Release No. 0147.97


                                     Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                           jim.petterson@usda.gov
                                     Bill Pratt (202)  720-7017
                                       bill.pratt@nass.usda.gov


USDA TO PUBLISH A WEEKLY CHEDDAR CHEESE PRICES REPORT

     WASHINGTON, May 2, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National
Agricultural Statistics Service will begin publishing a weekly Cheddar
Cheese Prices report beginning Friday May 9, 1997, at 8:30 a.m.  Weighted
average prices received and volumes of sales by manufacturers will be
published for 40 lb. blocks, 640 lb. blocks, and 500 lb. barrels of cheddar
cheese. 
     
     NASS will also publish regional data where possible.  The May 9 report
will contain data for the weeks ending March 7 through May 2.  Subsequent
weekly reports will include the most recent five weeks of data in each
report.

     NASS's Cheddar Cheese Prices report is based on a survey of cheddar
cheese manufacturers in the United States that sell cheese on a bulk,
wholesale basis.  NASS began the survey the first week in March at the
request of the secretary of agriculture.  The purpose of the report is to
provide a statistically defensible cheddar cheese price series to satisfy
industry and USDA needs.  
                                
                                
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