The first quarter edition of United’s 2009 Fresh Facts on Retail is now available and free to United Fresh members.

Results from the report show a range of sales, price and volume shifts, with the average retail prices of fruits and vegetables increasing 1.5% compared to Q1 2008. Additional statistics show that three of the top ten fresh fruits - berries, grapes and avocados - increased in volume, and that sales and volume of organic fruit jumped around 10%.

In addition to tracking produce sales and trends, this quarter's Category Spotlight focuses on the impact of the economy on consumer purchases at retail. With a shift toward more conservative spending, consumers are showing signs of trading down and out of certain categories.

The spotlight examines this shift by comparing fresh tomato sales to canned, and bulk lettuce compared to pre-packaged.

Fresh Facts on Retail, produced in partnership with the Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, measures retail price and sales volume trends for the top 10 fruit and vegetable commodities, as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories. The report can be downloaded here free of charge to all United Fresh members ($50 for non-members).