COLCHESTER, Vt. - Supermarket shoppers are filling their baskets with spice to prepare for Cinco de Mayo celebrations today, Progressive Grocer reports. MyWebGrocer reports that sales of authentic Mexican cooking ingredients have soared during the days before the May 5 celebration.

The survey of recent shopper data revealed that sales of jalapeño peppers jumped 127 percent from the previous week prior to May 5, 2009, while queso dip sales rose 71 percent from the previous week. Avocado and lime sales increased 58 percent and 30 percent, respectively, during that same period, with refried beans advancing 38 percent prior to Cinco de Mayo.

Latin rice mixes rose 15 percent, tortillas and tacos increased 11 percent and salsa 4 percent. Tostitos led sales in the queso dip, salsa and tortilla chips categories, while Mission won for tacos and tortillas and Old El Paso took the top spot in refried beans.

Each May 5, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French forces at the Battle of Puebla.