We dedicate this Christmas week newsletter to members of the produce supply chain who keep things moving even during the holiday week. Without you, our Christmas feasts wouldn’t be the same. Thank you for making the holidays special for families across the U.S.
ProduceIQ Index: $1.42/pound, + up 0.7 percent over prior week
Week #51, ending December 20th
Blue Book has teamed with ProduceIQ BB #:368175 to bring the ProduceIQ Index to its readers. The index provides a produce industry price benchmark using 40 top commodities to provide data for decision making.
Produce Trends This Christmas Week
High holiday demand pushes produce prices to new heights. With Christmas cheer comes high demand, as the ProduceIQ Index reaches a record high for week #51. After the holiday season, we anticipate a sharp drop in prices, thanks to reduced demand and increased supply—a welcome post-Christmas gift for buyers.
Import stone fruit season starts strong. Santa isn’t the only one bringing treats! The stone fruit import season is off to a merry start. Nectarines and peaches are hitting a ten-year high for prices this week. Meanwhile, cherry prices are surprisingly low—a sweet surprise. As import supplies increase, prices for all stone fruits are expected to fall in the coming weeks.
Blackberry prices are on the rise, up +25 percent over the previous week, as buyers eagerly await shipments from Mexico. These festive berries are at their second-highest price in a decade. Historically, blackberry prices dip in early January, but for now, they’re as prized as mistletoe.
Grapes, the Luxury Fruit of the Season. Grape prices are so high they make cherries look like a stocking stuffer. Domestic supplies are nearly tapped out, and import volumes remain limited—especially for green varieties. Prices are expected to stay elevated through mid-January, so savor those holiday grape platters!
Celery, the Christmas dinner staple, is a little more expensive this year. Low yields in Yuma, AZ, are driving up celery prices, up +19 percent over the previous week. From stuffing to soup, celery is a holiday essential. Prices may stay high for the next two weeks, but relief is on the way with post-holiday demand easing.
Asparagus prices are nearing record highs thanks to strong holiday demand and limited supply from Mexico and Peru. Warmer weather in the new year will hopefully jumpstart production, but for now, this green spear is as premium as a Christmas tree topper!
Thank you again to everyone in the produce industry for your hard work this holiday season. May your Christmas be merry, your tables bountiful, and your New Year prosperous!
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ProduceIQ Index
The ProduceIQ Index is the fresh produce industry’s only shipping point price index. It represents the industry-wide price per pound at the location of packing for domestic produce and at the port of U.S. entry for imported produce.
ProduceIQ uses 40 top commodities to represent the industry. The Index weights each commodity dynamically, by season, as a function of the weekly 5-year rolling average Sales. Sales are calculated using the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service for movement and price data. The Index serves as a fair benchmark for industry price performance.
