Promotions focused on Lent this week, with lemons and limes advertised alongside fish and seafood. Chayote and poblano peppers were popular, particularly in the Latin-focused stores.
Total ad numbers this week were 282,565, a 7% decrease from last week's 304,534. The total for the same week last year was 15% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 145,502 (51% of all ads), onions and potatoes 27,409 (10%), vegetables 104,861 (37%), herbs 1,422, ornamentals1,798, and hemp 1,573. The number of ads for organic produce was 41,198, or 15% 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 this week included yellow peaches at 32%, avocados at 32%, yellow nectarines at 31%, mangos at 28%, apple juice at 26%, seedless grapes (red at 21%, white at 19%), Navel oranges at 18%, and pineapples at 10%.
Significant decreases included blueberries at 22%, blackberries at 13%, strawberries at 12%, and cantaloupes at 11%. There were no significant changes in price for onions and potatoes. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included cucumbers at 17%, asparagus at 14%, Roma tomatoes at 12%, and broccoli crowns at 11%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov