PRODUCE MERCHANDISERS GET RESOURCEFUL

With traditional spring favorites in short supply, retailers are juggling their merchandising promotions, pushing secondary crops into the promotional spotlight to take up the slack. Here's some spots survey of retail ads issued between the end of March and mid-April.

age

Super G, potatoes free with coupon and $25 purchase

Philadelphia

Safeway, oranges 3 lbs./$1

Western mangoes 99 cents each

Washington cantaloupe 3 pounds/$1 strawberries 2 pounds/$5

A&P, white seedless 99 cents/pound

Atlanta Div. grapes

QFC, Seattle bananas 3 pounds/$1

asparagus $1.29/pound

red & green 59 cents each

leaf lettuce

Minyard Food mangoes 99 cents each

Stores, bananas 3 pounds/$1

Coppell, asparagus $1.99/pound

Texas Russet potatoes 10-pound bag/$1.29

cantaloupe 99 cents each

Cub Foods, strawberries 16-ounce pack/99 cents

Denver grapefruit, navel 8-pound bag/$2.99

or juice oranges