Ad numbers were down this week as retailers took a break after the Lent and Easter promotions. Ads for fruit were the most numerous, with tangerines, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, and cantaloupes representing the top categories. Russet potatoes, asparagus, corn, bell peppers, and zucchini were among the top vegetable commodities featured this week.
Total ad numbers this week were 277,695, a 7% decrease from last week's total of 299,114. The total for the same week last year was 7% higher at 299,069. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 154,601 (56% of all ads), onions and potatoes 18,901 (7%), vegetables 99,224 (36%), herbs 1,051. The number of ads for organic produce was 42,228, 15% 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 price for fruit this week included seedless grapes (red at 48%, white at 42%, black at 25%) and Navel oranges (per lb. at 17% and each at 12%). Significant decreases included Honeycrisp apples (per lb.) at 40%, organic tangerines (2 lb. bags) at 21%, and conventional tangerines (3 lb. bags) at 10%. There were no significant changes for potatoes and onions this week. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included asparagus at 35% and corn at 15%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov