PG’s annual “state of the produce department” survey finds sales trending in a more upbeat mode vs. a year ago, with retailers holding out hope for continued forward motion. While food retailers remain steadfast in their desire to keep their produce prices on par with consumers’ stringent expectations for value and quality, discernable overall gains in the average U.S. produce department during the past 12 months were blunted as deflationary trends kicked in alongside consumers’ persistent reluctance to loosen the purse straps, as revealed by modest sales gains tracked in Progressive Grocer’s 2010 Annual Produce Operations Review.