Retailers continued the fall theme this week, with cranberries and persimmons making their seasonal debut, joining pomegranates, pumpkins, grapes, hard squash, and fall mums to create an autumnal array of color. A few specials on peaches, cantaloupes, and watermelons remained as late-season crops wind down. Baking apples like Jonathon and McIntosh increased in popularity. Seasonal supplies are featured in most flyers.
Total ad numbers this week were 308,054, a 5% increase from last week's total of 292,593. The total for the same week last year was 3% lower at 298,735.
The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 149,748 (49%), onions and potatoes 21,800 (7%), vegetables 127,279 (41%), herbs 2,122, ornamentals 1,410, hemp 5,926, and honey 1,891. The number of ads for organic produce was 55,562, representing 18% of total ads.
The following are the prices of major advertised items (3,000 plus ads) this week compared to the same week last year. Significant increases in fruit prices this week included tangerines (3 lb.) at 16% and Honeycrisp apples (per lb.) at 15%. Significant decreases included pears by the pound (Bosc at 23%, Bartlett at 13%), and raspberries (6 oz.) at 14%.
There were no significant changes in price for potatoes and onions this week. Among vegetables, no notable increases were reported, while decreases included asparagus at 16% and red, yellow, and orange bell peppers (each) at 10%.
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