Dried fruit is very nutritious. One piece of dried fruit contains almost the same amount of nutrients as fresh fruit, but is contained in a much smaller box. By weight, dried fruit contains up to 3.5 times the nutrition, vitamins and mineral content of fresh fruit. One serving may therefore provide a significant percentage of the recommended daily intake of many vitamins and minerals, such as folate.
Dried fruits have ample health benefits in store to appreciate and reap the rewards. One of the benefits is that it can cure constipation. Once the water is removed from the fruit, the content of the rich fiber is left out. This creates a bowel movement that loosens the intestine, making this soft and easy to get out of the system. Minerals such as magnesium, potassium and phosphorus also maintain their potency in dried fruits that promote healthy blood circulation. Dried fruits are also a welcome dietary treat, because they are rich in fiber and low in sodium, making them ideal for a fat-free diet.
What is Dried Fruit?
Dried fruit is a fruit that has had almost all the water content extracted by drying methods. Throughout this process, the fruit shrinks, leaving a thin, energy-dense, dried fruit. Raisins are the most common type of dried fruits followed by dates, prunes, figs and apricots. Many varieties of dried fruit are also available, often candied (sugar coated). They include mangoes, pineapples, cranberries, bananas and apples. Dried fruit can be kept much longer than fresh fruit and can be a handy snack, particularly on long trips where refrigeration is not available.
Low sugar dried fruits:
Raisins
Raisins are dried grapes. They are enriched with fiber, potassium and other health-promoting plant compounds. These have a moderate to medium glycemic index and a higher insulin index. This means that raisins will not cause significant changes in blood sugar or insulin levels after meals. Both these factors will lead to a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Dried prunes
Dried prunes are rich in vitamin C and soluble fiber only 2 serving pieces a day can help to make you normal, that’s how good it is. It’s great for snacking because it’s going to keep you full for a longer time. They are relatively low in sugar compared to the dates. It contains mineral boron that maintains stronger , healthier bones. It is also a strong source of iron and potassium. Love them as well in your baked goods, muffins and granola bars, or only savor their good taste by eating them simply.
Dried black mission figs
They are rich in vitamin B6, magnesium and iron and relieve both constipation and bloating because it is rich in soluble fiber. Figs have a higher calcium content compared to milk that is good for the bones. This is a popular substitute for dates as it has less sugar but gives as much flavor and can be quickly soaked and used in one-to-one-ratio recipes. If you haven’t tried to eat figs yet and want to know what it tastes like, well, it’s a mix of chocolate, vanilla and raisins. It’s a must for a balanced snack. It’s also right to add berries to your diet as well as vegetables.
What’s trending in the dried fruit industry?
A bigger focus on the health-conscious consumer
Consumers are even more health-conscious than ever before. They want delicious, better-for-you snacks and want them to be conveniently allocated; dried fruits and nuts are rational substitutes for sugary options. To optimize this significant business opportunity, look for packaging that offers improved portion control, as well as shelf and appetite appeal through transparent windows, limited color pallets and paper effects that signify better, healthy products for customers.
A more relevant out-of-home snacking experience
Snacking on-the-go is a habit of the future, and as a healthy and portable food, nuts and dried fruit offer simple snacking. Currently, nuts are the fastest rising on-the-go group. If you’re in the car, on the train or in the park, packaging designed to be used in any environment represents an immense opportunity for nuts and dried fruit brands, and those with on-the-go packs would profit most from the trend. Search for packets that are longer and thinner, making them easier to carry, and nuts and fruit easier to consume.
Packaging that offers enhanced visual appeal for the in-store and online buyer
As e-commerce gains on traditional in-store visits, the ability of packaging to stand out is becoming more critical than ever – as consumers are unable to pick up and inspect products on their computer screens, the picture of the pack needs to look its very best. When in-store shopping, the size itself is also crucial: opting when lightweight, ready-to-display Euro-hole hanging packs enables the product to be put in multiple locations in stores-near cashiers or beverage aisles, for example-which can be extremely profitable.
Irrespective of the marketplace, it is worth noting that younger customers are typically less loyal to the brand than their older peers, which means that they frequently make decisions purely on the basis of the product design itself. Look out for real, attention-grabbing graphics that combine matt and gloss lacquers. Transparent product windows are also great, especially for high-value products such as fresh nuts and colorful items such as dried fruit.
The bottom line
Fruits are an essential food source. Fresh fruits with short lifespan have added benefits to its dried fruit substitute market. Rising customer awareness about health also has a positive effect on the dried fruit market. In addition, growing R&D to carry innovations concerning its applications in different product lines adds fuel to market growth. Due to their flavor enhancing-ability, they are widely used in the dairy as well as in the bakery industry. On the other hand, the application of dried fruits in snacks and breakfast cereals is broadly focused due to their nutritional value.
Free Valuable Insights: Global Dried Fruit Market to reach a market size of USD 12.7 billion by 2026
Consumers’ inclination towards consuming processed nutritional food products adds fuel to the dried fruit market. It is gaining popularity in the food processing industry due to the rising nutritional level of the drug, towards application in various food lines. Hypersensitivity to certain fruits, nevertheless, followed by the loss of a certain percentage of vitamins during the dehydration process, may hinder the dried fruit market over the forecast period.