The latest edition of the United Fresh Foundation's FreshFacts on Retail report has revealed that overall fresh produce retail prices were higher in the final quarter of 2011 than the same period of 2010, spurring dollar growth but declining volume sales for some commodities.
However, despite increased prices for value-added and organic produce, nearly all categories within those groups saw positive dollar and volume growth, the report – which is produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce – found.
The strongest growth this quarter was seen in organic produce, which posted double-digit dollar growth and positive volume growth on the fourth quarter of 2010, while the value-added vegetable category saw a 7 per cent increase in dollars and volume.
The report found that average retail prices for total produce rose 4.6 per cent, resulting in a 3.3 per cent increase in weekly dollar sales but a volume decrease of 1.2 per cent, while six of the top 10 fruits and eight of the top 10 vegetables posted dollar sales that exceeded the prior-year period.
Apples and avocados were the only fruit categories to increase dollars, volume and average retail price, while packaged salad, peppers and mushrooms were the only vegetable categories to report the same.
Organic apples were the top organic fruit variety and increased nearly 24 per cent in both dollar sales and volume, and organic packaged salad was the top organic vegetable category, up 13 per cent in dollars and volume.
