Grilling was a popular theme for advertisements this week, with Labor Day weekend approaching. Many retailers highlighted traditional cookout favorites such as corn, bell peppers, asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, sweet onions, eggplant, and tomatoes. Some stores also promoted creative grilling ideas for other produce items, including potatoes, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, pineapples, peaches, nectarines, and romaine lettuce.
Fresh summer fruit continued to be featured prominently, with grapes, melons, and berries leading promotions. Tangerines, baby carrots, and grape tomatoes were positioned as options for school lunch packing. Seasonal and floral sections showcased back-to-school items and fall decorations.
Total ad numbers this week reached 285,496, a 12% decrease from last week's total of 325,888. For comparison, the same week last year recorded 281,165 ads, about 2% lower than this year's level. By commodity group, fruit accounted for 162,477 ads (57% of the total), onions and potatoes 19,578 (7%), vegetables 96,296 (34%), herbs 1,314, ornamentals 3,200, and hemp 3,945. Ads for organic produce totaled 33,802, or 12% of all ads.
The following are the prices of major advertised items (3,000+ ads) this week compared with the same week last year. Notable increases in fruit prices included seedless grapes (red up 32%, white up 23%, organic white up 12%) and yellow nectarines up 20%. Notable decreases included blackberries (5.6–6 oz.) down 20% and Honeycrisp apples down 15%.
There were no significant price changes reported for potatoes and onions. Similarly, no significant increases or decreases were noted for vegetables this week.
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