Frieda's Specialty Produce, the California-based group credited with introducing more than 200 specialty fruits and vegetables to US supermarkets has said that root vegetables are creeping their way back into consumers' shopping baskets.
According to the company, health conscious shoppers and trend-chasing foodies are driving vegetable-centric menu trends, as they search for a greater variety of root vegetables to add nutrients, colour, texture, and flavour to their dishes.
'Retailers should ready their wet veg sets to take full advantage of this growing demand by building a beautiful display to showcase the wide selection and brilliant colours that can be found in root vegetables, from specialty carrots to radishes, parsnips, and beets,' the group noted.
Frieda's said that the 'rising stars' of the radish world are multi-coloured Easter egg and French breakfast varieties, as well as Asian flair daikon and watermelon radishes.
'Over in your fresh beet display, shoppers continue to find ways to add these nutritious and colourful roots to every meal,' the group said. 'Make sure to always have multiple varieties on hand, like red, gold, and striped (chioggia) beets.'
Meanwhile, in what the group termed the 'ugly duckling' category, consumers should look out for roots like jicama, celery root, parsnip, kohlrabi, and Sunchokes.
'These humble roots do not win any beauty contests, but shoppers in the know will be looking for them,' Frieda's said. 'In the wintertime, consumers can roast these vegetables, and in spring and summer, they are added to salads.'
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