Retailers pulled out all the stops this week in order to satisfy Thanksgiving shoppers' long grocery lists. The aisles were bursting with holiday staples like celery, sweet potatoes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli crowns, cranberries, pineapples, baking apples, pomegranates, onions, red and Russet potatoes, and green onions. New crop citrus and offshore cherries added sparkle to the festivities. Football favorites such as avocados, jalapenos, serranos, and baby carrots were promoted, along with fruit and vegetable snack trays. Fresh chestnuts, whole and shelled baking nuts, and poinsettias signaled the start of the busy holiday season.
Total ad numbers this week were 302,334, a 17% increase from last week's total of 259,106. The total for the same week last year was 7% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 143,913 (48% of all ads), onions and potatoes 27,575 (9%), vegetables 123,382 (41%), herbs 634, ornamentals 6,250 (2%), and hemp 580. The number of ads for organic produce was 38,456, 13% 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 Granny Smith apples (3 lb. bag) at 36%, white seedless grapes at 10%, and pomegranates (ea.) at 10%. There were no significant decreases. Significant increases in price for potatoes and onions this week included bagged Russet potatoes (10 lb. at 42% and 5 lb. at 32%). There were no significant decreases. Significant increases in price for vegetables included green onions at 21% and celery at 15%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov