LOS ALAMITOS, CA – As consumer palates continue to crave adventurous flavors, now is the perfect time to drive retail sales for red-fleshed dragon fruit with a lower retail price point, according to Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
“Summertime is peak season for dragon fruit, and the prices are very reasonable,” said Alex Jackson Berkley of Frieda’s Specialty Produce, according to a press release. “Dragon fruit is one of the top-selling and trending tropical fruits, and also resonates with Asian and Hispanic shoppers."
Nothing adds color and excitement like this eye-catching, pink-skinned, magenta-fleshed fruit. Available from June through November, Nicaraguan red dragon fruit has a rounder shape—like a pink softball—with a deep magenta flesh and better flavor than the mild Vietnamese variety. Frieda’s ships Nicaragua fruit from both Miami and Los Alamitos, California, in pallet or truckload volume.
“Build a big, beautiful dragon fruit display with signage about the different varieties, as shoppers may want to try all the colors and flavors. Merchandise other tropical fruits along with the dragon fruit to make the display a truly exotic destination,” commented Berkley.
In addition to Nicaragua, Frieda’s supplies dragon fruit from several other growing regions to offer year-round availability on this trending fruit:
- Vietnam Dragon Fruit: Available in white and limited red flesh, this top-selling variety boasts a beautiful appearance and is available year-round. (It’s also the only dragon fruit that has to be irradiated.)
- Israel Pitaya: Available from July through March, the non-irradiated Israeli crop has multiple colors and appearances, from white flesh, to red flesh, to the popular yellow skinned fruit with white flesh. Some varieties feature curly “leaves,” while others may have a more unique pinecone-type shape.
- USA White and Red Dragon Fruits: Similar in appearance to the Vietnam fruit, they’re grown in Florida and California, and available from June to August.
“We always get asked the difference between dragon fruit and pitaya. The names can actually be used interchangeably!” said Berkley. “The key is to have the fruit properly labeled with a PLU—which we do on all the fruit we ship.”
From super-trendy pitaya bowls and smoothies to tropical fruit platters for summer entertaining, red-fleshed dragon fruit is the hottest fruit of the season. Retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice providers interested in growing their tropical fruit program can contact Frieda’s today.
And as produce departments continue to seek new ideas and offerings, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.
