New Produce Trends

TRENDS By Linda Kissam “Food, Wine & Shopping Diva

What can consumers look forward to when they shop for fresh fruits and vegetables in? Specialty produce guru Robert Schuller, Public Relations Manager from Melissa’s/ World Variety Produce, Inc. knows. ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Robert Schueller and writer Linda Kissam. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on PodBean.

A growing group of savvy boomer and millennial consumers, concerned about the impact of specific food groups on their well-being, are embracing dietary changes, creating more opportunities for the next generation of plant-based foods, organic produce, lower-sugar offerings, and other healthy lifestyle products. Why turn to Melissa’s for this information? With over 1000 items available at any given time, Melissa’s imports and distributes exotic fresh fruits, organic products, and vegetables from around the globe.

Located in the Vernon district of Los Angeles, California, World Variety Produce began as a source of specialty produce, selling to retailers in the Southern California region. Division has become a full-service operation that supplies culinary professionals with staples, exotics, and Melissa’s full line of organic produce. It is currently the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States.

Today’s consumers are much more attuned to the health benefits of fruits and vegetables than in past decades. They have a keen interest in knowing where their food comes from, and that trend shows no sign of slowing.

Over the years, Melissa’s Food Service Division has kept its finger on the culinary pulse, understanding that customers prefer local products, but there is also a huge market for national staples, worldwide exotics, and a full line of organic produce.

Leading market trends indicate that what consumers want is food that’s good on their taste buds, good for their health, and good for the planet. Melissa’s specializes in bringing the world’s best farm-fresh produce to a market near you.

Here’s a breakdown of this year’s leading food trends of what some consider the world’s best, most nutritious organic and conventional produce. You can find most items in a market near you or online at www.melissas.com.

1. Made for Each Other Immunity Boost: An Immunity Booster package with ginger and turmeric root in a convenient single package.

3. Plant-Based: Dip your toes into plant-based 50/50 recipes that mean you don’t have to give up meat.

4. Booze-Free Bonus: DIY mocktails start with crazy-good fruit and tons of aromatics like papaya, mango, pineapple, apples, and more.

5. Mushroom Madness: Common button to brown and Portobello are popular but seek out different varieties of fresh and dried like shiitake, oyster, chanterelle, porcini, and more.

6. Potatoes: Dutch yellow potatoes, Pee Wee Dutch Yellow potatoes, Gemstone Potatoes, Pee Wee Medley Potatoes.

7. Veggies: Celery Root, Habanero Peppers, Rhubarb, Graffiti Eggplant, White Asparagus.

8. Fruit: Dragon fruit (red and white flesh), Yellow Dragon Fruit, Meyer Lemons, Organic Papaya, and Pink Pineapple.

2. Zero Waste: Check out the mini veggies like baby colorful potatoes, beets, colorful carrots, cucumbers, and more, and don’t forget baby fruits like baby bananas, pineapple, pears, and more. 9. Value Added Products: Packets of Hollandaise Sauce, Immunity Booster (ginger & turmeric pack), and Crepes.

Servings 4-6; Prep Time 15-20 minutes; Cook Time 15 minutes; Author: Chef Tom Fraker, courtesy of Melissa’s Produce.

1 pound Melissa’s Dutch Yellow® Potatoes 8 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, melted 6 cloves Melissa’s Peeled Garlic, minced 2 teaspoons Dried Basil Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste ½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. 4. Roast for 12-15 minutes or until fork tender. Featured online at Melissas.com.

Melissa’s Produce is the leading U.S. variety distributor of specialty and fresh organic produce and related products processed from fresh produce. The company imports exotic fruits and vegetables from around the world. www.melissas.com.

Linda Kissam ‘Food, Wine & Shopping Diva’ is a professional travel, food, and wine writer who specializes in easy, breezy destination stories sharing her favorite things about the places she visits. Visit www.AllInGoodTaste.info

2. Cut a small flat spot on each potato so it sits easily. On the top of each potato, make slices about 1/8 inch apart but only about 3/4 of the way down so you don’t cut all the way through the potatoes. 3. Place the potatoes, sliced sides up, on a baking sheet and drizzle with the butter. Sprinkle with the rest of the ingredients and place into the oven.