eased to $1.12/lb (down $0.01), boneless thighs fell to $1.70/lb (down $0.04) and wings fell to $1.07/lb (down $0.03). Tenders were the one boneless cut that rose, to $1.14/lb (up $0.02). Whole birds were flat at $1.16/lb. Chick placements are running 2% above last year, spot loads of thighs and jumbo wings are showing up, and the trade expects flat-to-lower prices through November. Buy chicken week to week now; don't lock contracts. Thighs still cost 59¢/lb more than breast, so the breast swap still pays.
• Avocados jumped. New York Mexican Hass 48s went from $30 to $40–42 a carton (about $1.64/lb, up $0.44). Texas FOB rose $4 to $28.25–30.25 (about $1.17/lb, up $0.16). Portion guacamole and avocado add-ons tighter, or charge for them.
• Beef, lamb and cheese: mostly softer, with two exceptions. Brisket fell $0.17/lb to $3.82 and 85% ground beef fell $0.21/lb to $4.02, but inside rounds rose $0.10/lb to $3.62. Screwworm reached Arizona on Oct 28, a risk to the Mexican cattle imports that just reopened. Australian boneless lamb shoulder, the shawarma cut, rose $0.26/lb to $5.81. CME cheese blocks dropped 13.75¢ to $1.60/lb on Friday alone. That's one day of trade, so check Monday's price before locking mozzarella. Wheat fell another 20¢ a bushel.

Rising / HighWatchSteadyEasing / Value

Produce

17 items

Avocados (Hass)

NY 48s $40–42, ~$1.64/lb, +$0.44; FOB ~$1.17/lb, +$0.16

RISING

Bell peppers, green

GA jumbo $20.35–22.35, ~$0.85/lb, +$0.08

WATCH

Cilantro

Central Coast 60s $18.75–20.75, steady; NY Mexico $22, −$3

STEADY

Cucumbers

Texas medium ~$0.44/lb, +$0.04; Nogales ~$0.25/lb, −$0.02

STEADY

Eggplant

GA medium $14.35, ~$0.43/lb, −$0.03

GOOD VALUE

Garlic, peeled (fresh)

NY Spain $14–15, China $14–17 per USDA pack; unchanged

STEADY

Ginger

NY Brazil/China 30-lb $28–30, ~$0.97/lb, unchanged

STEADY

Jalapeños

Mexico ~$1.24/lb, +$0.06; Georgia ~$0.61/lb, unchanged

WATCH

Lettuce, green leaf

Salinas ~$3.62/lb, +$0.10; Quebec leaf at Hunts Point doubled

RISING

Lettuce, iceberg

Salinas ~$1.15/lb, −$0.29; Hunts Point $56–58, −$13

EASING

Lettuce, romaine

Salinas ~$1.56/lb, −$0.22; Hunts Point still $60–74

HIGH

Limes

FOB ~$0.73/lb, unchanged; NY ~$0.98/lb, +$0.08

WATCH

Mangoes

Tommy 6s $9–11, −$1.50; 12s $6–7

GOOD VALUE

Onions, red + yellow

yellow ~$0.24/lb, −$0.02; red ~$0.40/lb, −$0.02

GOOD VALUE

Spinach

Central Coast 24s $12.45–15.55, ~$0.58/bunch, +$0.09

WATCH

Tomatoes, Roma

Otay ~$1.52/lb, +$0.24; Texas ~$1.36/lb, +$0.22

RISING

Tomatoes, round (fresh)

vine-ripes ~$3.22/lb (Texas), Otay unquotable; greens ~$2.37/lb

HIGH

Meats · halal

13 items

Beef brisket

120 deckle-off ~$3.82/lb, −$0.17

EASING

Beef, ground

85% ~$4.02/lb, −$0.21; 81% ~$3.29/lb, −$0.08

HIGH

Beef inside round 168

~$3.62/lb, +$0.10

WATCH

Beef outside rnd 171B

~$3.66/lb, −$0.14

EASING

Chicken breast, BL/SL

$1.12/lb, −$0.01; still the cheapest boneless cut

GOOD VALUE

Chicken leg

bone-in legs $0.75/lb, −$0.03; drums $0.56/lb, −$0.01

STEADY

Chicken tenders

$1.14/lb, +$0.02

STEADY

Chicken thigh, BL/SL

$1.70/lb, −$0.04; still $0.59/lb over breast

EASING

Chicken wings

$1.07/lb, −$0.03; jumbo spot loads available

EASING

Gyro cone (beef & lamb)

Aus. lamb shoulder $5.81/lb, +$0.26; beef trim $0.83/lb, −$0.12

WATCH

Lamb, ground

$9.11/lb, +$0.04

HIGH

Lamb leg, BRT

$10.04/lb, +$0.06; Australian frozen leg $6.05/lb, +$0.15

HIGH

Whole chicken (WOG)

$1.16/lb, unchanged; NY whole bird $1.16/lb, +$0.01

STEADY

Seafood

5 items

Asian white shrimp P&D

US market steady; Ecuador power cuts still a supply risk

WATCH

Branzino (sea bass)

Greek bass −8% in Milan; bream +22%, no longer the cheap swap

WATCH

Cod

Iceland auction prices hit records; firming again

RISING

Salmon fillet (Atlantic, farmed)

Norway export ~$3.68/lb whole, +$0.16

RISING

Tilapia

China raw-material prices up again

RISING

Dairy

8 items

Cheddar Jack, fancy shred

blocks $1.60/lb Fri, −$0.14 in one day; recheck Mon

WATCH

Eggs, large (shell)

loose $0.35/dz, +$0.07; NY cartoned $0.72/dz, unchanged

GOOD VALUE

Feta

no new list price; Greek sheep-milk shortage continues

RISING

Monterey Jack, fancy shred

weekly avg block $1.71/lb, −$0.03

WATCH

Mozzarella

barrels $1.73/lb, firm; heavy Italian-cheese demand

WATCH

Paneer

Nov Class III milk $17.70/cwt, −$0.10

STEADY

Plain yogurt (Greek)

NFDM weekly avg $2.07/lb, −$0.08; off near-record

EASING

Sour cream

butter weekly avg $1.31/lb, −$0.03

GOOD VALUE

Pantry & bread

4 items

Basmati rice

~$0.35/lb FOB India, no new quote; paddy +53% y/y

RISING

Chickpeas (canned)

no canned quote; India kabuli ~$0.53/lb FOB, no update

WATCH

Cooking oil (soybean)

Dec board $0.66/lb, −$0.01

STEADY

Naan / pita

KC wheat $6.44¼/bu, −20¢; flour still softening

EASING

Prepared Fri Oct 30, 2026 — market data through Fri Oct 30 (shipping-point produce through Thu Oct 29). Benchmarks: USDA Market News & CME (conventional wholesale); halal proteins run above quoted marks. All prices in US dollars; changes are week over week. Produce per-pound figures use standard USDA pack weights, and carton weights are running light, so true cost per pound is higher. Beef values are from Friday's daily USDA report.