Ads this week were still full of Autumn items, but retailers showed they are ready to roll into the holiday season by offering deals on meal favorites, baking supplies, and gift ideas. Sweet potatoes, cranberries, pomegranates, persimmons, carrots, winter squash, and celery were front and center. Thanksgiving turkeys and decorations shared seasonal ad space with a few Christmas items.
Total ad numbers this week were 280,786, a 7% decrease from last week's total of 301,737. The total for the same week last year was 2% higher at 285,800. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 146,515 (52% of all ads), onions and potatoes 24,474 (9%), vegetables 103,237 (37%), herbs 2,290, ornamentals 4,233, and hemp 2,327. The number of ads for organic produce was 32,940, 12% 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 pineapples at 17%, avocados at 16%, lemons (2 lb. bag) at 13%, and raspberries (6 oz.) at 10%. Significant decreases included lemons (ea.) at 31%, seedless grapes (red at 21%, white at 12%), and cantaloupes (ea.) at 12%. Significant changes in price for potatoes and onions this week included only a 10% increase for yellow onions (3 lb.). There were no significant increases or decreases for vegetables this week.
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