Popular Produce

The produce department remains the most trafficked area in the grocery store. But what are consumers filling their carts with? 

According to the Chicago-based Nielsen Perishables Group, for the 52 weeks ended Jan. 28, people go bananas for, well… bananas. The yellow-skinned fruit was the top selling item by unit in the produce department at 4,641 units per store per week, though that was down nearly 2 percent compared to last year. Potatoes were the second best seller by unit, 3,578 per store per week, also about 2 percent less than last year. 

Items that consumers flocked to in greater numbers than last year include melons (up 10.6 percent), beans, (up 25 percent) and dips (up 9.6 percent).  

On the dollar side, the top five remain berries, packaged salads, apples, citrus and grapes. However tomato sales leapfrogged bananas for sixth. Potatoes, value-added fruit and value-added vegetables rounded out the top 10.