Fruits, vegetables show price decline

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TOMATOES — F.O.B.S AS OF MAY 14

CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA DISTRICTS — Shipments (433-454-398) — Movement expected to increase. Trading moderate. Prices 5x6s higher, others lower. Extra services included. 25-pound cartons loose mature-greens 85% U.S. 1 or better 5x6s $8.95-9.95, 6x6s $7.95-8.95, 6x7s $7.95-8.95. Quality generally good.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH NOGALES, ARIZ. — Crossings (152-146-159, greenhouse 124-123-137, vine-ripes 28-23-22) — Movement expected to decrease seasonally. Supplies 4x4 to 4x5s light. Trading 4x4 to 4x5s fairly active, others slow. Prices 4x4 to 4x5s higher, others generally unchanged. Field-grown and greenhouse cartons/flats two-layer 4x4s mostly $9-10, 4x5s mostly $7.95-9, 5x5s mostly $4.99-5, 5x6s $4.64-5. Quality variable.

MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA, CALIF. — Crossings (8-8-11, greenhouse 7-7-9, vine-ripes 1-1-2) — Movement expected to increase seasonally. Supplies in too few hands to establish a market. Quality generally good. The first f.o.b. report was expected to be issued the week of May 21.

WEST FLORIDA DISTRICT — Shipments (0-0-0) — Light harvest expected to start the week of May 28. Expect first f.o.b. by the first week of June.

U.S. SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (54-56-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable

CANADA SHIPPING POINTS — Greenhouse (149*-150-**) — No prices reported. **unavailable, *revised

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Home > News > Fruits, vegetables show price decline

News

Fruits, vegetables show price decline

02/21/2012 8:41:02 AM
Tom Karst

Deflation hit the produce department again in January, but higher fuel prices could pull prices higher in the months ahead.

The retail price index for fruits and vegetables declined by 1.3% in January for its fourth consecutive drop, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Led by a 10% increase in the price of gasoline, the overall consumer price index for energy has increased 6.1% over the past year, according to the release. That could raise growing and transportation costs in the months ahead.

For the three-month period ending in January, consumer prices for fruits and vegetables declined 8%, according to the agency.

The price index for fruits and vegetables declined by 0.1% during the last 12 months, according to the agency. Fruits and vegetables are the only grocery store category to see a decline in prices over the past year. In contrast, the price of dairy products increased 9% in the past year, according to the news release.

Two examples of produce bargains were oranges and tomatoes.

The average retail price for navel oranges in January was 93 cents per pound in January, down from 98 cents in December and well below $1.05 per pound average in January 2011. The average cost of tomatoes was $1.54 in January, up a penny from December but down 5 cents compared with the same time a year ago.

The overall food index rose 0.2% in January, the same increase as in December, according to the release.

The overall food at home index has increased 5.3% in the past year, according to the release.

The consumer price index for food away from home rose 0.4% in January, with the index rising 3.1% in the past year, according to the news release.