The Packer's "Year in Produce 2024" includes a deep dive into consumer psychology, emphasizing the importance of understanding the motivations behind produce purchases. In a year of changing shopping habits and increased focus on health and sustainability, insights from consumer psychologist Michael Barbera highlight how pricing strategies, sensory triggers and marketing techniques influence consumer decisions.
The plant-based food market is projected to hit $85 billion by 2030, driven by increasing global interest in vegetarian meat and dairy alternatives and plant-rich diets. Companies planning notable plant-based product launches in 2025 include SFA members All Y'alls Foods, Edenesque and African Dream Foods.
January in France offers a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, including citrus fruits such as clementines, blood oranges and pomelos, as well as root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips, and leafy greens such as spinach and mâche. New additions to the seasonal lineup include endives and artichokes like crosne and cardon.
Olympia Auset opened a brick-and-mortar vegan shop called SÜPRMARKT in South Central Los Angeles this year, to address food deserts and improve access to fresh produce. The store, which began in 2020 as a pop-up, supports community assistance programs, making nutritious options more affordable. It also fosters a sense of community with its welcoming atmosphere and healthy vegan meals.
Join us in continuing to share the love of California strawberries with your customers by maintaining well-stocked displays and active promotions this fall. Check out our Retail Image Gallery for maximizing your strawberry promotions.
Beyond Farming, a UAE-based startup founded in November 2024, is addressing food security and sustainability through urban indoor vertical farming. The company offers a Farm-as-a-Solution model with options for ownership and has demonstrated the ability to grow more than 35 crops globally. Beyond Farming uses fogponics and AI to optimize crop production.
Pairwise is using CRISPR to make fruits and vegetables more appealing, starting with a milder mustard green. CEO Tom Adams says the process is similar to traditional breeding but faster, and the greens have been well-received in test markets.
SANIDATE 12.0, an antimicrobial treatment designed to eliminate bacteria, fungi, plant pathogens and foodborne pathogens in pre-harvest agricultural water, has won FDA approval. The EPA-registered treatment can be used in irrigation, drainage water, and ditches, as well as for treating processing water for fruits and vegetables to control spoilage organisms.
We're often overly ambitious when we make New Year's resolutions, which is why researchers say it's best to pick one resolution and "devote all your energy to it," writes author and speaker Eric Barker, who recommends writing down your plan in detail and making your goals small and achievable at first to create a new habit. "Then, once you've got some momentum, turn up the heat. It's like boiling a frog but with self-improvement instead of animal cruelty," Barker writes.
Year-end messages to your team should emphasize tangible successes, recognize teamwork and be inclusive of all employees, not just a few who may have stood out during the year, say experts. "In addition to business wins, showcase examples of strong team collaboration or highlight a non-business win that boosted morale and brought the organization together," says Melissa Kanter, head of communications and brand experience, Americas for ING.
Maybe you know the Eiffel Tower as the Iron Lady, that it once served as a radio tower. Did you know a newspaper once had on office on the second floor? Guess which one?
Growing up in the Northeastern US sparked in me a passion for the changing seasons and an appreciation for the produce that comes with each. In my childhood, apples typically meant the ubiquitous red delicious variety. These days the choices are so varied and plentiful that a person could keep the doctor away by eating a different type of apple a day for a week or more.
In between thinking up new recipes for this time of year's fresh produce, I'm also immersing myself year-round in the news and trends driving the produce industry in the US and abroad. If you have any ideas for stories we should cover, or just want to pass along your favorite seasonal recipes, feel free to email me. I look forward to hearing from you!
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