BRONX, NY - What’s on the menu? Understanding what consumers are looking for when they sit down at a restaurant is imperative to success in the foodservice sector, and Baldor Specialty Food is helping its partners do just that with the release of its 2024 Food Forecast. And, of course, we here at ANUK couldn’t wait to dig into the latest fresh produce crazes.

"Consumers are taking a greater interest in where their food comes from. Slapping a ‘local’ label is no longer enough for shoppers," shared Donald Russo, Category Manager, Produce. "They want hard facts: Who is the farmer and how are they being good stewards of the land and are they in this immediate community? Many consumers would rather pay more at a local farmer’s market than at a corporate grocery store. So that means the retailer has to work harder to show how their philosophy aligns to these values. Transparency is a start—but they need to take it a step further and put their resources into developing and building up their community."

Several trending produce categories made Baldor’s 2024 list, including the rise of mushrooms. As the company reported, the variety of foodservice mushroom offerings is expanding mightily, while consumers are becoming increasingly interested in lesser-known varieties such as Lion’s Mane, Chanterelles, and King Trumpets. Baldor believes some of this growing interest in certain mushroom varieties—including Lion’s Mane, which saw nearly 300 percent growth in year-over-year (YOY) demand—is because of their perceived adaptogenic effects.

Another category seemingly on the rise is celery root. A 42 percent rise in Baldor’s YOY celery root sales shows that this vegetable is stealing the culinary stage, and that is expected to continue through 2024. From being carved into shawarma, shredded into a slaw, puréed into soup, roasted as a side dish, and more, celery root has endless applications in the hands of a chef.

Fair trade distinction is another rising foodservice trend. As noted in the report, Baldor plans to grow the number of categories in which it offers certified fair trade products in 2024.

Last but not least, Baldor shared its 2024 “Baldor Hot List,” showing significant growth across the following fresh categories in the past few months:

• Chanterelle Mushrooms - 255 percent

• Lion’s Mane (or Pom Pom) Mushrooms - 285 percent

• King Trumpet Mushrooms - 209 percent

• Lemon Plums - 188 percent

• Canary Melons - 156 percent

• Tree-Ripened Apricots - 138 percent

• Red Sunset Apricots - 64 percent

• Baby Leeks - 59 percent

• Heirloom Sunchokes - 118 percent

To view the full Food Forecast, click here.

Baldor’s vast product catalog includes more than 6,000 items across produce, specialty, dairy, meat, poultry, and fish, serving its nearly 13,000 customers across the industry. The distributor’s network includes restaurants, grocery stores, and event spaces spanning from Maine to Virginia. As a testament to its unwavering quality, Baldor’s customer list includes 75 percent of Michelin-starred restaurants in its regions.

Stay tuned as ANUK continues to uncover the latest trends making waves in our industry.

Baldor Specialty Foods