DATE: Wednesday, October 22, 1997           TAG: 9710210045

SECTION: FLAVOR                  PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: MARKET REPORT 

SOURCE: BY KAREN SANTOS, VIRGINIAN-PILOT STAFF 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

WEATHER DICTATES HIGHER PRICES FOR PRODUCE

MOTHER NATURE STRIKES again. That nasty El Nino weather system we keep hearing about is now bringing price increases on lettuce heads, says Randy Brittain of Farm Fresh.

El Nino's warm weather generated early crops in some parts of California. Early in and early out is leaving a gap before the next crop is ready, causing a shortage of head lettuce. In addition, the hurricane in Yuma, Ariz., destroyed some lettuce crops, making the situation even worse.

At the moment, leaf lettuce is your best buy but, eventually the price of that too will increase due to demand.

More bad news, if you enjoy avocados, get them now. The harvest rate is dropping, which will generate higher prices in the near future.

Produce buys this week include green cabbage for 15 cents a pound at Be-Lo, white or red Florida grapefruits for 33 cents each and rutabagas for 29 cents a pound at Hannaford.

Seedless red grapes are 97 cents a pound and pistachio nuts are $2.99 a pound at Farmer Jack.

Harris Teeter has carving pumpkins, two for $5, 12-ounce packages of cranberries for $1.79 and butternut, spaghetti or acorn squash for 59 cents a pound.

Five-pound bags of Yukon Gold potatoes are 95 cents and 5-pound bags of yellow onions are 86 cents at Farm Fresh.

3 Stores 1 Roof has North Carolina sweet potatoes for 19 cents a pound, bananas for 27 cents a pound and tangerines for 10 cents each.

Large Washington red or gold delicious apples are 49 cents a pound at Food Lion.

Meat specials include boneless chuck roast for $1.49 a pound and 5-pound bags of split chicken breast for $1.49 a pound at Be-Lo.

Food Lion has ground beef for 79 cents a pound and whole frying chickens for 69 cents a pound.

Ground chuck is 89 cents a pound and Perdue Oven Stuffer hens are 99 cents a pound at Harris Teeter.

Hannaford has quarter-loin pork chops for $1.89 a pound, 3-to 4-pound bags of boneless chicken breast for $2.49 a pound and Brookfield corned beef brisket is $1.89 a pound.

Boston butt pork roast is 98 cents a pound and Perdue Oven Stuffer roasters are 78 cents a pound at Farm Fresh.

Farmer Jack has porterhouse steak for $3.98 a pound and Grade A turkey breast for 98 cents a pound.

Boneless sirloin tip roast is $1.48 a pound, frozen cornish game hens are 98 cents a pound and Western-style pork ribs are 98 cents a pound at 3 Stores 1 Roof.

Pie lovers can choose from a variety of 8-inch pies. Blueberry is $3.99 at Be-Lo, pumpkin is $1.99 at Farmer Jack, apple is $2.49, coconut custard is $2.99, and sweet potato is $3.59 at 3 Stores 1 Roof.

Check out these specials. Harris Teeter has 12-roll packages of Charmin bath tissue, two for $5. 3 Stores 1 Roof has 39- to 44-ounce Ultra Tide Powder detergent for $2.48 and 128-ounces of Richfood bleach for 68 cents.

Food Lion has 16-ounce boxes of Zesta Saltine crackers for 99 cents.

Eight-ounce cartons of Dannon yogurt are 56 cents at Hannaford.

Be-Lo has five-pound bags of Somerdale french fries for 99 cents and assorted Hamburger Helper is 99 cents a box.

Two half-gallons of High's ice cream is $4 at Farm Fresh.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu