ROSEVILLE, CA - California Prune Board (CPB) is bringing a purple powerhouse to the top of snack lists. The nutrient-dense, bite-sized offering provides a slew of nutritious benefits shoppers look for, making it an easy decision for retailers to expand the display.
“Prunes are a great bridge from the produce department, as they bring whole fruit nutritional value into other parts of the store,” Kiaran Locy, Director of Brand and Industry Communications, stated to ANUK. “The convenience factor is key—throw prunes into a purse, take them with you for travel, snacks in the car or camping, and you have an easy, healthy snack that indulges the sweet tooth with no added sugar.”
Locy further commented on the prune’s versatility, pairing well with savory foods like pork while also accentuating a grazing board. Puréed prunes also make for a great swap and healthy alternative for sugar in many baking applications, and the innovative creations keep coming thanks to its premium growing cycle.
“California prune growers and processors consistently produce premium fruit with a focus on sizing and legendary flavor, and the California Prune Board backs all of this up with incomparable industry collaboration to drive market support through promotion and nutrition research,” commented Locy. “Not only is California the world’s largest producer of prunes, producing over 90 percent of the supply in the U.S. and about 40 percent of the world’s production, but it’s also the ideal place for growing prunes, like so many other crops, because of the long growing season, rich soil, and abundant sunshine.”
As the entire fruit is edible, conscious consumers will gravitate toward prunes for their nutrient-dense properties and longer shelf-life. Prunes have high-quality, unrefined carbohydrates, which naturally help sustain energy levels, and come in at less than 100 calories per serving.
“Prunes are good every day in so many ways. While you may know that prunes are good for your gut, it may be surprising that eating prunes regularly may also promote bone formation,” Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, Nutrition Advisor to the CPB, commented to ANUK. “Prunes are a good source of fiber and an excellent source of vitamin K. Not only are prunes good for gut and bone health, but they also play an important role when making healthy, sustainable eating choices.”
How will we see prunes further penetrate the snacking sector? Stay tuned as ANUK reports.
