Organic Food Trends

By Theresa Harding

Due to the rapid pace of change economy, the unpredictable political environment in many countries and rise of food-related illnesses are resulting in people to be safer on the food products they consume. Organic food trends are when food industries together with the food experts are focusing more on the safety, convenience, and affordability of food commodities.

Everyone along the food chain is focusing on innovative ideas that meet three major concepts of safety, convenience, and affordable food.

Real Foods and Organic Consumer Trends

The first New Year resolution of most of the people is to put health first. Everyone is going to the gym, and the gym memberships are going up and promise to start off the new diets.  Food experts are making this resolution easier by embracing the real-food movement.

Intake of the real foods and avoiding the artificial/ processed foods which are associated with numerous illnesses like obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancers and other chronic diseases. Organic food trends is the year the world population is now focusing on the real foods, and food industries are packaging real foods to increase convenience and safety.

Organic Food Market

Due to the increased health-care costs, shrinking middle class have rendered restaurants and fast foods joints too costly. Cooking at home is becoming the new trend which I am embracing it.

Thanks to the technology, Food Experts agree that individuals and industries are embracing this organic food trend by coming up with smart appliances, which are making our kitchens look more and more sci-fi, from smart frying pans to camera plates.  

How could you not imagine that there is a TotaliTea device that monitors your sleep?   If you had a bad night it provides you with a cup of tea with added caffeine.

From Animal-Based to Plant-Based Foods

This year, the consumer taste is focusing on the plant-based foods rather than animal products like Nulo dog food. Food technologists believe that is where the food industry is heading. The reasons why the world is leaning towards plant-based foods are as much about health, environmental sustainability and animal rights-what the vegans are advocating for.

Eschewing Traditional Retailing of Organic Food Trends 

Now entrepreneurs are building their businesses in a different way than the traditional retail. The well-known grocery store shelves, shopping carts, cashiers and slotting allowances seem outdated.

They are now focusing on online shopping to the subscription of meal services and use of real-time virtual purchases.  Millennials are altering the meaning of retail. Thank you, Google Flesh, Instacart, Prime, Amazon Go, Blue Apron, Sendy, and Uber.

Organic Consumer Trends

Organic food trends are ushering in a post true era, where people have put trust more in their gut and other people’s opinion, rather than the Food Experts.  It’s always best to go with your gut, but always use common sense when you think you should get advice from “experts”. 

I always encourage others to simply do your research to learn more about a particular food item.  Consumers are getting information about foods from varying sources and having mixed views on the subjects that affect food decisions daily. 

I used to be confused when I first started learning and researching about healthy eating.  I didn’t know who to listen to.  Of course, there’s always trial and error to learn what really works for you and your family.

Insects in Our Diet?

I don’t know about you, but I like my food without the extra insect protein; no thanks!  Food organizations and research institutions are actively advocating for adding insects as part of our diets.

It has been found that Insects provide an excellent source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins than the traditional protein sources like red meat.  The fact that insects can be pulverized into flour to make different baking products, food shops are now selling insects.  The thought of pulverizing insects just doesn’t sound very tasty to me…yuck!

Zero Waste

I’m always thinking of ways to avoid wasting food in my kitchen.  I make my bone broths from the carcass of my chicken and turkey.  Food items that were once considered waste are now products to treasure according to food experts.  Cauliflower stems, watermelon rind pickles, burgers and chips made from discarded juice pulp and vegan leather made from pineapple leaves. 

When I juice, I use the leftover pulp to make cookies or add it to my muffins and smoothies.  These foods are no longer wasted but recycled back to the dinner table.

Are you adjusting to the new food trends?  What changes have you made?

 References

Nieroda, M., & McGoldrick, P. (2017). Healthy Eating Promotion: Translating Consumer Expectations into CSR Strategies (An Abstract). In Creating Marketing Magic and Innovative Future Marketing Trends (pp. 665-666). Springer, Cham.

Pila, E., Mond, J. M., Griffiths, S., Mitchison, D., & Murray, S. B. (2017). A thematic content analysis of cheat meal images on social media: Characterizing an emerging dietary trend.  International Journal of Eating Disorders.