Dole Packaged Foods, the largest seller of frozen fruit in the U.S., estimates that in 2014 about 60% of frozen fruit purchased went into smoothies, up from about 21% in 2006, according to Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
While sales of frozen vegetables and meals remained relatively flat, WSJ says frozen fruit sales have topped $1 billion annually, up 67% since 2010, according to Nielsen. This is explained by a shift in consumer behavior, as people are looking for more convenient and easier ways to eat fruit and vegetables. Moreover, frozen produce has a longer shelf life and interest in smoothies has increased in the US, for example, according to research.
To make it more attractive for consumers, producers of frozen fruit have updated their packaging and offers, leaning towards fruit blends, organic produce and larger bags, WSJ says. Sales of organic frozen fruit are growing faster than nonorganic versions and now make up about 12% of sales, according to a representative of Cascadian Farm, owned by General Mills.