Locally and regionally grown produce is the highlight of summer around the country, and the season is off to a strong start. Arizona corn, Arkansas cucumbers, California apricots, Florida green beans, Georgia bell peppers, Michigan asparagus, New Jersey beets, and North Carolina kale were a few of the fresh offerings found in grocery stores this week.
Retailers offered specials on just about every kind of fruit, particularly new crop stone fruit, melons, and mangoes. Corn, asparagus, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet onions were well featured. Father's Day promotions have begun, with ads for gift and bakery items found in seasonal sections.
Total ad numbers this week were 269,480, a 5% increase from last week's total of 257,846. The total for the same week last year was 13% higher at 308,672. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 145,425 (54%), onions and potatoes 20,251 (8%), vegetables 98,046 (36%), herbs 890, ornamentals 411, and hemp 5,347. The number of ads for organic produce was 47,080, accounting for 17% 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 only red cherries at 22%. Significant decreases included red seedless grapes at 22%. There were no significant changes for potatoes and onions this week.
There were no significant increases in price for vegetables this week. Significant decreases included baby carrots (1 lb.) at 25%, corn (each at 12%, 4-5 ears film-wrapped trays at 10%), and on-the-vine tomatoes at 10%.
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