Retail report: first quarter produce volumes up

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The latest FreshFacts on Retail report shows consumers increased produce purchases compared to a year ago, despite relatively flat prices.

The quarterly report, released by the United Fresh Foundation, Washington, D.C., and produced by The Perishables Group, West Dundee, Ill., tracks produce purchases in about 13,000 supermarkets nationwide representing more than 60% of all commodity volume supermarket share of supermarkets selling $2 million or more.

The report breaks down retail prices and volumes for the 10 top-selling fruit and vegetables, value-added, organic and other categories.

According to the report, consumers purchased 5% more vegetables in the first quarter of 2010 than they did in the first quarter of 2009, and they bought 1.5% more fruit in the same time period.

Citrus led the fruit category in dollar growth, with an 11.7% increase in weekly dollars per store, which, according to the report, was “due in large part to the 8.4% increase in the average retail price of citrus.”

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