Cherries Sweeten Produce Dept. Sales in Q3

Cherries posted the highest growth in the fruit category, with dollar sales increasing 16.9 percent and volume increasing 36.7 percent, according to United Fresh Produce Association Q3 2014 edition of the FreshFacts on Retail report, which examines overall retail trends in produce. During the quarter, overall findings show fruit and vegetable volume remaining steady compared to the previous year, while dollar sales increased slightly due to a small increase in average retail price.

Produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, FreshFacts on Retail 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 Q3 2014 report also features a more detailed look at the berries, citrus and packaged salad categories, as well as produce in the deli.

Highlights of Q3 FreshFacts on Retail

In addition to cherries posting the highest growth in the fruit category, the report's other key findings revealed:

• Packaged salad posted the highest growth in the vegetable category, with a 9.1 percent increase in dollar sales and volume increasing 6.8 percent.
• Value-added fruits posted average weekly dollar and volume sales growth of 10.5 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.
• Average weekly dollar and volume sales for snacking vegetables both increased by double digits compared to Q3 2013.
• Shoppers continued to seek out organic produce, resulting in significant dollar and volume sales increases for organic fruits and vegetables.

The Q3 quarterly FreshFacts report also features a spotlight on consumer demand of value-added convenience produce items. Multiple convenience items experienced double-digit growth, including fresh-cut fruits, mixed melons, snacking vegetables and value-added vegetable side dishes.

The complete FreshFacts on Retail report can be downloaded free of charge for all United Fresh members ($50 for non-members) by clicking here. For more information, contact Miriam Wolk, United Fresh VP, member services, at 202-303-3410 or [email protected]. For questions about specific data contained in the report, please contact Cara Ammon at Nielsen Perishables Group at 773-769-3550.