This week retailers offered the best of summer and fall together. Late season peaches, plums, zucchini, and cantaloupes kept the summer vibe going while new crop apples, tangerines, persimmons, and pears brought a taste of fall. Grapes, avocados, tomatoes, and berries spanned the season nicely. Potatoes, broccoli, onions, and hard squashes were well advertised for heartier meals soon to be on dinner tables.
Rosh Hashana was again noted by grocers who had specials on apple and grape juice, pomegranates, beets, and carrots. Pumpkins and potted chrysanthemums added autumn flair to store aisles.
Total ad numbers this week were 347,207 a 12% decrease from last weeks 393,241. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 186,147 (54% of all ads), onions and potatoes 24,783 (7%), vegetables 131,467 (38%), herbs 846, and ornamentals 3,964. The number of ads for organic produce was 50,318, 14% 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 avocados at 23%, tangerines at 19%, and raspberries at 10%. Significant decreases included white seedless grapes at 13%, yellow peaches at 11%, and pineapples at 10%. Significant increases for onions and potatoes included only Russet potatoes at 15%; there were no significant decreases.
Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included crown cut broccoli at 27%, hard squash (acorn at 20%, spaghetti and butternut at 19%), cucumbers at 17%, white mushrooms at 15%, and red bell peppers at 10%. Significant decreases included only on the vine tomatoes at 15%.
