In October 2015, we shared with you a projection of the top food trends to keep an eye out for in 2016 after speaking with expert chefs, foodies and bloggers. Pickling, edible flowers and an emphasis on REAL food were are areas of interest – and now Google has released their comprehensive report on food trends for the year based on consumer data and searches. The foodies in us are thrilled and the report is beautiful and informative. This is info every fresh produce marketer should know in preparation for content and recipe development over the next several months. If you are one of the many marketers who has a new start to the fiscal year coming up in the next 4 – 5 months, we would highly recommend considering how you can position recipe development budget around the following key trends:

Food with a Function.

Think turmeric, apple cider vinegar, kefir and bone broth. For exotic fresh fruit & vegetable growers/distributors, get excited because jackfruit is among the top searched functional foods. This trend proves that consumers have shifted their mindset when it comes to food. Food isn’t just a fuel that can satisfy hunger – consumers want to eat things that nourish their bodies and provide health benefits beyond the obvious. How many of your recipes can be considered sleep aids? Detoxifiers? Joint pain and arthritis relievers? Prescriptions for clearer skin? While we don’t advise making bold claims, consider complementing your products with functional foods and design recipes that serve a purpose.

Travel through Taste.

Have you noticed the recent surge of Pho and Ramen eateries lately? Mochi ice cream and chocolate babka have overtaken menus in recent months. It’s all because people are eager to experience the world through their taste buds. While offering easy DIY recipes for ramen and Pho featuring fresh vegetables is a great idea, many of these international cuisines are harder for the average American consumer to cook up in their home kitchens. Consider offering your foodservice partners with helpful recipe suggestions and pairings that will inspire them to use your products to stay on trend.

Experimenting with Pork.

Pork Shoulder? Sausage? How about Pig’s feet? Pork has sparked an interesting recent interest and is making a BIG comeback. While summer pork recipes are popular, Google notes that searches for pork recipes actually peak in December, so you may want to add Prosciutto to your holiday recipe list. Google shares: “There’s an opportunity for brands to join consumers for an experimental weekend of cooking via video content.” Start thinking about how your fresh fruits and vegetables can complement this bold meat.

Bite-Sized Snacks.

Mug cake and cauliflower bites – yum! The bite-sized snacking trend is on the rise because consumers want to indulge, but they have become more aware of portion size and want to snack within a well-rounded diet. Google notes that snacking has become more of a personal experience, and this makes sense, considering snacking typically happens on-the-go and on your own time, versus with friends. Google states: “Brands will need to offer more than just customization based on flavors, but dietary restrictions, as well. And personal choices come best in solo portions.” This is essential to consider for recipe development and nutrition facts in the future.

The Pasta Comeback.

Forget spaghetti, how about gemelli or fusilli? While pasta interest declined over several years as carbs were labeled the enemy, people are starting to understand that a moderate carb intake can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, and pasta is back on the menu! Google notes that pasta recipes seem to be the weekend chef’s go-to choice, and foodies are interested in better understanding the different types of pastas, sauces and ingredient pairings to suit the season. Consider inspiring consumers with pasta dishes using seasonal ingredients. Tell the story behind the pasta and the sauce pairing – where did it originate and why? THIS is the key to drawing in the adventurous foodie crowd.

So, now we are both sufficiently starving and equally excited about these food trends! We can’t wait to see how fresh produce marketers take advantage of this knowledge, and we’re secretly hoping to see some bite-sized snacks and international cuisine on the show floor at United Fresh and Fresh Summit this year. Hint hint.