<p> Year after year, it seems that more shoppers are reaching for the most powerful greens in nutrition and 2013 was no different. Meijer’s Scott Calandra, Produce Buyer, and Melissa Hehmann, Healthy Living Advisor and Registered Dietitian, weighed in on the top-selling fresh produce items in the grocery store.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> In 2013, kale was the number one selling produce item. Bagged baby kale saw a 200% sales jump from 2012, according to a press release. “The leafy, nutrient-dense foods in the Power Green category pack a big nutritional punch without a lot of calories – a great combination,” said Hehmann. “The popularity of bagged Power Greens is all about convenience – less time spent on washing, trimming, and chopping.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Other “Power Green” cousins like Brussels sprouts, organic salads, and bagged greens also topped Meijer’s highest-selling produce list.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Following kale, Calandra and Hehmann saw that fresh herbs, portabella mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and clementines rounded out the rest of the Top 5 list. Not only are consumers looking for more convenience and great taste, they’re looking for something that provides healthier alternatives to staple dishes in their diets.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Meijer predicts that kale’s popularity will encourage consumers to try other unfamiliar, yet just as healthy greens, like Swiss chard and turnip greens. Shoppers are even starting to reconsider cauliflower. “Cauliflower can be mashed like potatoes, grilled like steak, and used as a gluten-free option for things like pizza crust,” said Hehmann.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Meijer also expects to see further growth in organics and the Meijer Locally Grown program, which supplies Meijer stores around the Midwest with fruits and vegetables from more than 100 local growers in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.meijer.com" target="_new"> Meijer </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
