Shoppers had plenty to enjoy in grocery stores this week, whether celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply the arrival of spring. Seasonal vegetables like turnips, asparagus, sweet potatoes, radishes, beets, leeks, parsley, and peas were prominently featured for fresh spring meals. A variety of fruits—including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, kiwi, apples, cantaloupes, lemons, and mangos—were available for fruit salads and festive desserts.
Easter lilies, daffodils, and tulips were especially popular, with ornamentals accounting for a much higher share of advertisements than usual.
Total ad numbers this week reached 304,073—a 7% increase from last week's total of 284,354 and 5% higher than the same week last year (288,391). Ads by commodity group were as follows: fruit 164,098 (54%), vegetables 104,488 (34%), onions and potatoes 25,759 (8%), herbs 760, ornamentals 5,995 (2%), and hemp 3,733. Ads for organic produce totaled 36,732, making up 12% of all ads.
Price changes for major advertised items (3,000+ ads) this week, compared to the same week last year, showed few increases. Among fruits, only strawberries (1 lb.) saw a significant increase at 14%. Decreases were noted for seedless grapes—red (22%), white (17%), and black (11%)—and round mangoes (21%).
There were no significant price changes for onions and potatoes. Among vegetables, no increases were recorded, but sweet potatoes (per lb.) dropped 24%, and asparagus decreased by 17%.
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