04.25.12
It seems like just yesterday natural and organic was the hot ticket, but local is quickly becoming a consumer favorite, as locally-sourced products are becoming more popular at grocery stores and restaurants alike. According to recent Mintel research, the same is true in the fruit and vegetable industry with more than half (52%) of consumers reporting that it’s more important to buy local produce than organic. Data from Mintel’s Global New Products Database seems to support this statement, as fruit products with a natural/organic claim declined 58% between 2008 and 2011, while vegetable product launches with that claim decreased 77% during the same time period.