From miniature to pie varieties to jumbo sized jack o' lanterns, pumpkins of all sizes decorated stores and ad flyers last week. Many varieties of apples were reported this week, perfect for baking, bobbing, or covering with caramel. Other fruits such as grapes, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, and cranberries provided an autumn flavor to ads. Not to be outdone, vegetables like acorn and butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes round out the harvest season offerings. Potted and fresh cut marigolds were on hand for Dia de Los Muertos ofrendas.
Total ad numbers this week were 289,103, a 7% increase from last week's total of 279,845. The total for the same week last year was 1% higher at 302,453. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 147,034 (49% of all ads), onions and potatoes 24,652 (8%), vegetables 121,418 (41%), herbs 2,804, ornamentals 1,230, and hemp 3,769. The number of ads for organic produce was 40,835, 14% 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 avocados at 21%, pineapples at 17%, Gala apples (per lb. at 16%, 3 lb. bag at 15%), and Bartlett pears (per lb.) at 15%. Significant decreases included red seedless grapes at 18%, strawberries (1 lb.) at 13%, and Honeycrisp apples (per lb.) at 13%. Significant changes in price for potatoes and onions this week included only a 29% decrease for Russet potatoes (5 lb. bag). Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included only on-the-vine tomatoes at 29%. Significant decreases included only white mushrooms (8 oz.) at 11%.
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Source: USDA