Total U.S. produce promotional ads fell to 265,062 this week — down 11% from 296,464 last week and 13% below the same week last year. The ad mix is firmly in fall territory, with 18 apple varieties on special, joined by pears, persimmons, pomegranates, winter squashes, and sweet potatoes. Pumpkins were the most-advertised vegetable item. Grapes, avocados, and strawberries continued to hold space as year-round staples.
On pricing, the notable moves include yellow onions in 3-lb bags up 43%, packaged salad (5-9 oz.) up 33%, sweet potatoes up 21%, and on-the-vine tomatoes up 10% — all reflecting the supply pressure visible in this week's broader market data. Avocados bucked the trend, with per-unit advertised prices down 20%, suggesting retailers are using avocado promotions to drive traffic amid otherwise elevated costs across the produce department.
The sharp drop in total ad count combined with rising prices across multiple categories paints a consistent picture: retailers are promoting less and paying more. Watch whether ad volumes recover as fall transitions settle or if the promotional pullback deepens heading into the holiday stretch.