The Postal Service has issued four stamps that showcase fruits and vegetables, which are growing in popularity as consumers seek fresher foods at grocery stores and farmers markets.
The Summer Harvest stamps depict cantaloupes, sweet corn, tomatoes and watermelons. The artwork was inspired by vintage produce advertising, including crate labels from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The images are “treasures of Americana,” said Western Area VP Drew Aliperto, who dedicated the stamps July 11 at the California State Fair in Sacramento.
The Summer Harvest stamps are hitting the market amid rising demand for healthful foods.
Fresh food sales have increased 5 percent during the past four years, the Nielsen consumer research firm reported last month. The number of farmers markets in the United States also has risen steadily, according to Department of Agriculture data.
Last year, the Postal Service released stamps that celebrate farm-to-consumer foods.
The Summer Harvest stamps, which are issued in booklets of 20, can be purchased online and at Post Offices nationwide.
