Now more than ever, consumers are willing to pay a premium price for organic, healthy food products. Not wanting pesticides or synthetic fertilizers in their food, organic food lovers are looking towards fresh products. However, consumers are realizing that frozen products are as good as fresh ones. With the frozen food industry expected to reach 363.9 billion by 2024, the frozen food industry is growing rapidly. However, consumers still prefer to use fresh ingredients over frozen. They are unaware that frozen food comes with a number of advantages. With an extended shelf life and more nutrients, frozen products are frozen when they have the most minerals and vitamins. Read on to understand why freezing is better.
Nutrition and Waste
The problem with fresh vs frozen food comes from a lack of awareness towards food waste and eating. In terms of nutritional content, freezing doesn’t damage food. Rather it preserves vitamins and minerals. Fresh fruits and vegetables, when harvested, continue to undergo chemical changes which can cause spoilage and deterioration of the product. For fresh vegetables, within three days of being pulled out of the ground, 80% of vitamin C is naturally lost from them. They also have a useful nutritional lifespan of up to five days. A quarter of all food intended for consumption is lost in the distribution chain. This waste can be avoided by improving our buying, storing and cooking habits. Studies show that consumers create less waste from using frozen fruits, berries, and vegetables.
Organic and frozen
It is easy to see why fresh products may seem to be the better choice. Produce bought from the supermarket greengrocer section is full of color and crunch. In fact, many stores use fine mist sprays to give the “just picked” look. Supermarkets are convincing shoppers to pay a premium for food they believe is tops for health and taste. However, with no synthetic modifiers, frozen food maintains its nutrients and natural flavor. Frozen food products do not require any additives in order to preserve the food. The main way to ensure long-lasting organic products is by freezing them. Growing populations and urbanization are factors that require more food resources. But there is also a big challenge in reducing waste and the growing trend for fast, convenient meals. With frozen products, healthy, flavorful, quality meals are easy ways to get a fast, organic meals without sacrificing health.
Freezing Technology
There’s no arguing it — frozen fruits and vegetables are convenient. Being pre-washed, and sometimes pre-chopped, they even come in little bags or boxed that wait in your freezer for use. On top of that, they are also often cheaper than their fresher counterparts, savings that increases when you throw out two-day old fresh broccoli that has started to brown before you could use it. The main question is “How do you convince people to consume more frozen food?” There is still a bit of guilt associated with buying frozen It is not enough to list all the benefits of frozen produce. The only way is to offer premium quality frozen food that has a natural appearance and better convenience than fresh ones. Choosing the right industrial refrigeration equipment streamlines your process for higher quality, healthier products. At AFE, we offer hygienic design standards that routinely outperform our competitors. We know different food products require different freezing methods.The type of cooling and freezing equipment that is right for you depends on the type of products your business produces. With over 150 years of combined experience, our knowledgeable team is prepared to help you understand the various options available to you so you can equip your business effectively.