Los Alamitos, CA (February 2020) – Lent is a perfect time to help shoppers look beyond fish and move produce to the center of their plate by discovering a variety of plant-based foods, including new fruits and vegetables. Nearly 25 percent of Americans observe the holiday, making it a great time to feature an expanded assortment of fruits, vegetables and meat alternatives for meatless Fridays as a way to satisfy shoppers’ desires for something other than meat during this time.
According to a 2019 survey from C+R Research in partnership with Frieda’s, 68 percent of shoppers are planning to add more produce to the meals they serve this spring, and 73 percent say they choose grocery stores with a variety of fruits and vegetables over other stores. That means fresh variety will drive store traffic, giving shoppers new reasons to experiment with fresh flavors.
Creating meatless destinations for your shoppers is key to capitalizing on traditions and consumer trends this Lenten season. “Products like Frieda’s Jackfruit, Stokes Purple® Sweet Potatoes, Soyrizo™ and Colored Cauliflower become the new go-to staples for many homes that observe Lent and abstain from meat on Fridays,” says Alex Berkley, Frieda’s director of sales.
“Recipes like Beer-Braised Fresh Jackfruit Chili, made with fresh jackfruit, and Spiced Stokes Purple® Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas are a great way to promote variety,” Berkley says. Create displays with these items featuring enticing signage to showcase meal ideas. Eye-catching displays with all-in-one selections in the same place help demonstrate to shoppers that there is more to Lent than fish sticks or fish sandwiches—even shoppers not observing Lent will want to make vegetables the star of their plates this spring!
Call your Frieda’s account manager today to get merchandising support and ideas on how to make your store a Lent destination.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.
Los Alamitos, CA (February 2019)– What do shoppers look for when buying sweet potatoes? Which types do they prefer? Versatility is key and shoppers want a sweet potato that can be used in a variety of dishes such as soups, pies, fries and more — just like Frieda’s Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes.
According to a 2020 survey from C + R Research, 56% of shoppers say that they want to be able to use a sweet potato in both sweet and savory dishes. Additionally, 37% of shoppers say they prefer a purple sweet potato over an orange variety for everyday cooking, likely due to the versatile texture of the potato, which bakes and fries well. Among those who are interested in purchasing a purple sweet potato, 69% believe they are worth paying more for versus orange sweet potatoes. It’s becoming clear that now, more than ever, shoppers want that versatility and are willing to pay more for it.
“Our test kitchen team cooked up our Stokes Purple® along with other purple sweet potato varieties, and the classic orange sweet potato to see how they all stacked up,” says Alex Berkley, Frieda’s sales director. “We found that Stokes Purple® really stood out as the only purple-fleshed sweet potato that has both a mild sweetness and the appropriate level of starchiness and moistness to make them ideal for everyday cooking. Shoppers love that they can buy our purple sweet potatoes and use them to make everything from muffins, chips and cheesecake bars, and they contain anthocyanins, just like blueberries. Stokes Purple® truly are a super sweet potato.”
Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are also the go-to sweet potato for influential chefs like Chef Chadwick Boyd, food and lifestyle expert, cookbook author and cooking show judge. “Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are exceptionally versatile. They’re ideal for plant-based main dishes and richer, denser pies, while being pleasantly less sweet — so on trend! Their vibrant purple color makes plates and platters unforgettable,” Boyd notes.
Drive your produce sales this spring by stocking up on Frieda’s Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, conventional and organic. Our exclusive, non-GMO supply is ready for shipping and stocking on your produce shelf, either in bulk or 3-pound bags. Call your Frieda’s account manager today for merchandising, signage and recipe solutions. Move over orange sweet potatoes, Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes are here to stay.
Source:
2020 C+R Research Omnibus Survey, sample size of 1,000 people, representative of total U.S. demographics.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce has been inspiring new food experiences for friends, families and food lovers everywhere since 1962. From kiwifruit and dragon fruit to Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes and habanero peppers, Frieda’s has introduced more than 200 unique fruits and vegetables to the U.S. marketplace. Founded by produce industry trailblazer Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.
