Ground beef prices in the U.S. reached a record high of $6.12 per pound as of June 2025, affecting popular foods like chopped cheese. East Harlem's Blue Sky Deli, a key player in chopped cheese production, utilizes about 360 pounds of hamburger meat daily, leading to significant costs. The cattle cycle influences beef prices, and the current low cattle inventory, the lowest since 1951, may further drive prices up despite previous forecasts of stability.
The price of New York City's beloved chopped cheese could rise due to a record high average price of ground beef, which reached $6.12 per pound as of June 2025.
East Harlem's Blue Sky Deli estimates using about 360 pounds of hamburger meat daily for their chopped cheese, costing $2,203.20 a day at current beef prices.
David Sumner, an agricultural economist, explained that the cattle cycle, which runs every eight to twelve years, affects beef prices by influencing the number of cows.
The U.S. cattle inventory is at its lowest since 1951, contributing to the rise in beef prices despite predictions that they wouldn't increase further.
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