National Retail Report - Aug. 22

From the USDA's National Retail Report from Aug. 22

NOTE: Due to the National Market News conference, this report is abbreviated. This report includes ads available through today. Fourteen websites accounting for approximately 1900 individual stores were not included in the data for the report this week.

In general this week, most ads continued to focus on back-to-school ads. Among the most widely featured were cereals and other breakfast items, items easily packed in lunches, and snack foods. In addition, many retailers were beginning to promote Labor Day celebrations with typical barbeque and picnic items.

The top 5 featured fresh produce items this week were grapes, plums, peaches, nectarines, and cantaloupes.

Fruits as Percentage of Total Fruit Ads August 21, 2008
Bananas 0%
Avocadoes,hass 3%
Apples, red delicious 0%
Bananas, organic 0%
Watermelon, seedless 2%
Watermelon, mini 2%
Cantaloupe 9%
Honeydew 3%
Grapefruit, red 0%
Grapes, green/red 17%
Clementines 0%
Cherries 2%
Strawberries, organic 2%
Strawberries 5%
Plums 15%
Pineapple 1%
Limes 1%
Lemons 0%
Oranges, navel 2%
Peaches 13%
Pears, bartlett 7%
Mangoes 4%
Nectarines 11%

Vegetables as Percentage of Total Vegetable Ads - August 21, 2008
Broccoli 3%
Beans, round green 7%
Tomatoes on the vine 10%
Tomatoes 6%
Cabbage 3%
Carrots, baby organic 2%
Carrots, baby 8%
Asparagus 1%
Tomatoes, grape organic 1%
Tomatoes, grape 3%
Celery 4%
Corn 6%
Cucumbers 5%
Lettuce, iceberg 3%

Lettuce, romaine2%
Mushrooms, white 7%
Onions, yellow 2%
Sweet Potatoes 1%
Squash, zucchini 8%
Potatoes, russet 3%
Peppers, bell red 2%
Peppers, bell green 8%
Onions, sweet 5%