Shoppers were lucky this week, finding deals galore for St. Paddy's Day feasts. Green cabbage, onions, carrots, and potatoes were displayed alongside corned beef. Avocados, green bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, asparagus, Granny Smith apples, and white seedless grapes were well advertised and added to the celebration of all things green.
Total ad numbers this week were 289,962, a 5% increase from last week's total of 276,658. The total for the same week last year was 2% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 148,815 (51% of all ads), onions and potatoes 25,569 (9%), vegetables 111,630 (38%), herbs 1,716, ornamentals 1,818, and hemp 414. The number of ads for organic produce was 38,521, 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 strawberries (1 lb.) at 15%, blackberries at 14%, apple juice at 13%, and raspberries at 10%. Significant decreases included avocados at 31%, tangerines (3 lb. bag) at 29%, and seedless grapes (white at 20%, black at 19%). There were no changes in price for onions and potatoes this week. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included only green cabbage at 12%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov