Tasmanian cherries, organic Hunnyz apples and more. These are just a few of the items that Melissa's Produce has put on its top trending produce list at a preview last week ahead of the Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim, CA.
"How do we come up with this list?" says Robert Schueller of Melissa's Produce. "We take all of our top 100 items from the past 365 days and compare the amount of change in sales overall from the previous 365 days. These items have made the most dramatic gains in that year and most of the trends come down to flavor and visual quality."
Pink pineapples: Following a joint introduction of this item via grower Del Monte in 2019, it has become the company's number one selling item online. "Over the years they've become more and more accessible," says Schueller, adding that beyond the unique color, the pineapple has no acidity and is now appealing to consumers who prefer that, which in turn has opened up a new market of consumers.
© Melissa's Produce
Fingerling Medley potatoes: "Here's the reason why the baby potato category continues to trend–one, they're easy to prepare and cook. It's also a grab and go bag," he says. "The varieties and colors offer different presentations as well, such as Purple Peruvian and Russian Banana."
Organic Hunnyz apples: No doubt the apple category is huge with numerous new varieties coming on deck. The Los Angeles-based company leans towards West Coast-based varieties from states such as Washington, Oregon and California and this one continues to climb the trending list.
Orange watermelon: While there have long been red and yellow watermelons, crossing them has made orange watermelons. "Orange, which is highly seasonal, is not new but for the average consumer it's newer," says Schueller.
© Melissa's Produce
Baby Marzano tomatoes: While consumers may think of regular Roma tomatoes when they consider what pasta sauces are made out of, Schueller says it's long been the Marzano tomato. This heirloom variety Roma tomato is meatier and sweeter and now offered year-round by the company.
Sapurano mango: "The whole mango category has been really trending in the past few years and this mango is almost like a vine-ripened variety," says Schueller
Aloe vera: While this staple of the Hispanic market is, yes, used for sunburns, for consumption, it's also valued for the pulp inside. "It's a unique flavor and texture and it's not a new item, but we've been selling a significant amount of it particularly in the past year," he says.
Tasmanian cherries: "We think these might be some of the best-tasting cherries in the world. Over the last four years, this product has grown for us every year during late January to March, a time in the winter when it's very citrus-focused," says Schueller.
© Melissa's Produce
Pink Elephant and Gold Elephant mangoes: Part of the company's luxury line of fruit, the Pink Elephant is three times the size of a regular mango though it's not pink on the inside–it's more gold/orange. Meanwhile the Gold Elephant is also large in size and also has a buttery flesh inside. "We're going to see more mango varieties introduced and maybe it will become like the apple category," adds Schueller.
For more information:
Robert Schueller
Melissa's Produce
Tel: +1-800-588-1281
[email protected]
www.melissas.com
