The Fresh Market has navigated its way through all the 2023 trends lists by culling five it calls the “most delicious.”

Several of these trends are a continuation of what consumer demand showed in the last couple years, some with more growth, others with new twists on the trend, according to a news release. See how you can use these trends to deliver what your customer wants — or will want soon.

All five picks can incorporate or focus on fresh produce:

NEW GLOBAL FLAVORS

As some global cuisine has become mainstream, a refined and sharper focus regionally is where The Fresh Market looks for new food revelations. Eastern Mediterranean cuisine has brought vibrant, aromatic flavors to the forefront to enhance everyday dishes. Wonderful sauces, like Matbucha, are used as a condiment for morning eggs or ingredient in shepherd’s pie.

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PLANT-BASED EATING

Those global flavors and dishes are helping plant-based eating evolve, offering traditional dishes that are already plant-based, such as Indian cuisine’s aromatic curries. This trend has created a demand for innovation around traditional staples, like ravioli, that are both plant-based and nondairy. Expect continued development in plant-based cheese, bacon and egg products.

NATURAL AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS

This continuing trend, including wellness, remains on the forefront of shopper minds. The upside is that these ingredients, such as fresh produce, naturally have health benefits that are distinctive and tasty. Botanicals, such as dandelion and lavender, are blooming again in popularity as flavors and ingredients, found in beverages, salads and entrees.

MEXICAN CUISINE

This lower section of North America inspires the new favorite comfort food for U.S. consumers, the retailer said. Over the past few decades, younger generations have grown up eating Mexican cuisine, as it has become more accessible in traditional restaurants and fast food. Now, stateside gastronomes are turning to beans, rice, cilantro and hotter sauces to flavor their proteins of choice, from steak to seafood, as their go-to nostalgic food of respite. Varieties of queso, salsa and guacamole are perfect for any meal as a topping or condiment.

CLIMATARIAN EATING

This is an emerging eating lifestyle. It’s a regimen about eating for the health of the planet, with choices based on environmental impact. While this eating trend might be in its infancy, it will continue in relevance as younger generations increase their concern for the planet. The parameters are not hard and fast, so it lends itself to a level of flexibility based on the preferences of those who partake. What makes it appealing is that it does not mean sacrificing delicious food. Participation can include everything from eating pasture-raised, to buying more local and organic ingredients to reduce carbon emissions from transport, to eating a plant-based diet with crops that are good for soil. For foodies, it’s an opportunity to get creative with new flavors and self-made mashups from leftovers in the fridge or items in the pantry to eliminate food waste.

The Fresh Market was voted as the “Best Supermarket in America” by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2022 and 2021, “America’s Best Customer Service 2021” by Newsweek and Statista and a Top 5 most trusted grocery retail brand for specialty and natural/organic foods in the 2022 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards.

The company operates 160 stores in 22 states across the U.S.

By AMY SOWDER

Source: www.thepacker.com