Retailers showed pride in American Veterans this week by offering one day promotions and dedicating ad space to thanking them for their service.
Cranberries, pomegranates, apples, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, Brussels sprouts, hard squash, mushrooms, and celery were highly featured ahead of Thanksgiving. Vegetable and fruit snack trays, baby carrots, red peppers, and avocados were advertised along with other snack items for football parties and tailgating. Serranos, jalapenos, tomatillos, Roma tomatoes, and onions were popular in Southwest and Latin stores for tamale making.
Total ad numbers this week were 259,106, a 5% decrease from last week's total of 273,105. The total for the same week last year was 19% higher than for this year. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 150,465 (58% of all ads), onions and potatoes 23,218 (9%), vegetables 82,630 (32%), herbs 874, ornamentals 1,464, and hemp 455. The number of ads for organic produce was 45,510, 18% 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 mangos at 21%, Gala apples (per lb.) at 13%, apple juice at 12%, and raspberries at 11%. Significant decreases included only Fuji apples (per lb.) at 12%. Significant increases in price for potatoes and onions this week included Russet potatoes (5 lb. bag) at 28% and red onions (per lb.) at 15%. There were no significant decreases. Significant increases in price for vegetables included only asparagus at 11%. There were no significant decreases.