Summertime favorites were abundantly featured this week. Rainier cherries and apricots made big showings this week, joining up with the Georgia, South Carolina, and California peaches and nectarines hitting the market. Red cherries from California continued to be well advertised. Florida watermelons, blueberries, and blackberries were showcased in flyers from stores in the Southeast. Texas watermelons were touted in the Central states. Zucchini, yellow squash, corn, asparagus, cucumbers, and tomatoes were among the most popular vegetables this week.
Total ad numbers this week were 289,738, a 6% increase from last week's total of 272,514. The total for the same week last year was 8% lower at 268,868. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 160,610 (55% of all ads), onions and potatoes 19,815 (7%), vegetables 103,231 (36%). The number of ads for organic produce was 34,561, 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 yellow nectarines at 19% and strawberries (2 lb.) at 12%. Significant decreases included Honeycrisp apples (per lb.) at 26%, cantaloupes (ea.) at 16%, yellow peaches at 15%, Navel oranges (4 lb.) at 14%, and blackberries at 12%. There were no significant changes in price for potatoes and onions this week. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included Roma tomatoes at 38% and long seedless cucumbers at 33%.
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Source: mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov