narratives: 100

This data as json

rowid	report_date	title	narrative
100	2024-06-07	Weekly Grocery Store Specialty Crops Feature Activity	Fresh and Local Locally and regionally grown produce is the highlight of summer around the country and the season is off to a strong start. Alaska potatoes, Michigan asparagus, California apricots, Georgia corn, Texas watermelon, South Carolina peaches, North Carolina collards, New Jersey Romaine lettuce, and Arkansas squash were a few of the fresh offerings found in grocery stores this week. Retailers offered specials on just about every kind of fruit, particularly new crop stone fruit and melons. Corn, asparagus, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet onions were well-featured. Father's Day promotions have begun, with ads for gift and bakery items found in seasonal sections. Total ad numbers this week were 308,672, a 7% increase from last week's total of 289,738. The total for the same week last year was 7% lower at 287,305. The total number of ads broken out by commodity groups: fruit 176,221 (57% of all ads), onions and potatoes 19,113 (6%), vegetables 106,662 (35%), herbs 1,055, ornamentals 1,600, and hemp 5,076. The number of ads for organic produce was 44,457, 14% 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. Significant increases in price for fruit this week included black seedless grapes at 28% and blackberries (5.6 oz.-6 oz.) at 15%. Significant decreases included yellow peaches at 30%, Honeycrisp apples (per lb.) at 14%, organic strawberries (1 lb.) at 13%, red cherries at 11%, and apple juice (64 oz.) at 10%. There were no significant changes in price for potatoes and onions this week. Significant increases in price for vegetables this week included cucumbers (ea.) at 24% and asparagus at 13%. Significant decreases included long seedless cucumbers (ea.) at 12%.