Vegetables volume sales increased 5% during the first quarter of 2010

Q1 Report shows signs of positive sales trends

Over the first quarter of 2010, dollar and volume performance for produce were mostly positive, according to FreshFacts on Retail, the quarterly research report of the United Fresh Foundation. Sales data shows that while produce prices remained relatively flat, shoppers increased their produce purchases compared to a year ago resulting in over three percent growth in sales and volume.

The report highlights that during the first quarter of the year vegetables volume sales increased 5% while fruit increased 1.5%, compared to the same period of 2009.

Moreover, both value-added fruit and vegetables experienced increases in dollar and volume sales.

Trays, representing more than 20% of the total value-added vegetable sales, saw the strongest performance gains among the subcategories with a 12.1% increase in weekly dollar sales and 12.5% in weekly volume

In addition, this edition features a Quarterly Spotlight on how produce assortment is changing. The report examines produce assortment through two measures, including impressions, which evaluate how the presence of different categories changed, and an assessment of bulk and packaged sales to see how the use of packaging is changing in the produce department.

United Fresh Produce Association - June 2010