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Food Science

Resources for Food Science

What is a Commodity?

Commodities are the raw materials used by various industries and are usually traded on specialized commodities markets or exchanges, like stock markets. Some of the major commodities are:

  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Cocoa
  • Soya
  • Corn
  • Barley

These are usually referred to as soft commodities, while metals, petroleum, and other natural resources are often referred to as hard commodities. There are thousands of agriculture and food-related commodities.

Many resources offer current prices that the commodity is being traded at, while others provide historical data, flucuations, background, and other information about the commodity.

Commodities in Business Research Databases

You can find current and historical information about commodities in some of the same business research databases you find journal articles or statistics in.  Try searching some of these databases for more information about your commodity. 

Current Commodities Prices

Search or browse any of these resources to find current commodity prices around the world.  Use HS Code or Keywords.

Canadian & U.S. Government Information on Commodities

These resources are provided by the Canadian and Unites States governments.  They are reports, fact sheets, and profiles on various commodities and products in the Agri-Food industry.  HS Codes are not needed to search or view these resources.

Information on Commodities from International Governments