Year-on-year supermarket freshproduce dollar sales rose nearly six per cent through the third quarter, driven by higher average retail prices, according to the latest Fresh Facts on Retail report from the United Fresh Produce Association.
The increase in dollar sales was fueled by higher average retail prices, according to the quarterly report, which is produced in conjunction with The Perishables Group and is sponsored by Fresh Del Monte.
While overall volume experienced a slight decline due to higher prices, the decrease was only 3 per cent, continuing the trend established in previous quarters which saw consumers willing to pay a premium for their fresh produce preferences.
The report measures retail price and sales trends for the top 10 fruit and vegetable commodities, as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories.
The quarterly report also found that eight of the top 10 fruits and nine of the top 10 vegetables posted sales that exceeded the same period last year, with cherries seeing true growth in sales and volume, both up more than 20 per cent,and mushrooms enjoying growthof more than 6 per cent in volume and dollar sales.
Dollar salesand volume for value-added fruits grew duringthe three-month period, up 8.3 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively, whileand value-added vegetables saw dollar sales rise 6.8 per cent and volume sales up7.1 per cent.
Organic fruits and vegetables, meanwhile,both saw growth in weekly volume, despite increases in retail price, and produce-based deli-salads and sides posted dollar growth.
