Exotic Fruits Going Mainstream

Meet the cherimoya, a cross between vanilla custard and pineapple.

It’s one of several exotic fruits that may take American markets by storm within the next few years, even though it costs $6 dollars a pop.

Demand for exotic produce is growing by leaps and bounds.

Last year, consumers spent 68 percent more on passion fruit than the previous year, 32 percent more on lychees, 31 percent more on star fruit and 13 percent more on kumquats, according to a survey of more than 3,000 grocery store chains nationwide.

One factor behind this growing fascination for exotic fruit is the willingness of Americans to pay more for products perceived as healthy.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 28, 2004 09:52 AM | TrackBack