Consumer trends – January/February 2023
The region of Murcia says the artichoke, rich in fibre and protein and one of its star products, is a good ally for balancing out the excesses of Christmas time as well as to feature a seasonal and 0km product in local menus. Its ‘The heart of this Christmas’ campaign will be backed by wide-ranging online promotion.
Pic caption: flo Wolffia is a nutrient-rich superfood that aids in increasing daily vegetable intakes with ease – no washing, no chopping, no prepping and no bitterness – says Thai startup Advanced GreenFarm. Applications include in juices, smoothies, breakfast bowls, pesto, pasta, soups, curries, dipping sauces, salads, omelettes, fried rice, and bakery items.
Pic caption: flo Wolffia is a nutrient-rich superfood that aids in increasing daily vegetable intakes with ease – no washing, no chopping, no prepping and no bitterness – says Thai startup Advanced GreenFarm. Applications include in juices, smoothies, breakfast bowls, pesto, pasta, soups, curries, dipping sauces, salads, omelettes, fried rice, and bakery items.
Organic only for over 1 in 4 Americans when buying cranberries
Cranberries are top among fresh produce items Americans usually only buy as organic. The little red berries were cited by 28% of consumers, followed by papaya with 27%, in The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2023 survey. For those who buy organic at least some of the time, sprouts ranked first (62%), then kale (61%), and artichokes and cranberries (58% each).
Spicy Tamarind a top taste trend for 2023
The innovative flavour of 2023 will be Spicy Tamarind, the fruit flavour will be Carnival Grape, in the botanical category it will be Garden Mint, and for indulgence, Orange Glazed Cinnamon Roll. Those are flavour development company Beck Flavors’ predictions upon analysing preferences, mega trends, and buyer behaviour in 2022. Grape is currently at the forefront of a resurgence in gums, sports drinks, and sparkling waters, it says.
Wolffia – a tiny plant big in nutrients
Easy to cook and consume, with a mild taste, sweet vegetable scent and able to lend Umami taste and vibrant colour to anything, wolffia has been enjoyed by the Thais in certain traditional recipes for centuries. Now the precision aquaculture used by Thai startup Advanced GreenFarm – behind the ‘flo Wolffia’ brand – is helping wolffia capture the world’s interest as a superfood.
Get Squished for eco-friendly snacks
Surplus berries are being ‘rescued’ by Britain’s Climate Positive Food Ltd. and used for delicious dried fruit snacks under the Squished label. Over 50,000 kg of berries that otherwise would have been wasted have already been used for the range, which includes energy balls, fruit flapjacks, fruit pieces and jams, and now also Rescue Blueberry Pieces, ideal as cereal-toppers or to add flavour and nutrients to recipes and snacks.
Putting artichokes at the heart of Christmas
Murcia, Spain’s artichoke-growing capital, wants to see more of the delicacy in local festive feasts this year. Producers, exporters, and representatives of hospitality, tourism and government have joined together to promote artichoke consumption under the slogan ‘The heart of this Christmas’ with 33 eateries in the Region of Murcia agreeing to include the versatile veggie in their Christmas menus.
Promoting a link between organic purchasing and inner peace
“Feel the Calm – Buy Organic” (Känn Lugnet – Handla Ekologiskt) is what Swedes were told as part of a recent campaign to promote organic products including fruit and vegetables. Organic Sweden and the Swedish Organic Farmers Association in collaboration with the Sörmland Apple Association suggest consumers connect peace of mind with choosing organic produce.
Key figures
3.1 bn: people who could not afford a healthy diet in 2020, +3.75% vs. 2019 (FAO)
>680: women from Morocco newly recruited for Huelva’s 2023 berry harvest to join other workers from Ecuador and Honduras (agroalimentarias-andalucia.coop)
180 kg: average amount of packaging waste each European generates yearly (EUComm)
We’ve all seen packaging that claims to be compostable. We will ensure it really is, while limiting it to only a few types of packaging, such as the stickers you find on fruit and vegetables or thin plastic bags.
European Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, at the press conference on the Circular Economy Package on November 30, 2022, Brussels
