Shoppers seek out fruits and vegetables to boost brain health and as alternative to carb-heavy ingredients
Los Alamitos, CA (January 2018) – Brain foods and carb alternatives are two of the hottest healthy eating trends for 2018, and shoppers will be looking in the produce department to find what they need.
“Shoppers are always trying to make healthier choices at the beginning of the year, which includes seeking out fresh produce they read or hear about in the food trend lists,” said Alex Jackson Berkley, assistant sales manager of Frieda’s Specialty Produce. “Retailers must be ready to meet the demand.”
Many health publications, including “Today’s Dietitian” magazine, point to brain foods as one of the top trends for 2018. These are foods that help with cognitive function, memory, and alertness. Some brain-healthy foods include fresh fruits and vegetables high in anthocyanin, the antioxidant in blue-purple foods like blueberries, purple grapes, and Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes.
The National Restaurant Association and Natural Grocers see a trend in vegetables as carb substitutes―from spiralized vegetable “noodles” for pasta to sweet potato slices as “toasts.” Adding vegetables to unexpected dishes like oatmeal, smoothies, and desserts to add nutritional values, colors, and flavors is also a trend to watch for.
“The Stokes Purple® sweet potato is on those lists as a hip and healthy food to eat in 2018,” said Berkley. “In addition to being a source of brain-healthy anthocyanin, Stokes Purple® sweet potato fans have been adding them to everything from breakfast burritos to brownies.
“Retailers can tie in the ‘Power of Purple’ with Ultra Violet being 2018’s color of the year for their promotions,” added Berkley. In December, Pantone, the global authority on color, announced Ultra Violet as the color of 2018 that will be seen everywhere from fashion to food.
Call Frieda’s account managers today to kick off your “Power of Purple” program and start 2018 off right.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families, and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit to dragon fruit and from Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes to habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce, and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.