Retailers were geared up for warmer weather and springtime celebrations this week. Sweet potatoes, broccoli crowns, yellow squash, grapes, and pineapples were advertised alongside hams or grilling meats for Easter get-togethers. With Passover beginning in just a week, sales on favorites like grape and apple juices, beets, honey, and apples were highlighted in many flyers. Some retailers touted tropical fruit coming into season by showcasing mangos, papayas, and guavas. Almost every flyer showcased Easter lilies, potted tulips, or hyacinths.
Total ad numbers this week were 282,043, a 5% decrease from last week's 295,908. The total for the same week last year was 4% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 133,909 (47% of all ads), onions and potatoes 18,617 (7%), vegetables 118,344 (42%), herbs 1,402, ornamentals 8,012 (3%), and hemp 1,759. The number of ads for organic produce was 40,901, 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 seedless grapes (black at 46%, red at 12%), raspberries at 28%, strawberries at 14%, and apple juice at 11%. Significant decreases included only white seedless grapes at 26%. Significant increases in price for onions and potatoes this week included Russet potatoes (5 lb bag) at 31% and yellow onions (3 lb bag) at 29%.
There were no significant decreases. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included yellow squash at 32%, zucchini at 30%, broccoli crowns at 15%, and asparagus at 14%. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov