Year-to-date (YTD) produce growth trends remain positive
With Memorial Day just around the corner, now is the perfect time to stock up on seasonal favorites and ensure your produce displays are ready to meet the holiday demand.
- Produce dollars are growing 3.0%, while volume sales are trending up 2.7% vs prior year
- Fruit dollar sales continue impressive growth at 5.6%, while vegetables are weaker at 0.5%
- YTD produce performance continues to trail total edible growth to start the year
Regional performance YTD (8 weeks)1
The Mid-South continues its strong start with the Plains and Great Lakes close behind.
Top 10 fruits & vegetables YTD1
($ Sales)
Commodity spotlight: Packaged veggies
In recent years, prepackaged vegetables have seen a significant surge in popularity. These convenient options have experienced notable growth in both dollar and pound sales.
- Sales growth: Over the past few years, prepackaged vegetables have grown by 6.1% in dollar sales, while bulk offerings have declined by 0.7%. Similarly, pound sales for prepackaged vegetables have increased by 3.4%, contrasting with a 1.9% decrease in bulk offerings.2
- Market share: In 2024, prepackaged vegetables accounted for 57% of the category, up from 48% in 2019, reflecting a shift towards convenience.2
As consumers continue to prioritize convenience, the prepackaged vegetable market is poised for further growth. Keep an eye on this trend as it reshapes the way we shop for and consume vegetables.
Price elasticity—consumer reaction to price changes
Price elasticity of demand measures how sensitive consumers are to price changes. In the fresh produce market, this is crucial for several reasons:
Consumer behavior:
Helps retailers predict how shoppers will react to price changes, aiding in better pricing decisions.
Revenue maximization:
Knowing which products are elastic or inelastic helps in setting prices to maximize revenue.
Strategic planning:
Producers can plan production and marketing strategies based on elasticity data.
Fresh flowers for mom, delivered by C.H. Robinson
Our end-to-end floral solutions allow us to move 8.5 million boxes of flowers annually.
Each year, C.H. Robinson meets the surge in Mother’s Day flower demand by importing the freshest blooms from Ecuador and Colombia. Our distribution center at the Miami International Airport ensures swift handling, and our quick processing time gets fresher flowers to stores, minimizing transit times and maximizing freshness.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Fresh produce sales see a significant boost during Cinco de Mayo. Key items like avocados, cilantro, onions, and limes are in high demand as they are essential ingredients for popular festive recipes.
Try our delicious Cilantro Lime Rice recipe for your Cinco de Mayo celebration!
Memorial Day
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and is a significant event for the fresh produce industry.
Memorial Day weekend is synonymous with outdoor gatherings, barbecues, and family meals, all of which heavily feature fresh produce. This holiday provides an excellent opportunity for produce managers to showcase the best of what the season has to offer, driving sales and encouraging customers to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diets.
Best Practices
- Grill-ready veggies: Arrange a display with grilling essentials like corn, onions, and tomatoes. Use a small charcoal grill as a prop and place the produce around it. Include grilling tools and recipe cards for grilled vegetable dishes.
- Fruit fiesta: Set up a colorful fruit display featuring watermelon, berries, and other seasonal fruits. Use baskets and crates to give a rustic, farmer’s market feel. Add a chalkboard sign with fun facts about the fruits and their health benefits.
- Burger bar: Place tomatoes, onions, and lettuce near the meat section. Include burger buns, cheese, and condiments to create a one-stop shop for customers planning a barbecue.
- Salad station: Position a variety of salad greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions near the salad dressings and croutons. Offer recipe cards for different salad ideas, including potato salad and tomato cucumber salad.
- Smoothie central: Display berries, bananas, and spinach near the yogurt and juice section. Provide recipe cards for refreshing smoothie ideas, perfect for a hot Memorial Day weekend.
- Circana Integrated Fresh: Total US, MULO, Calendar Year 2025 Ending 02/23/2025
- Circana POS data 2019-2024
- Numerator 2025 Holiday Preview 1/21/2025 (n=5149) | What do you expect to do for [holiday] this year?
- Circana Syndicated Fresh Panel: Total US MULO, Two weeks to include pre-holiday Memorial Day 2024
*NBD Adjustment