Consumer Preferences and Trends in Agricultural Products

What do consumers care about most when buying agricultural products? Fruits and vegetables play an important part in the average diet, but consumer preferences are shifting when it comes to how they choose the produce that they buy to prepare at home. As consumers become more eco-conscious, they are also paying more attention to how and where their produce is grown, not just it's freshness and appearance. Consumers are also more interested in variety compared to previous generations, seeking out adventurous choices in the produce aisle.

These changes in shopping patterns are already having a significant effect for growers and packers. At Industry Plastic, we are here to help ensure that your agricultural business continues to thrive as the market changes.

Health Awareness and Label Reading

The modern consumer is more health-conscious than ever before. They are genuinely interested in the specific nutritional value that each vegetable and fruit has to offer. This has led to a trend in reading the labels, and therefore, a desire for clear, transparent labels on produce.

Now is the perfect time to begin printing more nutritional value and growing conditions on the packaging for your agricultural products. Shoppers will favor produce that clearly offers a health benefit that they value.

Ask us about our MAP Packaging for your broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce. There are 8 colors available for printing to add labels to your produce!

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Agriculture

Concern for the environment is also growing with each passing year. Sustainable or regenerative farming and eco-friendly agriculture is a priority that many consumers now share.  Growers and packers can benefit significantly from sharing how their farming techniques promote healthy land management and support the surrounding eco system. Your customers genuinely want to know how your crop rotations keep the soil nutrient-rich or if your produce is pollinated by local bee colonies.

Local & Organic: The Farm-to-Table Movement

The farm-to-table movement has emphasized several aspects of the produce industry for consumers. First, an increasing number of people are interested in buying produce from their local farmers. Labeling your goods with your state or county can begin to make a real difference in local sales. At the same time, consumers are seeking out organic - pesticide free - produce with a shared belief that all manner of pesticides is likely bad for their health.

Even restaurants are seeking local growers in order to advertise their farm-to-table menu selection.

Diversifying Crops for Adventurous Produce

As consumers seek food grown close to home, they are also getting bolder in their produce choices. Local growers and packers have every reason to diversify crops and introduce new agricultural products to the local market.

If you are a grower with only one or types of produce, you can more easily begin experimenting with crop diversity using planters where you have greater control over the growing conditions until you perfect your methods for each new fruit or vegetable. You will also need to plan for packaging that is uniquely suited to the new types of produce to optimize freshness and presentation.

The World of Produce is Changing

As consumers look at the produce aisle in a whole new way, the world of agriculture is shifting based on their preferences. Growers and packers can benefit from the beginning by adopting these changes today so that when they overtake traditional produce shopping trends, you will already have organic, local, and/or diverse products on the market ready to delight this new generation of health-conscious and eco-conscious shoppers.

To help you achieve these goals, Industry Plastic is ready to ensure that each of your agricultural products is optimally packed to reach the market. Whether you are about to improve your packaging and labeling techniques or dive into new crop variety, you can count on us as your partner in produce shipping. Contact us today to learn more.