Company’s first ever trend report points to “seismic shift” in public attitude towards fruit, as they prioritise flavour, health, and enjoyment
Dole Packaged Foods says fruit will be at the centre of consumer thinking when it comes to flavour, enjoyment, and health in the year ahead, as part of a “seismic shift” in attitudes to fresh produce.
The marketer, which is an entirely distinct and separate business to fresh produce company Dole Plc, made the prediction in its first ever trend report, where it identifies five key trends that it says will affect how consumers think about fruit in 2026.
Entitled Fruit Fwd: Fruit, Flavor and the 2026 Feed, the report sets out to shed light on “the evolving food and beverage landscape” by looking specifically at the fruit market.
The company said it had uncovered five important trends that could shape how people experience flavour and fruit.
“Cultural currency is reshaping how we eat and drink, shifting flavour from simple preference to an emotional benefit and sensory escape,” said Mike Secor, vice-president of marketing at Dole Packaged Foods US.
“Consumers want accessible ways to elevate their daily routines and fruit has emerged as the versatile ingredient for this evolution. From the tropical flavour takeover and emerging global cuisines, to the rise of ‘treatonomics’, fruit is the vibrant thread that delivers brighter moments through it all.”
Its five biggest fruit trends for 2026 include:
Tropical Takeover: “From guava and passion fruit to dragon fruit and pineapple, these flavours offer a ‘sensory getaway’, balancing comfort with adventurous flavour exploration and growing crave for global cuisines as over 90 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials crave bold new tastes. Fruit is becoming more than a flavour, but also an aesthetic and mindset per Vogue.”
Beverages Are Booming: “Gen Z’s flair for fun, and the rise of at-home mixology, make today’s drinks feel more playful and premium. Powered by refreshers, dirty sodas, mocktails and more photoworthy sips, fruit is now a primary flavour vehicle as tropical beverages have experienced 98 per cent growth in product introductions in the last three years, with dragon fruit and mango being the most common flavours featured in refreshers.”
Mini Meals are the New Main: “Busy lifestyles are transforming the way people eat, driving 54 per cent of Americans to eat snacks instead of meals when pressed for time and fuelling over 500,000 # girldinner posts glamorising the graze. Consumers want freedom to sample multiple flavours and textures without committing to a full-size dish, making single-serve portions the ideal balance solution.”
Fruit Powered Glow Up: “The gut is now seen as the gateway to glowing skin, stable mood and stronger immunity. Interest in fruit’s role in gut health is accelerating with news articles referencing both ‘microbiome’ and ‘fruit’ up 163 per cent. Tropical varieties like papaya and pineapple are gaining attention for their functional benefits.”
Treatonomics Delights: “Less guilty pleasure, more intentional emotional uplift. Operating within treatonomics, 75 per cent of consumers consider snacks a critical part of their day for a ‘moment of joy’, while an additional 76 per cent prioritise the snacks’ taste and indulgence.”
The group concludes: “Backed by recent data and research, The Fruit Fwd report unveils a seismic shift in consumer behaviour, demonstrating how these trends are redefining the way the world eats and drinks to meet their daily needs.”
