Valentine’s Day promotions treated shoppers to colorful displays of sweet and savory treats and glorious arrays of floral arrangements. Valentine’s favorites like raspberries, cherries, strawberries, asparagus, and grapes were abundant.
Several flyers offered special sections for romantic meals, complete with recipes for fruit desserts and vegetable sides. Roses and tulips were the most advertised floral items, though mixed bouquets and spring bulbs like daffodils and hyacinth were also popular.
Total ad numbers this week were 286,859, a 5% increase from last week’s total of 273,836. The total for the same week last year was 4% lower at 275,748. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 153,073 (53%), onions and potatoes 24,873 (9%), vegetables 94,015 (33%), herbs 997, ornamentals 11,093 (4%), and hemp 3,805. The number of ads for organic produce was 35,676, 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.
There were no significant increases in price for fruit this week. Significant decreases included Pink Lady/Cripps Pink apples at 20%, white seedless grapes at 18%, blueberries (1 pint) at 15%, and yellow peaches at 11%.
Significant changes in price for onions and potatoes this week included only a 10% increase for Russet potatoes (5 lb). Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included only long seedless cucumbers at 26%. Decreases included only on-the-vine tomatoes at 20%. The price of roses (per dozen) decreased by 14%.
