In a press release just issued by NASFT trendspotters at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York listed their top five food trends.
The trendspotters are: Fran Carpenter, Parade Magazine; Faith Durand, Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn; Nancy Wall Hopkins, Better Homes & Gardens; Sara Moulton, chef, cookbook author and Good Morning America food personality; Rachel Mount, O Magazine; Kara Nielsen, Center for Culinary Development; Denise Purcell, Specialty Food Magazine; Jenna Zimmerman, Food Network.
The trends are:
| • | Great Vinegars – Innovative flavors include: Hibiscus, Walnut Champagne, Peach Balsamic, Lime Rice and Apple Ice Wine Vinegar. |
| • | Indian Products – Unexpected creations: Curry Ketchup, Cashews & Cream Cooking Sauce, Tandoori Chicken Naanwich and Tikka Masala Marinara. |
| • | Grains, Nuts & Seeds – Sweet and savory items make up this category with Flax Seed Crackers, Oat and Corn Cakes, Pumpkin Palooza Nut Confections and Lentil Chips. |
| • | Squash, Pumpkin and Sweet Potato – These fall favorites are showcased in Pumpkin Salsa, Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce, Sweet Potato Butter, Butternut Squash Tart and Sweet Potato Chocolate. |
| • | Handcrafted Local Heritage Foods – Soups, pickles and sweets including Linekin Bay Lobster Corn Chowder, Brooklyn Pickles, Wild West Steak Rub and Sticky Toffee Pudding offer fresh takes on classics. |
Other emerging trends identified are fig products, including a cabernet wine and fig preserve; unusual teas infused with turmeric and cardamom; and specialty flavored honeys such as chestnut, lime, pine and raspberry.
We would add some of our top trends:
| • | Kamut grain products: Pastas, Suzie’s Flatbreads, One Bun (pita like buns). This heirloom grain is going to be huge! |
| • | Gluten free products: A category driven by consumer demand, it’s a major food trend. |
| • | Turmeric: This “functional” spice is going to be incorporated into a lot of foods as consumers realize its tremendous health benefits. |
| • | Mom “Foodpreneurs”: Necessity is the mother of invention. Kid’s dietary issues are turning moms into entrepreneurs as they create their own products to solve these problems. |
| • | Giving back: Brands on a mission like Project 7 give a whole new meaning to social responsibility. |
