The extreme January cold gripping the United States is not only driving people to action, but also supermarket shopping carts. The USDA-AMS National Retail Report – Specialty Crops, which tracks advertising and pricing by retail chains in the United States, reveals this trend.

In the Friday, January 23, 2026 edition, the report describes a week dominated by “hearty meal ingredients,” with vegetables playing a prominent role and imported cherries clearly leading the way in advertising, followed by blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.

The volume of commercial activity also increased. The report tallies a total of 291,957 advertisements, 5% more than the previous week and 9% higher than the same week of the previous year. By product group, fruits led the way with 155,994 advertisements (53%) and vegetables with 106,199 (36%), while potatoes and onions accounted for 23,470 (8%). Organic products also saw 41,591 advertisements, representing 14% of the total.

Regarding prices, the report highlights year-over-year variations in the most advertised products. Among fruits, the AMS notes significant increases in 1-pint blueberries (clam-shell tubs, approximately 300–350 grams) and round mangoes, as well as 6-oz raspberries, while red cherries and pineapples saw price decreases.

In weighted average prices this week, for example, 1-pint blueberries were priced around US$3.59, red cherries near US$4.39 per pound, and 6-ounce blueberries around US$2.87—figures that help illustrate the promotional intensity and the competitive landscape on store shelves.

The report highlights the preferred mix: with imported cherries leading the advertising, the off-season window continues to drive presence and benchmark prices during a key period. The second trend is among berries: blueberries maintain high visibility in advertising, and at the same time, the report indicates year-over-year upward pressure on the most popular format (pint).

Source: Fruits from Chile.