Retailers were well-prepared this week for hungry basketball and baseball fans stocking up on snacks. Popular snack tray items such as mushrooms, baby carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, radishes, grapes, cantaloupes, strawberries, grape tomatoes, and celery were heavily advertised.
Seasonal favorites associated with Easter and Passover were also featured, including asparagus, beets, corn, broccoli, cantaloupes, and apples. Lemons and limes were frequently advertised.
Total ad numbers for the week reached 282,595, a 6% decrease from last week's total of 301,638. Compared to the same week last year, ad volume was also down 6% from 299,114.
Of the total ads, 50% were for fruit (142,705), 40% for vegetables (113,168), and 7% for onions and potatoes (20,612). Herbs accounted for 1,050 ads. Ads for organic produce totaled 35,204, making up 12% of all ads.
Significant price increases among fruits this week included strawberries in 1 lb. packages, up 13%, and cantaloupes, up 10%. In contrast, seedless grapes saw notable price drops: red down 35%, white down 32%, and black down 19%. Cara Cara Navel oranges in 3 lb. bags were also down 29% compared to the same week last year.
There were no significant price changes for onions and potatoes this week.
Among vegetables, cucumbers saw a 23% price increase, and asparagus rose by 22%. Meanwhile, on-the-vine tomatoes dropped by 23%, baby peeled carrots in 1 lb. bags fell by 19%, Roma tomatoes declined 15%, broccoli crowns were down 10%, and packaged salad (5–9 oz.) also dropped by 10%.
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