This week retailers again focused primarily on back to school promotions. Lunch box friendly items such as grape tomatoes, baby carrots, tangerines, apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, and nectarines were very well promoted. Several retailers showcased recipes for quick and easy meals for busy families and offered specials on the ingredients needed to make them. Introductory deals on grocery pickup and delivery services were advertised to help shoppers manage hectic schedules. Most flyers featured a section advertising school supplies.
Total ad numbers this week were 397,972, a 16% decrease from last weeks 472,944. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 233,918 (59% of all ads), onions and potatoes 18,536 (5%), vegetables 141,789 (36%), herbs 1,675, and ornamentals 2,054. The number of ads for organic produce was 59,141, 15% of total ads.
The following are the prices of major advertised items (3,000 plus stores) this week, compared to the same week last year. Significant increases in price for fruit items this week included tangerines at 21%, avocados at 14%, raspberries at 13%, and red cherries at 10%. Significant decreases included strawberries (2 lb at 24% and 1 lb organic at 10%), seedless grapes (white at 17%, black at 11%, red at 10%), and yellow peaches at 11%. The sole significant change for potatoes and onions this week was a 19% increase in price for Russet potatoes. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included Roma tomatoes at 19% and corn at 11%. Significant decreases included baby carrots at 24% and zucchini at 12%.
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