Retailers focused on graduation and Father's Day celebrations this week by offering a wide array of festive produce favorites. Conventional and organic fruit was promoted heavily, especially peaches, nectarines, cherries, cantaloupes, and watermelons. Several store chains offered summertime convenience items like trays of burger fixings containing onions, lettuce, and tomatoes and ready-made kabobs featuring zucchini, pineapple, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers.
Other grill-friendly items such as sweet onions, corn, asparagus, and Portobella mushrooms were also popular. Floral and seasonal departments carried gifts and themed floral arrangements geared to make graduation and Father's Day extra memorable this year.
Total ad numbers this week were 308,356, about steady from last week's total of 308,672. The total for the same week last year was 6% lower at 289,655. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 176,904 (57% of all ads), onions and potatoes 21,657 (7%), vegetables 102,900 (33%), and herbs 222.
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 white nectarines at 31%, white peaches at 29%, and organic red seedless grapes at 11%. Significant decreases included red cherries at 16%, blackberries (5.6-6 oz.) at 14%, strawberries (1 lb.) at 12%, and conventional red seedless grapes at 11%. Significant increases in price for potatoes and onions this week included Russet potatoes (5 lb. bag) at 16%. There were no significant decreases. There were no significant increases in price for vegetables this week. Significant decreases included only packaged salad (5-9 oz.) at 10%.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov