Autumn abundance was reflected in US stores this week as seasonal items became even more prominent. Cranberries, persimmons, and pomegranates adorned the fruit aisles, while cooking greens, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes freshened up the vegetable sections.
Total ad numbers this week were 322,232, a 5% decrease from last week’s 340,529. Total ad numbers for the same week last year were 7% higher than this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 171,615 (53% of all ads), onions and potatoes 27,830 (9%), vegetables 118,185 (37%), herbs 817, ornamentals 3,785, and hemp 1,066. The number of ads for organic produce was 54,913, 17% of total ads.
The number of retailers citing Covid-19 as their reason for withholding ads this week was less than 1%. 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 (red at 15%, organic red at 11%, and black at 10%). Significant decreases included apples (Gala at 14% and Fuji at 11%). Their sole significant changes in price for onions and potatoes this week was a 13% decrease for Russet potatoes.
Significant increases in vegetable prices this week included only on-the-vine tomatoes. There were no significant decreases.
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Source: usda.library.cornell.edu