New Farm Fresh 2014 Food Trends Forecast Says Virginians Will Seek More Local, Healthy Foods and Exotic Ingredients

Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy®, a trusted local resource for fresh, quality food, recently polled Virginia-based chefs, culinary experts, food critics, bloggers and food enthusiasts for key food trend predictions for 2014. These experts say they expect to see increasing demand for locally sourced food and ingredients, growing interest in healthy eating and a desire to try new and unusual ingredients.

According to the 2014 Farm Fresh Food Trends Forecast, Virginians will experiment more with exotic ingredients, as local food experts predict a rise in the use of “other” meats, such as rabbit, and an increase in the use of heirloom vegetables, quinoa, unique root vegetables, jackfruit, ginger, kale and other nontraditional fruits, vegetables and spices.

“Food trends are typically strong reflections of what is going on in our communities,” said Mark Merrill, vice president of merchandising for Farm Fresh. “Virginians, like many Americans, are branching out from traditional meals and menus, and finding ways to incorporate new or scarcely used foods and flavors into their lives.”

The local experts offered the following predictions for the 2014 Virginia food scene:

• “Real” Food. Local, sustainable and farm-to-table options that have a healthy aspect to them will be among the most significant trends, Virginia experts predicted.
• Small Is the New Big. Expect that more Virginians will forego formal dinner parties for more casual affairs with small-plate options and tasting menus replacing the more traditional multicourse meals.
• Tango with Mango. When it comes to produce, mangoes, avocados, micro/local greens and dark greens were among the hottest produce trends predicted.
• Viva la Veggie. Consumers looking to eat healthier will also start to look for more unusual vegetables such as kohlrabi, turnips and different types of radishes.
• Less Is More. Virginians will seek out more products with a limited number of ingredients and easy-to-identify ingredients.
• Grain Brain. Ancient grains, such as quinoa, farro and wheatberries, will grow in popularity among Virginia cooks as the national healthy ingredient, healthy eating boom expands.
• Chips to Nuts. Healthier snack options will gain in popularity. Kale chips will give way to seaweed chips, and we’ll see more nut-based snacks as a result of recent studies showing their nutritional benefits.
• Healthier, DIY Foods for Kids. People will also turn to healthier foods for kids, and they’ll get kids more involved in food preparation with fun, simple, do-it-yourself recipes.
• Fermentation Nation. Pickling will be the home food preparation trend of the year, experts say, as Virginians experiment with different fruits, foods and methods to create unique, interesting additions to their table fare.
• Cultural Cravings. Asian ingredients and foods will populate the food scene in the Virginia area. Local experts point to growth in an array of cuisines and flavors, including Indian, Korean, Southeast Asian and Japanese. Interest in South American cuisine also is expected to rise.
• Breakfast for Lunch. Or Dinner. Breakfast food for any meal was among the most notable predictions. Eggs, fresh fruit and fruit with yogurt or Greek yogurt will be top breakfast choices.

About Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy
Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, part of the SUPERVALU® INC. (NYSE: SVU) family of grocery stores, operates 42 stores in Hampton Roads and Richmond, Va., and Elizabeth City, N.C. Farm Fresh also operates a free-standing pharmacy located inside Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Formed in 1957 as a neighborhood grocery store with world-class service, today, Farm Fresh is recognized as the premier grocer in the Hampton Roads-area. Farm Fresh prides itself on providing its customers with competitively priced products, clean stores, one-stop shopping services, and a large selection of quality national and regional brands. For more information about Farm Fresh, visit www.farmfreshsupermarkets.com.