Melissa’s “Insider” Produce Trend Preview for 2020

(Gerry Furth-Sides) “Pee wee potatoes and giant jackfruit in small portion packages run the range of what to look for in 2020.  Several the trends focus on ethnic produce going more and more mainstream, and more convenient ways to eat them or to extend the season.

The giant jackfruit is a surprise to anyone eating small pieces in the new small bags – almost as big as a halibut that arrives on your plate in filet size

New ethnic items that have gone mainstream and are now offered year around include Jicama Wraps, Jackfruit Pods, NEW Dutch Potato Trays, 3 varieties and Diced & Whole Cactus Leaves.

 

The Butterscotch Pear season runs from November to February while the season lasts all year around for  Tropical Avocados and Starfruit.

Convenience trends includes:

• Org. EZ Open Young Coconut- year round
• Steamed Line:  #1 specialty Blackeyed Peas in Dec, top items in category are Steamed Baby Beets & Lentils (year round)
• Clean Snax:  Peanut Butter, Chile Lime
• Hollandaise sauce (year round)

 Fruits:

• Tree Ripen Mangoes – Australian, Tree Ripen – – Saperuna (pre-conditioned mangoes)
• Charentais Melons (year round)
• Rambutans (year round)
• Jackfruit (year round)

Specialty Vegetables:

• Mini Cucumbers (year round)
• Pee Wee Potatoes (year round)
• Shallots (year round)
• Celery Root (year round)
• Turmeric  (year round)

Seasonal items include Passion Fruit (Sept – Dec, Feb – June); Kumquats (Sept – Oct, Dec-July),  the beloved Ojai Pixie Tangerines (March – May) and equally adored New Mexico’s Hatch Chiles (Aug – Sept) –

NEW Value Added Items (year round) are: Polenta, Pecans, Almonds & Seasoning. (year round)

The core group of writers and bloggers and I, who have the privilege and the fun of attending cookbook recipe demos and special events created by Melissa’s Produce are always asked, “do you work for them?”

I would answer, “no, they work for me.”  And as I mentioned to Robert Schueller, produce maven who heads up these days, “They just lift my spirits each and every time.”  The Nordstrom of quality product and goods, along with tons of produce information and being in on the best cookbooks in the country.