VIDEO: See the top 10 value-added items in Q3

Value-added fruit has more than double the contribution of dollars to total produce department sales as vegetables, but several value-added vegetable categories showed dramatic growth in the latest FreshFacts on Retail report from the United Fresh Produce Association.

Total sales dollars of value-added fruit, according to Nielsen Total Food View, 13 weeks ending 9/29/18, equaled $673 million, up 2.7% from the previous year. Value-added vegetables dollars were up 7.6% from the previous year, to a total of $331 million in the third quarter.

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Watermelons were the top selling value-added produce category, at $191 million dollars an 91 million pounds, with dollar and volume growth boosted by a -1.5% change in average retail price.

Celery also grew 10.2% in dollars and 12.1% in volume on a -1.6% change in price compared to the previous year.

Categories with higher price increases showed declines in volume, including -4.1% for Mixed Fruit, -11.1% for pineapples and 10.6% for Fruit Salad.

United Fresh members can download a complimentary copy of the report. The non-member price is $50.