Los Alamitos, CA – Lent-observing shoppers, especially Hispanics, change their shopping behaviors to accommodate going meatless starting on Ash Wednesday, March 1, and continuing through Thursday, April 13. Produce departments should capitalize on this shift by stocking up on specialty Latin produce and meat substitutes during this religious holiday season.
Twenty-six percent of Americans observe Lent and abstain from meat (except fish and seafood) on Fridays during this 40-day period. Some go meatless the entire time.
“Lent is becoming a big food holiday as the culture and demographic continue to shift,” said Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce. “There is an opportunity here for retailers to offer authentic Latin produce and capture that Hispanic buying power during Lent and afterward.”
A recent Nielsen study shows Hispanics represent almost 18 percent of the U.S. population, and in 2015 they had $1.3 trillion in buying power. A Food Marketing Institute report shows 91 percent of Hispanic shoppers prefer stores where they can find Hispanic products.
Cater to the Cuaresma (Lent) crowd with seasonal popular items like Soyrizo™, SoyTaco™, cactus leaves (nopales), fresh Poblano and Anaheim peppers, and dried peppers like Guajillo, Ancho Mulato, and Pasilla Negro. Other items that complement fish and seafood include ginger, fennel, dragon fruit, and citrus, such as key limes, Meyer lemons, and pink lemons.
Call Frieda’s account managers to optimize your product mix today.
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.
Source: Frieda’s Specialty Produce
