FRUIT TRENDS DRIVE FOOD, BEVERAGE PRODUCTS

So what's happening in the fruit business to drive food and beverage trends?  Check out this article in Food Product Design.

ROCKVILLE, Md.—Fruit moves beyond its natural, nutritious flavorful qualities as its versatility and cultural role make it a vehicle for food and beverage advances that take it beyond snacks and juices into a variety of new products offering health, flavor adventure and artisan experience, according to a new report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) and market research publisher Packaged Facts.

The "Fresh Takes on Fruit: Culinary Trend Mapping Report breaks down fruit trends by tracking developments across CCD Innovation's proprietary Trend Map®, outlining five stage trends of today and what to expect from them in the future to support innovative and traditional brands in food service and packaged goods.

Stage 1 trends focus on craft cider and fruit preserves. Artisan alcoholic cider is the next big brew trend, appealing to consumers who are increasingly health conscious and imbibe. Also, with growing attention on preservation, a renewal of nostalgia-driven interest in old techniques can be see among top chefs and DIY home cooks.

Stage 2 trends include the use of sugar from fruit. Monk fruit and coconuts are being transformed into sweeteners with low calories, low glycemic index scores and impressive nutrient profiles. New varietal fruits and hybrids are also gaining popularity as consumers focus on quality and variety. Shoppers are focusing on specifics like Meyer lemons, Cara Cara oranges or Seascape strawberries that offer distinct flavor profiles and qualities like textural advantages.

Stage 3 focuses on the addition of botanical flavors to fruit-flavored beverages. This trend adds a fresh twist to the category. Consumers are looking for more complex flavor combinations and alternatives to conventional sodas. In addition to taste, the potential health benefits appeal to consumers seeking elixirs in a bottle or tea bag.

Stage 4 involves the expansion of tart cherries into juices, snack bars and trail mix. This nutrient powerhouse has many future application capabilities. Tart cherries are a good-for-you ingredient that add great taste, a premium feel and a hint of nostalgia to foods.

Lastly, Stage 5 highlights the current mango-craze trend. Its tropical flavor has broad appeal to multicultural consumers, flavor lovers and health-seekers. Whether in savory or sweet applications, mango's versatility expands across CPG and food service menu categories.

Check out my latest e-book entitled: "Social Media Marketing in Agri-Foods: Endless Profit and Painless Gain".  

The book is available on Amazon and Kindle for $4.99 USD. Visit amazon/Kindle to order now:
http://www.amazon.ca/Social-Media-Marketing-Agri-Foods-ebook/dp/B00C42OB3E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364756966&sr=1-1

Written by Bruce MacDonald, a 30 year veteran of the Agri-food industry, in "Social Media Marketing in Agri-Foods: Endless Profit and Painless Gain", Bruce applies his background and expertise in Agri-foods and social media to the latest trends, tools and methodologies needed to craft a successful on-line campaign. While the book focuses on the Agri-food market specifically, I believe that many of the points Bruce makes are equally applicable to most other industries.