Food Purchasing Trends to Help You Maximize Profits this Season

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We know that food purchasing trends are usually determined by what’s in-season. While we usually tend to go for the freshest ingredients (even organic for some of us!), wouldn’t it be wise to say that summer can give us the most bang for our buck?

Think about your clients and what they typically request. More often than that, it’s fresh produce and locally sourced foods, right? Luckily, we did research on the current food purchasing trends in the industry to help you understand where you can save this season, as well as where you’ll get the most value.

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Stable food trends on the rise

The beginning of spring officially marks the reset button on fresh produce and seasonal fruits. This means that not only will you be saving a pretty penny on items that you would normally have to out-source in the off-season, but you’ll be able to boast that the ingredients on your menu are both locally-sourced and fresh (depending on your area).

Nothing draws clients in more during the warm months than the concept of up-to-date menus with clean dishes. Take note of which items are currently flourishing and stock up.

Key produce markets that are abundant or steady:

  • Potatoes (russets, reds, yellows)

  • Garlic

  • Mushrooms

  • Cilantro

  • Green beans

  • Carrots

  • Cucumbers

  • Bell peppers (green and red)

  • Tomatoes

  • Apples/pears

  • Oranges

  • Asparagus

Unstable food trends to keep an eye on

Keep in mind that some items fluctuate in quality, pricing, and availability due to a number of factors. Weather, insect inference, and supply and demand all affect various foods.

We suggest performing personal research that’s specific to your most popular inventory, and pay close attention to the ingredients that are less stable than others within the market.

It may also be helpful to run your numbers on certain items before purchasing them in bulk, as the current quality may affect how long the produce or fruit keeps. You don’t want food waste on your hands during busy event season!

Less stable produce markets to keep an eye on:

  • Leafy greens (lettuce, cabbage)

  • Celery

  • Yellow squash

  • Zucchini

  • Cauliflower

  • Lemons/limes

  • Pineapples

  • Honeydew melons

  • Onions

  • Avocados

Additionally, it’s important to remember that these markets can vary by week – one week you may experience higher prices, the next you may notice that prices seem a bit more reasonable. The same goes for quality.

Creative ways to incorporate these trends into your menu

While you may not have the resources to roll out a new menu every event season, it may be a nice touch to do a little (humble) bragging with trends by adding a little something extra to regular dishes.

For example, summery fruits like mangos can earn a place on the plate as a little surprise for guests. Try whipping up a mango salsa for southwest dishes, or even adding it as a creative garnish to a salad.

Go beyond just main courses. Think outside of the box with mocktails or cocktails as well if it suits your business; a raspberry mojito or a blackberry smash is always a hit.

When mapping out your plan of attack for purchasing per season, we should note that food trends are just that – trends. Spring and impending summer are some of the best months to stock up and feature bright, bold colors into your palate, but keeping market trends on your radar as well is what will ultimately keep you profitable and operating sustainably!