Consumers know their cauliflower, kale, sweet potatoes and carrots, but do they know these everyday items come in multiple colors? Like purple?
These items have been available for years, but consumer interest is gaining traction, especially since Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market Inc. named them a top trend for 2017. According to Google Trends, searches for purple cauliflower, kale, sweet potatoes and carrots jumped sharply in late December, just after Whole Foods’ post went viral.
And even before then, retailers found success with these specialty items. Adam Bazarnik, director of produce for Nugget Markets, Woodland, Calif., says the company has been carrying purple cauliflower for at least the past 10 years, but recent promotions with in-house chef prepared foods spiked demand.
“It wasn’t until this year that we got traction,” he says. “When people see produce cooked or presented a certain way, they’re more likely to seek it out and use it.”