|
Reading everything above, it should come as no surprise that the food landscape, and consumer attitudes toward it, are undergoing major shifts. As we enter the third year of the pandemic, the International Food and Information Council (IFIC) looked at what this may mean moving forward.
Three major trends IFIC identified for 2022 that have the potential to impact OJ? Wellness, nostalgia, and innovation.
The non-profit educational organization (and Department of Citrus partner) reports that consumers are proactively looking for positive food attributes and exploring immune health more than ever. They are also paying closer attention to the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs).
Sound familiar? 100% orange juice, and the Department’s marketing campaign highlighting The Original Wellness Drink, fits squarely within this trend. Additionally, an 8 oz. glass of 100% orange juice is considered a serving of fruit in the DGAs.
The return to familiar foods and beverages also applies to orange juice. During the early days of the pandemic, many families began sitting down to eat breakfast again and added OJ back to the table. According to IFIC, consumers are yearning for those items that remind them of simpler days.
IFIC reports that as the pandemic shifted the food system, the use of technology is becoming more and more accepted. That includes both eCommerce and CRISPR, the latter of which is already being increasingly accepted for its medical applications and, as you know, is currently being explored in citrus crop production.
But, as with many trends, only time will tell if these shifts are here to stay. IFIC advises us to expect the unexpected when it comes to ever-evolving consumer preferences.
| 
