Nutrition and government agencies around the world are hard at work trying to get people to eat fruits and veggies. In the U.S., the CDC has partnered with several other organizations to bring a new public health initiative, “Fruits & Veggies--More Matters™.” The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 2.7 million lives could potentially be saved each year, if fruit and vegetable consumption was sufficiently increased. One aspect of American fruit consumption is that it is almost exclusively consumed at home. In 1998, at-home fruit consumption was estimated at about 90% and predicted to increase only to 92% by 2020, according to a USDA study. As various health messages to increase fruit consumption continue to take hold, the opportunity to provide prepared food formulations that offer the health benefits of fruit also increases.
This opportunity has not gone unnoticed by Tree Top Inc. Tree Top is an agricultural cooperative owned by over 1,300 apple and pear growers in the northwestern U.S., and is now the world’s largest producer of dried apple products. Fruits are natural, wholesome and trusted food ingredients, with several documented health benefits--all good reasons to include fruits in formulations. They also give a formulation a fresh, youthful and “innocent” aspect and are good for a wide range of foods--from the familiar to the exotic. Used correctly, they may also add a layer of texture, color and flavor to a formulation.