Fresh produce sales in the US sales rose in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. The majority of fruit and vegetable categories also maintained or increased volume compared to the year-earlier period, according to FreshFacts on Retail, the quarterly report from the United Fresh Produce Association which tracks retail produce sales and performance.
The report, produced in partnership with Nielsen, revealed that the organics category also showed positive growth in both dollar sales and volume.
The report measures retail price and sales trends for the top 10 fruits and vegetables, as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories. It shows that nine of the top 10 fruits posted increases in dollar sales, buoyed in many cases by higher retail prices. Speciality fruit posted the largest dollar increases with a rise of 13.7 per cent. Nine of the top 10 vegetables also posted a rise in dollar sales, with potatoes leading the charge at 11.2 per cent.
Fresh-cut and value-added fruit were also up in sales value and volume, as did vegetables. And organic fruits and vegetables grew in dollar sales and volume despite increases in average retail price.
