Retail

Retail US Market Watch

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Snow Storm Leads to Substantial Gains for Fresh Produce Sales

Joe Watson VP of Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale International Fresh Produce Association headshot "Produce associates across the country and throughout the distribution chain pulled together to meet an 18% spike in demand as consumers prepared to hunker down during the Arctic blast that swept much of the nation.

They then had to gear up all over again just weeks later for Game Day and Valentine’s Day demand. Hats off to this incredible industry for consistently making the impossible happen."

- Joe Watson, IFPA’s VP of Retail, Foodservice and Wholesale

January 2026

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Arctic Blast Rusuts in a 21% Sales Increase

Produce associates across the country and throughout the distribution chain pulled together to meet an 18% spike in demand as consumers prepared to hunker down during the Arctic blast that swept much of the nation. They then had to gear up all over again just weeks later for Game Day and Valentine’s Day demand. Hats off to this incredible industry for consistently making the impossible happen.”

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Despite overall softness, premium product sales continued to grow. In part, this is driven by consumers prioritizing quality and meaning. Additionally, high-earners have had an outsized influence on food and overall spending. Nearly half (49%) of total consumer spending is driven by the top 10 percentile in household income, up from one-third in the 1990s.
January’s sales patterns were impacted by an arctic blast with snow, ice and extreme cold across much of the country. Many consumers stocked up ahead of potential power outages and road/travel disruptions leading to widespread out-of-stocks.