USDA National Retail Report - March 20

From the USDA National Retail Report of March 20:


Unlike last week’s unanimous focus on St. Patrick’s Day theme, ads this week lacked centralized theme. Ads breaking early in the week lingered on the St. Patrick’s Day theme. Mid and late week ads promoted snacks and beverages for March Madness; Lenten seafood specials; the official beginning of Spring; and items for the upcoming Easter and Passover holidays. Overall this week, total produce ad activity was down over 5%. The top features were concentrated on fruits with the exception of asparagus which accounted for 15% of all vegetable ad activity and more than 6% of overall produce activity. Following the boost from St. Patrick’s Day, cabbage features declined sharply and grapes were once again the most
widely featured produce item followed closely by strawberries.