This paper analyzes seasonal patterns in grower prices for five major U.S. fresh fruit markets between 1980 and 2012. Seasonality (the regular pattern of price change occurring within a year) has been recognized as an important determinant of price in fresh produce. Major adjustments in fruit markets over the past 30 years include changes in production, storage, import patterns, and demand. Unique commodity and market conditions for each of these five fruit products, arising from a combination of these adjustments, have been hypothesized to affect seasonal price patterns. Several changes in seasonal price patterns are observed after grouping monthly price data into four periods (1980-89, 1990-99, 2000-09, and 2010-12).
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