Demand for fruit up in US as prices rise

Prices and demand of fresh fruit are up across the board in the US compared to a year ago, according to a report by IRI, 210 Analytics and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). Prices for total fresh produce are about 6% higher than last year, with fruit prices up by over 8% YoY, as of November 28. 

Meanwhile, demand for all top-10 fresh fruit items gained versus a year ago, with berries seeing by far the biggest increase (9% YoY). Grapes, melons and mixed fruit all posted double-digit gains in November. Grapes had mostly a flat year in 2020 but sales have been accelerating since the third quarter of 2021.