Fresh produce sales on the US market made strong gains in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the year-earlier period, driven primarily by strong performance in the fruit category, according to the latest edition of FreshFacts on Retail, the quarterly retail research report from the United Fresh Foundation.
Increases in average retail price did not negatively affect volume sales for fruits or other produce and led to a boost in sales value, the report said.
Organic and value-added fruits and vegetables also continued to grow with strong showings in sales value and volume.
Total fresh produce sales value and volume increased during the quarter, even though vegetables saw sales value declines paired with steady volumes.
The average retail price for fruits increased 6.1 per cent, with little effect on overall volume sales, which helped boost sales value.
Fruit sales value and volume posted 9.2 per cent and 3 per cent increases, respectively.
The FreshFacts on Retail report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group, measures retail price and sales trends for the top ten fruit and vegetable commodities, as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories.
Highlights of the report include:
· Eight of the top ten fruits posted volume increases that exceeded the same period last year.
· Six of the top ten fruit categories increased sales value by double digits over the same period last year. Berries, avocados and melons increased sales value and volume by double digits.
· Packaged salad and squash/pumpkins were the only top ten vegetable categories to post an increase in sales value against the same period last year.
· Value-added fruits increased dollar and volume sales by 12.9 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively. Fresh-cut fruit accounted for more than two-thirds of value-added fruit sales value share.
· Value-added vegetables increased sales value by 6.2 per cent and volume increased 7.9 per cent, with side dishes accounting for more than 50 per cent of value-added vegetable sales.
· Organic fruits increased sales value by 23.2 per cent and organic vegetables increased dollar sales 11.9 per cent.
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