Markets to Menus by ArrowStream

In this episode of Markets to Menus, we start with John Goodwin from ArrowStream for a market update on the latest USDA data moving dairy and grain markets, along with the geopolitical forces still shaping commodity volatility. We break down softer dairy markets, firmer pork, weakness in chicken and beef cutouts, and why recent gasoline and diesel lows may not fully reflect the tighter supply-dema...

Welcome back to Markets to Menus . In this episode, our host David Maloni is joined again by John Goodwin, Senior Commodity Analyst at ArrowStream, to break down the latest moves across commodity markets, including the ripple effects of the Iran-U.S. conflict, fuel market pressure, cattle supply tightness, Brazil weather impacts, and what those developments could mean for foodservice buyers. Later...

Welcome to the first episode of Markets to Menus . Today I’m joined by John Goodwin to break down the latest commodity market developments, including the ongoing Iran–U.S. conflict, the implications of El Niño on global agriculture, and the emergence of New World screwworm cases in the United States. We discuss how geopolitical tensions, weather-driven volatility, and livestock health concerns cou...

In this episode, I break down the latest moves across the commodity markets, and we’re continuing to see firming conditions in several key areas. The Datum FS Commodity Index moved higher again, soybean oil climbed to six-month highs, and dairy markets strengthened with cheese and butter both trading higher on solid volume. In proteins, chicken markets are rising even with year-to-date production...

In this episode, I review what’s changing across major commodity markets. Even though the Datum FS Commodity Index is still trading near two-year lows, I’m starting to see inflation creep back into several areas. I call out crude oil moving higher, the dollar being higher (not ideal for commodities), and grain markets staying generally rangebound. The clearest standout on the ag side is soybean oi...

Welcome to The Commodity Kitchen Podcast, and happy New Year. In this episode, 2026 Market Reset , I walked through what’s setting the tone for markets as we head into the new year. Grain markets are generally rangebound with some firmness in soybean meal, and soybean oil is still up about 9% year over year due in part to biofuel demand. In dairy, cheese blocks are steady while butter is down 7.9%...

In this episode of Commodity Kitchen , I walked through the latest commodity trends, noting that our food-weighted index has fallen below prior-year levels for the first time in nearly two years. Energy markets remain a tailwind with gasoline now at four-year lows, while grains and soybean oil continue to show weakness. Coffee prices are easing after tariff exemptions on Brazil and Vietnam, and da...

In this episode of The Commodity Kitchen Podcast , David Maloni and Gerry Dalton break down the key commodity market drivers for the week ending December 6, with a focus on grains, dairy, proteins, and macroeconomic signals influencing market conditions. While energy markets and the U.S. dollar remain relatively rangebound, several important shifts are emerging beneath the surface—particularly in...

In this pre-Thanksgiving episode, we break down major moves across cattle, dairy, grains, and protein markets. Live cattle and feeder cattle futures—after hitting record highs—have now pulled back to levels last seen in July, though they remain historically elevated. September milk production surged 4% year over year, and the milk cow herd climbed 2.5%, marking its biggest increase in decades. Gra...

Welcome back! We open with a couple of Halloween scare stories before diving into markets: cheese is around recent highs (discussed near $1.80/lb) with a long-run support near $1.50/lb that hasn’t held below for long over the past 10–15 years; we’re not especially bullish on cheese here. Butter remains around the 1.60 level and relatively rangebound despite holiday demand. On proteins, retail beef...

In this episode, we take you through the latest movements across food, energy, and agricultural markets. The Datum FS Commodity Index is down 6% month over month, driven largely by steep declines in dairy and poultry. We unpack what’s behind the sharp drop in chicken breast, wing, and tender prices, the continued weakness in butter, and the broader trends putting pressure on nearly every major com...

In this first episode of The Commodity Kitchen Podcast , we dive into the latest moves across the commodity markets. From the sharp drop in chicken prices to ongoing weakness in dairy and record cattle herds, we break down what’s driving these shifts. We also touch on feed costs, seasonal production changes, and government policies shaping the outlook. Our goal is to help you make sense of the tre...

Welcome to Farm to Fork: The Innovators . Today’s guest is Arah Tan, the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics at OTG Management—a leading foodservice company operating in high-traffic venues like LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Airports. In this episode, we dig into the unique challenges of airport food operations. Arah shares how OTG navigates complex logistics, vendor contracts, and th...

On this episode, I’m joined by Aaron Cooper, an expert in the beef cattle industry and founder of 33 Ventures and Cooper Family Akaushi. With over a decade of experience breeding and marketing premium red Wagyu (Akaushi) cattle, Aaron offers rare insights into both the commodity and specialty beef markets. We discuss why many ranchers are still hesitant to rebuild herds despite record-high prices,...

Welcome back to Farm to Fork the Innovators! Today we dive deep into a hot-button topic impacting our food supply chain: tariffs. Joining me is Tom Healy, a seasoned international sourcing executive with extensive leadership experience at renowned brands like Dairy Queen, Heinz, and Jack Link’s. Tom brings a wealth of expertise, having managed sourcing strategies across 26 countries during pivotal...

Our guest today is Wiggs Civitillo, the founder and CEO of Starfish Networks, an innovative company driving traceability and connectivity in food supply chains. In today's episode, Wiggs shares how major tech players like IBM have shaped this space and how Starfish Networks uniquely connects over 200 different traceability solutions. We dive deep into the critical challenges facing food supply cha...

Welcome to Farm to Fork!  In this episode, I’m joined by Jim Balis, an industry veteran and the Head of Strategic Operations at Capital Spring, a leading private equity and debt investment firm specializing in food service. With a wealth of experience in restaurant operations and franchising, Jim shares his perspective on where the food service industry is headed and how businesses can adapt to co...

Welcome to Farm to Fork: The Innovators . In today’s episode, I sit down with Marieke de Ruyter de Wildt, the founder of Open Food Chain, a blockchain-powered platform revolutionizing global food traceability. In this conversation, we dive into the current state of data and technology in the global food supply chain, how Asia is catching up to the U.S. in supply chain innovation, and why manufactu...

The foodservice industry is at a pivotal moment, and understanding consumer behavior is key to staying ahead. In this episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators , I sit down with Mike Halen, Senior Restaurant Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, to break down the current state of the restaurant and foodservice industries. Mike returns to the show after accurately forecasting last year’s market shifts,...

Welcome to another episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators ! Today we’re diving into the ever-evolving world of foodservice with Mike DiBeneditto, CEO of Golden Waffles. With nearly a century of history behind the brand, Golden Waffles has become a staple in fresh waffle programs globally. Mike’s journey, from his early days in foodservice distribution to leading one of the most unique and success...

Welcome to Farm to Fork: The Innovators. I’m excited to introduce you to another trailblazer in the world of food—Andy Raabe, CFO Partner at Seaton Hill Partners. With over four decades of involvement in the food supply chain myself, I love sharing the stories of those who are transforming how we produce and serve food. Andy brings a wealth of expertise from his time leading finance and supply cha...

Welcome! Ttoday we’re diving into the intersection of solar energy and agriculture with our guest, Peter Schmitt, the Director of Project Development at U.S. Solar. With decades of experience in the food supply chain, I aim to uncover the transformative strategies shaping how we produce and serve food. Today’s topic, agrivoltaics, is an innovative blend of solar farming and agriculture that promis...

In this episode, I sit down with Francisco Martin-Rayo, the co-founder and CEO of Helios—an innovative AI platform that’s changing the game in agriculture and commodities. Together, we examine the current state of commodity markets, discuss how climate change is reshaping supplies and prices, identify which crops are feeling the greatest impact, and explore actionable strategies for adapting where...

In this episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators , I sit down with Ali Cox, a fifth-generation farmer and the visionary founder of Noble West, a leading food marketing agency. Together, we dive into the evolving farming landscape, tackling the rising operational costs and exploring groundbreaking agricultural practices like upcycling and regenerative farming. Ali shares her insights on the challeng...

In this episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators , I sit down with Wink Jones, co-founder and CEO of Meal Ticket, to discuss the evolving challenges and opportunities in the foodservice supply chain. We dive into Wink's journey from being a professional kayaker to leading an innovative SaaS company that’s transforming how data is used across the industry. Together, we unpack the complexities of out...