Food trends offer opportunities for Florida farmers.

 

Florida’s ag industry is a varied one. With our long growing season, Florida farmers are poised to grow just about whatever the market calls for. An example of this is the development of Florida-friendly hops by a UF/IFAS researcher to meet the needs of the ever-expanding microbrewery niche market. A recent Growing Produce article combed through the latest release of predicted food industry trends from author Phil Lempert, explaining how these food industry trends can benefit Florida farmers. Read a summary below.

Food Trends with Opportunities for Florida Farmers

 

Food industry trends can be a year-to-year infatuation or they can develop into something that is more everlasting. They determine what is being created and marketed at restaurants in a local area, what’s being sold at farmer’s markets and what consumers will buy for their own tables.

Florida farmers should stay abreast of these trends because the trends can present opportunities for farmers to diversify their crops and improve the bottom lines of their operations. Trends Florida farmers could capitalize on include:

  • Sustainability. The trend towards buying foods that consumers can feel good about isn’t going anywhere. Consumers like the idea of buying local foods and those with a conscience: free-range chicken, beef from operations investing in conservation, organic fruits and vegetables, etc. Restaurants are happy to get their hands on fresh, local, vetted ingredients as well.
  • Asian Vegetables. Each year or two has its list of “it” vegetables that are popular. At the moment, it’s Asian vegetables. Vegetables like “bitter gourd, eggplant, cluster beans, bottle gourds, turmeric, fenugreek, sorrel spinach, and radish greens” are influencing chefs and palates across the country.
  • Enhanced/Super Foods. As health consciousness continues to spread, consumers are demanding more from their foods. Think time-tested options like spinach, kale, blueberries and pomegranate, as well as new options like matcha (special ground green tea leaves).

Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.