2016 was an active year for North American new product development. Mintel Global New Product GNPD -- the research service which monitors new products reported 825 new blueberry products introduced in the USA and Canada. We are not back to the 1000 plus new products in 2010 to 2012 -- but this is a good sign that products are moving from the R & D labs to the market.
Here are some of my favorites:
Ancient Grains are showing up everywhere including quinoa, tef from Ethiopia and chia. More and more of these ancient grain products are teamed with blueberries. The snack sector is using more and more dehydrated blueberries in products from nut mixes to extruded snacks.
Drinkable yogurts such as Kefir and Indian Lassis are popular all over Europe and the Middle East and are not popularized in North America. Blueberries are a natural flavor attraction and already we have seen dozens of new blueberry Kefirs in 2017!
More and more Greek style yogurts feature blueberries.
Check out the latest television commercial from Fage, a trendsetting company.
Chocolate covered blueberries are now mainstream. note the new label which proclaims "Real Blueberries!"
Pet food use of blueberries continues to soar. This package has all of the right buttons-- Made in the USA and made with real blueberries!
Welcome to some of these innovative products and designs. And thanks for using real blueberries.
Finally a really great tasting blueberry beer. A lot depends on personal taste, but this one has a great blueberry flavor and aroma which is synergistic to the wheat ale. It took a collaboration between a New Orleans brewer and local grower to pull this one off.
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