Sales Review: Cherries 2018-01-01 (3)

Cherries made up 1.3 percent of total produce dollar sales during the 52 weeks ended Feb. 25, accounting for 2.8 percent of total fruit sales. During this time, cherries averaged sales of $695 per store per week, an increase of 9.1 percent compared to the previous year. Dollar sales received a boost from higher average retail pricing, which increased 4.4 percent from the previous year to $3.27. Average volume sales per store per week also increased 4.5 percent during the tracked period. 

Cherry sales are highly seasonal, peaking during the summer months, with another small sales bump in December and January. The highest-selling weeks for cherries were the weeks before and of the Fourth of July holiday. The week ended July 2, cherries posted sales of $3,684 per store and $3,589 per store the week ended July 9. 

Regionally, cherries had the highest contribution to produce sales in the Central and East regions (1.5 percent). Cherries had the lowest contribution to produce sales in the South region at 1.2 percent. The East region posted the highest average cherry sales at $994 per store per week, up 14 percent compared to the previous year. The South region posted the lowest average cherry sales at $544 per store per week, up 7.7 percent compared to the previous year.